What is your favorite aquascaping style and why?

4995 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by JanS, May 28, 2004

tsunami

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2004

What is your favorite aquascaping style and why?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Bert H

· #2 · May 12, 2004

It is interesting you should post this, because I have come to a point now where I feel fairly comfortable growing a decent variety of plants. But I seem to have a real difficulty in their arrangement to create the actual aquascape. I understand the principles, but putting them into play and maintaining them, is another story.

So, to answer the question, I don't have a preferred style, though I seem to like it more if there are red plants in it than if not. If it is well executed, I tend to like it

Paul Higashikawa

· #3 · May 12, 2004

haha, so there IS a Taiwanese style? With figurines? hahahahaha; gotta be kidding me. Last I checked, not all Taiwanese 'scape their tanks with toys and non-aquatic objects.

For me, it's more like gestalt. Take the essence that's more than the sum of its part. A little bit of something from everything. Ultimately, what pleases my eyes.

Paul

david lim

· #4 · May 12, 2004

I like the taiwanese style with figurines. They bring a new idea to aquascaping and grow well manicured plants to boot!

tsunami

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 12, 2004

An example of the Taiwanese figurine style...

Carlos

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aquaverde

· #6 · May 12, 2004

Wow, that's really impressive. Wonder what it takes to keep it that way.

I wonder about the most popular poll choice- doing your own thing. That would mean half the voters (at this point) say they have their own style. Does this mean a radical distinction from the recognizable styles, or simply the fact that folks always add some creativity to what they do? I don't think that choice answers the question- are we saying we like our own style best?

I voted for nature aquarium style because I like the aquarium to look like a chunk of nature, a view into another world, a microcosm suggesting something larger. I like the scapes that succeed in some sort of mystery, like if you could only see a little further down this way there would be more, an illusion of space that's bigger than the actual size. If I went snorkeling, I doubt I would ever find something in nature that looks like the tanks I like, but it appeals to what I think looks natural, anyway. The Dutch style and this Taiwanese figurine style are so impressive, but wouldn't get my vote. I'm more for French gardens than English, so the overly manicured look just isn't to my taste.

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tsunami

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 12, 2004

I also would like to know the explanations from the people who "do their own thing" but none of them have typed up an explanation on this thread.

Carlos

gnatster

· #8 · May 12, 2004

Since I can only vote one way I chose the Nature Style, since for viewing that has intrigued me more then any other. Now as to my own personal style of aquascaping I don't have one as of yet. Being my first planted aquaria and newly setup at that, I am ecstatic the plants are growing. I did try to arrange them in a pleasing manner but as I have no idea of the long term growth characteristics in my setup I cannot honestly say they are 'scaped.

My ultimate goal is learn how the plants I choose grow and interact with each other and my livestock, ultimately to place them in a design I find pleasing. There are many facets to this hobby I know little to nothing about at this time. Who knows, as time and experience progresses my goals may change. I'm not suffering from collectoritis nor multiple tank syndrome, yet.

Gomer

· #9 · May 12, 2004

I cant say that I follow any style strictly. I will say that I am most influenced by amano and dutch styles. I use them for inspiration and then just go with it.

And I really like some of the taiwanese styles. I think they are really neat!

Sue

· #10 · May 12, 2004

kind of doing my own thing right now because I'm new at this and like to observe how different plants grow and which ones seem to do best for me and my conditions. For most of my life I wondered why I could never grow real aquatic plants and when I found this and a couple of other boards a 40 year old mystery was lifted.

Only place I've ever seen nature look like an amano tank was Silver springs in Florida(think that's what it's called)and I'm not so certain the aquascape wasn't manipulated for tourists. The rest look more like the hodgepodge jungle in my tank or are very sparse with a couple species growing here and there.

I may try to scape it a bit more further down the road but looking at my regular gardens I don't see things getting too formal.

Wow! I really can grow tank plants! Still too much fun testing a bunch out.

Pigheaddd

· #11 · May 12, 2004

the pix above was ADA 2001 World Ranking 21 Winning Work created by Jang Kae Fuh. it looks nice. actually, it looks like Chinese/Japanese courtyard/bonsai. even i'm Taiwanese, i never hear that Taiwanese style exist with animal and human figurines! where are those info coming from? :lol: so... this is a Taiwanese style too? :roll:

http://www.pbase.com/plantella/buddha_tank

i like nature/Amano style because it looks real. it likes you put wild scene into a limited space in your place. i want to try Tonina/Eriocaulon tank coz its not only aquascaping, but also keep those plants alive. they need more maintenance. most of species are not easy to keep. it's kinda a challenge for me. :twisted:

in my opinion, i like my tanks coz each of them is the only one exist in the world. you cannot find another same one anywhere else. i enjoy and have fun with it. i watch, maintain, enjoy it everyday. i love it the best, and other people's opinion the last. why bother? if it's for competition purpose, it's another story. i think i will ask some adivices from people who have had most experiences, and have attened some contest already, but still... it's my tank.

enjoy and have fun...

Tim

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david lim

· #12 · May 13, 2004

This taiwanese style usually represents farm life common when driving around taiwan's mountainous areas

or along the smaller towns. They will have figurines of pigs, water buffalo, people and houses. It seems very realistic with "rice paddies" and "trees" and makes for a pastoral scenery. The style seems pretty new in the hobby as I can't find many pictures or examples on the web. I have seen the ADA journal feature many of the aquariums before. They do seem difficult to maintain and keep the plants in check.

JanS

· #13 · May 13, 2004

I also had to go with doing my own thing for a couple of reasons.

1. I have no source of plants other than ordering them or trading/buying from fellow plant enthusiasts.

2. I sometimes feel the need to make an impulse purchase, whether it fits in with the style of the tank or not.... 8) Sometimes you just can't resist.
At least it's better than buying impulse fish....

I guess all in all I sort of try to follow Amano's style, though.

Sir_BlackhOle

· #14 · May 14, 2004

I have collectoritus!

Raul-7

· #15 · May 14, 2004

I've always admired the Dutch style, but due to the strict rules tied to the style dissuaded me from trying it out. I'm thinking of maybe using more exotic plants than the species regularly used, and the image of daily trimming gives me a headache.

Daemonfly

· #16 · May 16, 2004

I don't have a favorite style. Any "style" will look good if it's setup well.

bharada

· #17 · May 20, 2004

I voted the Dutch-Natural combo.

I remember being in awe of the Dutch-style aquariums I saw in books back in the 70s. And Amano's creations take on an almost surreal qualty. For inspiration both are great, but in practice it always comes down to the "what-looks-good-to-me-at-the-time" style. Having an LFS with an outstanding plant assortment relatively nearby (Albany Aquarium, Albany CA) doesn't help curb the before mentioned "collectoritis" either!

JimS

· #18 · May 28, 2004

I have to go along with Bert and his response. I also seem to be able to get the plants to grow, and the algae, d--- it. I like to use driftwood in my tanks because I feel it provides a more realistic picture. I'm still trying to learn the trimming thing and what plant combinations look good. I have been using a 30 gallon tank to grow plants that I bought over the net. These were to be placed in a 75 gallon tank but I found some very nice Blue Rams several weeks ago and put them in the 30. Now one pair is tending a clutch of eggs that were laid yesterday. So if they hatch out and I can keep them alive the 75 is going to have to wait a while. I find that I enjoy the plants every bit as much as the fish.

JanS

· #19 · May 28, 2004

Congrats on your Ram eggs Jim.

Let us know how it goes.

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