nasfish

Hi,

Awesome write up, Steven, especially about "Tonina Style".

True, it is very difficult to include Toninas or Eriocaulons into any aquascape. Believe me, I have tried. The best I can come up with is this (8 month old tank), with my limited knowledge and talent.

Toninas or Eriocaulons, are not low maintenance either, but saying Toninas are leggy, I am not so sure. IME, intense light is one of the most important things to grow this plant well, bushier etc.

Regards

elliott89

Top write up Steven...for a beginner like myself it is really imformative and helps me already to see the mistakes in my layout (infact its made my tank feel rather crap lol) but IMO thats a good thing,being an art student myself
im used to harsh criticism and being told a painting ive spent hours on is rubbish even if i think its good...criticism is needed in order to progress..same with everything in life

Art is a very hard thing to get right...some people will look at my work and love it..others will hate it..

So is aquascaping the same is there no wrong and right way to do it??? because different things appeal to different people..thats why there are no rule in art..well IMO anyway

Elliott

Bert H

Very nicely written, Steve.

LMAO!

gacp

...the tonina- and moss-adoring hordes...

...cant' read!

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHH!!!!

Just kidding, just kidding.

BryceM

Well written. The collectoritis disease is one that is pretty hard to be cured of. There are a few ideas that I think might help. A beginner is understandably eager to try a wide variety of plant species. Who can fault this? The best approach in my mind is to define the goals from the onset.

At first, I'd propose that people abandon aquascaping and instead focus on the needs of the plants, learning to keep various species, learning to trim, and learning techniques that will be applied to later aquascapes. These might include experimenting with hardscape, trying the moss-on-a-stick technique, gaining experience with various growth rates, and learning to cover leggy stem plant with bushy mid-ground plants. It's also important to learn to match lighting, ferts, and CO2 to the desired species and overall 'look' of a tank. A plant's appearance and utility also depend a great deal on the conditions under which it's kept. After a few months of this, the artist will start to understand the available brushes and colors on the pallate.

The next step would be spend several weeks contemplating a new design. IME, it's best to either tear down the tank completely or to start a new tank from scratch. Accidents can sometimes improve an aquascape, but deliberate design toward a pre-conceived goal is more likely to acheive success. Personally I find it advantageous to keep 2 or 3 tanks. One can be the main showpiece while the others can be storage and experimentation tanks for the 'paints'.

Toninas and eriocaulons will probalby find their place eventually. Every plant in a winning aquascape must be in top condition to really give the 'scape a nice feel. Many people who keep sensitive species handicap themselves with sub-optimal plant condition.

Steven_Chong

nasfish-- I'm refering to how the plant looks somewhat leggy because the "crown" is so much bigger than the lower stem, and the lower stem is always exposed because it'd be REALLY hard (and artificial looking) to get tonina group with just crowns showing. Even in your photo, there's a lot of exposed, imo, leggy looking stem.

elliot-- people can make rules, but someone will always find a way to break it brilliantly. Even my moss-wall rule. Someone could do it well I'm guessing.

Bert-- ain't it the truth!? (that's why I like Amanos and wild cherries, inconspicuous)

gacp-- LMAO!

Steven_Chong

guaiac_Boy-- I agree with everything you've said, but that's why this is "elementary level." You're talking about really beginner hobbyists. This is more directed at people who are starting to turn to actual aquascaping.

As you said, T&E's will probably find their place eventually. Someone out there will eventually take the dive to make a well-thought out layout with them.

hoppycalif

Steven,
That was a fascinating read! I doubt that I will ever become an artist, able to create the types of aquatic scenes you do, but there are still a lot of ideas in what you write that are helpful to me. And, of course I get a great deal of enjoyment from seeing photos of well designed aquascapes.

Collectoritus is a deadly disease if it lasts too long, but it is an educational opportunity if it only lasts a short time. That is how most of us relative beginners learn how to grow different plants. Moving on from that educational phase takes some determination.

Steven_Chong

Hoppy, you know way more about growing plants than I do.

I totally agree about collectoritis being a learning experience. I don't even care to think how many plants I must have gone through (and killed) for my first year of planted aquariums. But as you said, the experience was valuable because it taught a lot about the difficulties with different plants, and also tought about how they grow and develop.

Squawkbert

Nice read - points out how much I still have to read...

I doubt anyone here would be apt to ctiticize the views of a gifter 'scaper. Not much point in debating aesthetics anyway. You often offer your suggestions for changes in a constructive way and I think people appreciate that.

I must work on my mid-gound. So far all I have are Val, Cabomba (which starts at mid-ground if you consider its lack of low leaves) and Bacopa.

I guess I (at the least) need something that doesn't want to grow a yard tall and some moss to put on my wood & rocks (which are still weighting my wood down). Strangely enough, my color craving in satisfied (for now) my the Cabomba tops and Val leaves that float and go red...

Just for Bert: