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NATURE  IN THE GLASS ‘Sparkles underwater’

NATURE IN THE GLASS ‘Sparkles underwater’

Editors of Aqua JournalEditors of Aqua Journal
‘Sparkles underwater’
This is a classic layout with a triangular composition produced by arranging somewhat large driftwood boldly. Since large driftwood does not lose its presence after the aquatic plants grow densely, the impression of the water flow can be maintained. While aquatic plants were planted according to the basic rules, the ferns are planted by making good use of the experience gained in the production of a 40m aquascape in the Oceanário de Lisboa, Portugal. This layout will turn into a more luxuriant auascape over time. The aquatic plant with tape-shaped leaves was sporadically planted intentionally to underscore the appearance of underwater scenery. Cryptocoryne in the middle ground is another highlight of this aquascape. The driftwood branches were arranged by keeping in mind where Cryptocoryne would be planted. Fish in the Cyprinid family goes together well with an aquascape with Microsorum and Cryptocoryne.

DATA


Shooting date: February 13th, 2019(ADA)
Creator: Daichi Araki
Aquarium: Cube Garden W180×D60×H60(cm)
Lighting: Solar RGB x 3, turned on for 9 hours per day
Filter: Super Jet Filter ES-2400 (Bio Rio L)
Substrate: Aqua Soil Amazonia, Power Sand Advance L, Bacter100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC
CO2: Pollen Glass Beetle 50Ø, 5 bubbles per second via CO2 Beetle Counter (using Tower)
Additives: 15 hours after the light is turned off using Lily Pipe P-6  17Ø
Water change: 1/3 twice a week
Water quality: Temperature: 25ºC; pH: 6.2; TH: 20 mg/l

Aquatic Plants:
Hygrophila polysperma
Aleternanthera reineckii “Lilacina”
Ludwigia repens
Rotala sp. “Fujian”
Rotala rotundifolia “Green”
Rotala rotundifolia “Ceylon”
Helanthium bolivianum
Eleocharis parvula
Cryptocoryne petchii
Cryptocoryne wendtii “Green”
Cryptocoryne wendtii “Brown”
Cryptocoryne wendtii “Tropica”
Cryptocoryne axelrodi
Microsurum pteropus
Microsorum sp. “Narrow Leaf”
Microsorum sp.”Krabi”
Fontinalis antipyretica

Fish & Invertebrates:
Puntius sp. cf. denisoni
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Microrasbora kubotai
Puntius pentazona johorensis
Puntius titteya
Crossocheilus oblongus
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

Classic Nature Aquarium produced by adhering to the style of Takashi Amano who was particular about the placement of ferns

This layout was produced with the idea of creating a classic Nature Aquarium aquascape. The placement of ferns would be the decisive factor in such a layout that is faithful to the basic principles. First, large clusters of Microsorum Narrow Leaf were placed in three points that form a scalene triangle. Then, more ferns were added by watching the overall balance. Although the ferns are placed by evaluating the overall balance, it is important to place them in the locations where ferns tend to grow in nature, such as a depression or a fork of driftwood branches. Additionally, not many ferns were placed on the tips of the driftwood since the impression of water flow was created using the tips of the driftwood. My experience of working with Takashi Amano to produce a layout in the 40 m aquarium in Oceanário de Lisboa, Portugal helped me greatly with the decision on the placement of ferns.
Takashi Amano during a layout production in a 40m long aquarium in Oceanário de Lisboa, Portugal (February 2015.) He gave detailed instructions for the placement of ferns on the driftwood.
Daichi Araki was one of the staff members who arranged ferns in the aquarium. The experience at that time was used well in the production of this layout.
Ferns are placed to refine a layout at the end of the layout production. The key point is to place ferns by considering the natural impression and looking at the overall balance of the layout.
First, large ferns are placed at three points that form a scalene triangle. Ferns are not placed on the tips of the driftwood branches that create the impression of the water flow.

Photographed on July 19, 2018

 

The real charm of Nature Aquarium. The beauty and the natural appearance of aquatic plants increase over time.

This aquascape was photographed twice: first after 4 months and then 7 months from the initial planting. The volume of the aquatic plants and the natural feel increased over time.
Photographed on November 29, 2018
Since Alternanthera reineckii ‘Lilacina’ tends to get buried in the bushes of other aquatic plants, it is necessary to trim surrounding aquatic plants frequently to keep Alternanthera reineckii ‘Lilacina’ healthy.
The underwater appearance, which is essential for Nature Aquarium, was produced by planting aquatic plants with tape-shaped leaves, which are typically planted in the background, intentionally in the front of the stem plants. The density of these aquatic plants increased by maintaining the layout over a long period of time.
Planting Southeast Asian aquatic plants from the middle ground toward the front of the aquarium and also adding Southeast Asian fishes gave a congruent appearance to the aquascape. The fishes were selected from many cyprinids based on their size and preferred swimming layer.
Ferns, Cryptocoryne, and tape-shaped aquatic plants often take a long time to become adequately full after planting. The ferns that were placed on the driftwood have gotten thick over time.
Different types of Cryptocoryne were planted in the middle ground depending on the location. The type that grows relatively large was planted near the focal point and the smaller type was planted toward the direction of the open space to heighten the sense of depth.

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