Favorite aquascapes?

[Atitagain]

I’m gonna be setting up a new style of tank (for me) and it got me thinking about the different styles of aquascaping. Over 30 years most of the time I would buy whatever decorations at the box stores I liked and try to mesh it together. Then I steered towards natural rock and driftwood only tanks, keeping mostly African cichlids it worked best. Now over last year I’m heavily into planted tanks. So what’s your favorite aquascaping style?

1) box store decor = fake plants, fake logs, shipwrecks, castles, ect…

2) natural stone/ wood = real stone or wood only

3) lightly/ moderate planted = some plants some decor fake or natural 

4) heavily planted = very heavy plants real wood/ stone all styles included 

5) biotope = specific natural environment to mimic or recreate an exact location 

6) themed = non aquatic decorations to create a special environment or feel that has little to no natural decor (like they do on the show Tanked a lot)

7) other = other

pics if possible! This thread is meant to inspire others to try different styles and go outside their comfort zones. I never thought I would do a themed tank but I really wanted to try something way different than anything I’ve done in the past.

[Tanked]

My tanks fall into the 1-4 range but my favorite is #3.

If enough effort is put into scale and perspective, ships, castles and the like can look really good in a sunken world theme. I have omnivores and prefer a more natural look so plastic plants are a must. If I adopt someone's set up, The little mermaid is gone same day, but the fake logs and plants usually stay at least for a while.

[Atitagain]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:58 AM, Tanked said:

If enough effort is put into scale and perspective, ships, castles and the like can look really good in a sunken world theme

Your tanks look really good and clean! Some beautiful fish as well. 
I agree I have seen some very amazing set ups with castles and such, like you said creating a sunken world. That takes a good amount of artistic skill to pull off well.

[YeePuffer]

I guess mine falls under 3 & 4. 
 

I love the freshwater reef look. Don’t care much for artificial decorations. 

[Atitagain]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:03 AM, YeePuffer said:

I guess mine falls under 3 & 4. 
 

I love the freshwater reef look. Don’t care much for artificial decorations. 

I tend to agree, and like your sand (or if it were gravel) how it’s flowing and natural in appearance I can’t have flat even substrate in my tanks, unless only if it’s a biotope and it’s naturally should be.

[Patrick_G]

I’ve only done #4.  My next scape will be an attempt at having more negative space, but it’s hard to resist putting plants in every square inch of open space. 

I’m also intrigued by the Indonesian style with lots of root looking wood, moss and shade. Here’s an 2018 AGA winning scape by Matthew Israel O. Manes Paranaque City Manila, Philippines

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by Patrick_G

[Atitagain]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:39 AM, Patrick_G said:

I’ve only done #4.  My next scape will be an attempt at having more negative space, but it’s hard to resist putting plants in every square inch of open space. 

I’m also intrigued by the Indonesian style with lots of root looking wood, moss and shade. Here’s an 2018 AGA winning scape by Matthew Israel O. Manes Paranaque City Manila, Philippines

 

Easy to see why it’s award winning. Wow the depth it looks 100’ deep! And the detail! I wish I had talent. 
And leaving open space lol good luck. It was kinda easy before I got into plants.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

I'm not into the really "fancy" aquascapes where people are trying to make the aquarium look like and entire landscape or something that goes on forever.  Just not my thing.  I lean towards rockwork with no plants, or things that evoke rockwork.

[Hobbit]

I’m tending toward #3 in my tanks. The “fake” decorations I use are pots, glass, etc.

The driftwood did eventually sink in this one and it looks a bit better now:

This is a 5 gallon ricefish tank:

The scape above, but a month later with algae:

Note to self: don’t rely on glass in a tank with no clean-up crew. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I actually just added some shrimp, so they may help.

[mynameisnobody]

I have and prefer #3 and #4. I strongly dislike #1, though they are more tolerable than #6. I absolutely despise themed anything, especially when a great majority of it is a real stretch.

 

[Atitagain]

@OnlyGenusCaps those have to be backgrounds from like universal…. Right? They are very impressive .

The depth in these shadows is awesome I think you have it lighted perfectly.

now that I’m messing with plants I’ve gotten away from rock work but something like those 2 is what I was aiming for when I kept a lot of cichlids.

so being that you only keep this style do you keep anything other than cichlids?

@Hobbit I’m gonna be using some pots soon, trying to get some plants in with my African cichlids and Oscar. Will be using a decent sized cap stone so I just need them not to eat it and the pots will keep them from moving them.

[Jawjagrrl]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:39 AM, Patrick_G said:

I’m also intrigued by the Indonesian style with lots of root looking wood, moss and shade. Here’s an 2018 AGA winning scape by Matthew Israel O. Manes Paranaque City Manila, Philippines

 

This style is very inspirational for me as well! Love designs that really utilize the whole tank, top to bottom. I do admire the minimalist Japanese approach but I don't think I have that level of restraint. 😄

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I feel like at least for me, tanks end up evolving and having their own unique personalities- none of my tanks are the same. I admire ALL types of tanks. I like the use of fake things as long as they have a realistic look to them- or like @Guppysnail said I like the use of pots for plants. I like marbles for color. I guess like art I'm attacted to Mixed Media. If you do it right it's a seamless thing of beauty. 

Edited October 31, 2021 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Atitagain]

@Manny. Them Lilly pads are huge! And the jungle? (I think) vallisneria how did you get it packed so tight? I love that look.

On 10/30/2021 at 9:50 PM, Manny said:

I absolutely despise themed anything

You will definitely not like the tank o will be doing soon.😎😂😂😂

[mynameisnobody]

@Atitagain Yes it is Val. I grew out a ton of it, then took a bunch and placed it in an ez planter for my 75 gallon shellie tank. It was a cool way of creating shade for the little guys. As far as not liking what you’d do next, it’s not for me to say. I merely answered the question. For example, when I used to scan through fishtube, I’d skip right by anyone claiming to create a themed tank. It is absolutely not my thing. Now, the coop and OFR are the only 2 channels I’ll watch. My motto is to each their own, yet I have very strong opinions when asked. 

[Atitagain]

On 10/30/2021 at 10:21 PM, Jawjagrrl said:

This style is very inspirational for me as well! Love designs that really utilize the whole tank, top to bottom

This is definitely what i aspire my tanks to look like. Not exactly but the details, flow, depth, and overall beauty. 
 

On 10/30/2021 at 10:22 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

I guess like art I'm attacted to Mixed Media. If you do it right it's a seamless thing of beauty

I appreciate all types as well. It’s very much like art when doing show tanks. Also very subjective.

[scott the fishman]

On 10/30/2021 at 4:39 AM, Atitagain said:

I’m gonna be setting up a new style of tank (for me) and it got me thinking about the different styles of aquascaping. Over 30 years most of the time I would buy whatever decorations at the box stores I liked and try to mesh it together. Then I steered towards natural rock and driftwood only tanks, keeping mostly African cichlids it worked best. Now over last year I’m heavily into planted tanks. So what’s your favorite aquascaping style?

1) box store decor = fake plants, fake logs, shipwrecks, castles, ect…

2) natural stone/ wood = real stone or wood only

3) lightly/ moderate planted = some plants some decor fake or natural 

4) heavily planted = very heavy plants real wood/ stone all styles included 

5) biotope = specific natural environment to mimic or recreate an exact location 

6) themed = non aquatic decorations to create a special environment or feel that has little to no natural decor (like they do on the show Tanked a lot)

7) other = other

pics if possible! This thread is meant to inspire others to try different styles and go outside their comfort zones. I never thought I would do a themed tank but I really wanted to try something way different than anything I’ve done in the past.

great topic i am in to heavly planted nature wood and stone.

here is the stages of my build

On 10/30/2021 at 8:36 PM, scott the fishman said:

great topic i am in to heavly planted nature wood and stone.

here is the stages of my build

ummm sorry about the beer cans!!!

[Hobbit]

@scott the fishman very dynamic scape with all those angles!

[scott the fishman]

On 10/30/2021 at 10:47 PM, Hobbit said:

@scott the fishman very dynamic scape with all those angles!

thank you! i came very close to what i had visioned in my mind. the slate stone comes from iceland and does not effect PH 

the wood comes from south america.

On 10/30/2021 at 1:05 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

I'm not into the really "fancy" aquascapes where people are trying to make the aquarium look like and entire landscape or something that goes on forever.  Just not my thing.  I lean towards rockwork with no plants, or things that evoke rockwork.

love the scape man! 

[scott the fishman]

On 10/30/2021 at 8:39 AM, Patrick_G said:

I’ve only done #4.  My next scape will be an attempt at having more negative space, but it’s hard to resist putting plants in every square inch of open space. 

I’m also intrigued by the Indonesian style with lots of root looking wood, moss and shade. Here’s an 2018 AGA winning scape by Matthew Israel O. Manes Paranaque City Manila, Philippines

 

breath taking!!!!!!!

[Mmiller2001]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:39 AM, Patrick_G said:

I’ve only done #4.  My next scape will be an attempt at having more negative space, but it’s hard to resist putting plants in every square inch of open space. 

I’m also intrigued by the Indonesian style with lots of root looking wood, moss and shade. Here’s an 2018 AGA winning scape by Matthew Israel O. Manes Paranaque City Manila, Philippines

 

Absolutely insane.

On 10/30/2021 at 2:05 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

I'm not into the really "fancy" aquascapes where people are trying to make the aquarium look like and entire landscape or something that goes on forever.  Just not my thing.  I lean towards rockwork with no plants, or things that evoke rockwork.

That second one is cool, well done!

 

I'm in the other category #7. I'm addicted to the Dutch Style look, but can't quite achieve it yet.

[Atitagain]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:36 PM, scott the fishman said:

great topic i am in to heavly planted nature wood and stone.

here is the stages of my build

ummm sorry about the beer cans!!!

Awesome, great mix of wood, rock, and plants. Very well balanced.

[Atitagain]

On 10/31/2021 at 2:54 AM, Mmiller2001 said:

Absolutely insane.

That second one is cool, well done!

 

I'm in the other category #7. I'm addicted to the Dutch Style look, but can't quite achieve it yet.

Dutch style is very very beautiful so much in there. I don’t know much about the “rules” or parameters but it looks like you have a good grasp on it, that is an amazing scape.

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:13 PM, Atitagain said:

I think you have it lighted perfectly.

My apologies, I wasn't clear.  Like Patrick_G, I was showing photos of aquariums I am drawn to, not my own aquariums.  None of mine have reached the lofty heights of the photos I pasted.  My pseudo-salt tank is the nearest, and it is still leagues away.  Sorry to everyone, that I didn't make that clear earlier.  It is clear I failed in that regard and accidentally presented those as my tanks.  😔

 

[Hobbit]

@Mmiller2001 I love the Dutch style scapes! (It might just be because I’m half Dutch 😄) I read a post once about all the rules and it was mind-blowingly specific, but somehow that makes it more fun. I think your tank looks AMAZING. Just the fact that you’ve gotten so many different plants to thrive in the same tank is a feat in itself.

@OnlyGenusCapsNo worries! The original post could be answered either way. You weren’t intentionally trying to fool anyone.