The glow of new lives embracing decaying driftwood in eternity

[Cradle of Life]  This work was created with inspirations from a composition material, driftwood. I imagined how Rasbora kalochroma swims from the cool image of the old decayed driftwood, and decided on the composition of the aquascape by connecting images of Asia and then to Lagenandra. Fallen trees and driftwood decay and return to earth over time. In the process, many living things gather around the driftwood, and new lives are born. The theme for the aquascape is a contrast between how the driftwood covered with moss decays and the completely opposite aspect of new born lives grow radiantly. The driftwood gradually ends its role as watching over the new lives. And the plants that wrap up the driftwood become a cradle of new life.

 

DATA
Shooting date: September 19th, 2019(ADA)
Creator: Yusuke Homma
Aquarium: Cube Garden W120×D50×H50（cm）
Lighting: Solar RGB x 2, turned on for 8.5 hours per day
Filter: Super Jet Filter ES-1200(Bio Rio L)
Material: Driftwood, Sansui Stone
Substrate: Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2, Power Sand Advance L, Bacter100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC
CO2: Pollen Glass Beetle 40Ø, 5 bubbles per second via CO2 Beetle Counter (using Tower)
Aeration: 15.5 hours after the light is turned off using Lily Pipe P-6
Additives: Brighty K, Green Brighty Mineral, Green Brighty Iron, Green Brighty Nitrogen
Water change: 1/3 once a week
Water quality: Temperature: 25ºC; pH: 6.4; TH: 20 mg/l

 

Plant
Lagenandra meeboldii  ‘Vinay chandra’
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Lagenandra meeboldii ‘Green’
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Lagenandra meeboldii ‘Red’
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Lagenandra keralensis
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Eleocharis parvula
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Eleocharis acicularis
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Blyxa novoguineensis
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Scrophulariaceae sp.
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Cyperus helferi
BIO Mizukusa no Mori  Echinodorus tenellus
Wabi-Kusa Mat  Riccardia chamedryfolia
Wabi-Kusa Mat  Callicostella prabaktiana
Wabi-Kusa Mat  Taxiphyllum barbieri
Hygrophila stricta
Hygrophila sp.
Polygonum sp.
Echinodorus angustifolius
Vesicularia sp.

 

Fish
Rasbora kalochroma
Rasbora trilineata
Puntius semifasciolatus
Crossocheilus oblongus
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

Expression of decaying driftwood
To recreate an aspect of a piece of driftwood gradually fall as decaying, the angle of the driftwood is controlled, placed and firmly fixed with stones.

Use of 3 types of moss
On top of Riccardia chamedryfolia and Vesicularia sp. which are both hard to attach, small stones covered with Taxiphyllum barbieri were placed. And some Riccardia chamedryfolia was tacked in the ditches of the driftwood.

 

①Plating of Lagenandra
Lagenandra was planted in the V shaped part and the shaded part of the driftwood as accents.
A natural feeling that reminds us of Southeast Asia can be easily expressed.

①Shaded plant, Lagenandra
Langenandra has been used instead of Cryptocoryne at the NA Gallery. Because they are shaded plants, they are suitable to plant in the shaded area of driftwood too.

②Planting in consideration of the viewpoint of the aquascape
Because it is an aquascape from a point of view close to nature, a type of stemmed plants with relatively large leaves is chosen. Mix of Polygonum sp. and tape shaped aquatic plants are planted together and enhances the natural feeling.

③Expressing Wabi-Sabi with moss
Because the growth speeds of 3 types of moss attached on the driftwood are all different, the expression changes over time. That becomes the expression of Wabi-Sabi.

④Choosing aquatic plants from types of fish
I had decided on fish as Rasbora kalochroma before started creating the layout from the cool image of decaying driftwood and moss.