LAYOUT vol.002
English version of this article originally published in
Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine.
In the previous issue, I introduced basic design techniques of the Nature Aquarium. In this issue, I would like to provide a detailed explanation of substrate.
Substrates
In a Nature Aquarium, the gravel portion where aquatic plants are planted is called substrate. Instead of being a single material, the substrate is made of a combination of multiple materials. The bottom layer of the substrate is made of 5- to 10-mm pumice material that contains plant-based organic nutrients and slow-release inorganic nutrients, so it provides nutrients to aquatic plants.
The soil layer material is made from natural soil. Its particles are soft, and its high organic acid content encourages root growth. Last is a light cream-colored sand, an it is used as cosmetic sand in the foreground area of a layout. The reasons for using multiple substrate materials as described here is that the Nature Aquarium substrate system can grow healthy aquatic plants, and it renders a natural feeling.
Although the light sand does not help the growth of aquatic plants like the soil-based substrate does, it does not present a problem when it is used as cosmetic sand. On the contrary, since we do not want aquatic plants to invade the cosmetic sand area, the fact that it does not help the growth of aquatic plants is an advantage.
Rapids in the deep mountains of Japan, edged with sand and round pebbles and surrounded by dense green forest, were the inspiration for this composition.
Transitions
In the layout introduced here, driftwood is used as the composition material, and it functions to separate the foreground and background. As mentioned earlier, a light sand is used in the foreground, and if you look closely, you will find that the base of the driftwood is lined with small round pebbles. These pebbles of various sizes render a natural feel to the layout. A mixed bed of sand and round pebbles is often found edging rapids in the deep mountains of Japan. Dense green forest borders the rapids luxuriantly. This layout creates the image of the rapids tucked away in the mountains. Thus, the foreground is created with light sand and smooth pebbles, and mainly dark green aquatic plants are used.
Plants
Bolbitis and Anubias are used in a characteristic manner in this layout. Bolbitis are grown attached to driftwood using a vinyl tape with a thin wire enclosed in it. A healthy stem fastened in this manner attaches itself naturally on the driftwood, and it will not come loose when the fastener is removed.
The trick for growing a good-looking Bolbitis is to let them grow on driftwood and rocks, as in this layout, rather than planting them in the substrate. The reason for this is that a stem of Bolbitis tends to rot if planted directly in the substrate due to poor water circulation. If you attach them to small driftwood or rocks, you can place them on substrate to make them look like they are planted in the substrate. In nature, Bolbitis grows on small rocks. By duplicating this in an aquarium, you can grow healthy plants in a condition close to its natural environment.
The same thing is true for Anubias. Directly planting them in the substrate is not suitable. In a Nature Aquarium, Anubias are used in a layout by attaching their crowns to small rocks and placing them at the base of driftwood and among the arranged driftwood.
Behind the driftwood, Vallisneria nana, with narrow tape-like leaves, is planted. In order to grow this plant well, nutrient substrates are used in the left and right background section of the aquarium. I divided the substrate using cardboard along a line that I envisioned beforehand, and I placed the sand in the foreground and the nutrient soil in the background. (The divider was lifted later.)
The driftwood is arranged at this borderline. Around the driftwood, the small pebbles of various sizes are placed to fill the gap between the driftwood and the substrate. Doing so enhances the natural feel, and at the same time prevents the soil from sliding forward through the gap between the driftwood and the substrate.
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In the heavily planted background, a nutrient-rich bottom substrate layer is topped by a natural soil substrate to encourage root growth. Cream-colored sand and smooth pebbles are used in the foreground to provide contrast to the richly colored plants and driftwood. |
Finishing Touches
White cosmetic sand is used for creating the natural feel of the riverbank, as mentioned above, and also for maintaining the overall color balance of the layout. The use of dark driftwood and deep green aquatic plants renders a strong, natural feeling to this layout. However, they make the aquascape appear dark and give a heavy impression when used by themselves. Therefore, I used light-colored cosmetic sand to balance the colors and prevent the overall impression from getting too heavy.
In this layout, I used light cream-colored sand, but depending on the layout, I may use whiter sand or a bit darker Sarawak sand. With this method of using different materials for foreground and a background, the color of the foreground can be changed without affecting the growth of the aquatic plants in the background. This way you can try a variety of cosmetic sand to give a greater variation to the layout.
