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Anonymous
So, I want to start sea scaping, but I don't know a lot about it. Any advice for starters in terms of plants, places to buy, and price ranges?

Thanks
>> Anonymous
Hahahah thats fucking awesome.
>> That Gomez
You have intrigued me, good sir. Moar plox
>> Anonymous
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Here is one from the same contest, The ADA Contest 2007.

First, its called aquascaping, second, you don't really want to get into it, you want a school of neons in a 10g tank.

These layouts in pictures like these are the result of years of learning and experience, not to mention many hundreds and most likely thousands of dollars. This mixture of money and experience is combined with months of "growing in time" while being meticulously pruned and groomed nearly everyday.
Odds are you want to get into bonsai too but don't have the time or patience.

But I'll humor you. To recreate OP pic:
Seamless Amano 10-20g tank judging by the shrimp:~$50
Lighting: CF or T5, at least $100
Pressurized C02 injection: most likely ~$200
Substrate: If a pro plant substrate is used probably around ~$30
Canister Filter: ~100
Plus what looks like $30+ of dwarf sag and $30+ worth of java moss, and I count at least $30 worth of cherry, amano and crystal red shrimp.

I wish you luck, I do, maybe I'm just bitter cause most of my planted tanks look rather amaturish (as do most peoples who get into the planted tank hobby)

Of interest:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33033

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=19

http://www.pbase.com/plantella/root

http://www.ada-eu.com/gallery.asp
Amano's site, the man, the legend, google "amano planted aquarium" and you will be well on your way, browse some of the many great forums as well
>> Anonymous
If one were looking for a more conservative arrangement, say the tree, moss, rocks then light it with an LED arngement i already have and fill it with cleaning shrimp, would that not look alright but still be economical?
>> Anonymous
wow these are fucking awsome!

i demand MOAR!!!
>> Anonymous
>>197170
Sure, but you won't be able to reach such levels as shown in the pics.
As anon said: school of neons for a start.
Experience follows.
>> Anonymous
What I wonder is how they keep the algae out of these tanks.
They are cleaner than clean. Probably only for a day and when the fotoshooting is over they look like normal fishtanks.
Also how the hell do they keep the plants in check?
Especially the java moss and those needles grow like hell.
>> Anonymous
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>>197207
The tools in this picture cost upwards of $50 each. Pick one, put your arm in the tank for an hour or two a day, and thats how they keep the plants in check.

Algae is controlled buy the shrimp and the Pressurized C02. C02, plus the $100 in fertilizers I forgot you will need, will grow the plants so well that they starve out all the algae.

In case people dont understand what I mean by c02: you take a paint ball c02 canister, or coke machine canister, hook it up to a regulator, and then pump c02 into your tank.

>>197170
You can try, and again I wish you luck, but be prepaired for an uphill battle against what you see in pictures and what you see in person.
>> Anonymous
I'd assume for this kind of setup they use Osmosis filter and UVC cleaner too.
>> Anonymous
take 2 much dedication to take care of a aqua garden,it is better to just get a dog.
>> Anonymous
Very complicated and takes serious dedication. You'll lose interest and end up with dead plants algae overgrowth and shit water and a major loss of time and money.
>> Anonymous
>>197106
Are the neons chosen more for anything other than aesthetic reasons, or are they somehow helping the tank itself?
>> Anonymous
>>197275
they ae easy to keep.That's all.
>> Anonymous
It not the money, any idiot can buy a tank, equipment, bunch of plant, mix it together and call it aquascaping. The op tank is no more than $500. The time and the patience to create such a piece of art, however, is tremendous. A tank of such quality could take many months to grow, and that if you know how to take care of your tank already.
My advice is at first pick up some common aquarium skills, make plants and fish to survive in your tank, that shouldnt take more than a year to figure out. Then get a book on classical Holland tank or some Amano book and try to recreate.

>>197207
>What I wonder is how they keep the algae out of these tanks.
Lots of experience and whery careful nutrients monitoring. Algae does not grow if you do not let it grow. If there is a right balance of CO2, minerals, ammount and spectrum and length of light, plants, fish, other critures then you wouldn see any algae in tank. It just takes years to figure this balance, thats all. I still have not acheived it yet.
>> gizmogal !MmLOyiCYJs
wow i didn't even know this sort of thing existed! sounds extremely taxing but awesome.
>> Anonymous
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Does any one knows where to find ADA 2007 photos?
Here are 10 top aquariums from ADA 2006
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>> Anonymous
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If you are interested in more aquascaping you can, for example, look at http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2007.cgi - AGA 2007 competition, and archive of 2000-2006 competitions. AGA is not as famous or prestigious as ADA, but still one can find tons of photo of great aquascaping.
It is a very beautiful and revarding hobby. But it is like gardening - you do not just jump in there and become awesome overnight.
>> Anonymous
I fucking came.
>> That Gomez
coolest. hobby. ever.
>> Anonymous
These are seriously awesome. Thanks for posting them.