trajangilson

[trajangilson]

The Ikebana

Your parents may not like you stealing from the kitchen

The word “ikebana” is a Japanese saying for a form of art where flowers are arranged in a certain way. The exact translation for ikebana is “making flowers alive.” An artwork that is easily taken for granted as it appears very normal for plants to be arranged in a ‘living’ fashion. However, for aquascapers it’s a whole new world and experience. Aquascapers generally don’t work with flowering plants so having that vision of bright and blooming colors is not the end goal. This allows for an interesting turn as its all about the depth and layout of the plants.

Step 1

The first step to creating the ikebana aquascape is to source materials and consider options of plants. There are the soil types, beneficial bacteria for both plants and fish, food for the fish, the bowl, and of course the main focal point; the plants. All these materials were picked up at a local pet store and are recommended highly by other users. In another case the bowl being used was picked up at a local Target. The size was important in choosing as it is important to leave enough space for the fish to swim around and allow the plants to grow upwards.

Step 2

Now that all the materials have been grabbed the next step is to begin filling the bowl with the nutrient rich mix of pebbles and sand. For this scape the plants and aquasoil were reused from a previous tank setup. Few aquascapers actually reuse the pebble and sand layer at the base of the tank as it appears dirty. That’s not the case all the time, for those who reuse that aqua soil it is already full of nutrients like nitrogen for the plants to grow. In comparison to the dirt of a plant pot they both act in similar ways supplying the plants with tons of nutrients. Once the nutrient rich layer has been placed in the bowl, it is important to keep the top two inches of the bowl free of aquasoil so plants can be placed on top and grow into that layer.

Step 3

The next step for the aquascaper is to lightly apply a layer of sand all the way up to the edge of the bowl. This will act as a top layer and secure the plants from uprooting and floating around the aquarium. As well this top layer of just sand will protect the rest of the aquarium from the nutrient rich soil and all that nitrogen build up, acting as a lid to the aquasoil. With the top layer of sand placed and flattened out plants can begin to get introduced. Using a strong and pointed object like tweezers to hold and push the roots of the plants deeper into the sand can help to break through that tough bottom layer. Placing the larger plants in the back makes for a good backdrop of the other plants being placed. For this scape there is a small channel in the middle of the bowl where there are no plants which allows for water to flow through the system and push out waste and other material that can be cleaned by the filter. Infront of the channel some of the smaller stemmed plants are placed which make for a unique hiding spot for fish. Once all the plants are placed moving the sand around to flatten it out once more can be beneficial to not allowing any of the base layer soil to escape into the water column.

Step 4

The aquascaper is almost done, just a few more steps to finish before the aquarium is complete and ready for its occupants. After all of the plant work adding a small layer of sand to the bottom of the aquarium itself can act as a pillow or cushion for the ikebana bowl. Now it is time to place the bowl in the center of the aquarium. Carefully not to drop the bowl it is lowered into the aquarium before water is even added. Adding your water before putting the bowl in could lead to disaster as many people forget about water displacement and when they put the bowl in the water, it overflows out the edges. Now that the bowl is placed with plants it is important to begin adding water to the system right away. If too much time is taken to add water into the scape the plants could possibly die from drying out. To not mess with the bowl and its layer of sand protecting from the nitrogen rich nutrients it is important to dispense water off to the sides of the bowl. Disrupting the blanketed sand will not have any negative affect on the aquascape.

Step 5

Once the water has begun to fill up around halfway putting in the filter and the heat source are important as they can acclimate the tank much faster than waiting for it all to settle. Once the tank is full letting it sit for several minutes to about half an hour just to let all the disturbed sand settle down and get the system flowing is important. During this time adding in the key ingredients like the Aqueon aquarium plant food and the API quick start would help to move the process along even further and allow for the introduction of the fish right away.

Step 6

Finally, after waiting a good amount of time the tank is ready for the introduction of fish. In this aquarium adding a small group of guppies is a good option as they work well together. They love to dart around the tank through the tall stems of the plants and flash their brilliantly yellow tails. One thing that can be noticed from the fish is that they actually nibble and peck at plants eating algae off of them. They won’t cause any plant damage but act like bottom feeders if hungry enough. Most of the action is suited for the top level of the bowl where all the plants are but in some cases the fish will duck behind it for cover. Lastly the main cleanup crew, tiger snail, patterned with black spots and a mahogany brown colored shell is added into the aquarium. At first introduction it was placed among the plants in the center of the bowl, but quickly made its way to edge where it used a stem as a rope to get down to the base of the aquarium.

The ikebana bowl is completed and looks beautiful. Now it is time to rest and enjoy your work of art. It is very easy to build and not time consuming at all when all the materials and the tank are prepared beforehand. It makes a really good desk piece with its size as it can go in a lot of small spaces.

[trajangilson]

One Fish or Two? Red Fish or Blue?

An aquascaper’s review on fish for your aquarium

           As much as aquascaping is a work of art no piece is finished until it has some friendly faces swimming around within. Many people may tell you there are plenty of fish in the sea, but they left out the most crucial parts too, the rivers and streams or lakes and ponds. Freshwater fish come in many unique shapes and sizes and can make or break an aquascape. Some fish tend to stay together in schools and small shoals as they wander around an aquarium searching for food. Others prefer to live a life with a mate and can become territorial. But in this review it is all about finding the right fish for your scaped ecosystem.

           Tetra, a common fish among many aquarium enthusiasts as it can come in many different colors and species. There are roughly 150 different species of Tetras. Tetras are rather small fish and stay within 3 inches of length depending on the species. Tetra fish work well in all aquariums as they are very peaceful fish. As well, they are schooling fish, so having six or more in an aquarium at a time can be beneficial in allowing them to become more comfortable with their numbers and other community fish in the aquarium.

          Guppies are another schooling fish that work very well with others as they love to dart around the aquascape weaving through leaves and hardscapes like rocks or branches. They are very slim and span just around an inch or two in length, allowing them to live well in smaller aquariums and tighter spaces. Compared to Tetras, Guppies only have around fifty different species, but their colors and markings are what set them apart. I find this type of fish to be very eye-catching and easy to support as an owner. They are not aggressive to other fish in the aquarium. The only times there may be any form of aggression from these fish are amongst themselves when it is mating time. Some people consider them the rabbits of the aquarium with how much the reproduce. Start off with a few, and as time continues, you’ll get more and more.

          Betta fish are a very unique species that remain solitary through most of their lives in the wilderness and in aquariums. Betta fish tend to be more expensive than other fish as they are desired by many for their striking colors. Betta fish can grow to 5 inches in length including their beautiful tails which come in many different styles; fain tail, spade, or crown tail. Not only are they a beautiful fish, but they are also a very easy to maintain fish. Many store employees will actually recommend Betta fish to beginners as they are very low maintenance. In my experience I was away traveling for two days and could not feed the fish. I came back and it was doing just fine like nothing had changed. Now neglecting your fish an amount of time like that is not always a good idea, I did it because he was older in his lifespan and I knew he would be alright without my support.  Betta can be extremely territorial and aggressive to other fish in aquariums so keeping them alone is the best bet. They like places where they can hide and prefer plants that have long stems with leaves all along the stem. They use these types of plant as bedding when they rest or as cover. From my experience with Betta fish, it is alright to add them into existing ecosystems as long as the other fish are not extravagantly colored or have very flared tales like Guppies, other Betta fish and even some Goldfish.

             Goldfish are a fun and adorable fish to have in any aquascape. Goldfish can range in several colors and species but the most tend to keep that brilliant orange or gold color. Goldfish can become much larger than the other fish listed above and would need an adequate amount of space to grow. The average lifespan for a goldfish that is maintained properly can be ten to thirty years. Many owners who have goldfish can only wish that they would live that long, sadly in most cases goldfish will live for several years before picking up bladder deficiencies or other diseases common through Goldfish. For people who really love their aquascape and enjoy the landscape they have created Goldfish may not be the fish for you. Goldfish are not picky about the habitat they live in and will float around the aquarium mindlessly. They can eat a lot of the plants and disturb the surface of the aquarium by digging in the sand or gravel.

           My personal favorite fish is the Gourami. In this instance the picture is of a Honey Dwarf Gourami which maintains the size of small sticky note. They are extremely beautiful fish and can be identified easily by the two pelvic fins that extend off the bottom of the fish like antennae. These fish do not need a lot of leaf or plant. They tend to be feature fish and act as the main attraction in certain aquascapes as their color’s make them stand out. I have had limited experience with these fish as they need larger tank sizes ranging twenty to thirty gallons. They can be found in most pet stores as they are highly desired due to their docile personalities. This makes them strong community fish and work well with most species that are also community fish.

From previous experience it can be difficult to create the perfect ecosystem for the critters you hope to put in it. I will tell you however, there is no better feeling once you have created a near perfect environment for your new pets. You get to watch them dart around all the plants and hardscapes you have placed hoping they would use it as cover and really see them grow into their new habitat. At my current desk space I have recently added Guppies into a cube aquarium and I become easily distracted by their bright colors as they flash their beautiful tails bobbing in and out of the greenery placed around them.

[trajangilson]

Aquascaping as a Career

A Q&A Interview with an Expert of His Craft

The hobby in some cases can turn into a lifestyle when it is mastered. Aquascaping is defined by the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water.

Although it is hard to tell when someone has mastered their passion. Some people like to go fishing, others play golf, but for his story Spencer Johndro began his aqua scaping career at a young age. Little did he know it would become his life passion and his career. For 31 years Spencer Johndro has grown up locally in the Peabody and Danvers area.

For many people a small fishbowl is enough with fake plants and a lonely fish swimming circles or huddling underneath its plastic canopy. Spencer Johndro has surpassed this childish mindset and has transcended his time into curating and creating unique pieces of art through aquascaping. Petco was Spencer’s earlier jobs, and he has not looked back yet. From being a teenager to an adult he has worked with Petco and even gained management status for his local store. Johndro finds himself always second guessing his options when it comes to creating an effective eco-system with many diversities in plants and other natural life within the scape.

What got you into aquariums?

Well, my love for aquariums really grew at a younger age when I got a betta fish for my 6th birthday. I got a blue betta fish and a two gallon bowl and I named it Sun and it was the only pet I had at the time and Sun lived for five years, it was incredible. I was devastated when he died, but it turns out that five years is a healthy life for a betta fish.

How long have you worked at Petco?

I got my job at Petco when I was 16, I grew up locally and managed to work up the chain at Petco and now I look over all of the store not only the aquarium section. But I find myself to most proud of our aquarium section and the tools and resources we offer to the customers of the store.

What kinds of aquarium products sell well at Petco?

In terms of fish that I see going out of the store often are goldfish and betta Fish, and I find that to be because they are freshwater fish that can live in isolation well and are great starter fish for beginners.

Is working at Petco something that you think you would’ve found yourself at anyways?

Yeah, working here at Petco I wasn’t expecting this to be my long term career and I wanted to go to college and get a secondary education, but I think I fell out of love for learning at school and decided to remain at Petco and work diligently at something I loved and enjoyed. I love my co-workers and the stores many cute and adorable pets we have a well as some of the “cute-ugly” ones.

So, speaking a little bit more into the aquarium, ecosystem or aqua scape that you are building what do you find or believe to be the most important part of that ecosystem?

Well first off, the most important part I believe for beginners is to not overcrowd your tank. Ecosystems are very fragile in the wild and even more so at home in an aquarium. So, in order to have the proper ratio of free space to organisms is important. And it is also important to have a little bit of diversity in the fish you have in your tank. If you are going to have a larger fish that is messy and causes a lot of waste it’s also important to balance that with some cat-fish types that act as filter feeders and help clean the tank. Another important thing to understand is to the filters you need. You know, some tanks and it doesn’t matter if they are fresh water or salt water you can have plants that can take in the nitrogen from the fish and clean and filter. But if you don’t have some of these plants or organisms it is important to have the best aquatic filtration system in order to keep these eco-systems clean and healthy.

In your experience in designing and building these ecosystems what goes through your head in the design process?

Well step 1 right away is to identify the theme. For example one time when I was younger I had a SpongeBob themed fresh water tank and that was a challenge because SpongeBob takes place in the ocean and mine was all freshwater, but you know I bought the Squidward house and the pineapple under the sea and these sorts of things add to the visual aesthetic of the tank but they are also important to the fish because they have locations of protection and to keep the fish calm and relaxed it is important to have rocks and other places to use as cover. And so, by identifying a theme it can help guide us to the towards of elements we want to add into the aquarium.

Have you worked with any sort of eco-system styles, like creating an Amazon rainforest or an Asian river or something that has a geographical realism?

Well at home I generally do not have those styles but here that the Petco we have a few of those sorts of things to show off to the customers. So , you know those South American themes or Asian themes is like taking a small snapshot from the fish’s native ecosystem and best as you can transfer it to the aquarium setting. I feel the more affective you are at that the more relaxed aquarium you can have as well as a much healthier one too.

Do you have any projects you are working on, and how has that been going?

Well, I like big aquariums. And my most recent project has been a 75-gallon saltwater extravaganza one would say. And speaking back to that question of a themed eco-system I am trying to have a Finding Nemo themed aquarium and since the movie takes place off the coast of Australia and in order to best exemplify, I am learning a lot about the great barrier reef and eco-systems just off the coast. It is an extremely diverse environment that doesn’t get a lot of credit but, you know, I got some staple fish who are key to the scape. So, recently I have gotten some “live-sand” for this aquarium and let me explain the difference between live and dead sand. In live sand there are lots of microbes living within it allowing for plant growth and smaller natural processes to happen. And of course, the living organism, the clownfish, starfish, and other smaller organisms that I want to incorporate into my ecosystem will be healthier and ultimately the health of the fish is the upmost important part to me. I hate it at the store when a kid comes in an gets a goldfish and two weeks later, they are coming back in for another as they have killed the goddamn thing. So, in my tanks I try to create a healthy and thriving ecosystem to the best of my ability.

Do you find there are things you still want to improve on in making aquascapes?

That’s a great question, you know I’m always trying to improve on my balancing and creating scientifically accurate eco-systems with also embracing the creative side that aqua-scaping has to offer. And, you know, it doesn’t get enough credit for being a super creative outlet for people. It’s a lot like an art form and I want to be able to balance the art with the science the best that I can. That has been tough for me right now and I think I can improve on that by taking a step back and take a better look at the larger picture of my aquascapes rather than the small nitty-gritty details; it’s the balance I need to work on…

[trajangilson]

Tanked

The Guide to the Unique Hobby of Aquascaping

           Imagine yourself sitting at the doctor’s office in the waiting room. There are small plastic toys strewn around the room for kids to use as they wait impatiently. Flyers and pamphlets all around the walls with information about your health. And lastly, sitting at waist height is an aquarium with fish and corals covering the bottom of the tank. While many people think of aquariums as places to hold aquatic pets’ others find it to be a bit more than just that.

Aqua-scaping and aquarium building is an extremely fascinating art. When asked what art is many people will give you answers like “paintings,” “Sculptures,” and even films, but if you ask an aquascape enthusiast you’ll probably get the answer, “living.” In many ways an aquarium is a living piece of art created by someone with a keen eye for what looks natural and still beautiful in its own manmade way.

           Many different bits and pieces of what makes art, are displayed in aquascapes and aquariums all around the planet. Textures, lines, colors, all these factors are key to creating a unique aquascape environment. The colors of aquatic plants have a large range and can make or break an aquascape. Certain plants like the Rotala H’ra which is a long-stemmed plant that slowly turns red as it grows towards the light add an element that can bring more life and color to an aquarium where many plants tend to be bright and green-leafed.

Spencer Johndro, an aquarium expert at Petco offered some interesting information regarding the small details behind aqua-scaping, “Creating a natural aquascape is not as easy as many beginners believe it to be.  There are a lot of pieces that can make or break the scape.” He continued to share with me that the flow of water is important to reach around the entirety of the tank so that there is not algae built up along the edges and bottom. “Algae can severely damage your plants as it acts as competition for nutrients in the water column as well as blocking the light for the plants.”

I remember my passion for aquascaping starting during my first winter break from Endicott College. Being home for so long with too much free time gave me time to explore the internet and then one day I found a small YouTube channel “Foo the Flowerhorn.” They created short videos with many different aquascapes which were very eye-catching. Remembering the first video I saw from their channel was a video of a Volcano themed aquascape that was overgrown by moss as water flowed down the edges of the lava rack positioned like Mt. Vesuvius. I just had to try it!

           In the process of creating an own aquascape you have to consider the size of my aquarium as well as the information Mr. Johndro offered me. For me, I had a small cube aquarium that is 10.5inx10inx10in and holds roughly three gallons of water inside. Not very much for space but still enough to get a unique scape created. I was also going to implement a small filter and a heater to keep the aquarium at an ideal temperature. “Filters are vital to creating a sustainable ecosystem and without one that there are many possibilities for bad health in your fish and plants,” Spencer said. I knew in my head I wanted a small piece of hardscape, which generally means a rock formation comprised of smaller rocks or even some bogwood to create hiding spots and cover for fish. “Adding hardscape is really important for creating breaks in the plant-life as all that green can washout the aquascape.” At Petco there were not many options for hardscape, but one piece of bogwood managed to stand out.

After grabbing the hardscape and the plants I wanted to use in order to create my aquascape I looked into finding water conditioner that would allow for the plants to take nutrients from the surface as well as in the substrate. The substrate is the bottom layer of gravel and sand that covers the floor and is one of the most important pieces of the aquascape. Without it, keeping the plants and the nutrients in the soil would be difficult and harmful to any fish living in the scape.

With all the materials I needed I was ready to get started. I first with the substrate, I put some old pebbles along the bottom of the tank and stuck root tabs which are nutrient rich tablets useful for plant growth “and long-term sustainability.”

Then I covered it in sand in order to keep those nutrients within the substrate and not escaping into the water column. I grabbed my small log and slid it into a position I thought would work best for the scape. It was a tight squeeze but looked really good as it found its way to a natural position.

Now it was time for the plants. I had to poke small holes into substrate in order to plant the flowers very similar to how people plant flowers in gardens. Once I placed my plants into position, I covered the holes back up making sure the plants would not come free from the sand.

I began the long process of filling the aquarium up with water from the tap and as I did the sand began to move around on the bottom, but quickly settled into a resting position.

As I filled the aquarium up with water the plants began to lift their leaves upward stretching upward towards my ceiling. I reached into my Petco bag and pulled out my two secret weapons, ‘API Quick Start’ and ‘AQUEON Aquarium Plant Food.’ The quick start formula allows for, well, a quick start to an aquarium allowing for the immediate introduction of fish and other aquatic critters. “I personally enjoy API’s products as they have always provided me with the best support in the stores aquariums as well as back home.”

I remembered I still needed to put my filter and heater in the aquarium and realized the log would have to move to make things fit. I moved pieces around and finally came to a conclusion with my final product, a small and quite cramped looking scape, but nothing a fish or small invertebrate would not call home.