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Techniques

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

Emerged cultivation

Grow plants in a humid environment out of water. Plants grow faster when they are above water than when they are submerged. They are used for:

  • Quickly populating an aquascape before filling it with water
  • Producing large quantities of groundcover plants
  • Propagating New Plants

Method: Moist substrate in a display case or aquarium without water, with a lid to maintain humidity. Normal lighting. 2–4 weeks before filling.

Dry Start Method (DSM)

Set up the entire aquascape with the substrate damp, plant the groundcover plants, maintain high humidity for 4–6 weeks (out of water), then flood the tank. The groundcover will already be established by the time you fill the tank.

Moss tables (moss trees)

Tie moss (Java moss, flame moss) to thin wooden branches to create aquatic bonsai trees. The result is very decorative and natural.

Hardscape First

Start by designing with just rocks and wood (hardscape) without water. Take photos and rearrange the elements until you find the ideal composition before adding substrate and plants.

MARINE AQUASCAPING

Rock-scaping in a marine setting

Live Rock:

  • Natural reef rock colonized by microfauna, coralline algae, and other organisms
  • The main biological filter in a marine aquarium
  • Amount: 15–20 kg per 100 L
  • "Dry rock" (dead rock) combined with live rock seeds is increasingly being used to control wildlife.

Dry Rock:

  • No live animals → no unwanted stowaways (pistolets, aggressive crabs, Aiptasia)
  • It will become colonized with bacteria and coralline algae within 3–6 months if you add some live rock.

Coral placement:

  • Aggressive corals (Hammer, Favia) → place them with space around them
  • SPSs that grow on branches may touch → plan for growth
  • LPS in low-current areas, SPS in high-current areas
  • Shading: Low-light corals in the shade of high-light corals

The Shrimp "Aquascape"

Shrimp tanks are also a form of aquascaping:

  • Mosses on rocks and wood → source of biofilm and shelter
  • Floating plants → filtered light and roots for grazing
  • Coconuts Carved into Caves (Shrimp Cave)
  • Substrates in colors that contrast with the shrimp's color