The Art of the 3-Stone Iwagumi

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The Art of the 3-Stone Iwagumi

The Iwagumi style is one of aquascaping’s purest forms — minimalist in appearance, but deeply rooted in balance, symbolism, and nature’s quiet beauty. In our gallery, James created a Sanzon Iwagumi using striking Black Elderly stone, a layout that proves even three carefully placed rocks can tell a powerful story.

Inspiration & Concept

At first glance, a three-stone Iwagumi may look simple — but simplicity is its strength, and also its greatest challenge. Each stone must be placed with care, following principles of proportion, scale, and natural harmony. James used the rule of thirds to bring balance, ensuring the layout feels both structured and organic.

The Black Elderly stone was chosen for its unique character. Its deep, dark tones contrasted with rusty orange veins create the feeling of age and permanence — as though these stones have stood for centuries, slowly weathered by the passage of time.

Hardscape Choices

Primary Stone (Oyaishi): The dominant rock, commanding presence and anchoring the scape.
Secondary Stone (Fukuishi): A supportive counterpart, angled to create flow and tension.
Tertiary Stone (Soeishi): The smallest stone, placed to balance the composition and guide the eye.

Together, these three stones form the Sanzon arrangement, a classic configuration that embodies strength, support, and harmony.

James did use a 4th stone to support the main stone, but blended it with small gravel to make it look like one, but this rock was needed to help the main stone stand at the correct angle.

Planting Strategy

The plants were selected to grow wild and soften the rockwork over time, reinforcing the idea of age and natural passage of time:

Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) — carpeting the foreground with lush, vibrant green.
Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) — adding fine, grassy texture that blends into the midground.
Eleocharis acicularis — taller, flowing grass to transition smoothly into the background.
Eleocharis montevidensis — creating height and depth behind the rocks, while maintaining a light, airy feel.

As these plants grow in, they will gradually soften the hard edges of the rocks, making the scape look like a timeless landscape captured underwater.

Building the Layout

James began by anchoring the Oyaishi in line with the rule of thirds, ensuring it set the tone for the composition. The Fukuishi and Soeishi were carefully angled to complement the main stone without symmetry, allowing the layout to feel balanced but never forced.

The planting followed a gradient approach — low Monte Carlo at the front, then layers of grass-like plants increasing in height toward the back, guiding the eye naturally across the scape.

Maintenance & Growth

While carpets and grasses require occasional trimming, this layout is designed to feel natural and unmanicured. Allowing the hairgrass and Monte Carlo to spread around the rocks enhances the sense of time passing, creating an authentic, almost untouched look. Regular light maintenance keeps the foreground neat while letting the midground and background grow more freely.

Final Thoughts

The 3-stone Iwagumi proves that less can truly be more. With only three stones, carefully arranged, and a thoughtful planting palette, this layout captures the spirit of nature — aged, balanced, and quietly powerful.

Equipment Breakdown

Oase Scaperline 60 - £749.00
Lighting – Twinstar E Series - £299.00
Filter – Oase Biomaster Thermo 250 - £224.99

CO2 System

CO₂ Art Pro-SE Regulator Kit with added accessories

Drop checker
In tank diffuser
Non return valve
1.5kg CO2 bottle

Prices for Co2 systems start from £210 there are many different options to choose from

Full cost of equipment is: £1,482.99 (including the CO₂ system at £210)
Prices mentioned on this blog are posted on 3/10/2025 and could increase over time, please only use prices as a rough guideline, see website for exact current prices.