What is Aquascaping?

Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants along with rocks, cavework, stones, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium. Aquascape designs incorporate numerous distinctive styles. Usually, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants. Although it’s possible to produce an aquascape with solely plants, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants.

Even though the main goal of aquascaping is to construct an artful underwater landscape, the technical aspects of aquatic plant maintenance must also be considered. A lot of factors must be also balanced in the closed system of an aquarium tank to make sure the aquascape is successful. These factors include:

• maintaining the levels of carbon monoxide sufficient to support photosynthesis underwater.
• filtration.
• lighting.
• algae control.
• substrate and fertilization.

Some aquascape hobbyist’s trade plants, create contests, and share photos and information by means of the internet. The United States-based Aquatic Gardeners Association maybe has 1,200 members.

Along with the design, freshwater aquascaping also requires specific methods to maintain healthy plants underwater. some people are frequently trimming the plants to acquire the desired shape, and they also can position the plants by tying them in place discreetly with thread. The majority of serious aquascapers utilize aquarium-safe fertilizers, most commonly in liquid or tablet form, to aid the plants in filling out more quickly. It’s also essential that it supports photosynthesis, by providing light and carbon dioxide. Various lighting systems might be used to offer the full spectrum of light, normally at 2-4 watts per gallon. Lights are normally controlled by a timer that enables the plants to acclimate to a set cycle. Depending on the number of fish and plants, the aquascape might also require carbon dioxide supplementation.

Image Caption: A 58g aquascape. Credit: Luis Navarro/Wikipedia