Iwagumi Shrimp Nano

[Gogi]

Hello everyone and anyone who stops by to check out this thread.

Well in case you don't know I have a severe case of MTS like many of you in this wonderful community. Since there is no known cure for MTS my girlfriend had to step in and I was forbidden from getting anymore tanks. As it turns out my girlfriend is an enabler and got me a Fluval ebi tank for Christmas( good thing I gave up on trying to understand the female mind or else my head would have exploded). I jumped for joy and proclaimed my ever lasting love to my gf and dwarf shrimp lol.

Enough intro now for the fun stuff. I decided to attempt an Iwagumi stlye tank. Iwagumi means rock formation in Japanese. Iwagumi traditionally is used to describe a Japanese rock garden( google it, very interesting stuff). A Iwagumi aqua scape needs at least 3 stones, with one big stone for the focal point. 1 or 2 kinds of plants in order to keep the focus on the stones rather then the plants. Of course these are only guidelines and all aquas capes are open to artistic interruption.

Equipment
AquaClear 20
Eheim Jager 50 watts (need to find a smaller heater)
Fluval CFL 13 watt( might get a second one)

Substrate
Fluval Plant Stratum 8.8lbs (bottom)
Fluval Shrimp Stratum 4lbs (top)

Hardscape
3x Petrified wood

Plants
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae(micro swords)-mid to back ground
Echinodorus tenellus(pygmy chain sword-mid to front ground

Livestock
Betta fish-temporarily kept to keep cycle until I get dwarf shrimp in March
Dwarf shrimp
Nerite snails

[Gogi]

Here are step by step photos of my new set up. I did all this tonight so there will most likely be some changes in the very near, near, and farther near future.
Here is the tank with its default background. It is nice but I cannot use it for Iwagumi style.


Took off the background and used razor blade to remove silicone.


Hardscape setup.


Lilaeopsis brasiliensis My only complaint of the substrate is that it doesn't hold the plants down.

[Gogi]

Echinodorus tenellus


top view. Should always make sure to keep plants moist during planting. Use spray bottle.


I like trying new things. Saw online someone using paper towels to fill tank without disturbing substrate. It worked really well.


Almost half way filled.

[Gogi]

Side view of the tank filled.


I need some lesson on photography and a better camera

[mooveebuff]

That looks really sharp already...I can't wait to see it with the shrimp and Betta in it! And I think your photos look just fine. You're making me regret trading in my 29 gallon setup... Thanks for sharing!

[SomethingIsFishy]

Nice tank! Looking forward to updates...