Possibly The Worst Iwagumi I've Seen

[Primous]

And sadly, it's mine

 

 
The back left (with the crypts over hanging) is the only part of the scape I like. To me, the rest just looks weird. But It's less than 24 hours hence the murky E-Complete water and dirty glass. Any pointers would be great.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Might be able to help if ya put up a front view straight on mate.

 

[Primous]

As requested...
 
They start from a low - High vantage point. Pic three being the highest but all looking directly on. The two bits of rock laying on the substrate are not as thick but almost the same height as the tallest rock. I changed the rocks around slightly but the problem persists...
 

 

 

[ian]

It's not the worst primous, believe me I have seen worse...

Here's a few pointers on iwagumi, the first point is always use an odd number of rocks, this has something to do with perception, a little like the golden rule of thirds. You main rock needs to be in first third of of the tank. Maybe the rock at the front can be broken into 2 bits?

You could do with some more HC as well, it'll take an age to carpets with that amount.

One last thing, maybe swap the crypts for echicularis, or something similar.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

I think you've got some decent bits of rock there, you just need to get the layout right. The big one at the front looks wrong to me and it's difficult to describe so might be easier to have a play but I'd try to move the big one at the back right to the back left, and try standing that one at the front up to the right of the newly moved rock, leaning to the right. Then maybe put the other rocks to the right.

 

[Primous]

It's not the worst primous, believe me I have seen worse...

Here's a few pointers on iwagumi, the first point is always use an odd number of rocks, this has something to do with perception, a little like the golden rule of thirds. You main rock needs to be in first third of of the tank. Maybe the rock at the front can be broken into 2 bits?

You could do with some more HC as well, it'll take an age to carpets with that amount.

One last thing, maybe swap the crypts for echicularis, or something similar.

 
Mr H
 
I was hoping you and steevo would chime in.
 
Would you believe that I nolonger have a dirt tank? I loved that setup but it crashed itself. And by that I mean after almost 3 years (2 years and 10 months without issue) the dirt had worked it's way up through the cap and the organics were leeching heavily into the aquarium. And for the last two months I've had to battle algae(s) including green surface scum and clean my canister and pipes almost weekly. So now I have gone over to the dark side. Sorry, I mean the "fert" side and have about 5 bottles of seachem. Flourish/Iron/npk and have a quick question for you about "N" Reading the back of the bottle it states that it contains two types of N one of which is derived via nitrate? Which is slightly confusing because my tap water ranges between 5-10ppm on nitrate so do I need to dose N? I haven't in the past years and have never seen any signs on N deficiency in the plants. I'm going to practice with the seachem, starting at low levels and then hopefully when I can calculate the perfect mix convert to the EI method as it's cheaper.

Anyways back to the topic at hand. I'm going to get more HC soon and am thinking of replacing the crypts with Blyxa or perhaps blyxa behind the big rock working it's way left towards the crypt area. I might try using the smaller rocks at the back left before breaking the one laying flat across the substrate but if that doesn't work I'll take the hammer to it.
 

I think you've got some decent bits of rock there, you just need to get the layout right. The big one at the front looks wrong to me and it's difficult to describe so might be easier to have a play but I'd try to move the big one at the back right to the back left, and try standing that one at the front up to the right of the newly moved rock, leaning to the right. Then maybe put the other rocks to the right.

I read your post in this manner "Check, check, ok, check, and check." Which basically means I'll have the laptop on the sofa while I try out your suggestions.

 
Pics to follow and more suggestions both encouraged and welcome.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Quick pic of how you wanna arrange stones, crude as done on paint lol. You kind of wanna follow the lines with the heights of the rocks.
 
Well you don't have too but you want the top of the largest stone like Ian said at the top of the peak, you don't have to slope them perfectly down but the prominent stone wants to be there, bang on the 1st third.
 
 
http/www.flickr.com/photos/74092028@N08/8445863096/]

[/url]
http/www.flickr.com/photos/74092028@N08/8445863096/]Iwagumi line[/url] by http/www.flickr.com/people/74092028@N08/]ps3steveo[/url], on Flickr

 

[ian]

Im not sure what kinds of nitrogen is in the seachem stuff, but it's probs Pnh4+ and pn03 ? Both are taken up well by plants, some say better that basic n03. Ammonium is a great base for ferts, as plants love ammonia and ammonium. I personally wouldn't trust n03 test kits, even the expensive lab grade ones aren't that brilliant. The hobby grade ones tend to use n02 for a base reading and if the tank hasn't got any n02, then you'll just get false readings of n03. If you're worried about dosing to much, then don't be, I know I keep on about it, but n03 doesn't cause algae, so putting to much in doesn't really matter in the grade scheme. If you're still using c02, then you should really be using the seachem stuff. What you'll normally see before any plant deficiencies, is algae, then the plant health with start to deteriorate, this is what will normally happen with n03 deficiencies.

Keep on top of water changes and maintain a healthy a tank and you'll be on a winner.

 

[Primous]

I did not get much time to tadjust the tank today. But so far...
 

 
What do you think?
 
 
Also guys another question about npk. I noticed that when searching for npk threads a lot of guys were using tpn+ on ukaps and was wondering why tpn has only n and P? Also could I use tpn in the future with a dose of seachem Iron?

 

[ian]

Is this a bow front primous? If so, any chance of getting a pic a little further back. I'm struggling to work out the actual tank set up.

Tropica specialised (tpn+), does contain potassium. It's a complete npk and trace fert. It's the best on the market, however there is some ferts that do the same for a fraction of the price...tnc complete and aquaessentials do on.

Another thing, just ensure you get enough flow down at the substrate for the lilliapsis and HC.

Ps are you using c02?

 

[Primous]

Yup it's a bow front 180. with hopefully two different scapes. The "iwagumi" is supposed to be one of those and in my minds eye take up 1/3 of the tank. I can't post a pic now but till try later.
 
TPN+ is the best on the market you say? I have just bought flourish, plus flourish npk and flourish iron but I think I'll order a bottle if you think it's worth it. and start dosing on the weekend. Although I think they changed the name recently and have two "new" products. TPN+ being the "green bottle," right? Can I use the flourish iron with the tpn+?
 
The plants are swaying gently do I think the flow is sufficient for now. And I'm using 1bps of pressurized diffused to a rate where by the 5-6th hour into the phot period the plants pearl. photo period is 7 hours. Lights are 2xT5HO 35w 6500k and 4500K

 

[Primous]

From further back
 

 
Ignore the plants to the right
 

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Did you say that on the right its a different scape? If so you may never be 100% happy with it as 2 focal points kind of stops you from settling on a spot in the tank if you know what I mean.

 

[Primous]

Yup I hear you on the two focal point thing which is why I kept all pics focused on the corner. The other scape needs time to grow in. But as it stands what do you make of the rock arrangement so far? Should I swap the two rocks to the right around?
 
And also steevo ian mentioned npt+ I now have a bottle but it's this one...

Will it be ok to use with flourish iron?

 

[coma]

From further back
 

 
Ignore the plants to the right
 

I think stone on the left side is too close to the wall and you'll find it difficult to clean it. And also try to make small space in between those two stones in the middle as when your grass will grow, it will fill out the space and it will look like one stone. Otherwise it looks nice. Wait until it will grow, you'll be amazed one more think, take off background poster and clean your glass, black looks good but you must take care of it