[thief]

FAAO I am a big fan of your tanks. I find the tree look in the tank amazing. I find it wierd how that tree is actually 3 branches. Do you go out in the woods and find pieces? Anyways would this tank be considered iwagami? I love the rocks as the dark grey is perfect. Anyways just wanted to say that you are doing an awesome job. I think making a another tree tank is not a problem it opens doors for other on a whole new way to look at making a nice tank. I hope to recreate something simular in a smaller tank later on.

 

[Tex Gal]

I think this tank is incredible. I love both your tree tanks. I have saved the images just to look at them. You are amazing!

 

[1ALFREDO]

simply fantastic Felip, you are one of my favorites aquascapers

 

[FAAO]

Hi,

Once again, thanks for the comments and compliments!

Unfortunately Felipe wasn´t the first one to use this techinic the 21º in ADA 2001 contest Mr. Jang Kae Fuh create a hole japanese scenery using trees made with many kinds of moss( erect , wepping , flame , etc)

IMHO, we can't compare the both tanks... We're talking about different things!
One thing is to create a scenery using a lot of trees even that they weren't in scale, other thing is use only one tree in a small tank, taking in attention to the proportions and all details.
If you use a lot of objects, even that weren't well done we'll see it like a composition and not like a unique piece.
Ok, Mr Jang Kae Fuh did it before, but in a different concept… I don't know if there are more examples of this kind of layout, I didn't see nothing like this before…

I find it wierd how that tree is actually 3 branches. Do you go out in the woods and find pieces?

The tree was made with 3 standalone branches, is quite different!
I cut 3 standalone branches in small parts and joined in one piece.
I used Red moorwood to do the tree and I bought it in a shop.

Anyways would this tank be considered iwagami? I love the rocks as the dark grey is perfect.

Iwagumi?! NO! Do you know what is an Iwagumi?
This layout can be classified by landscape... Ok... I have used rocks, but it never could be called Iwagumi!

Cheers,

Filipe Oliveira

 

[T-Bone]

IMHO, we can't compare the both tanks... We're talking about different things!
One thing is to create a scenery using a lot of trees even that they weren't in scale, other thing is use only one tree in a small tank, taking in attention to the proportions and all details.
If you use a lot of objects, even that weren't well done we'll see it like a composition and not like a unique piece.
Ok, Mr Jang Kae Fuh did it before, but in a different concept… I don't know if there are more examples of this kind of layout, I didn't see nothing like this before…

I agree with this statement completely. One is a representation of a landscape. The other is like underwater bonsai, and a little bit of Suiseki.

Suiseki; Suiseki are small, naturally formed stones admired for their beauty and for their power to suggest a scene from nature or an object closely associated with nature. Among the most popular types of suiseki (pronounced suu-ee-seck-ee) are those that suggest a distant mountain, a waterfall, an island, a thatched hut, or an animal.

Actually a better word to use is, "bonsai zokai" which is the art of making "artificial" bonsai. Instead of using a real whole plant, and turning it into a representation of a larger tree. Bonsai zokai, uses artifitial elements to represent the same thing. I realize I'm getting way too technical. I'll stop now.

 

[thief]

Iwagumi?! NO! Do you know what is an Iwagumi?
This layout can be classified by landscape... Ok... I have used rocks, but it never could be called Iwagumi!

Cheers,

Filipe Oliveira

Lol well I know that iwagami is the positioning of rocks and creating a pleasing landscape while having a field effect. I consider myself a real noob for saying that. But It just has that open window feel to the tank which made me ask. lol Anyways I only have 1-2.5 gallon planted tank that is an iwagami style. Other than that I do know know how to define.

 

[Paul Higashikawa]

FYI for those who don't know, Filipe was featured in the Jan 2008 Aquajournal. In his interview, if you can read Japanese, he talked about his philosophy in planted tanks as well as other aspects of art. Very nice interview. I definitely learned a great deal

 

[jlui83]

Did the wood come like that? or did you have to glue the peieces together? Please explain.

Thanks!

 

[ricardobrosa]

Olá Filipe,

Esse está um espanto, melhor que o syrah talvez por causa da utriculária.. parece que estas num dia de vento naqueles montes alentejanos e o trigo está "penteado" todo na mesma direcção, muito bonito.. mas.. é igual ao outro.

Abraço

 

[OperJeff]

I agree with this statement completely. One is a representation of a landscape. The other is like underwater bonsai, and a little bit of Suiseki.

Suiseki; Suiseki are small, naturally formed stones admired for their beauty and for their power to suggest a scene from nature or an object closely associated with nature. Among the most popular types of suiseki (pronounced suu-ee-seck-ee) are those that suggest a distant mountain, a waterfall, an island, a thatched hut, or an animal.

Actually a better word to use is, "bonsai zokai" which is the art of making "artificial" bonsai. Instead of using a real whole plant, and turning it into a representation of a larger tree. Bonsai zokai, uses artifitial elements to represent the same thing. I realize I'm getting way too technical. I'll stop now.

Ive always seen this connection, but im surprised that this is the first time Ive seen the association actually mentioned. I guess it takes an example as stunning as FAAO's to start the comparison.

If you look at alot of the other aquascapes, including some Iwagumi layouts you can easily find alot of similarities with chinese penjing also. "bonsai zokai" is the most accurate comparison to this aquascape.

FAAO do you have experience with the art of bonsai? im going to assume so since you have a very good sense of how to miniaturize your creation.

 

[FAAO]

FYI for those who don't know, Filipe was featured in the Jan 2008 Aquajournal. In his interview, if you can read Japanese, he talked about his philosophy in planted tanks as well as other aspects of art. Very nice interview. I definitely learned a great deal

Hi Paul,
Yes I gave an interview for ADA Aquajournal in Jan 2008 and I've a copy of the magazine. Unfortunately in don't understand a word but I know what I've wrote :heh:... I think that ADA is preparing an English version for future magazines.

Did the wood come like that? or did you have to glue the peieces together? Please explain.

I used 3 standalone branches and after I did choose the best base for the tree, I did cut all the branches in small parts and joined in one piece.
I made a few holes on the base and added the small branches. This tree is 100% DIY

Olá Filipe,
Esse está um espanto, melhor que o syrah talvez por causa da utriculária.. parece que estas num dia de vento naqueles montes alentejanos e o trigo está "penteado" todo na mesma direcção, muito bonito.. mas.. é igual ao outro.

You can say that is similar or that I've used the same theme... but this scape isn't equal to Syrah!

FAAO do you have experience with the art of bonsai? im going to assume so since you have a very good sense of how to miniaturize your creation.

No, I don't have! I saw it many times in shops and internet but I don't have any experience with bonsai. Maybe some day... I need to learn first how to keep it and about maintenance before I buy it.

Cheers,

Filipe Oliveira

 

[tetrasforest]

That tree is really cool. i would have never thought of doing something likw that.

 

[Blue_Dolphinvn]

@FAAO: have you ever tried to tie the fissidens fontanus with this kind of tree, I think that it could stay longer and cooler!
Thank for sharing!

 

[Olivier]

An other question to Filipe : Why do not use a real bonsai ? (after having pulled off the leaves and roots) What is the interest of a DIY tree ?

 

[FAAO]

@FAAO: have you ever tried to tie the fissidens fontanus with this kind of tree, I think that it could stay longer and cooler!
Thank for sharing!

I thought in use another specie of moss, but the main problem is where I find it?
It is not easy to find here another kind of moss...

An other question to Filipe : Why do not use a real bonsai ? (after having pulled off the leaves and roots) What is the interest of a DIY tree ?

It's quite easy to answer I will answer you with another question:
"What is the pleasure of using a small living tree to represent a real one in a scape?"

I'll not kill a tree with several years (bonsai) to do this... If I found one dead, yes I used it...

Cheers,

Filipe Oliveira

 

[Kookaburra]

It is not easy to find here another kind of moss...[/FONT]

Hi Filipe
In france, we have an "internet saler" who is name "Floraquatic", and I think he can deliver in Portugal. There is numerous sorts of available moss.
If that can help you : http://www.floraquatic.com/cat-catalogue-plantes-40.html

 

[Olivier]

1) Yes, Floraquatic sends commands to Portugal BUT they don't have fissidens fontanus.

2) Ok, it is stupid to "kill" a real bonsaï in order to make an underwater tree but since in all bonsai-shop they have died bonsai in the backstage, I am sure they will be pleased to give on. So whereas kill a real tree, you start with a died one and give him "a new life" ! Is this not a bit more simple than create a tree ?!

 

[Kookaburra]

Is this not a bit more simple than create a tree ?!

More Simple: surely!
But less interesting to make, no?
(I think it's more "gratifying" to DIY ...)

 

[FAAO]

Hi,

Hi Filipe
In france, we have an "internet saler" who is name "Floraquatic", and I think he can deliver in Portugal. There is numerous sorts of available moss.
If that can help you : http://www.floraquatic.com/cat-catalogue-plantes-40.html

Hi Dimitri, thanks for the link! I found some interesting plants there.
But like Olivier said, Floraquatic don't have Fissidens fontanus... and the moss list is similar to what I find here, nothing new!

1) Yes, Floraquatic sends commands to Portugal BUT they don't have fissidens fontanus.

2) Ok, it is stupid to "kill" a real bonsaï in order to make an underwater tree but since in all bonsai-shop they have died bonsai in the backstage, I am sure they will be pleased to give on. So whereas kill a real tree, you start with a died one and give him "a new life" ! Is this not a bit more simple than create a tree ?!

More Simple: surely!
But less interesting to make, no?
(I think it's more "gratifying" to DIY ...)

Olivier, It is more interesting to do something (DIY) and convert 3 wood's branches and make a small tree instead of using a replica. In France perhaps you can find dead trees on a backstage's shop, here the shop's owner prefers to put it on the garbage instead of assume that he doesn't have capabilities for maintain it! Some time ago I had looking for dead bonsai in several shops and nothing; they simply said that don't have.
But I'm thankful in not using a bonsai; my experience (1st Syrah) did teach me that if I use a small and thin branches to moor the moss, I'll have a lot of problems to maintain it. The base are very small and when the moss grow, with the maintenance you need to be careful with the scissors, the moss near of the branch with the time will be very poor and any mistake you ruin all the scape.

Ok, a bonsai is a real tree... But if I didn't mention that mine it's an homemade tree, did you find any difference?

Cheers,

Filipe Oliveira

 

[galettojm]

Your tank is simply incredible. Congratulations !!!

I hope I will be able to do something similar in the future (But I have my doubts !!! jejeje).

Is the "grass" utricularia graminifolia ? Is it a difficult plant ??

Bye !

Juan