11" Cube

[garuf]

Iwagumi is DIFFICULT if you can master it your a better aquascaper than me.
George Farmer did a very good nano Iwagumi, Inspirational infact.
Aqua cubes aren't too expencive, the only problem with them is that the filtration and the lighting is sub-par for anything but the lowest light plants.

 

[hollyp0p]

Iwagumi is DIFFICULT if you can master it your a better aquascaper than me.
George Farmer did a very good nano Iwagumi, Inspirational infact.
Aqua cubes aren't too expencive, the only problem with them is that the filtration and the lighting is sub-par for anything but the lowest light plants.

what sort of wattage light do you need for something tiny?
have you seen those super mini aqua box aquariums by fish r fun? they're only 5.5 litres!
I think the rock part of iwagumi would be ok, but getting plants to sit just right would take a lot of mastering!
Does it also work on the 'golden rule' like a good painting?
It's like a section of 3, I think it's mathematical if done properly, a certain percentage to each part I guess, and there must always be an angle.

 

[garuf]

I'll find my notes on Iwagumi, yes the best iwagumis have golden section, its all about of setting and what not.
From memory, I believe it goes 1 big stone which symbolises buddah then 2 smaller rocks praying to him.
ADA use 24watts of power compact over their smaller tanks, nano's need a lot more light than people assume, Rex grigg has an explanation as to why over on his website. it's to do with minimum light threshold.
I haven't seen those no, the cubes I like are by superfish, they're a great starting point for someone just getting into aqua scaping in my eyes. It's just a shame that finding lighting for them is so difficult.

 

[garuf]

http/artofaquascaping.blogspot.com/
http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/10/aquasc...es-iwagumi.html
http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/07/iwagum...animations.html
http/www.google.com/custom?domains=www.a...D%3A1&hl=en

http/www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/02/iwagum...-aquariums.html

 

[hollyp0p]

I'll find my notes on Iwagumi, yes the best iwagumis have golden section, its all about of setting and what not.
From memory, I believe it goes 1 big stone which symbolises buddah then 2 smaller rocks praying to him.
ADA use 24watts of power compact over their smaller tanks, nano's need a lot more light than people assume, Rex grigg has an explanation as to why over on his website. it's to do with minimum light threshold.
I haven't seen those no, the cubes I like are by superfish, they're a great starting point for someone just getting into aqua scaping in my eyes. It's just a shame that finding lighting for them is so difficult.

Awww excellent cheers
I found a good website with examples....it's all in japanese though...lol...but it's interesting to look at the mini rock formations!
Yeah there are so many overhanging lights and stuff now, but I don't know if they are all limited to bulb power by only being able to get one kind, I haven't looked too hard into it yet.
I have a feeling the light in my rekord 60 isn't quite strong enough for most plants, but that's just a case of getting a brighter bulb

 

[garuf]

Your lucky in that your rekord is more or less perfect for the budget upgrades that are doing the rounds at the moment, 2x24watt hot5, hi-light-tastic! you could even go lidless and run a single 70watt metal halide.
I like rekord 60's I was going to get one but the seller pulled out last minute the dimensions are great for a tester tank, lights are easy to find, filters big enough are easy to get too and the dimensions mean they're great for aquascaping.

 

[hollyp0p]

Your lucky in that your rekord is more or less perfect for the budget upgrades that are doing the rounds at the moment, 2x24watt hot5, hi-light-tastic! you could even go lidless and run a single 70watt metal halide.
I like rekord 60's I was going to get one but the seller pulled out last minute the dimensions are great for a tester tank, lights are easy to find, filters big enough are easy to get too and the dimensions mean they're great for aquascaping.

I got it for a nice deal too, complete with stand, partly cos LFS had it on offer (the tank i ordered before got broken in the post, but was smaller, but decided rekord was worth a bit extra) and because mine was ex-display...well, basically it sat in the LFS partly set up already...lol.
I'd go lidless, but betta's are unfortunately known jumpers....lol....so not a current option with Odin in there
I've not had a problem with my filter yet, had to ditch it's heater as it wasn't powerful enough to get above 25 degrees C when I needed to shift a case of ich, well i say ditch, it's in my cycling quaratine tank!
They are lovely tanks for setting up....I can't wait to get more plants and pack it out now, it's looking so limp at the moment, had
so many fish problems and meds that it paid the price on a few plants, my java fern has had so many babies now so I've started taking those off and attaching them to my bogwood, I reakon some hairgrass to thicken it up a bit...and some more vallis and longer grass types at the back
the plans are endless!!!!!!!!

 

[garuf]

I don't like internal filters but that's just me, If I was doing a rekord I'd use a eheim 2215/2217, which ever I could get my hands on, loads of room for error and massive water turn over. oh and you can run a external heater.

I'm guessing your sig is your tank? I'd switch out the gravel for something smaller in size and then add a good substrate like tropicas. Id then go mad with loads of wood and do a triangular layout with loads of low light plants, I'd still run hi light so they stay small though.

 

[hollyp0p]

I don't like internal filters but that's just me, If I was doing a rekord I'd use a eheim 2215/2217, which ever I could get my hands on, loads of room for error and massive water turn over. oh and you can run a external heater.

I'm guessing your sig is your tank? I'd switch out the gravel for something smaller in size and then add a good substrate like tropicas. Id then go mad with loads of wood and do a triangular layout with loads of low light plants, I'd still run hi light so they stay small though.

yeah that's fine, this game's very much down to personal preference
never even thought about external heaters....what price do they start at?
The thing for now that i like about the rekord 60 is the fact that it keeps heater and filter all together, so no unsightly stuff at the back, just need to get my black backing on!
If I'd had the money I'd want some black substrate for the base, next time I have enough I might just do it, how hard, and detrimental to the fish is it changing the substrate?
I love the wood thing...mmmmmmm....been trying to find a more cave like piece to go in, I love the bamboo look too, and toying with tannins atm too.....as i said before....i could shop endlessly for my rekord!
what low light plants do ya recommend?

 

[garuf]

Anything on plantgeek in the low light section
I would say that changing the substrate would be no worse than swapping them into a new tank as long as you keep your filter matured you should be fine.
If your going to go to the hassle of stripping down to replace the gravel its worth waiting, getting everything you will need or want, and starting as a fully planted tank.
Do research, Look into what kind of scape you want, get all your equipment and hardscape, plants and tools then give it ago. There's no end of people on here who will help you out if this is the way you want to go.
My external heater cost me £26 from hydor, I believe they're in a range from £25-£35, they're well worth the money.

 

[hollyp0p]

Anything on plantgeek in the low light section
I would say that changing the substrate would be no worse than swapping them into a new tank as long as you keep your filter matured you should be fine.
If your going to go to the hassle of stripping down to replace the gravel its worth waiting, getting everything you will need or want, and starting as a fully planted tank.
Do research, Look into what kind of scape you want, get all your equipment and hardscape, plants and tools then give it ago. There's no end of people on here who will help you out if this is the way you want to go.
My external heater cost me £26 from hydor, I believe they're in a range from £25-£35, they're well worth the money.

I think I'm gonna do that, I get pretty obsessive over projects (i think due to my creative designing nature) so if I take maybe even a couple of months to plan this, save up, get bits as you said (also get a job again to pay for it all )
then go for it!!!
Not only for the plants but I think Odin my betta would prefer a slightly finer substrate too, he's a big fan of foraging through the gravel, especially when there were danio fry in there
I reakon black or very dark chocolate brown substrate!

 

[garuf]

Post up a journal and discus your ideas on there, I find having a template of a tank with golden section marked on helps no end in planning a tank.
Job hunting sucks but that's the nature of the game, it's worth taking a job doing something crap and keep looking for a better job, that's why I make pizza's for a living.

 

[hollyp0p]

Post up a journal and discus your ideas on there, I find having a template of a tank with golden section marked on helps no end in planning a tank.
Job hunting sucks but that's the nature of the game, it's worth taking a job doing something crap and keep looking for a better job, that's why I make pizza's for a living.

Yeah I will do....I'll doodle some stuff down first I think, and take some ideas from pretty tanks I like
Yeah I just finished the worst job EVER about 2 weeks ago....unfortunately needed to money too much to leave before my temp contract was up.....but i am SOOOOO glad it was a temp contract!!!
trying to get something basic like customer service at the moment as it's more money than i was on, and ideally PT so I can do my artwork and stuff alongside working to pay the bills, etc.
And of course feed my fish habit

 

[aaronnorth]

Aaron, I'd like to be a building too .

... yeah, wouldn't we all lol

 

[garuf]

only teasing aaron.
I should be planting tomorrow, the wood of the scape is likely to change, I'm having real difficulty to get it to form a cohesive scape without shifting so If I can't somehow attach it all together I'll get something else.