Aquascape "Touch of Nature" by dutchy

[dutchy]

Hi,

This is my recent aquascape which I called "Touch of Nature". I started this scape 4 weeks ago. It's almost fully grown in, the Glosso in front has already been trimmed once last weekend.

With my old scape I had 50 micromols of light at the substrate, which I increased to 90 to prevent bare plant stems on 20 inch long plants. I found out it was almost unmanagable really fast, so I dropped the PAR to 70, which gives me good growing speed and no bare stems.

Of course I was troubled by some algae after these major changes, the tank was almost empty at a given time. That, using plants that still have to adapt, a lot of disturbance and high light makes it almost unavoidable.

Still, everything is doing well at the moment. In a few weeks, when the Glosso mat is covered again, I will post another pic.

Comments and suggestions are welcome as always



A bigger pic is in my profile

regards,
dutchy

[Tom Barr]

Red tiger lily might look nice somewhere, then move the E reineckii to the rear etc.

[Gerryd]

Hi dutchy,

I like it! Nice to see some hardscape...I really like the background planting...looks nice with the valley......is that some stauro peeking from the right hand rocks?

I really like the rocks as well.

The fish look very healthy as do the plants...I like the anubias, just have a care not to bury the rhizome....

Nice job as always....be even nicer when the carpet grows in more...

[jerrybforl]

Very nice! What is the stems you used? I agree with Tom about the Tiger Lotus.

[Htomassini]

Very nice. I like the quasy Dutch with the igawmu style rocks.

You née a third discus

They need a buddy

[dutchy]

Very nice! What is the stems you used? I agree with Tom about the Tiger Lotus.

Thnx guys.

The big stems are Limnophila Aromatica. Easy to grow IMO. Harder is the Eriocaulon sp. close to the rocks on the right. Tiger Lily? Thnx for your suggestion but not really Over here the tiger lily is a kind of legacy Dutch style aquascape plant and it's just my intention to break with that a create a hybrid that breaks with the traditional Dutch scape, but still uses the advantages of some high contrast, but different type plant groups.

The Anubias is nice but I'm thinking about changing it to the Nana version. I'd like to have some Pantanal...

I also think that to create a beautiful aquascape the effect of perspective is very important. Hard to do in a tank with 3:1 dimensions. Better is 2:1 IMO.

The discus are breeding at the moment. You can see the greenish spot of eggs on the rock close to the male fish.

[Hallen]

I love the L. aromatica hills alot! The color and shape of the Anubias fits very well in the scape, the place it's in could be a little off center to make the feeling of depth stronger. Right now it's almost in the center, which draws the eye to it straight away. It's too much of a focus point at the moment, I'd place them a little off-center so they cover the base of the stone a little. That way they are a less strong of a focus point and add to the feeling of depth. The nana will also benefit to the depth imho since they are smaller.

I like the hybrid idea and I can see it in your scape, staying away from the lotus/lily is a good thing. We see those way too much over here haha

[Tom Barr]

Okay, since breaking with tradition is part of this, what about Erio setacuem in a nice larger grouping?
Or Hydrothrix?

These both make nice streets that can accent the rocks.

Also, P stellata would make a nice substitute for L aromatica.
Or L. Cuba

Crypt parva might be interesting, I added this to client's and have some in my 60 Cube, but that will be replaced by a specially shaped 67 Gal tank, 90cmx60cm x only 45cm high
I'll keep the Crypt though. Another one is Bolbitus as a row/street attaching a lot to a sloping series of rocks, or having the fern grow out from behind the rock.

Nice look IME.

The rocks can be Chinese in structure and form or Japanese.
Both styles of rock gardening should be considered.

I'm not sure if you are able to see raw rocks in natural settings, but please do, or look up text, examples etc.
I see raw natural rock most every day in CA, USA. I spent most of the day surveying weeds in Lake Tahoe and surrounded by rock.

Erios make a good study if you mimic tamamono shrubs and provide ground cover or aesthetic sand.
This allows room for the rock and the plant, more space........very different from Dutch tradition.........but I think you might find some ideas from Heather gardens.

Many many ways to good there.

The L aromatica hills do not last long. Same for the P stellata, most easier to grow, weedy plants.
Trimmed domes using Rotala green work nice, not too fast growing.
Matches with the singapore red rotala well.

Poke around.

See what interest you.

[dutchy]

Hi Tom,

Erio Setaceum is definately on my wishlist and it's cheap and available here. At the moment I have a small group of Erios (Synonganthus Sp. Manaus) and I'm changing water parameters to accomodate this plant. As soon as I get comfortable enough with this plant I will start to use more Erios.

I like P. Stellata and L. Cuba, but they get BIG. (9 inch width per plant is no exception for me) so I'd rather stick to bunch plants.

Some good advice.

Aquascaping is harder than growing plants

[Hallen]

Aquascaping is harder than growing plants

Especially with the ratio's in your tank haha. I find 2:1 or even cubes much easier to scape with.