Mysterious aquascape creating the passage of time and natural feeling

Leaves of aquatic plants come in so many colors and shapes. In Nature Aquarium, natural feelings can be created with the way aquatic plants with different colors, shapes and growth speed compete and mix with each other. The passage of time and mysterious ambiance can be sensed especially from ferns such as Microsorum and Bolbitis with luxuriating leaves. I used those expressions frequently in the aquascape and created the passage of time and natural feeling in a simple concave composition as a theme.

DATA
Shooting date: April 28th, 2020(ADA)
Creator: Hayato Ochi
Aquarium: Cube Garden W180×D60×H60(cm)
Lighting: Solar RGB x 3, turned on for 8.5 hours per day
Filter: Super Jet Filter ES-2400(Bio Rio L)
Material: Branch Wood, Sansui Stone
Substrate: Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2, Power Sand Advance L, Bacter100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC
CO₂: Pollen Glass Beetle 50Ø, 10 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 Nitrogen
Water change: 1/2 once a week
Water quality: Temperature: 24ºC; pH: 5.8; TH: 20 mg/l

Plant
Microsorum sp. ‘Trident’
Bolbitis heudelotii
Rotala sp. ‘Fujian’
Rotala sp. ‘Inle’
Rotala sp. ‘Spikey’
Rotala  macrandra ‘Shimoga’
Wabi-Kusa Ludwigia glandulosa
Wabi-Kusa Hygrophila polysperma
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Rotala sp. ‘Wayanad’
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Rotala sp. Hra
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Rotala nanjean
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Echinodorus tenellus
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Ludwigia arcuata
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Myriophyllum mattogrossense
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Blyxa novoguineensis
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Hydrocotyle sp.
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Anubias barteri var. nana
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Anubias barteri var. nana ‘Petite’
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Glossostigma elatinoides
BIO Mizukusa no Mori Fontinalis antipyretica

Fish
Moenkhausia pittieri
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Inpaichthys kerri
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Dicrossus maculatus
Crossocheilus oblongus
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

Mysterious aquascape with aquatic plants and fish
Although the word “Mysterious” might give a dark impression, originally it is a word that describes elegance in Japan. I personally feel that an aquascape with a combination of both sun and shade plants, where many types of fish co-exist is indeed mysterious.

Takashi Amano’s words “Boldly but delicately” always stay close to my heart

When creating layouts, I always bear what Amano used to say in my mind – “Boldly but delicately”. For this aquascape, I placed driftwood and stones simply and boldly to create a structure and delicately planted aquatic plants while considering the sizes and colors of their leaves in order to make the aquascape appear larger. And as imagining that a connection would be created between the pieces of driftwood on both sides when the aquatic plants luxuriate, I placed pieces of driftwood from right to left as if it were a series of fallen trees. It was pity that because the photoshoot took place only after half a year from the layout production, some of the ferns such as Microsorum sp. ‘Trident’ and Bolbitis heudelotii still look slightly too young. If maintaining for a longer time, the driftwood and ferns could have better acclimatized together, and the aquascape would have looked even more powerful.

①Composition arranged boldly
The composition was created by utilizing stones and edges of the aquarium tank and arranging pieces of driftwood boldly. In order to create a mysterious ambiance, I attached mosses to several places on the driftwood as accents and created the passage of time by extensively using ferns.

 

 

②Change of aquatic plants in consideration of an event
Because this aquascape was supposed to be exhibited at an event in Osaka, I changed aquatic plants from Cryptocoryne that I planted initially to Blyxa novoguineensis in the mid-ground while considering the stress in transit.

③Delicately plant various stemmed plants
In order to express the diversity of plants in nature, I proactively planted unusual Rotala sp. and unfamiliar stemmed plants.

Utilizing liquid fertilizers
To grow stemmed plants beautifully, adding liquid fertilizers is essential. The above liquid fertilizers are added to this aquascape. Because Green Brighty Nitrogen does not contain phosphorus, it comes in handy when wanting to add nitrogen specifically.

④Change of planting to Anubias
I initially planted Cryptocoryne in this area. However, because I was concerned that the leaves would melt due to the stress in transit, I changed it to another Araceae family, but hardier Anubias.