Iwagumi Tank So Far

[yekram10]

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This is the rock layout so far...any suggestions on this ...also what kind of plants should i start ordering ??

 

[ian]

Firstly have a read of this...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/328059-basics-in-aquascaping/

IMO, the rock on the far left needs to be your focal rock, so this need to be 'golden rule'. In Iwagumi, to get the best out of your scape, you need to have odd numbers of rock. Personally i'd get rid of the rock on the far right. The other 2 rock should be placed closer together, but out of the 'golden rule' focal point.

Now this is very rough, but...

the rocks IMO should be positioned like this or around these areas.

I have an idea with the plants, but are you running C02, what is the flow in your tank and whats the lighting?

 

[yekram10]

i plan on buying a 5lb co2 when i can find a decent regulator for the money ....ill dose as much Co2 as it takes for the plants....its a low tank and i bring this up because of the lighting ...me and my local fish store keeper spent some time talking and deciding on the lighting ....the tank is 20 inches and we couldnt find a high out put hood that was 20 ....the hood that came with this tank was ment for screw in flourescent halogens i guess is what you would call them...so i purchased 2 coralife bulbs ....this brings the lighting to about 2 watts per gallon which i know might be alittle low ....if you know anything better please let me know....also the flow would be rather still i assume.

 

[ian]

low light tanks are fine IME as long as you have the right ferts, C02 and flow. The higher the light the more demands on your plants, they will need a more ferts and more C02. So sticking with the upper end of low light is absolutely fine. As for flow, this IME is one of the important factors, especially in Iwagumi. The flow need to be good, to ensure all the C02 and ferts get to every part of the tank.

 

[yekram10]

well i have already purchased 2 co2 diffusers ...the kind that look like an old smoking pipe and i plan on putting one in this tank....shouldnt that be able to put out enough co2 distripution to cover the tank.

 

[ian]

a glass diffuser?

if so, you'll find the right position in the tank, you need to see the small bubbles all over the tank, this will be optimum distribution. You may need to put it under the outflow of you filter or get an extra powerhead.

 

[yekram10]

alright and finally haha....plants....this will be my first iwagumi setup...i took you advice and took the jagged rock out...now i just need a good list of a couple easiers to medium care plants that look nice and will grow easily

 

[GrayScale]

Tall background plant I would choose vallisneria. Usually these style tanks don't utilise taller plants and go more with, eleocharis parvula or acicularis. Riccia fluitans would look great attached to the rocks and would do very well in your setup.

Just remember, for this true style, it is Very simplistic and usually only utilise between 1-3 different types of plants and they are usually smaller covering types of plants to accentuate the rocks and there placement.

 

[yekram10]

ok sounds like a plan ... how long does it take for the hairgrass family to spread and make a carpet...also my glass co2 diffuser bubbles up to the top...HOWEVER .....upon looking the co2 is pracitcally invisible at the top ....does this mean the co2 is still being dissolved into the water...just not 100 %

 

[GrayScale]

What's the flow like in your tank? Positioning the diffuser under the outflow of your filter works well. If there is not enough flow, the co2 won't evenly distrbute around the tank possibly causing algea issues.

The hairgrass grows quite quickly at least in my experience with co2 and EI dosing. At first they will grow taller but if you keep trimming it like grass, it will start growing out forming a carpet. I have eleocharis acicularis and it's grown like 2-3 inches in a little over a week. Eleocharis parvula isn't as rigid, has a lighter shadeof green, and doesn't grow as tall as acicularis. Trimming the roots just a tiny bit and some off the top before planting will help it to spread out as well.

 

[GrayScale]

Removed by grayscale. Reason: accidental double post.

 

[GrayScale]

Grr didn't mean to post so much