The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

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for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

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Ahamed Mukdhar - 7 years ago

I am a great fan of james findley,after seeing his videos i wished to do aquascaping...

Dalton cok - 7 years ago

i never knew there was fish tank theory

Dalton cok - 7 years ago

i didn't say it was strange i said i didn't know about it

Aleph Null - 7 years ago

its just art theory placed onto tanks how is that so strange?

mtbadvance - 7 years ago

I have watched all your videos! I'm craving more! Need to learn!

Ваня Смирнов - 7 years ago

как то не очень...хуевасто

Nigel Aquascaping - 7 years ago

Nice James

Scott Cook - 7 years ago

This kind of stone is well out of my price range. Looks great though.

Erhan Namaldı - 7 years ago

02:53 why hello there robocop!!

Narniee - 7 years ago

Is there any smaller tanks? I have just purchased myself a 30liter tank and im looking for inspo :) Thanks

ich bims - 8 years ago

this looks like shit

10. comment for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

Leon Everetts - 8 years ago

Could you or do you have videos of what the maintenance would be in detail?

Jerry Mccarthy - 8 years ago

Pretentious BS !!

Monkey .D. ED - 8 years ago

The hill has flattened...!!

Joshua Liang - 8 years ago

will the newspaper that u squished add chemicals in the water?

ccloop - 8 years ago

Very very ugly this time indeed. These Sado-Akadama Stones are not suitable to Iwagumi layout.

Hans Thegerman - 8 years ago

cool story

Neill Jansen van Vuuren - 8 years ago

Thanks for going the extra mile with these vids

Neill Jansen van Vuuren - 8 years ago

Really enjoy these videos, I always watch them when I want to relax and get amazing Inspiration

OriginalMindTrick - 8 years ago

The background is the first and only time I have to object to the choice by master Findley. The green light and the reddish stone clash.

Sean Meister - 7 years ago

I totally agree with you...I was in love with it all UNTIL he put on that green background (which looked like a major pain in the ass) ...I feel it totally washes out the plants inside and is a visually a really odd choice...but, to each their own,...he is the artist and this is his creation. I thought a black background would really make the whole scene 'pop'....blue would be interesting too, more in line with the 'pop art' theme. Maybe a green background where light couldn't get through would have helped this tank look not so 'green algae infested' like.

SuperKit1991 - 8 years ago

+OriginalMindTrick Yeah, it looks tacky!

Jordan Post - 8 years ago

Do you use ADA everything?

Karim Swift - 8 years ago

+Jordan Post he was commissioned to do so check 0:23

Vip Keys - 8 years ago

Magnifioso! what exactly makes up the green background? thanks

20. comment for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

Yomo809 Lora - 9 years ago

lo felicito por su trabajo tan profesional,le pregunto si no lo tienen traducido al español?

Jordan Post - 8 years ago

No hablo Ingles?

cicco - 9 years ago

i love the green background i Think it's super...

Thomas yates - 9 years ago

Honestly, all of this seems a bit like common sense, aside from the type of plants, which could easily be determined with some simple research. As far as all the "rules" go, Meh...seems more likely to reduce creativity than inspire.
I have an empty 200 gallon tank sitting here waiting for a purpose. I've never set up a planted tank before, but i'd be willing to challenge this man to a bet. I could create a more inspirational and jaw dropping scene. Just need a CO2 set up.....

With that said, i liked his tank, just not the limitations the narrator mentioned.

Fish Tales - 9 years ago

I like my unsightly air stone bubbler and would rather not have to deal
with a Co2 diffuser. My fish are happy and healthy which is all that
matters.

The Awperator - 7 years ago

Fish Tales air stones dont disperse the co2 in fine enough bubbles. it wont really benefit your plants at all

Michelea McZeal - 9 years ago

outstanding videos. when will you be doing more. very relaxing!

TheGreenMachineLtd - 9 years ago

We have several more currently in the making- to be published in the future. Can't say exactly when though :)

Nguyen Huy Thong - 9 years ago

I like your video very much, each time I watch it I feel relax. Thank you!

CompuDude-KMan - 9 years ago

I love the tank, but not the background. Black backgrounds or frosted white backgrounds, depending on what substrate is used and what plants and fish are in mind, are usually my preference. Give the Warhol tribute, perhaps a blue background would have been better? It would have given a much more colorful pop, reminiscent of Warhol's heavy use of primary colors, and provided much more contrast to the green plants, instead of the green-on-green muddle the current choice gives (not to mention being overly-similar to algae).

R H - 10 years ago

Ugly tubes though.

Pizz izle - 10 years ago

"And 7, ring out the news paper into your tank.. and take out all the plastic that we so pointlessly used."

The Awperator - 7 years ago

Pizz izle the plastic is something i use myself. But yeah the newspaper made me double-take

Pizz izle - 8 years ago

+Ironiic zero
You're right, the plastic idea makes sense.. I should have only made fun of the news paper..

Step 8... Kill your fish with the ink and chemicals you just squeezed out of the newspaper

Ironiic zero - 8 years ago

+Pizz “Pizzizle” izle doesn't make this method useless.

a bowl could press to hard on the carpet plants and damage it. plastic bags are lighter. also the plastic bag let's the water flow more smoothly.

Marcus Vinícius - 9 years ago

+Pizz izle Agree

Pizz izle - 9 years ago

+Laura Pilgrim Just saying, there are other ways to have minimal disturbance such as placing a bowl or a plate under the water stream . The method he used probably creates more disturbance and more of a mess lol.

Laura - 9 years ago

The plastic was used so that the water wouldn't mess up the whole setup. Nothing more pointless than creating a beautiful tank and then destroying it.

Piotr P - 10 years ago

Hello. I'm just wondering, James is always adding many extra fertilizers at the beginning. What happends after 5-6 months, do we have to add something more to the plants, because I think that they get used to that extra. What's your stand on this mates ?

30. comment for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

CoralMan24 - 10 years ago

what is the material the TGM supports are made of ?????

OriginalMindTrick - 8 years ago

+CoralMan24
Search for corrugated plastic.

Sanjay Mukherjee - 10 years ago

Thank you very much, it was a help, i can try with other inert plastics............

Sanjay Mukherjee - 10 years ago

Where do we get these TGM supports or are there any other material we can use?

sorhsee - 10 years ago

The tgm substrate supports are able to be bought off the green machine's website. They're used to quickly bank up substrate so it doesn't fall when you make a hill. You can also use inert plastics like acrylic board. Just any large plastic sheet really. Make sure it doesn't affect water chemistry, though.

Sanjay Mukherjee - 10 years ago

Great!

Shehan Karu - 10 years ago

are there any videos of him showing how he maintains after the period of natural order expires? there's plenty of videos about making new one's but rarely some maintaining.

Mack Edinger - 7 years ago

Shehan Karu trim the plants, and do small water changes.other than occasional liquid fertilizer,idk what other maintenance could be required

lucada32 - 10 years ago

Hey, are you using a filter, if yes, what's the name?

SonOfNye - 10 years ago

Do I really need to drop 500 dollars on a light system to pull something like that?

DEB HARDIN - 10 years ago

I think this tank is beautiful. What brilliance!

Алексей Бирюков - 10 years ago

по русски можно что небуть

gakingsnake - 10 years ago

I can't see anything even remotely "Warholish" about this.
It's beautiful but don't try to make it sound like more than it is.

Yann Bandy - 10 years ago

Is there an ADA supplier in the USA, and where could they be reached? I've never seen any ADA products in the US Midwest region. Is there an American equivalent to ADA products you could recommend?

jfishie69 - 10 years ago

you can buy them online at adana-usa.com (aqua forest aquarium). However, I only live about 30 minutes away from their store in SF so I have never had to order online from them before.

ben chi - 10 years ago

hemianthiscnlhdohao cuba makes an ideal plant.....

Rowan W - 10 years ago

i like the way he said "he" the whole time you know its him narrating LOL

brian Gore - 10 years ago

no, it isn't actually the same person narrating

popolynn2 - 10 years ago

tgm substrate supports

YOU MEAN CARDBOARD

Aaron16 - 9 years ago

Corrugated plastic actually, You can get a 4x8' at the hardware store for like $20

Arul - 10 years ago

Thanks for the video. Great work!

BlueExelcior - 10 years ago

The newspaper would have added deadly chemicals to the water very amateur

Ironiic zero - 8 years ago

no a professional aquascaper would make a noob move.

use your brain

MaelstromFilm - 9 years ago

+ILTK Lol nah, what does he look like, a professional? He definitely doesn't have aquascaping as his main source of income. Seriously though I wish I was so good that people would pay me to build aquascapes.

StopMinecraftVIOLENCE - 9 years ago

Those "deadly chemicals" would be cleaned out the system by the filter long before fish were added, dumbass.

ReclusiveMountainMan - 10 years ago

I'm wondering if the TGM substrate Supports become visible over time. That would look horrible.

Jordan Post - 8 years ago

No. I don't think so.

TheGreenMachineLtd - 10 years ago

They are usually covered with plant growth but sometimes they do and can easily be re-covered with gravels or substrate.

Oleg Gavrylenko - 10 years ago

Hi James,Oleg here,very nice scape!

TheGreenMachineLtd - 10 years ago

Thank you!

Emad Adnan - 10 years ago

I cant believe after 5 months you didn't clean such a small aquarium with all these waste materials from fishes.

brian Gore - 10 years ago

they dont need to clean it. The tank was stocked with Red Crystal shrimp. they consume the waste and other materials in the tank.

aquaticsklo - 10 years ago

Does someone go around cleaning the oceans? A natural tank should require very little maintenance.

Basem Qreieyeh - 10 years ago

great job.

50. comment for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

Utku Deniz - 10 years ago

good

bataleon - 10 years ago

lol, why didn't you move the light?

James Yu - 10 years ago

I don't think Iwagumi would utilize the aquarium center. His pieces are usually off center aren't they? They use the 1/3 display method.

The Awperator - 7 years ago

James Yu iwagumi is simply an aquascape with only rocks, no driftwood.

Wouter De Wolf - 10 years ago

What would be the cost of this aquarim , heater, filter, lighting, plants, products and fish? (basically everything) How far would 500 USD get me?

MaelstromFilm - 10 years ago

While ReclusiveMountainMan is correct, there are many alternatives to TheGreenMachine's stuff. Petco is having a dollar per gallon sale at the end of this month, so thats a 40 gallon tank for 40 dollars. Finnex makes a good light for just this sort of thing for around 80 I believe. ADA aquascaping sells their top notch substrate for a fairly affordable price. You can buy many high quality plants at petsmart (just make sure they are aquatic first by looking them up, as they sell semi aquatic plants too) and save-on-crafts.com sells good driftwood for dirt cheap. Green leaf aquariums has good priced fertilizer packs. c02 is the most expensive part to me. A 5 lb canister runs about 50 dollars, and you can find a good Aquatek regulator on amazon for around 90, c02 tubing for 15 (also from aquatek) a glass diffuser for 10. Beyond that a heater is about 30, an eheim filter is about 100, and you should probably buy some cheap tools on amazon for planting (scissors, panting tongs etc) and a drop checker can go for as little as 7 dollars. A solid setup about this size could probably go as little as 650-700 if you really shop around, which is probably what the green machine's aquarium costs.

ReclusiveMountainMan - 10 years ago

not very far. ;) That light along is about that amount (not including the light stand).

Patsplattheredstonisist - 11 years ago

Hello TGM. I love this scape and am getting this tank in november, but i would like to hear your opinions on how you stock tanks or choose what to stock them with, i am packed with plant knowledge, and i am fair with fish knowledge but it would be great to hear how you stock a tank, after all, i am a pro overstocker. XD

Patsplattheredstonisist - 11 years ago

listen, the plastic background is not ornamental, it is so you dont see the equipment behind the tank and also to contrast againts the thinks inside the tank to make them appear better and emphasis them, and like Francisco Avendaño said, make one better if you think its not good.

Arya Putra - 11 years ago

I agreed with him. You should make a maintenance video, so we can make used out of it..by the way thank you for this wonderful video.. :)

ALAN C. - 11 years ago

n newspaper ink in water is good? just slowly flow water, geez

ALAN C. - 11 years ago

advice, turn off that music.

exv152 - 11 years ago

I like the iwagumi idea, but the primary stone is not well placed, or just isn't right for its intended role. The square top is distracting from the overall harmony. Also avoid large leaf plants for iwagumis, as they throw off the scale, and the green background doesn't work.

RobitskiStudios - 11 years ago

Yes, I have a couple for various 'spraying' jobs. You can find them in a variety of sizes from garden centres and hardware shops. :)

AZs OOBuck - 11 years ago

LOL...

Ace Aquascapes - 11 years ago

would it be advisable to remove the light while setting up?

Waah 2 - 11 years ago

what that thing your using at 8:53 ? it looks very handy, i would like to buy this too

scotspurs100 - 11 years ago

Won't the chemicals from the newspaper ink bleed into the water???

Kimsour Phann - 11 years ago

Come out of, where can I buy one of those?

Kimsour Phann - 11 years ago

Hi there, what kind of water filter container is that? And the tube the bubbles

COB - 11 years ago

Did you put newpaper on top of the plastic wrap? If so, what happens when the paper gets soaked? Don't you get ink in the water?

k9feces - 11 years ago

I like the background

Hugo Pablo - 11 years ago

That black square in the middle of everything looks very very horrible

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

Yes.

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

We love this stand! If you want to know anything else about it give us a call.

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

There are no maintenance videos currently. Thanks for the feedback, it helps us improve :)

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

We can ship our products to the US. The only things we don't ship are ADA goods because there are already retailers there so you can go to them for those products. Let us know what you want and we can find the cheapest shipping quote for you.

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

Hi, sorry for the late reply. If you are shopping with us call our store to go through what you need. Otherwise read through the articles on our website to get an idea.

zjowaaan - 11 years ago

are you dutch? you have that accent

Esdras Souza - 11 years ago

Olá sou do Brasil e gostei muito do seu trabalho sua sensibilidade é fantástica, parabéns! Poderia informar que tipo de material é esse que você usa para organizar as pedras, essa plaquinha preta?

Kegado - 11 years ago

do you still feed fishes that is in a planted aquarium?

mersf559 - 11 years ago

what is that brand of fish tank?

nathan perlman - 11 years ago

i think its just a display stand, i think they sell some in their store but i havent checked

HigherPlanes - 11 years ago

ehhh, not bad.

memo - 11 years ago

hello, can you please do a review for this stand im really interested in buying one

Voll Blau - 11 years ago

If you don't like it, don't watch it, It is an awesome work, come on, I dare you to upload a better video and show a little respect you asshole

litelboyblu - 11 years ago

when i try my best and you guys dont think yours is good that means i just suck XD

Славян Димитров - 11 years ago

Your aqariums are great but am very corious how do you maintenance??? Is there any video? Thanks in advance and regards from Bulgaria :)

David Pierce - 11 years ago

great set up tips, bookmarked this one!

GJL Creative Studios - 11 years ago

Corrugated Plastic sheets

The Gun Guys - 11 years ago

Is it possible to get these materials in the USA?

Justin Scott - 11 years ago

It's too bad you didn't read the description of the video before posting.

MidnightMarrow - 11 years ago

Many of the flexible metal plant anchors are lead... =/

costelxxx1 - 11 years ago

f. interesant ,ms. mult ,pt postare :bd

PensiveCashew - 11 years ago

should've moved that light lol, I thought you were gonna smack it at one point

nathan perlman - 11 years ago

im not an expert but i have looked at thei store online and it looks like it would cost quite alot, but im sure its worth it.

fishforme2 - 11 years ago

Looks fantastic. I like the green screen and red stones combo.

ADRIAN SIL - 11 years ago

i love your designs they look very gorgeous. do you have you supplies from the green machine in the us ? thanks keep on posting more videos i love watching than.../

minieshanks tyga - 11 years ago

ok thank you so what about the heater and the filter will it fit the tubing and lily pipes? many thanks

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

Please direct sales related queries to our sales team in our shop. Contact them by phone or using the contact form on our website. Thank you.

minieshanks tyga - 11 years ago

can you give me a short list of things i would need to get for a 60p tank i wont be needing a stand or heater as i have a hydor external heater. also what size tubing does the eheim 250 have would it fit my heater and lily pipes? many thanks

davosat - 11 years ago

But it is a beatiful aquarium.

100. comment for The Making of 'Five Stones' Aquascape and Guide to Iwagumi Layout by James Findley

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

We don't have any yet... but thanks for the suggestion we'll add it to our list of requests!

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

We have never had any issues over many years of aquascaping.

LaxBboys - 11 years ago

I enjoyed it! Subscribing.

hoah - 11 years ago

listening to you say the word iwagumi is hilarious

engelhb2 - 11 years ago

If you pause at 3:26 he looks like a DaftPunk dude

davosat - 11 years ago

I just want to say: dont use newspaper when filling aquarium with water. It contains led.

Matt Weber - 11 years ago

C. Too much light will burn leaves, you want good penetration but not so high light that the plants cant use it properly or they will darken to black over a short period of time. This is why you tend to not want to put say Java Fern in a tank with a high light plant like Dwarf Baby Tears (Hemianthus Callitrichoides) unless you have a shadow the fern can sit in. D. Looks. Unless you have a canopy, having the light on a tank can be distracting and take away from the beauty of the tank under it.

Matt Weber - 11 years ago

A. It extends the arc of light to give better width, although i do reccomend finding a level where the light path isnt much larger than the bottom of your tank, as light bouncing off the glass/acrylic sides is the primary reason algae grows onto the sides of a tank B. It reduces evaporation from the tank from the lights heat (especially MH), and condensation on the light from the water vapor, which means better lamp life.

Matt Weber - 11 years ago

Will there ever be, or is there that i haven't been able to find, a video on the dosing regimen you guy use?

mellamojd - 11 years ago

Where's your aquascape?

sadlra - 11 years ago

Must admit not my fav but always interesting

Phil Grady - 11 years ago

James incredible tank! My question to you is that no one has, or at least I have not seen a video on why the lighting fixtures are elevated above the aquariums? If there is a hard fast rule regarding this please let me know. I am setting up a 100 gallon Iwaugami tank and I am going to use a 300 watt Metal Halide, but I am wondering would it be better to suspend the lighting fixture? I understand it extends the arc of light hitting the aquarium, but is there any other benefit?

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

We'll get the kettle on :)

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

Rules can be bent or ignored completely to great effect. They are useful for designing fast- especially if one doesn't have much prior design experience.

TheGreenMachineLtd - 11 years ago

James does give lessons in how to aquascape but if you can't make it to the UK we suggest you read the articles on our website which contain a wealth of information, all tried and tested by James and the TGM team.

jj murphy - 11 years ago

how much did this cost im really interested in doing a similer aquascape with your products

Azaqua nl - 11 years ago

Great video, great explanation of the choices that are made to create the right final look that you have in mind! It's a piece of art ;)

tekopikin - 11 years ago

I feel you :o)

tekopikin - 11 years ago

Note to self: Make an effort to visit TGM in Wales, stop procrastinating it's 2013!!!

xBeau Gaming - 11 years ago

Bravo, wonderful work!

Prince Kehy - 11 years ago

Looks good, as always. The formulaic rules of layouts though, kinda bug me. I mean you get consistently nice results, but whenever I try doing something similar, I find I get bored very easily, and revert to a jungle style of scaping. Being able to go back to the same tank day after day, and always seeing something new is something I just don't find in scapes like these. TL;DR? Rules can be effective, but boring. Break when you lose interest

Brendan Kavanaugh - 11 years ago

Nice tank James, love the commentator as well. As much as I like the tank, I don't care too much for the green background. If I were going for pop art contrast I would have gone with blue or clear. Regardless it is another beautiful work of art! Keep the videos coming!

rexlinkfish - 11 years ago

Also I kinda like the look of the see through green in the way it makes it look natural by making the water look a little cloudy towards the back which you will find in almost any river. I normally like black but I guess I like both :D

rexlinkfish - 11 years ago

Aqauscaping pinsettes look really nice but seem to be really expensive. Couldn't we just use normal tweezers?

MGgoose1 - 11 years ago

a clear brown mohogany color would have gone nicely in the back.

Casper Myers - 11 years ago

The background ruined it for me. Also the father stone was a poor choice.

FoxGamer - 11 years ago

Another great project, can't wait to see what's next.

Justin De - 11 years ago

To many plants and the background plants are not right to classify this tank as a 'Iwagumi' layout. I also agree its a boring layout.

TheBigCheese - 11 years ago

Boring Layout.. Poor choice in stone, They're all too "Square" looking. Backgrounds are cheap looking and on par with Oliver Knott's plastic ornaments... If you're going to use all ADA equipment, design the ADA way... you dont see Takashi Amano making a tank like this.... and you'll NEVER see him putting on cheap plastic colored backgrounds..

Tracy MacKenzie - 11 years ago

What does he use as far as filtration goes? I never seem to able to pinpoint the filtration system.

Dominik l - 11 years ago

great documentation, but a boring layout in my oppinion

CCindy - 11 years ago

Mental Note... install lights AFTER aquascaping. :) I didn't think I would like the green, but it came out good.

csolo541 - 11 years ago

I learned a lot! I agree about changing the background. Thanks guys!

xsub4146 - 11 years ago

Must be my age, but i quite like the green background....make the red pop out.

xsub4146 - 11 years ago

The Greenmachine are located in Wrexham, North Wales.

aDutchy1975 - 11 years ago

Thank you for the video, keep them comming please!

Pleroma believer - 11 years ago

I would love to take lessons on how to do what he does. Does he offer classes? Where is he located? is he in Europe?

Shannon Sait - 11 years ago

I like it but it didn't need the green back drop...you loose the dramatic impact of the plant's....

Kim Le - 11 years ago

the Vallisneria ruined it for me and the background is a horrible colour. sorry james but this tank hurts my eyes.

ybra - 11 years ago

I love your aquariums James, but I have to say this one was quite bland in comparison to your other videos.

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