A layout with a spacious feeling produced with driftwood that protrudes out from the water surface and aquatic plants with emersed grown leaves.

The above water section was produced with stem plants that adapt well to life above water, such as Ludwigia and Hygrophila, along with Hydrocotyle leucocephala. The Hydrocotyle leucocephala that hung over the side of the aquarium produced a wild impression.

Since Micranthemum sp., Rotala rotundifolia ‘Green’, and Hydrocotyle leucocephala tend to grow drooping underwater, they filled up the gap that existed between the driftwood and the aquarium.

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Enjoy creating an aquascape in System Aqua 30
from a casual layout to a full-fledged one.

AQUA STYLE 01

Wabi-Kusa were used primarily in this layout to underscore the beauty and the fun of using aquatic plants. Therefore, only Wabi-Kusa and small stones to separate cosmetic sand from Wabi-Kusa were used in this layout. The Wabi-Kusa Karen, which is comprised of various stem plants, becomes amazingly colorful when the red stem plants develop submersed-grown leaves. Green stem plants were placed around them to accentuate their beauty. It is fun to create such a simple layout in an easy-to-setup System Aqua 30.

All of the vibrant red stem plants developed from a couple of Wabi-Kusa Karen. In this layout all Wabi-Kusa were placed directly on top of the thinly laid cosmetic sand. Nutrients were supplied with Suikei Liquid.

The bright green Myriophyllum matogrossense enhanced the beauty of vivid red stem plants. Fine-leaved stem plants impart a soft impression to a layout.

Taxiphyllum barbieri was attached to small stones that separated the Wabi-Kusa and the cosmetic sand. Eye-catching driftwood or stones were not used in this layout intentionally since they tend to give a heavy impression to a layout.

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AQUA STYLE 02

Although a full-fledged Iwagumi layout is often thought to be difficult to create in a small aquarium, such as System Aqua 30, it can be produced easily in it by using a small Unzan Stone. The key is to choose an Unzan Stone small enough in proportion to the size of the aquarium and combine it with small lava stones that have a similar texture to the Unzan Stone. It is also important to choose aquatic plants with small leaves and small fish to create a good size balance in the Iwagumi layout.

Micranthemum umbrosum was planted behind the Unzan Stone. Planting an aquatic plant with delicate, light green leaves behind the Unzan Stone softened the contour of the stone and lightened the heavy impression.

Wabi-Kusa Eleocharis parvula placed in the depression of the Unzan Stone gave a variation to the appearance. Since the diameter of an undergrowth type Wabi-Kusa is small, it is easy to plant even in a tight space.

A small lava stone was buried in the substrate to strike a good balance with the Unzan Stone. Glossostigma was maintained low by trimming to keep it from hiding the lava stone completely.

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