Sticks and Stones, and Aesthetics in Planted Tanks
Hi,
Am I the only one to notice how different regions evolve different styles for decorating and planting their aquaria?
The availability of lovely mosses and wood tends to make many oriental tanks very different from earlier American tanks that were developed more around rocks and bold specimen plants like swords and Anubias.
Amano-san seems to follow a pattern of trying to imitate nature with heavy use of driftwood, moss and bunch plants. Only a few, well-placed rocks are to be found in his tanks. This has strongly influenced design in many parts of the world, but I tend to think of it as an essentially oriental style.
The Dutch seem to go for more formal designs, but with an "overgrown" look dominating to the point that shapes and structure almost disappear. That, too has been imitated here. It has reached a highly structured form, since planted-tank judging and contests have been a part of the Dutch scene for so long.
The Germans seem to go for little tanks with very little light, a wad of moss and bare bottoms or peat. It may harken back to their WWII days of being "kitchen breeders." :-) [I'm sure there are lovely display tanks in Germany. I have been too influenced by contact with mostly killy breeders. ]
As I get ready to set up some display tanks, I have been thinking about what I want. My first exposure to aquatic landscaping was about 50 years ago, and I was very taken with the rock walls, Anubias growing attached to them and strong vertical contrast with tall vals that reached and floated across the surface. They often had an off-center "centerpiece" of a large Amazon Sword, o/e.
Those tanks had a lot of open space, as they were aimed at providing a setting for the fish, more than as an aquatic garden. I think that is what I wish to do.
I have no real driftwood here, unless I buy the ultra-expensive fish store stuff or get it mail order with expensive shipping from FL. OTOH, I have an unlimited supply of mostly metamorphic rocks that are interesting, colorful, and free. I pick up a few from fist to coconut size on many of my hikes. Most are quite insoluble, and should be very safe in the aquarium. I do soak them in my outdoor green water tub to be sure no surface solubles are left.
If I want to build a shale wall stack, I may soak those in pool acid to be sure they are feldspar o/e and contain no limestone.
I don't want to go really high light or CO2 injection, at first. BTDTBTWW!
LMK what you think and give me any hints or suggestions that may lead me down interesting paths. What do you like to see when you encounter a new and interesting tank? Fish, Plants, or a storybook scene with ceramic castles? Mermaid sculptures? [Flame shield just went up!]
Wright
01 760 872-3995
805 Valley West Circle
Bishop, CA 93514 USA
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