following Amano's footsteps

[TomFromStLouis]

Not to bore you too much, but I am setting up my first tank in 20 years. When the idea struck, I researched the internet extensively and learned many new ideas - the hobby has matured quite a bit from my younger days. Anyway, I naturally came upon Amano tank pictures and promptly got books 2 and 3 from the library and became inspired (like many others I am sure)

I also enjoyed looking at Dutch style aquariums but decided that a Nature Aquarium more like Amano was my goal. Not one of those hairgrass and rocks tanks - one with maybe 8 different plant species. 75 gallons.

So I drew up a list of plants I liked and ruthlessly got the list down to.... 12. Well, maybe I could just sneak in a little of this over here and a sample of that in the corner etc. etc. Now that I have half the plants in with more on the way, I can see that I am going to have a tank much closer to the Dutch look after all.

My point: the hard part about the minimal look of an Amano style tank is the ruthless discipline in eliminating plant (and fish) species. This might be easier when you set up many tanks like he does or have 5 or 6 tanks to experiment with. But I have just the one, in an office no less, so it was really hard to resist just-a-little-of-this-over-there syndrome. Can anyone be satisfied with neon tetras and hairgrass without wanting express another look?

No question (for once!). Just thought I'd share these musings...

[RTR]

On the fish part, I basically do species tanks anyway - much more interesting to me than mixed or "community tanks". So from that side, Mr. Amano's tanks are right up my alley.

I don't like "Dutch" style planted tanks either - too busy visually and too fussy for maitenance.

So Amano-style should be right for me - all I need is the artistry, and that unfortunately is not available for purchase either locally or online. :rolleyes:

But I do have multiple tanks. My office tanks have tended to be species tanks as well, but my last one did have 4 species of fish in it - two for show and two as workers.

[nvision]

i prefer the visual cohesiveness of a species tank, with only few types of fish used to compliment the plants and rocks arrangements. not only that it's easier on and more pleasing to the eye, but it conveys a sense of intentional thought that shows the tank is set up with a deliberate goal in mind. just like house painting which you have one theme color, with opposite color trims.

i think time has taught me this, as i used to go all out also in just one tank. soon i will notice things are just too convoluted, and don't really know what to look at first; things got trimmed down. but it's hard to resist not having more fish and more plants, and soon you'll end up with two tanks, no.. three, no.. four, no... :eek: