Obsidian Stones Iwagumi 90cm Aquascape

Obsidian Stones Iwagumi 90cm Aquascape

Aquascape Setup Details

Tank: Scaperline 90cm Lights: Week Aqua P900 - Buy from: https://www.jagaquatics.com.au/product-page/week-aqua-p-series-90-cm-rgb-uv-led-app-controlled-for-freshwater

For this layout, we set out to create a pure and elegant Iwagumi aquascape, one that celebrates the quiet power of stone and the beauty of restraint. Using Jag Aquatics Obsidian Stones as the foundation and the OASE ScaperLine 90 as our canvas, the goal was to build a rock‑dominant composition that feels both natural and intentional.

Iwagumi is a style defined by simplicity, balance, and flow. With that in mind, every stone was carefully selected not only for its individual character but for how it interacts with the stones around it. Each angle, texture, and contour was considered to ensure the formation feels cohesive, as though shaped by nature rather than placed by hand. The Obsidian Stones, with their deep coloration and sharp, dramatic lines, offered the perfect material for creating a strong yet harmonious layout.

To maintain the purity of the Iwagumi aesthetic, we chose to use a single plant species: Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC). This delicate carpeting plant softens the boldness of the rockwork, creating a lush green foreground that enhances the sense of scale and depth. By limiting the plant palette, the scape remains uncluttered, allowing the stones to take center stage while the HC provides a vibrant, living contrast.

Flow was a key priority throughout the design process. The arrangement follows classic Iwagumi principles anchored by a dominant oyaishi (main stone), supported by secondary stones that guide the viewer’s eye across the layout. Subtle height variations and directional lines help create movement, giving the aquascape a natural rhythm that feels calm and immersive.

As the HC grows in and the hardscape settles, this layout will evolve into a serene underwater landscape that embodies the spirit of Iwagumi: simplicity, balance, and the quiet beauty of nature.