Hi all, this is my 1st attempt, and I have been getting lots of help from Kieth. I will post a few pics, but 1st, my tank. It is 800x350x450, 2xt8 18watt lights, 1000lph Allpond solutions external filter. 200 watt heaterstat. I started by loading some of the wifes tights with 5mm gravel to use as building blocks for the slopes. Then put 25mm of John Innes no3 over the mounds, capped with 25-40mm of gravel. I then started with the hardscape, Bit too much rockwork in the 1st attempt, then got some advice from someone who has more experience and a better eye. Also put too much DW in. I have now trimmed down on the hardscape and I don't think I am too far off how I want it. Plant list will be a collection from Aquarium Gardens, 2 x Saggitaria Subulata Bunches Foreground 3-15cm Fast easy grower 2 x Vallisnerias Spiralis Bunches 2 x Vallisneria Gigantea Bunches 2 pots of Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus) Background Midground Midground Up to 60cm 20cm-50cm 15-30cm Tall long leaves Giant long leaves Needs attaching to wood/rock 2 x Cryptocoryne (sellers choice) 2 x Stem Plant (sellers choide) 2 x Echinodorus (sellers choice) Foreground/midground Background Mid/Background Easy grower, low maintenace Regular Pruning Required Great center piece or background filler + 5 more potted plants - mix of foreground, midground and background (not pictured) Not too sure about positioning of the plants yet. I also have quite bit of moss collected from a stone wall while out walking in the countryside last week. I was thinking of doing small carpet along the front left and right upto the path in the center. Also have some moss balls, that I was going to open up and attach to the graggy bits on the rockwork. The 1st pic is how it was, 2nd is how it is now. Any comments, good or bad, would be much appreciated . Thankyou Chris.
Hi Chris, These are great rocks - and the rock-scape is stunning! Love it! I would use very tiny plants, in oder to get a landscape scale, which shows really mountains and dead trees....
Thanks for the compliments. The plant list is in my 1st post, not sure where they are going yet but i do want tall plants along the right side and along the back. Going to put some moss on the rockwork tomorrow.
Some really good examples to inspire you a bit: http://glaskastenkunst.de/scapes/ For the beginning your landscape planting should be a bit easier - but you see what I mean with tiny plants...
Ahh - you have been faster - Yes, great! But do not cover all the really well done pebbles and mini rocks.... some carept plants only every now and then will make it look more natural and the landscape will get perspektive and look wide.
Maybe you can translate this text via google translator about perspective: http://glaskastenkunst.de/how-to-do/layout-mit-perspektive/
sounds excellent... you also can bind small part of moss on gravels without cracks, to fix it or put very tiny "anubia nana bonsai" in cracks. (Anubia does not like to be planted in soil, only bend it on stones or wood or just clamp it somewhere between)
Chris Now you can see the reason for coming to GBG I was sure Evelyn could assist you as she has an excellent eye for all planting and design work. Keith
Yes Kieth, thanks for pointing me in this direction. Been reading the articles Moss Maniac fed me, all makes sense about the perspective. I will also be using my leftover rocks and dw to create some small wabi-kusa pots. But that is for the future, just want to get this right 1st and gain some experience.
Chris Post your ideas. My suggestion would be start with the basics and learn as you go by doing that I can guarantee you will make far less mistakes and if you ask first you should not make any mistakes and I can wave goodbye to Mr Mistakes and you will enjoy your Aquascaping far more. Keith
It looks a great start Chris nicely placed rocks. Avoid temptation to alter anything after a pub visit though
