Criticize the rockwork for my planted tank!!!

[jcardona1]

Ok, so I went today to pick out some rock at my local landscape supply yard. They called this Local Moss Rock, and costs $0.20/lb. spent a whopping $32 on all the rocks pictured. much better than ADA's crazy $4/lb

anyway, i played with the arrangement and i came up with this, i think it looks good. let me know what you guys think! i figured since i can probably never do the work of Takashi Amano i might as well take some of his cues and make it my own.

for plants, i plan on using Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) for ground cover, Echinodorus Tenellus for the midlevel, in between the rock work, and Echinodorus Angustifolius for the background, against the back wall. How doest this plant list sound?

anyways, please let me know what you guys think of the current setup:

 

[slowef]

Lookin good JC! You broke the tripod out and everything!! Nice!

That room is getting more baller by the week too!

 

[geeimatree]

dam this is gonna look NICE when plants are in

 

[jcardona1]

thx for the feedback! so you guys think the rocks look good as they are?

 

[oOMO3NOo]

looks really good not sure if you are going for a specific style if you are going for a iwagumi style (your plant lists resemble this style) it maybe a little crowded for that style but for any other style it looks really good.

this is a few pictures of a gathering that amano put on that had a iwagumi hardscape contest and it gives a few good rock hardscapes that could give you more ideas (if thats the style your going for)

what lighting did you choose?

 

[benito1188]

in my opinion, if your not putting any tall or long plants in there, i would place the taller rocks in the middle, and start working out the landscape from there.

oh and i wonder if theres anyway you can "elevate" the substrate abit?--i think that would be awesome; i would also take a couple of rocks out, less is more. but thats JUST ME, do your own thing, enjoy creating your aquaforrest, you never know how it will turn out till your finish. good luck man, keep the pics comming C;

 

[jcardona1]

looks really good not sure if you are going for a specific style if you are going for a iwagumi style (your plant lists resemble this style) it maybe a little crowded for that style but for any other style it looks really good.

this is a few pictures of a gathering that amano put on that had a iwagumi hardscape contest and it gives a few good rock hardscapes that could give you more ideas (if thats the style your going for)

what lighting did you choose?

thx for the comments. yeah i decided that im not really going for any specific style as i dont want to be restricted in my design. i decided to just do what looks good and what fits in the budget!!!! its a lot easier that way

as for lighting, im gonna go with a 4 bulb T5 HO setup, total of 216 watts. not sure what brand yet though

 

[Nic]

looks okay to me.... when you add the plants you will see what needs to be moved or make anychanges to keep it looking good...

 

[jcardona1]

in my opinion, if your not putting any tall or long plants in there, i would place the taller rocks in the middle, and start working out the landscape from there.

actually, i was planning on putting some tall plants in there. the background plants (see my first post) reach about 16" in height and i think will work with the design

 

[oOMO3NOo]

yes that is very true i think the hardscape looks really good it gives you room for carpet as well as some midground in the midle or front sides and taller plants in the back i think it is a good layout.

i dont know if you have it listed anywhere else but what is the tank equipment?