What is aqua scaping?
Aqua scaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, stones, cave work, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening underwater. Aquascape designs include several distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired nature style. Typically, an aquascape houses fish and plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants.
Although the primary aim of aqua scaping is to create an artful underwater landscape, the technical aspects of tank maintenance and the growth requirements of aquatic plants are also taken into consideration. Many factors must be balanced in an aquarium tank’s closed system to ensure an aquascape’s success. These factors include filtration, maintaining carbon dioxide at levels sufficient to support photosynthesis underwater, substrate and fertilisation, lighting, and algae control.
What are the different styles of aqua scaping?
Dutch style:
The Dutch aquarium employs a lush arrangement in which multiple types of plants having diverse leaf colours, sizes, and textures are displayed much as terrestrial plants are shown in a flower garden. This style was developed in the Netherlands starting in the 1930s. It emphasizes plants located on terraces of different heights and frequently omits rocks and driftwood. Linear rows of plants running left-to-right are referred to as “Dutch streets”. Although many plant types are used, one typically sees neatly trimmed groupings of plants with fine, feathery foliage, such as Limnophila aquatica and various types of Hygrophila, along with the use of red-leaved Alternanthera reineckii, Ammania gracilis, and assorted Rotala for color highlights. More than 80% of the aquarium floor is covered with plants, and little or no substrate is left visible. Tall growing plants that cover the back glass originally served the purpose of hiding bulky equipment behind the tank.
Nature (Japanese)style:
A contrasting approach is the “nature aquarium” or Japanese style, introduced in the 1990s by Takashi Amano. Amano’s three-volume series, Nature Aquarium World, sparked a wave of interest in aquarium gardening, and he has been cited as having “set a new standard in aquarium management”. Amano also worked in natural-landscape photography and used multi-exposure techniques to photograph aquariums better and has been described as a portrait photographer of aquariums. Amano’s compositions drew on Japanese gardening techniques that attempt to mimic natural landscapes by the asymmetrical arrangement of masses of relatively few species of plants, and which set rules governing carefully selected stones or driftwood, usually with a single focal point positioned to reflect the golden ratio. The objective is to evoke a terrestrial landscape in miniature, rather than a colourful garden. This style draws particularly from the Japanese aesthetic concepts of Wabi-sabi, which focuses on transience and minimalism as sources of beauty. Plants with small leaves like Glossostigma elatinoides, Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis parvula, Echinodorus tenellus, Hemianthus callitrichoides, Riccia fluitans, small aquatic ferns, Staurogyne repens, and Java moss (Versicularia dubyana or Taxiphyllum barbieri) are often used to emulate grass or moss. Colours are more limited than in the Dutch style, and the hardscape is not completely covered. Fish, or freshwater shrimp such as Caridina multidentata and Neocaridina davidi, are usually selected to complement the plants and control algae, but for reasons of minimalism the number of species are often limited. Smaller species may also be used to give the impression of a larger aquarium. The Nature style can be broken down into three different sub-styles: Ryoboku, Iwagumi , and diorama.
Natural Style -Ryoboku (Driftwood) Style:
This aquascape style is based on using wood as the main hardscape material many types of wood can be used, including driftwood, bogwood, Manzanita wood and red moor roots. Often the wood will protrude from the water surface, which adds an enhanced sense of nature. Moss and other epiphyte plants are also commonly used, adding a beautiful sense of maturity and aged appearance.
Natural Style -Iwagumi (Rock) Style:
The Iwagumi term comes from the Japanese “rock formation” and refers to a layout where stones play a leading role. In the Iwagumi style, each stone has a name and a specific role. Rocks provide the bony structure of the aquascape and the typical geometry employs a design with three main stones, one larger stone and two other smaller stones, although additional rocks can also be used. The main stone is placed slightly off-centre in the tank, and accompanying stones, are grouped near it, while secondary stones are arranged in subordinate positions. The location of the focal point of the display, determined largely by the asymmetric placement of the main stone is considered important and follows ratios that reflect Pythagorean tuning.
Natural Style -Diorama Style:
This nature aquascape sub-style uses a physical landscape or fantasy scene as the main source of inspiration. This aquascape style typically focuses on the hardscape to create a landscape effect with planting often limited to very small textures and a few species to maintain a sense of scale.
Jungle style:
Jungle style is separate from either the Dutch or nature styles and incorporates some of the features of both. The plants are left to assume a natural, untrimmed look. Jungle-style aquascapes usually have little or no visible hardscape material, as well as limited open space. Bold, coarser leaf shapes, such as Echinodorus bleheri, are used to provide a wild, untamed appearance. Unlike the nature style, the jungle style does not follow clean lines or employ fine textures. A jungle canopy effect can be obtained using combinations of darker substrates, tall plants growing up to the surface, and floating plants that block light, offering a dappled lighting effect. Other plants used in jungle-style aquascapes include Microsorum pteropus, Bolbitis heudelotii, Vallisneriaamericana, Crinum species, Aponogeton species, Echinodorus species, Sagittaria subulata, Hygrophila pinnatifida, Anubias species, and Limnobium laevigatum
Biotopes:
The styles above often combine plant and animal species based on the desired visual impact without regard to geographic origin. Instead, Biotope aquariums are designed to replicate a particular aquatic habitat at a particular geographic location, not necessarily to provide a gardenlike display. Plants and fish need not be present, but if they are, they must match what would be found in nature in the habitat being represented. The gravel, hardscape, and chemical composition of the water must also represent the habitat desired. By including only organisms that naturally exist together, biotopes can be used to study ecological interactions in a relatively natural setting.
Conclusion:
In the fast-paced and often stressful modern world, finding moments of tranquillity and peace is essential for maintaining mental well-being. Aqua scaping, the art of creating underwater landscapes in water features, has emerged as a therapeutic hobby that enhances the aesthetic appeal of living spaces and nurtures the mind and soul. The therapeutic benefits of aqua scaping on mental health, shedding light on how immersing oneself in the beauty of underwater landscapes can foster relaxation, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. Let’s dive into the healing world of aqua-scaping and its profound impact on mental health. The sound of flowing water and the sight of gentle ripples have a calming effect on the mind and body. Aqua scaping brings the soothing power of water indoors, allowing individuals to unwind and de-stress without leaving their homes. Aquatic environments, including aquascapes, are increasingly being used as therapeutic tools in various mental health treatments. Hydrotherapy and “blue space” therapy harness the calming effects of water and aquatic landscapes to promote emotional healing.