Last year, Coloring Stephy received wide-spread acclaim. I was wondering how a 24-year old young man could withstand the mesmerizing attractions from Stephy (a famous idol in Hong Kong). I was listening ardently in my home.
Aoyama Sauntering is the title of one of the songs in the album. It’s about this girl who had just ended her relationship, and came to Aoyama to cheer herself up. The lyrics weren’t exactly well written, but the music had this care-free spirit topped with Stephy’s captivating voice. I was really drawn to this song for it sounded very relaxing. This layout has the same title, which I also hoped to capture that same care-free spirit.
The inspiration of this layout also came from nature, and the related interview can be found at: http://www.aquagarden.it/2006/marzo/law_eng.htmlI have said before that I love mountain-climbing and photography. Searching for inspirations in nature is a hobby of mine. Bringing such beauty into my tank is my wish!

January 4th, 2006
-First of all, we must set up an empty tank because mine isn’t new. That’s why the back already has a background paper taped. CO2 system, filtration system, and the lighting system have all been implemented.

Due to the fact that this layout will have two substrate types, we must use a piece of cardboard for partition. This cardboard will bend according to our desired shape to separate the Amazonia, which will be in the back, and the sand, which will be in the front.

-Place the cardboard into the tank.

- Secure the cardboard and slowly pour in the sand

-Pour the Amazonia into the tank and form into two hills. Add the Seiryuseiki stones-Once the cardboard is taken out, the sand and the soil will merge. Add the stones to conceal the boundary. This process might be lengthy because one must take the time to carefully place the stones at the desired places. The size of the stones as well as their numbers and contours must all be considered!

-Slowly add water and make sure the formed hills are not being eroded. At this time the water has become a little cloudy. Also, take this time to see whether any adjustments are needed. For instance, take or add rocks as well as moving their positions around.

-January 5th, 2006
After one day, because all the equipments were not new, the water cleared up quite a bit. Plants could therefore be added at this time.

-January 9th, 2006
After four days, water completely cleared. However, the plants seemed to have trouble adapting. No sign of new growth was observed.

-February 2nd, 2006
Algae-eating shrimps and fish were added. Due to the fact that the hills weren’t kept in place by the rocks, some substrate had begun to erode.

-February 13th, 2006
Hemianthus callitrichoides have finally settled down after more than one month. They grew at a fast pace.

-February 25th, 2006
In approximately two weeks, HC coverage reached 70% of the total ground area.

-March 14th, 2006
The finished layout after more than two months.

For more pictures on the finished layout, please click here Full Image

1. ADA tank 17inch(L)X12inch(H)X9inch(W)
2. ADA NA Lamp 15W X 4, 7 hours per day(illumination period at 3-1-4 hour intervals)
3. CO2 on 24 hours(2bps)
4. Fertilization: ADA Step 1, ADA Brighty K, ADA iron bottom, ADA Phyton-Git, ADA Palm Net, AZOO black algicide
5. EHEIM 2224
6. Water change twice per week, ½ each time
7. Every week Amazonia should be monitored, and if necessary more should be added. Sand should be topped too.

This has been the most challenging layout in my aquascaping career:
(1) The entire layout must be set at the beginning because the rocks will serve as the basis and any future adjustment would be impossible, not to mention pruning.
(2) In a 9-inch deep layout where there are hills, almost every week there would pile up one-cm of Amazonia at the front of the tank. Monitoring substrate is a daunting task. I have even purchased some small shoveling tool to remove the Amazonia and sand from the front part of the tank. Then the new sand would be topped in the front along with new Amazonia in the back.
(3) Water condition is hard to control, especially in the case of algal growth because of the combination of Seiryuseki and HC.

Comments (29)

7. Written by Justin, on 07-05-2006 18:55 jacob兄, 泥的滑下主要原因是蝦和工作魚的動作, 其次才是水流; 而青龍石的體積和重量遠比泥大, 所以青龍石並沒有明顯的移動!  至於加新泥在後景, 難免會有少少泥蓋過迷你矮珍珠, 薄薄的, 影響也不大, 而迷你矮珍珠只要碰到有養份的泥也會生長, 這也令斜坡更高呢!

12. Written by ericnhw, on 09-05-2006 23:41 真的很美~為什麼耍24小時開co2,  有什麼特別用途嗎

13. Written by max838, on 10-05-2006 09:05 真是粉好的學習教材  我真該好好充電一下了

14. Written by Justin, on 10-05-2006 21:33 ZeroKhoo兄, 我只是照說明書上的份量下肥, 每天光照6小時.....當然新的ADA泥也是原因之一, 養份十足!    ericnhw兄, 24小時開co2是希望把pH下降, 減低藻類滋生!    max838大大, 你的缸也是我學習的對象喔!

15. Written by 小小斑, on 11-05-2006 00:16 都係唔用 AZOO黑毛藻殺 蝦缸種陽草真係冇乜計由它吧

17. Written by Justin, on 03-06-2006 00:45 miyusheu兄, 我想用泥是會比較好的, 因為本身這個缸已有很多青龍石, 它們會令pH和kH上升, 與迷你矮珍珠的生長環境剛剛相反(pH和kH都要� ��較低); 再者, 要迷你矮珍珠爬滿地上, 根肥也不可少, 我認為ADA黑泥會比較適合~

19. Written by Justin, on 04-06-2006 01:55 momey0411兄, 你太過獎了....大家一起努力吧~

20. Written by donnon, on 20-06-2006 09:18 相看不勤整理的效果图。看看是否可以忍受。

24. Written by Justin, on 22-08-2006 19:23 多謝各位的欣賞! 可以把經驗分享也是我我榮幸!  其實只要水草生長健康, 無論迷你矮珍珠, 迷你牛毛等橫向的矮草也會把泥牢牢抓住, 是不需刻意遷就它們的, 我也是照樣的吸底床! 當然要草皮差不多時才可這樣做, 因為當草剛剛轉水或剛適應而生長, 根部並不很發達, 如吸底床就會把整棵水草連根拔起, 浪費心機, 所以此時只可以等....或買一些蝦來幫手吧!

25. Written by RyanMing, on 20-04-2007 01:31 Justin兄...估5到你會話呢個係咁難set...不過真係好靚!!!心機同時間都用左5少  見到你d細缸..令我好衝動拎返個細缸出來>

26. Written by fssunny, on 21-07-2007 09:13 靓到爆灯

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved