Steven_Chong

Thanks for the critique gf225. My personal opinion on hardscape is, the stronger the better!!

The biggest weakness with the majority of scapes is not enough height in the mid-ground. When I was setting up, I actually wondered if that rock was too small!! This isn't iwagumi, but it is a scape based on rocks as the twigs are more high-lights than anything structural. Since the trend is for having very strong main-rocks in iwagumi, I decided to stick to that type of basic rock-gardening principle. Amano-sensei is using scapes with even more dominating main rocks, so I thought I'd go with something pretty strong here.

gf225

I understand. I guess my very limited experience with hardscape shows.

To be honest I'm nervously excited about positioning mine. I have some nice rocks but not sure how to combine them, if at all with the wood. I digress....

Keep up the good work Steven.

Steven_Chong

Thanks guys!!

Scott, good luck man.

George, You'll be fine dude-- one thing I'd say is that if it's wood (like manzinita/old wood type) wood dominates, the rocks are used to prop the wood and hold sand apart from soil but really, wood rules. This scape, rock rules, and I made sure that was the case. It's possible to have both be important but . . . I think one usually ends up being stronger than the other.

gf225

Wise words. Thanks.

Erirku

WOW. Very impressed on that aquascape. Can't wait till it comes out, Geez. I wish I could get that tank!!!

Steven_Chong

Thanks a lot Erik, and for the help and support you and all the other Oahu hobbyists have given me. Make sure to keep updated on your fifteen gal, and have it ready for me to photograph when I get home!!!!

heyman

Sup Steven, your tank is looking pretty kool, I to will be setting up a 60cm
(someday)..
-Scott

Rek

original scape

very very nice pitures

dennis

Awesome work as always man! I remember wondering how you would do this layout in real life several months ago when you first posted the sketch. Nice execution. My only critique would be that I feel the first photo of the original hardscape was a little stronger. The "tightness" of the rock arrangment was more appealing, though spreading the rock out a bit might be best in the end... keeps all the hardscape from disappearing in the plants.

God I love those rocks! :shakes fist in envy) !!!!

Steven_Chong

? Dennis, they weren't moved at all from one photo to the next. Only difference is that I put more substrate around/on top of them from the original to the later shots.

And, heh heh . . . well, some were bought in Japan, but quite a few are from Mount Fuji.



A shot of me at the top of Japan. XD

But, as you can see, there are just lots and lots of lava rock there. Not sure if Japanese lava rock is cursed, but I know Hawai'i's definitely is, so I'd rather risk Japan's.