Help Help with choosing my rocks and wood from ARC.

[Pneumonicsonic]

I’ve started a tank journal, but right now I’m in the middle of purchasing for my new tank (Uns 120U) and have an order in with arc for some hardscape. I like that they give me choices but in the middle of moving, ending residency, and already deciding on purchasing all the equipment for the new tank I could use some assistance.

Disclaimer: my first time really aquascaping in 4 years and my 2nd time overall really attempting this.

For those that haven’t seen my journal:

Tank: UNS 120U and oak Uns stand.
Lighting: week aqua 1200 p series black (with black mounting arms)
Steel Lily pipes.

Substrate: I’ve ordered regular, fine and extra fine controsoil, also so controbase and some bagged black lava rocks to create elevation. I also may use some amount of my mature soil base/STS cap from my current tank for seeding and for volume.
I have a bag of uns Kona to surround the hardscape potentially, and then a bag of natural gravel Kongo from ARC as well to help hold up slopes or delineate controsoil from sand if I go that route.

Where I need help: hardscape. I’m not sold on needing to use my existing stuff still necessary but:
What I have already( a couple Malaysian drift wood pieces in my current tank I believe, and some manzanita branches. Also a couple hand-width rocks that I believe are some inert rock I got forever ago.

What I’ve bought:
from buceplant: an extra large (36” I believe) sandblasted manzanita.

From ARC:
Manten stone 30lb XXL 16+ in stone & 15lb of medium 6-8 in stone

A Large Malaysian driftwood piece
Small pre soaked spider wood pack of 6.

My vision is my take on nature style with some sloping with the soil, a collection manten stones as a focus centrally, and driftwood either branching above the stones or a horizontal large manzanita across the tank as well. Honestly I’ll have to see what it looks like when I have the materials.

The plan is of course subject to change.

I’d love some opinions on the options I was just sent. See attached. I think it is choosing between the wood pieces and then deciding if I like the Manten stones.

For the stones I like #1 as a showcase/centerpiece i think. The curved edges of 3 & 4 are different and interesting. I think I could use the flat edge of 4 in multiple ways. I don’t think I mind that there’s some color variation between them.

For the wood I’m leaning 1 or 6, but I don’t mind 3 either.

Thanks everyone! I’ve really enjoyed the forum and I appreciate all of your help with this process. I haven’t included any inspiration shots but I’ve been perusing everyone’s journals here and some general online browsing which has led me to these purchases and I hope stylistically I come up with something I like, my wife really likes, and that works well.

Thanks!

 

[*Ci*]

So, you’ve already purchased the large Malaysian piece and the spiderwood, and you’re thinking about more?
I don’t care for any of the slab-like pieces you’ve shown. They will not lend themselves to “branching above the stones” as you describe, imo. You need pieces that are more, well, branch-like : )
Can you show pictures of the wood you already have?

 

[Pneumonicsonic]

So, you’ve already purchased the large Malaysian piece and the spiderwood, and you’re thinking about more?
I don’t care for any of the slab-like pieces you’ve shown. They will not lend themselves to “branching above the stones” as you describe, imo. You need pieces that are more, well, branch-like : )
Can you show pictures of the wood you already have?

Yeah I’m starting to realize this. Here is a 5 year old image from my 75 when it was brand new, theres the manzanita pieces.

Maybe I’ll ask ARC for a refund/change to something else than the Malaysian pieces.

 

[Pneumonicsonic]

Alright I pivoted and asked them to send me pictures of large bog wood pieces. This is what he sent. I’m really liking #1 and he sent a picture of the back side of the large manten stone. Overall I like that as a possible pairing (w/ or w/o manzanita) more than the large Malaysian driftwood.

 

[Art]

Those are really great pieces. What you need to determine if they are great pieces for the aquascape you have in mind.

How I aquascape (my process):

1. Determine if I have a specific aquascape in mind or if I will be driven by the pieces I have available.
2. If I have a specific aquascape I want to create, I will tend to brainstorm by sketching or using Scape.it to get a rough idea out of my mind then go hunt down the pieces.
3. If I have a great piece, like the big manten stone, I will site with the stone and visualize the scene I want it to dominate. Then go to sketching to plan out all the other pieces I need to get.

Things to think about:

• What types of plants do I want to use?
• What is the look I want from the aquascape?
  • Calm, open field with strong hardscape?
  • A nature-like feeling that is well-balanced with wood, stone and plants?
  • Dutch or garden-like organized plantings or more wabi sabi natural or organic plantings?
  • Where will it sit in your home and what do you want the viewers to feel when they see it?
  • What colors do you want to use thinking about the plants, hardscape, substrate and fish?

This may or may not help you: 3 Ways to put Story into your Aquascape

 

[Pneumonicsonic]

Those are really great pieces. What you need to determine if they are great pieces for the aquascape you have in mind.

How I aquascape (my process):

1. Determine if I have a specific aquascape in mind or if I will be driven by the pieces I have available.
2. If I have a specific aquascape I want to create, I will tend to brainstorm by sketching or using Scape.it to get a rough idea out of my mind then go hunt down the pieces.
3. If I have a great piece, like the big manten stone, I will site with the stone and visualize the scene I want it to dominate. Then go to sketching to plan out all the other pieces I need to get.

Things to think about:

• What types of plants do I want to use?
• What is the look I want from the aquascape?
  • Calm, open field with strong hardscape?
  • A nature-like feeling that is well-balanced with wood, stone and plants?
  • Dutch or garden-like organized plantings or more wabi sabi natural or organic plantings?
  • Where will it sit in your home and what do you want the viewers to feel when they see it?
  • What colors do you want to use thinking about the plants, hardscape, substrate and fish?

This may or may not help you: 3 Ways to put Story into your Aquascape

Art this is super helpful. I’ll check out that link and scape it, they don’t have the 120U size but the P is close enough to check it out. I think once I have the scape pieces I’ll better have a sense of how I want to set it up. I’m going to think about those questions and check out your aquasfape link at the end. I ended up doing 1&3 of the bogwood and the manten stones (plus the large manzanita branch from buce plant). That should give me some options at least.

My thought was more nature inspired either island/mountain or maybe rivers edge depending on how the pieces look when they arrive. I’ll be thinking about that and plant choices in the interim. Thanks again Art!

 

[Art]

Anytime