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18 May 2014

Aquascaping With Aquael

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Aquatics | Aquael | Tropical Aquariums | Fish | Aquascaping

Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water. Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired Nature style. Inspiration for many works come from both underwater locations but also natural scenes such as mountains, jungles, deserts, waterfalls and many others. Typically, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants.

Although the primary aim of aquascaping is to create an artful underwater landscape, the technical aspects of aquatic plant maintenance must also be taken into consideration. Many factors must be balanced in the closed system of an aquarium tank to ensure the success of an aquascape. These factors include filtration, maintaining carbon dioxide at levels sufficient to support photosynthesis underwater, substrate and fertilization, lighting, and algae control.

Aquascape hobbyists trade plants, conduct contests, and share photographs and information via the Internet. Before starting your aquascape it is best to look at other aquascapes that have been created, the videos below should provide some great examples.

aquascaping contest using Brillux 60 tanks from AQUAEL

In the 1980s, plant-oriented aquariums were mostly planted in the so-called "Dutch style" – a type of "botanical flower garden under water". The arrangement of plants is clear and follows strict rules in terms of grouping. Stem plants, which are constantly trimmed and replanted, play the main role in this design type.

In modern natural aquascaping aquariums, natural scenes are simulated. Mosses, ferns, stones and roots are plants and materials that one will rarely find in a "Dutch style" aquarium. The nature photographer and aquarium designer, Takashi Amano, has without question shaped the development of aquascaping to a significant degree.

Nature is the Inspiration

The name Aquascape comes from the word "landscape". The styles of aquascaping are very different, but they all have one thing in common - they are all modelled on the natural landscapes above water.

They can be seen and studied every day when taking a walk. A thickly wooded range of hills or mountains, a dense ravine, gorge or a landscape carved out by a river. Even details like a rock face or tree stump with moss growing on them can serve as a model.

The aquascaper is an artist

An "aquascaper" takes in all these impressions and then the initial layouts emerge in his or her mind. In doing so, it is not always important to be true to the details. Rather, the atmosphere conveyed by the natural landscape can be designed and maintained in an aquarium with the right plants. The term "layout" means converting a design idea into an "aquarium image". Various materials support the character of a resulting underwater landscape.

Using a wide variety of materials

The foundation for modelling stones and roots is laid with the substrate structure, which includes the nutrient medium, gravel and sand. The addition of stones and roots, also known as the "hardscape", plays an important role in aquascaping, and is also the main difference from classic natural aquaristics.

Placing the right stones and roots in the proper spots is in itself a true art form. The range on the market has become huge in the meantime, offering wonderful design options for every size of aquarium. Of course, you can collect things yourself from nature, but you must pay attention to their suitability in water. Stones should not harden the water and wooden materials should not rot.

The objective is to create a piece of art

"Aquascaping" is an art form and the "aquascaper" is an artist. Just like with a painter, an image emerges after weeks and months. But in this case, the difference has to do with daily change. In other words, it is also an art form to care for a landscape so that the perfect plant growth is achieved.

In principle, there are no strict rules to aquascaping. If anything the aim tends to be to achieve an attractive and sometimes even artistic design. To restrict the imagination of the "scaper" would be counterproductive. Especially when you consider that even so-called "dream tanks" come up with real wow-effects.

Aquascaping gaining popularity in South Africa

Before 2011 there was no real supplier of planted aquarium products in South Africa. A new company called The Planted Tank was born out of a necessity, and now many people are jumping on the popularity of the planted aquarium hobby in South Africa. This is a good thing, as it is always good to have a choice in any market. At the end of the day, the end consumer needs to have a choice. At The Planted Tank they source the best tropical plant products from around the globe. You can visit their website www.theplantedtank.co.za to find which pet stores sell their tropical plant products.

You can basically use any fish tank to create a planted aquarium, but AQUAEL has some great aquarium kits that support the growth of tropical plants, ie Shrimpset 20, Shrimpset 30, Brillux 60 and Brillux 80 are just a few examples.