Macro algae iwagumi aquascape

[MiamiAG]

Hi everyone -

I'm one of those aquarists that loves both the freshwater planted and reef side. I'm also the admin over at ScapeCrunch, a forum for freshwater planted aquarium hobbyists.

One of our members just set up a beautiful macro algae saltwater tank using a Japanese stone aquascape style called iwagumi. It was popularized by Takashi Amano for freshwater planted aquarium aquascaping but more and more it is used in the saltwater side.

Here is his set up. Those are green star polyps simulating a lawn. Should look great when they start to come out.

You can read more about it here if you're interested: Saltwater iwagumi - UNS 45U

 

[reefsaver]

Optiwhite <3 I know I must be crazy but I would drill the overflow hehe. This is absolutely stunning anyway x)

 

[WheatToast]

Hi everyone -

I'm one of those aquarists that loves both the freshwater planted and reef side. I'm also the admin over at ScapeCrunch, a forum for freshwater planted aquarium hobbyists.

One of our members just set up a beautiful macro algae saltwater tank using a Japanese stone aquascape style called iwagumi. It was popularized by Takashi Amano for freshwater planted aquarium aquascaping but more and more it is used in the saltwater side.

Here is his set up. Those are green star polyps simulating a lawn. Should look great when they start to come out.

View attachment 2914697

You can read more about it here if you're interested: Saltwater iwagumi - UNS 45U

Awesome looking build! The atmosphere of the tank exudes so much peace! I am concerned about two things though; some freshwater rocks are known to leech harmful contaminants that are more of an issue saltwater like silicates and heavy metals (though not everyone has issues) and flame scallops often starve in captivity as they require large quantities of phytoplankton (dosing twice a day, perhaps) though the resulting nutrients could benefit the macroalgae in such a sparsely stocked setup. Seagrasses (ex. Halophila decipiens) and low-lying, rooted macroalgae (ex. Caulerpa brachypus) can be used to form carpets on the sand alongside the star polyps (though they can be difficult to come by and seagrasses require DSB's) and livestock like guppies and mangrove trees would be awesome ways of bridging the gap between saltwater and freshwater since they can tolerate both environments.
Thought I would share my thoughts here as well as on the linked forum.

 

[MiamiAG]

Optiwhite <3 I know I must be crazy but I would drill the overflow hehe. This is absolutely stunning anyway x)

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[MiamiAG]

Awesome looking build! The atmosphere of the tank exudes so much peace! I am concerned about two things though; some freshwater rocks are known to leech harmful contaminants that are more of an issue saltwater like silicates and heavy metals (though not everyone has issues) and flame scallops often starve in captivity as they require large quantities of phytoplankton (dosing twice a day, perhaps) though the resulting nutrients could benefit the macroalgae in such a sparsely stocked setup. Seagrasses (ex. Halophila decipiens) and low-lying, rooted macroalgae (ex. Caulerpa brachypus) can be used to form carpets on the sand alongside the star polyps (though they can be difficult to come by and seagrasses require DSB's) and livestock like guppies and mangrove trees would be awesome ways of bridging the gap between saltwater and freshwater since they can tolerate both environments.
Thought I would share my thoughts here as well as on the linked forum.

Great comments! I hadn't thought about the leaching for freshwater rocks and I know nothing about the flame scallops.

 

[Tom.E]

Hi everyone -

I'm one of those aquarists that loves both the freshwater planted and reef side. I'm also the admin over at ScapeCrunch, a forum for freshwater planted aquarium hobbyists.

One of our members just set up a beautiful macro algae saltwater tank using a Japanese stone aquascape style called iwagumi. It was popularized by Takashi Amano for freshwater planted aquarium aquascaping but more and more it is used in the saltwater side.

Here is his set up. Those are green star polyps simulating a lawn. Should look great when they start to come out.

View attachment 2914697

You can read more about it here if you're interested: Saltwater iwagumi - UNS 45U

Also would like to mention that some of the nusiance macroalgaes in SW make nice ground cover growth like some of the aquatic mosses you see in Amano planted tanks.

Couple of my native tanks.

 

[Piscans]

Also would like to mention that some of the nusiance macroalgaes in SW make nice ground cover growth like some of the aquatic mosses you see in Amano planted tanks.

Couple of my native tanks.

View attachment 2917302

View attachment 2917303

i imagine you do not keep tangs.

 

[Tom.E]

i imagine you do not keep tangs.

LOL, nope. Strictly marine planted tanks from Jamaica bay NY. First tank designed for northern pipefish, second for the bay invertebrates.

 

[Northwest_Scapes_]

Yoooo this is Hiep's tank! That's awesome to see it be spread over here! (I don't think he's on R2R)

If anyone is interested, here's his Instagram , he posted some recent pics and the Pictus blenny in there is amazing. I think he still has the title of "Best Aquascape in America" from taking 4th in the IAPLC that one year (I could be wrong though, perhaps someone else in the US took that spot).

 

[MiamiAG]

Here's an update from the original setup that the aquascaper posted on my forum. Link in first post.

 

[MiamiAG]

Yoooo this is Hiep's tank! That's awesome to see it be spread over here! (I don't think he's on R2R)

If anyone is interested, here's his Instagram , he posted some recent pics and the Pictus blenny in there is amazing. I think he still has the title of "Best Aquascape in America" from taking 4th in the IAPLC that one year (I could be wrong though, perhaps someone else in the US took that spot).

Steven Chong holds the title for the Best Aquascape in America with a 2nd place IAPLC win in 2020. His work was called Undying: