How hard is an iwagumi like tank?

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wisp12343

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Dec 3, 2008
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alright, so i just started a 10 gallon tank with some neon tetras, and im planning on putting in a betta. i currently have 15 watts but thanks to your suggestions im going to try and up my lighting to about 3wpg and doing a diy co2 tank(if neccesary). i really like the iwagumi style of tanks, with some hairgrass and HC. although this is my first tank besides gold fish and a castle. any suggestions? how hard would it be to grow plants like these? im open to any ideas and suggestions!

Thanks!
 
With 3wpg you will need pressurized CO2.HC or glosso is used in iwagumi tanks for carpet cover,and to get them to grow low,you need high light,like at least 3wpg,and pressurized CO2.You will also need rocks,which right now I cannot think of what they are called.Rimless tanks,and lots of glass,like glass CO2 diffusers and lilly pipes are used in iwagumi tanks as well.I am sure there is someone else here who can give you more,and more accurate info on this style of tank,but this was a start.
 
A 3 liter bottle with DIY soultion should be just fine for a 10 gallon tank. The type of tanks you where thinking about were ADA tanks/ eqipment.
 
With a smaller tank like 10 gallons DIY co2 should be fine. Here's a link to get you started on researching DIY co2:

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

You should investigate a fertilizer dosing regime as jpappy suggested. Using dry fertilizers will be cheaper in the long run. There's premixed fertilizers on the market that are more expensive, but user friendly. Seachem makes some, as do other companies. Some dry fert regimes inclue EI dosing and PPS-pro, among others. They are all based on providing your plants with Macro nutrients and Micro nutrients.

Here's a link about EI dosing:
http://www.abaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2

And here's a link about PPS-pro dosing:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/pps-analysis-feedback/39491-newbie-guide-pps-pro.html

For substrate you should look into a fine substrate like sand, soil, or a layered effect. Here's a link to someones journal about building an iwagumi-style tank:

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquascaping/31643-3-gal-basic-iwagumi.html

The above link is a great thread with a lot of info on how to position the rocks in the set up. IMO the hardest part of an iwagumi tank is getting the right size/shape rocks in the proper position! Also, an iwagumi tank usually has small schooling fish as inhabitants, I don't know if a betta will fit the look of the tank.
 
HC is not an easy plant to grow, and iwagumis are probably some of the hardest layouts to pull off/maintain. I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of the ones you saw were running pressurized co2 and some serious lighting. 15w over a 10g isn't much though, so you'd be limited to using things like mosses, anubias, crypts, and the like to pull off the same effect. I bet with some careful planning and plant choice you could pull off a pretty nice low tech iwagumi though.
 
Inka4040 said:
HC is not an easy plant to grow, and iwagumis are probably some of the hardest layouts to pull off/maintain. I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of the ones you saw were running pressurized co2 and some serious lighting. 15w over a 10g isn't much though, so you'd be limited to using things like mosses, anubias, crypts, and the like to pull off the same effect. I bet with some careful planning and plant choice you could pull off a pretty nice low tech iwagumi though.
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The OP is considering an upgrade in lighting...to something like 3 wpg.
 
It might. You could look into a less demanding foreground plant, such as using Riccia or flame moss. You could keep it low light even and try using anubias nana petite or moss/riccia in the forground and larger "grassy" plants for the backround like vals or Zephyranthes candida....idk all i can suggest is lots and lots of research.
 
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