Issue 1 March 2008.Pdf
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AquaScapingWorldAquaScapingWorld Making Magic In Glass Boxes Aquascaping with Sketches Interview with a Nano Aquascaper Plant Anatomy: Part I The Stem Creating Waterfalls in a Planted Aquarium Methods to Prevent Algae Stocking A Nano Aquarium www.aquascapingworld.com VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 MARCH 2008 MARCH 2008 AquaScaping World 1 Letter from the Editor Welcome to the first issue of AquaScaping World Magazine! This issue offers an excellent smorgasbord on a range of topics pertaining to Planted Aquariums and Aquascapes. I encourage you to challenge yourself, whether its in designing an aquascape, growing aquatic plants, or keeping healthy habitats for your livestock. One can never tell in our fast-moving Aquatic World when today‟s personal enthusiasm becomes tomorrow‟s inspiration for others. AquaScaping World Magazine publishes on a monthly basis to bring you the best resource available to help you master the art of aquascaping and growing aquatic plants for your planted aquariums. Each issue will cover a wide range of topics from aquascaping, equipment, algae, fish and invertebrates, and of course aquatic plants. Our writers have a tremendous amount of experience between them when it comes to planted aquariums. They write about their personal aquaria experiences and views to help and inspire budding and advanced hobbyists. The planted aquarium hobby can be an overwhelming experience for the new enthusiast. We aim to deliver a quality magazine to aquascapers and planted aquarium hobbyists all over the globe that is not only understandable but simple, inspirational, and informative. We hope we achieve our mission and wish you well in your aquascaping adventures. Enjoy reading our magazine and happy aquascaping! John Nguyen Editor in Chief AquaScaping World Magazine 2 AquaScaping World MARCH 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Introduction for the first issue of AquaScaping World Magazine. By John Nguyen 4 DON‟T LET ALGAE BEAT YOU A look at the best algae eaters for your planted aquarium. By Tom Messenger 6 CREATING WATERFALLS IN PLANT AQUARIUMS The past 2007 Aqua Design Amano Aquascaping contest featured a tank with a waterfall illusion inside the tank itself. This article discusses the method of which the waterfall illusion was created. By Andrew Nunn 8 AQUATIC PLANT ANATOMY PART 1: THE STEM The first part of an in-depth look at the anatomy of aquatic plants. Understanding how plants grow is key to successfully growing and shaping them to fit an aquascape. By Freemann 13 FINDING INSPIRATION Many budding aquascapers have no idea where e to begin when designing an aquascape. This article examines the world around us that can inspire that perfect layout. By Roy Deki 14 STOCKING A NANO AQUARIUM There are many misconceptions on what fish and how many can fit in a small “nano” aquarium. Let‟s clear the air once and for all. By Liz Marchio 18 AQUASCAPE IN FOCUS: NANO AQUARIUMS This month features an interview with established aquascaper Antonio Nikolic who masterfully creates beautiful aquascapes in small glass boxes. 24 AQUASCAPING WITH SKETCHES Some of the best aquascapes are drawn on paper weeks before any water goes into an aquarium. Find out how to use sketching as an advantageous way to formulate and capture your aquascaping potential By Steven Chong 28 METHODS TO PREVENT ALGAE The running debate over best algae repulsion techniques is examined through observational experiments conducted a hobbyist. Do certain plants help repel algae through chemical agents? By Aziz Dhanani 30 PLANTING AND CARING FOR ANUBIAS NANA PETITE This month‟s plant profile discusses how to care for one of the smallest aquatic plants in planted aquaria. By Stan Chung MARCH 2008 AquaScaping World 3 Don’t Let Algae Beat You Best Algae Eaters for Your Aquarium By Tom Messenger lgae can become a problem Otocinclus spp. your Otos. A fish with a nice, A in the aquarium if left Otocinclus spp. are one of rounded silvery stomach should unchecked or uncontrolled. the most popular fish used to be fine, as this indicates that they Luckily, in a planted aquarium help in the control of algae. There have been fed on adequate foods there are several species of fish are a few species that I have since their import and should and invertebrates that can help seen available here in the UK, continue to do so. All too often you win the war on algae. Their and these are O. vestitus, O. though, Otos found in aquatic suitability will depend on the type affinis and O. macrospilus. Most shops are very skinny and and size of the aquarium , and 0tocinclus sold are caught in the suffering from malnutrition. This current inhabiting species in the wild. When these fish are is why they are often considered tank. Fortunately, most of algae imported, they are often starved to be tricky to keep, and can die eating fauna can survive in a during the transport stages, and off during acclimatisation. wide range of aquarium so many tend to die off even Most Otocinclus will grow to environments. Here is a quick before they reach the wholesaler/ around 2” or less and eat a wide guide to some frontline defenders retailer. Because of this, you range of algae. These miniature against algae. need to be careful when choosing size makes them a great choice 4 AquaScaping World MARCH 2008 Crossochelius siamensis Neocaridina denticulata Siamese Algae Eaters sinensis (Crossochelius siamensis), or Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina SAE as it is often written, can denticulata sinensis) are another grow much larger than the popular shrimp choice for the Otocinclus (up to 6”) and aquarium, mainly because of Don’t Let Algae Beat You because of this are suited to the their size and colour. Female larger aquarium only. I would Cherry Shrimp are bright red, suggest a minimum being a 36” whereas males can be slightly Best Algae Eaters for Your Aquarium tank to keep these fish at their drab in comparison. These eventual size. I have found they shrimp are smaller than the can be a bit boisterous and may Amano Shrimp, and I haven‟t had By Tom Messenger uproot newly planted carpet any grow past one inch. You will plants and disturb substrate, need to be wary of filter inlets due which is a problem if it clouds to the small size of the shrimp. easily. Like the Ottos, these algae eaters are said to eat a variety of algae types including black beard algae, or BBA. This is a common problem in planted aquaria and it is sometimes attributed to low CO2 in the water. There is often confusion between this species and the Chinese Algae Eater, or CAE, as they look very similar. One difference between them is the number of barbels, the SAE having one set and the CAE having 2 sets. Caridina denticulata The Amano Shrimp (Caridina denticulata, formally japonica), or Crossochelius siamensis (top) Yamato Shrimp as it is Caridina denticulata, (bottom) sometimes known, was brought into popularity by Takashi Amano Sometimes when you clean the in his search for the perfect algae filter during maintenance, you eating shrimp. He tested many can find live baby shrimp that shrimp, but eventually settling on have been sucked in and are for an algae eater in either large the “Amano” Shrimp, a Japanese living off detritus or algae in the or small aquariums. They should native species and ordering filter. I recommend placing a really be kept in groups of around several thousand from the small cover over the filter intake if 6 and will often stay close to each supplier! They will eat most types you want to save every shrimp. other in the aquarium. This is of algae and are very effective at Cherry shrimp will readily when they are at their most their job. They will reach around breed in the average aquarium, effective in a planted aquarium. 2” and are suitable to most size given plenty of dense plant cover In my experience they are very aquariums. One problem with to protect the young from gentle with aquatic plants, and keeping shrimp in the aquarium is predatory fish. Tetras are known will not damage soft leaved that you will need to be careful to snack on babies, whereas plants like Rotala sp. ‟wallichii‟ about other occupants. Although corycat fish and Otocinclus are while feeding. Otocinclus are Amano shrimp are one of the considered shrimp safe diligent eaters of green spot and larger freshwater algae eating companions the cherry shrimp. green dust algae clusters when in shrimp, they can be eaten by large groups. large fish such as Angelfish and Discus. MARCH 2008 AquaScaping World 5 Creating Waterfalls in a Planted Aquarium By Andrew Nunn was curious as to how the Let‟s investigate how the I tank above, which took World effect is created. To start off, from Ranking 7 in the Aqua Design the initial impression, the illusion Amano 2007 Aquascaping appears to be created using Contest created the waterfall rising bubbles that where either illusion. I had seen similar effects edited out with photo software, or created by rising bubbles, but this vacuumed away into a hidden seems to end before reaching the cavern. I come to find out neither surface, meaning it is created were the case. Bubbles play a using a different method, or there large role in the mechanics of the was a good deal of photo editing illusion, but they are not what the involved. However, , a poster on viewer is seeing. Instead, the my blog tipped me off to a viewer is observing a steady website (www.xylema.net) that stream of falling sand. That‟s explains exactly how it was right, sand.