As a kid I was fascinated with water. I remember tracing the raindrops that raced down the windows of our car, putting on boots to explore the temporary ponds and rivulets in our yard after a storm, staring at the aquatic plants growing in spring fed creeks, and watching with fascination the goldfish my grandfather put into one of his cattle water troughs. From exploring trickling brooks and ponds to gushing mountain streams, water has always fired my imagination and curiosity.
In a recent post, I mentioned my frustration with failing to recreate the beauty of this watery natural world in my aquariums. It seemed an impossible task. I could never get the aquatic plants to grow the way I wanted and when I did, my aquariums never turned out the way I had envisioned.
One day about fifteen years ago I was browsing in a bookstore when I came across Takashi Amano’s book entitled “The Nature Aquarium.” I discovered page after page of the most beautiful aquariums I had ever seen. Not only was he growing aquatic plants successfully, his aquariums were stunning works of art. What Mr. Amano had created in simple glass boxes was everything I had tried but failed to accomplish when I was younger.
Mr. Amano’s book revived my childhood aspirations. It wasn’t long before I started collecting aquariums and joined an aquatic plant club that met in Madison. I made trips to local aquarium shops often with my two sons in tow, and started experimenting with the techniques necessary to grow aquatic plants. Thanks to my discovery of “The Nature Aquarium”, planted aquascapes started taking shape in our home and in other venues too. (More about the necessary techniques to create a planted aquarium later.)
Creativity is expressed in many different forms, painting, sculpting, writing, and music to name a few. However, there are many other ways people share their imagination and wonder of the world. Mr. Amano opened my eyes to one of these different forms—the planted aquarium, a living work of art.
I’ve included two short videos of one of Mr. Amano’s most spectacular pieces, entitled Forest Underwater exhibited at the Lisbon Oceanarium. While this demonstrates what a planted aquarium can be on large scale, it’s possible to create this type of vibrant ecosystem in a small tank at home. Enjoy!
What creative form inspires you?