Layout with Hakkai Stones emphasizing a strong water flow and a refreshing feeling

The contour of the Hakkai Stone surface is simple, and it requires high layout skills compared with other Iwagumi materials. When arranging the Hakkai Stones, I resourcefully tilted the stones and created a space based on Sanzon Iwagumi, and focused on expressing a powerful flow of water. And because the exhibition was in summer (“Takashi Amano Exhibition” at Niigata Isetan in 2019), I carefully chose cosmetic sand and aquatic plants in order to give a refreshing feeling as a whole. When Eleocharis vivipara planted in the background, is overgrown, the impression tends to look too dark. Therefore I thinned them out in the maintenance while paying attention to keep the appropriate density in a way that light comes through the Eleocharis vivipara. It would be great if you could feel a stream in summer from the way Barilius bakeri swims at full speed.

DATA
Shooting date: August 28th, 2019(ADA)
Creator: Yusuke Homma
Aquarium: Cube Garden W180×D60×H60(cm)
Lighting: Solar RGB x 3, turned on for 8.5 hours per day
Filter: Super Jet Filter ES-2400(Bio Rio L)
Material: Hakkai Stone
Substrate: Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2, DOOA Tropical River Sand, Power Sand Advance L, Bacter100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC
CO₂: Pollen Glass Beetle 50Ø, 10 bubbles per second via CO₂ Beetle Counter (using Tower)
Aeration: 15.5 hours after the light is turned off using Lily Pipe P-6
Additives: Brighty K, Green Brighty Mineral
Water change: 1/3 once a week
Water quality: Temperature: 25ºC; pH: 6.8; TH: 20 mg/l

Plants
Eleocharis vivipara
Eleocharis acicularis
Helanthium tenellum
Vesicularia sp.

Fish
Barilius bakeri
Crossocheilus oblongus
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

River stone layout with a cool sensation inspired by a riffle in midsummer

This layout was created for “Takashi Amano Exhibition” held at Niigata Isetan in the summer of 2019. It is a Sanzon Iwagumi that can be also described as the origin of Nature Aquarium. I created this layout for people to get a pleasant feeling like a stream in midsummer, suitable for the season when the exhibition was held. In order to give brightness to the whole aquascape, I used cosmetic sand, and carefully arranged stones while thinking about the time passage. In terms of the stone arrangement, because I was inspired by stones sunk in a riffle where the flow of water is strong, I kept tilts of the stones small, and was also particular about the position of rubbles. And in order to eliminate an overwhelming feeling of the stones, the rubbles were rhythmically placed together in the middle, so that the space could appear larger than the actual size. I also chose types of aquatic plants that could give a refreshing feeling and a flow.

 

1 Expression of the foreground
Because it was an aquascape to be exhibited at the event, I created it only with cosmetic sand and Vesicularia sp. to be able to maintain the scenery for a long time.

2 Expression between stones
Because the layout doesn’t have any foreground plants that grow taller, the presence of the stones will not diminish due to the passage of time. I placed more rubbles than usual, and created it in detail.

Arrangement of Vesicularia sp.
I placed small stones while imagining how they rolled down a river with a strong flow of water, and eventually settled down between other stones where a flow of water is slow.