Hi, my name is Paul Brooks and I’m venturing into the ‘beautiful world of aquascaping’ ! Posted a few pics of where the tank is going (I’m doing tons of DIY at the mo), the dojo I’ve build (actual scale) and some of the first hard scape play 🙂
One bit of wood is a very spikey corbo catfish wood that I’ve fallen in love with and the other is a bit of oak/bog oak from Cornwall. It’s a lot darker when under water (I’ve been soaking it to get the tannins out)
The rocks are fossilised wood. Even though there’s some that are lighter and more marble’y, I’ve smashed one in half and it’s definitely got fossilised wood in it.
The philosophy (idea) I have is two moons. One big, one small (er) and there’s a nobbley bit of wood sticking out the lhs of the oak as the main focal point. I like the configuration of the catfish wood with that ‘finger’ reaching up to the top of the tank.
The actual tank will have lava stones as a sub base, Oase scaper soil as substrate and a fair bit of aqua one natural river sand (I love seeing corydoras flicking through the sand) not planning on planting into sand btw.
I’m probably going to be buying my plants from Aquarium Gardens and have had a brief chat to Dave. Once I’ve got the hard scape finalised I’ll be sending them pics and they may be able to help with a plant layout.
I’m embracing Co-creating in this project as I follow Jesus and I believe my life isn’t separate from the ‘divine’. I’m fascinated by peoples experiences with their creative process. Re the aquarium gardens input, at first I was reluctant to consider help with the planting layout as I want/wanted to do this by myself (maybe the needs of the ego wanting recognition?) but I sat with this idea and it didn’t feel right. I’m of the opinion that we don’t create alone any hew. We harness and work with nature. I’ve recently read George Farmers book, watched tons of Green Aqua videos ! and I’m doing a fair bit of research. It’s stands to reason that those people are going to have an influence, and I welcome that.
Any hew, sorry/not sorry for getting all spiritual/philosophical ! To quote a fascinating chap called Rob Bell ‘Everything is Spiritual’ 🙂 and so is Aquascaping in my opinion.
Future hardware will be:
1000x610x610 tank with opti white on three sides. Black backing.
Fluval FX6 with spray bar.
Bio home upgrade kit (I’ll have apx 4.5 kg of bio media in the filter and upgraded foams)
They’ll be seachem purigen in bottom tray.
Lighting will be three LED (6500k) 30w floodlights mounted underneath a shelf above the aquarium. They’ll each have a switch. (Probably a temp arrangement until I can afford a decent twin star or equivalent).
I’ll have CO2 from a dual stage regulator and large flux bazooka atomiser (purchased from Aquarium Gardens)
All that’s left to talk about is the plants….. tbc!
Hope you enjoyed reading my contribution to this beautiful hobby and expression of creativity.
One bit of wood is a very spikey corbo catfish wood that I’ve fallen in love with and the other is a bit of oak/bog oak from Cornwall. It’s a lot darker when under water (I’ve been soaking it to get the tannins out)
The rocks are fossilised wood. Even though there’s some that are lighter and more marble’y, I’ve smashed one in half and it’s definitely got fossilised wood in it.
The philosophy (idea) I have is two moons. One big, one small (er) and there’s a nobbley bit of wood sticking out the lhs of the oak as the main focal point. I like the configuration of the catfish wood with that ‘finger’ reaching up to the top of the tank.
The actual tank will have lava stones as a sub base, Oase scaper soil as substrate and a fair bit of aqua one natural river sand (I love seeing corydoras flicking through the sand) not planning on planting into sand btw.
I’m probably going to be buying my plants from Aquarium Gardens and have had a brief chat to Dave. Once I’ve got the hard scape finalised I’ll be sending them pics and they may be able to help with a plant layout.
I’m embracing Co-creating in this project as I follow Jesus and I believe my life isn’t separate from the ‘divine’. I’m fascinated by peoples experiences with their creative process. Re the aquarium gardens input, at first I was reluctant to consider help with the planting layout as I want/wanted to do this by myself (maybe the needs of the ego wanting recognition?) but I sat with this idea and it didn’t feel right. I’m of the opinion that we don’t create alone any hew. We harness and work with nature. I’ve recently read George Farmers book, watched tons of Green Aqua videos ! and I’m doing a fair bit of research. It’s stands to reason that those people are going to have an influence, and I welcome that.
Any hew, sorry/not sorry for getting all spiritual/philosophical ! To quote a fascinating chap called Rob Bell ‘Everything is Spiritual’ 🙂 and so is Aquascaping in my opinion.
Future hardware will be:
1000x610x610 tank with opti white on three sides. Black backing.
Fluval FX6 with spray bar.
Bio home upgrade kit (I’ll have apx 4.5 kg of bio media in the filter and upgraded foams)
They’ll be seachem purigen in bottom tray.
Lighting will be three LED (6500k) 30w floodlights mounted underneath a shelf above the aquarium. They’ll each have a switch. (Probably a temp arrangement until I can afford a decent twin star or equivalent).
I’ll have CO2 from a dual stage regulator and large flux bazooka atomiser (purchased from Aquarium Gardens)
All that’s left to talk about is the plants….. tbc!
Hope you enjoyed reading my contribution to this beautiful hobby and expression of creativity.
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