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However, as you decrease the number of plant species in a layout, you will have to bring out the hardscaping to greater and greater prominence. You could potentially minimize an aquascape with one foreground, one midground, and two background plants (say: Glossostigma, dwarf lobelia, Ludwigia arcuata, and Rotala sp Green), but your hardscape should be very bold to hold interest. Otherwise, the aquascape will became bland.
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I don't think that follows at all. And I'm certain that the converse -- that you add a bigger variety of plants adds interest and decrease the need for "hardscape" -- is also not necessarily true.
I submit that in a tank with a small variety of plants the contrasts between plants can make designs stand out more clearly. Nothing is certain. but that contrast can mean that hardscape should be *less* important for giving the aquascape its structure and inherent interest -- not more important.
Monocultures with the entire tank planted in one species are an entirely different matter. They do depend heavily on the structure provided by hardscape. And of course, a tank planted with a number of very similar species are about the same as a monoculture.
The converse idea that a large variety of plants adds interest is disputed by the comments on this aquascape. Enrico used twelve plants in his mix, yet 3 out of 4 of us commenting on the photo see sameness, not variety. many aquascapes these days are planted mostly with small-leaved stem plants. With small-leaved plants the viewer may need to have his or her nose pressed against the glass to appreciate the difference between adjoining plants -- especially if those plants are all pruned to similar heights. At any greater distances the differences have little visual effect.
I don't think that one could ever make much of an argument that a minimal number of plants is necessary for a good aquascape or that a big variety of plants is required for interest. I do think that a lot of us are still basically plant collectors and tend to use more different plants then we need to use. I also think that if the aquascaper wants to emphasize the inherent design of an aquascape that the job is better done with a smaller variety of plants.
Roger Miller