Wishful
06-17-2006, 1:33 PM
Since I decided on a planted tank a couple months ago, I've found a real scarcity of the type of information/discussion on treating aquatic design architecturally.
Not sure this is going to make sense, but here goes. Aquascapers will talk alot about background and midground plants and creating focal points with color, etc, but they seldomly talk about how the fish interact with environment other than the decorative affect. I almost never read anything about how the physical structure of the plant works with fish. Fish oriented folk will talk about having plants for fish to hide in and such, but seldomly get into any detail. The most I find is a sporadic mention of "this fish likes to rest on broad leaf tops" or "this fish will respond to floating plants".
For example, in part of my developing tank design, I intend to have a sandy pit. I want to turn one "shore" of the sandy area into a crypt? forest of sorts specifically geared towards my corys. They enjoy having open areas to swim and hunt for food (and open areas leave them reasonably visible) but seem most secure and relaxed when they also have the security of plant cover. The solution---carefully chosen and maintained crypts to create a sort of small forest--roughly 40% open gravel under a nearly solid canopy of crypt leaves. From what I've observed in my small tank, this should also help deter the larger mid-top level swimmers from bothering them so much when feeding as they won't be able to see the corys feeding as easily.
Again, treating plants architecturally--using them to create and define spaces for specific purposes. Anyone have recommendations on sites/sources for this type of planning?
Not sure this is going to make sense, but here goes. Aquascapers will talk alot about background and midground plants and creating focal points with color, etc, but they seldomly talk about how the fish interact with environment other than the decorative affect. I almost never read anything about how the physical structure of the plant works with fish. Fish oriented folk will talk about having plants for fish to hide in and such, but seldomly get into any detail. The most I find is a sporadic mention of "this fish likes to rest on broad leaf tops" or "this fish will respond to floating plants".
For example, in part of my developing tank design, I intend to have a sandy pit. I want to turn one "shore" of the sandy area into a crypt? forest of sorts specifically geared towards my corys. They enjoy having open areas to swim and hunt for food (and open areas leave them reasonably visible) but seem most secure and relaxed when they also have the security of plant cover. The solution---carefully chosen and maintained crypts to create a sort of small forest--roughly 40% open gravel under a nearly solid canopy of crypt leaves. From what I've observed in my small tank, this should also help deter the larger mid-top level swimmers from bothering them so much when feeding as they won't be able to see the corys feeding as easily.
Again, treating plants architecturally--using them to create and define spaces for specific purposes. Anyone have recommendations on sites/sources for this type of planning?