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Aquascaping on TV

George Farmer

Founder
UKAPS Team
Joined
30 Jun 2007
Messages
7,098
Location
Cambridgeshire
You Tube


The tank
tank-1.jpg


Me in rehersal
georgeinrehersal.jpg


Dan Crawford, James Starr-Marshall and I recently set up a fully planted aquascape for Sky1’s new UK TV show, Liza and Huey’s Pet Nation.

The show celebrates the nation’s obsession with pets and a researcher spoke with me after Practical Fishkeeping’s recommendation regarding aquascaping.

I was interviewed on set next to our completed display aquarium by Liza Tarbuck and Huey Morgan (Fun Loving Criminals frontman), along with guest celebrity, Antony Worrall Thompson who is also a fishkeeper. I discussed the contrast in what we do as aquascaping compared to the typical ornamental aquarium filled with tacky décor, as well as the hardware aspects amongst other things.

The tank was Dan Crawford’s brand new opti-white open-top 80x55x45(H)cm complete with overtank lighting and full glassware set-up, planted with almost 100 Tropica pots (including plants attached to décor). Unipac supplied the amazing piece of Sumatra wood, Petrified wood and substrate. Fish were ten adult Angelfish supplied by Wildwoods. The aquarium was set up on set in the BBC’s Wood Lane studios; an awesome place to work in!

My biggest concern was ensuring the water was gin clear prior to filming, as we were on a tight schedule. Usually I let my tanks clear overnight at least prior to photographing but we only had a few hours!

We cleaned the coarse silica sand, Petrified wood and Sumatra wood thoroughly prior to installation to minimise clouding. We then filled the tank slowly using hose, colander and plastic sheet draped over the aquascape. We used two large external filters filled with mechanical media and ultra-fine floss. The water was brought to temperature quickly and the fish settled within minutes. The whole setting up and aquascaping process took just over two hours (although the prep work took months!)

Everyone involved with the show, including Liza and Huey, seemed really impressed by the finished set-up and at one point there was around 20 production staff around the tank admiring it. The producer herself found us and sang our praises which was a real buzz.

As mentioned, I was assisted by fellow keen aquascapers, Dan Crawford and James Starr-Marshall. We worked flawlessly as a team that allowed the full aquascape to be created in a relatively short time. James prepped the plants whilst Dan fitted all the aquarium equipment such as filters and CO2 gear. I set up the hardscape and substrate with some creative guidance from James and Dan and we all began planting into the wet substrate.

I had an idea of what the finish aquascape would look like but it exceeded my already high expectations. Creating a mature-looking aquascaping instantly is a challenge but made easier with high density planting and decent hardscape.

The aquascape feature only lasted a few minutes during the actual broadcast but I hope it inspires and creates as much interest as it did during filming. Aquascaping using live plants and natural materials was a new concept to many. The biggest reward was hearing a celebrity referring to what we do as “living art”.

Look out for a HD You Tube clip coming soon...
 
Re: Aquascaping on Sky1 - You Tube link

:lol: I got nervous for you.

divers with bubbles coming....then swiftly changed the wording.

very well done george. :thumbup:
 
Re: Aquascaping on Sky1 - You Tube link

Nicely done George :thumbup: , I said at the time that you came across really well.
I think you should have your own show mate.
I can't wait to see how the tank looks in Hi-Def :D

Cheers,
James
 
Re: Aquascaping on Sky1 - You Tube link

Brilliantly done, shame i missed it yesterday

Good publicity for the hobby :)
 
Pity it was short a small segment, The Tank And Angel Fish looked Amazing in HD( I would download to the PC and Upload, but dont have the Cables to do it, from the HD Box). I Could see your reactions to the noobie feeding story from Anthony Warrell Thompson - Priceless.
Shame they could not remember any of the details of the 800 Year Old Koi that have been found in that Monastry.
 
Well Done George, you did really well mate. Im proud of ya :thumbup:

Im glad you see you said "we" too,lol.

I think its great to see this on TV and it will have the desired effect for sure. Morning TV next mate!!!

Well done to Dan and James too, very important cogs in the machine.

Respect and well done.

Cheers.
 
Graeme Edwards said:
Well Done George, you did really well mate. Im proud of ya :thumbup:

Im glad you see you said "we" too,lol.

I think its great to see this on TV and it will have the desired effect for sure. Morning TV next mate!!!

Well done to Dan and James too, very important cogs in the machine.

Respect and well done.

Cheers.
Thanks mate! :D

altaaffe said:
I totally forgot this was on TV, thanks for putting the link on George, the tank looked fantastic by the way and what a good plug :clap:
Thanks again! Hopefully the HD version will be up soon - I've not even seen that yet!
 
I had totally forgot about this, just watched it. Looked really good. One mans mission :lol: I liked how you added in we too.

What was the game afterwards?! I need sky player stat!
 
Hi George

We have just watched the clip on YouTube. Very well presented and no nerves in sight (presumably because ''he's only in the RAF!'')! Excellent set up and congratulations also to Dan and James. Many thanks for using Unipac products so effectively. Glad to be able to provide you with them. The piece of Sumatra looked awesome, even if I say so myself!!

Regards.

Roy@Unipac
 
Here's a better you tube clip, unfortunately the HD recording went wrong but the 576p is still fairly clear.


Cheers,
James
 
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