Aquascaping inspiration from the internet

Discussion in 'Planted Tanks' started by A new day, Sep 28, 2019.

  1. OP
    A new day

    A new day Moderator

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  3. Cale24

    Cale24

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    Amazing tanks :eek:

    I believe Aquasoil’s nutrient benefit lasts for months? I like that it doesn’t require serious vacuuming like one needs to do with gravel and sand (with related anaerobic issues) and also because it can’t scratch anything :D

    I’m considering something totally different for my next tank setup though, hopefully get into it soon with all that inspiration!
     
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  4. OP
    A new day

    A new day Moderator

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    Can’t wait to see!
     
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  5. OP
    A new day

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  6. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    The awesome part about this is that it only took him 6 hours to do this scape

    Sent from my SM-A305F using Tapatalk
     
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  7. OP
    A new day

    A new day Moderator

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    Yep not his first rodeo :thumbup: I’m sure the original took much longer.
    I actually watched it again just now. Thinking a forest tank next to my jungle tank should be quite funny :)
     
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  8. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    With ADA substrates it is best to use their complete range of substrates from the powders to the power sand to the top substrate. All of it works together and should last a couple of years. But most of the guys doing serious high tech tanks will do a scape that last only 6 to 8 months. They will just remove the old substrate, because it will be all mixed up, and the want to take advantage of the nutriant bloom during the first month.

    The picture shows an ADA setup after 2 weeks, one and a half month old, of no trimming. Stems have doubled in size during this time. And what it looked like with previous trim.[​IMG][​IMG]

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  9. OP
    A new day

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    Thanks yes!
    Interesting to see that from a visual point of view all the latest serious contenders cover up the aquasoil with sand so that just the sand is visible. I like that.

    Also, in Congo, he used larger pieces of wood (and stone?) in front to help create a sense of depth and perspective. I like that one open area at the back that draws the eye, but you’d probably need backlighting or at least a lighter background/ wall colour to accentuate this?
     
  10. OP
    A new day

    A new day Moderator

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    Just remembered something from art classes many moons ago, and wonder if we can aply it to aquascaping.
    We often talk about a new tank as a blank canvass after all!

    The art teacher said that contrast in tonal values is an important aspect of the success of a painting and encouraged us to take b&w photos throughout the process to adjust the highlights and lowlights. She said a successful oil painting should hold up in a b&w image.

    So here’s Josh Sim’s Congo tank -original image and in b&w. The light of the opening at the back and the reflection of the wood in front, as well as the light coloured sand provide the critical highlights in what would otherwise be a very gloomy tank.

    3E94B930-9274-42F2-8616-B3B48AB9573B.jpeg

    C6F07F38-CEFE-474C-865C-7DBAD6F9BA05.jpeg
     
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  11. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    Very interesting about turning it into black and white to see the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
    Everybody is always talking about the golden ratio, which is always true about art including aqua scaping. Although this can also be created on a flat hard scape but by using accent plants in another color or by using different shades of green. But all that said, you will never create a awesome aquascape without a near perfect hard scape. I know about people that will take a week, or more, to perfect the hard scape and do the planting in less than a hour.

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  12. OP
    A new day

    A new day Moderator

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    Yep I reckon he was probably very deliberate about all of this. Very strong hardscaping, and without the backlighting this tank wouldn’t have been nearly as successful.
     
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  13. Cale24

    Cale24

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    Good point, thanks. The full range of ADA powders gets pretty expensive - do you know of any good alternatives?
    I'm using akadama in a new setup soon and am wanting to lay down something below, to leech up into it. I believe it does fine with just water column dosing and absorbs nutrients well, but would like to augment a bit.
    Plan so far is to just use some peat moss and root tabs.

    Not sure if it would be ok but depending on how it looks in the smallish tank it'll go into, I may use some Produbio powder aquasoil on top of it in a shallow layer.
     
  14. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    Cheapest option would be to use lava rock in the place of the power sand, this does the same job but way cheaper. Langa soil on top at half the price of ada and your set to go.

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  15. OP
    A new day

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  16. OP
    A new day

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  17. OP
    A new day

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    Part 2 - planting

     
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  18. Cale24

    Cale24

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  19. OP
    A new day

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    Sho!
     
  20. T. Guppy

    T. Guppy

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    That must've taken some time to make lol.. Is it all dragon rock? Or is that wood on top going around?
     
  21. OP
    A new day

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    I wonder if it’s the same guy @pierreschoonraad took inspiration from? Dragon rock glued together!
     
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