Mountain Like Appearance

What is the best way to build a mountain like scape on one side of the tank? I'm getting a 125G tank for my birthday and I'm planning the aquascaping. TIA!!

 

Hi, sounds like you have an exciting project coming up.
I’ve moved this to the Aquascaping board, we have some brilliant aquascapers here so hopefully they’ll have some great tips for you, don’t forget the pics as your tank ‘scape progresses

 

Hi, sounds like you have an exciting project coming up.
I’ve moved this to the Aquascaping board, we have some brilliant aquascapers here so hopefully they’ll have some great tips for you, don’t forget the pics as your tank ‘scape progresses

Thanks!!

 

Are you talking 3D background or some kind of insert?

 

-Mak- Nigel95 check out their threads

 

Are you talking 3D background or some kind of insert?

No more like using aquarium rocks? I just don't know which ones come in such large sizes

 

Honestly a 125g mountain that is gonna cost a fortune on hardscape. It is very complex to scape that. Also on one side won't really make impact IMO. I like mountain scapes in nanos but won't really do it in a "big tank".

Here an idea of my latest mountain scape 36L / 10 gal

Big tanks like 120x45x45 or something like 150x60x45 cm are very good dimensions to get top rankings in contests but..... they costs lots of money in terms of hardscape and plants every rescape and of course all the equipment. I personally would go a lot smaller and buy as much cool hardscape as you can over a few years. Then when you have a nice stock you can go the big route! I currently have a 80cm and would love an 120cm tank but no space for it. I will in a few years If I sell my nano next to it. In the mean while I will keep buying hardscape so that when I upgrade I have plenty. Remember with aquascaping more hardscape means a better scape! You need like 2-3x the amount of stones that goes into your scape to make something beautiful. I mean you can do with less but the result will be less.

 

Honestly a 125g mountain that is gonna cost a fortune on hardscape. It is very complex to scape that. Also on one side won't really make impact IMO. I like mountain scapes in nanos but won't really do it in a "big tank".

Here an idea of my latest mountain scape 36L / 10 gal

Big tanks like 120x45x45 or something like 150x60x45 cm are very good dimensions to get top rankings in contests but..... they costs lots of money in terms of hardscape and plants every rescape and of course all the equipment. I personally would go a lot smaller and buy as much cool hardscape as you can over a few years. Then when you have a nice stock you can go the big route! I currently have a 80cm and would love an 120cm tank but no space for it. I will in a few years If I sell my nano next to it. In the mean while I will keep buying hardscape so that when I upgrade I have plenty. Remember with aquascaping more hardscape means a better scape! You need like 2-3x the amount of stones that goes into your scape to make something beautiful. I mean you can do with less but the result will be less.

Hmmm maybe I'll rethink my idea. Thanks!

 

I'm going to be honest...it's going to be tough, and pricey to do this. The bigger the tank the more costly it becomes.

I think you should look at doing something like a bunch of drift wood with some rocks. It would look more natural and sexier this way.

 

One thing, and I don't know if it is applicable to the OP, is rock is not in short supply in Alaska. But even then as Nigel95 points out, you need 3X the amount of hardscape that you'll actually end up using so that you have enough to choose from. I used to lay rock for a living and it was the same thing, you dig thru the pile to find the right one and that means you have to have a lot. If rock IS cheap and available where you are maybe consider making a mockup of your tank. Basically frame up a box with no sides or maybe just a backside that is the size of your aquarium. Then practice and play with that. It's not easy to envision sometimes what things will look like until you start playing with it.

 

One thing, and I don't know if it is applicable to the OP, is rock is not in short supply in Alaska. But even then as Nigel95 points out, you need 3X the amount of hardscape that you'll actually end up using to that you have enough to choose from. I used to lay rock for a living and it was the same thing, you dig thru the pile to find the right one and that means you have to have a lot. If rock IS cheap and available where you are maybe consider making a mockup of your tank. Basically frame up a box with no sides or maybe just a backside that is the size of your aquarium. Then practice and play with that. It's not easy to envision sometimes what things will look like until you start playing with it.

This is an excellent idea which I always use before going to the real tank. I try different things and when the idea is clear I move on to the real tank and try to fine tune till I am 100% satisfied.

More info about a scape box and some tips

 

One thing, and I don't know if it is applicable to the OP, is rock is not in short supply in Alaska. But even then as Nigel95 points out, you need 3X the amount of hardscape that you'll actually end up using to that you have enough to choose from. I used to lay rock for a living and it was the same thing, you dig thru the pile to find the right one and that means you have to have a lot. If rock IS cheap and available where you are maybe consider making a mockup of your tank. Basically frame up a box with no sides or maybe just a backside that is the size of your aquarium. Then practice and play with that. It's not easy to envision sometimes what things will look like until you start playing with it.

This is brilliant thanks!!
I live in AK and you're right it's not in short supply so I suppose I could go out and look

 

Agree with everything Nigel said. Alternatively you could do a large iwagumI - they are like mountain scapes but I would think use significantly less rock. Even so, in a 125 that still amounts to a lot. The carpet also almost always requires higher light and CO2, but with enough research and dedication it can be done.

Aquascape Analysis of George Farmer's One-Pot IwagumI - ScapeFu