August 2009 Aquascape of the Month
______________________________________________
Wakrubau
by Kim Pulkki
INTRODUCTION
Hello fellow aquascapers! My name is Kim Pulkki and I live in a town called Eskilstuna and it´s located in the beautiful country of Sweden. I have two kids, 5 & 3 and a lovely girlfriend. We live in a house nearby the mossy and thick Swedish forests. I work as a medical technical engineer and I am only 35 years young.
I was a bit chocked when ASW selected my planted aquarium as Aquascape of the Month. It is an honor to enter this hall of very talented aquascapers from all around the world. Thanks ASW!
My aquatic journey started when I was about 10 when I got my first tank. It was a 60L with golden frames. More tanks have follow ever since. My interest for the planted tank began in 2007 with a 180L. I had plants but I didn't know the names. This is how the addiction started.
I found a Swedish Forum for plant geeks (
www.plantswap.se). When I was looking for the plants I came in contact with aquascaping for the first time. After a massive consumption of information about aquascaping and aquarium plants I started my first high tech planted tank. I called it Gnomeland (
view it).
Here I am now, only one and a half years later, doing an interview to ASW on my latest aquascape, Wakrubau, totally unimaginable.
AQUASCAPING TECHNIQUES
Planning and Adapting to the Ever Evolving Aquascape
The title of the aquascape is Wakrubau. It is the Star Trek Vulcan word for evolve “to develop by gradual changes”. This scape has evolved from my first scape in this tank, the lo'uk yar-kur
(view it).
Yes, I am not only a plant geek, but I am also a Trekkie too! Please get me some help!
When I first began my aquascape, I carefully selected the right aquarium plants to go into the layout. I wanted to recycle my plants from the previous aquascape because I think they work great together. There were a couple of plants that I removed to make the plant list even shorter.
My first plan was to make a single big island, but then just by a chance, I tried making two little ones just to see how it looked. I felt that the double island solution was right at the time and so I prepared for this new layout. I reorganized my plants and started all over.
I think my inspiration for this scape is a mix of great planted tanks I have seen on the Internet and my own observations in the nature that is surrounding me. I often see potential natural arrangements in the woods that inspire me in my work in the tanks. I think nature is not created randomly, but instead it is a high precision design job that evolves all the time.
Hardscape: The Foundation of the Islands
The hardscape is composed mainly of red moor roots and a couple of stones that I found in the forest nearby our house. The substrate slopes a little towards the foreground. I placed Ranunculus papulentus in the middle so that it would grow on the little hill I created. The base for the islands is made of roots. After attaching Java & Bolbitis heudelott ferns, I cut the roots and made them go back in the substrate. A lot of trial and error made the hardscape at last.
Trimming Aquatic Plants for Depth and Natural Harmony
I trimmed the left side of the Java Fern so it looked like there was an little island behind the big one. I think this part of the aquascape gives the best illusion of depth.
On the right side I wanted the Microsorum pteropus "needleleaf" to “steal the show”, but also blend together with the beautiful spiky leaves of the Bolbitis. I think they work great together. In my eyes they are a green fire flaming up to the surface.
The foreground Glossostigma elatinoidesis was inititally very wild and almost out of control. After a while I started to like the organic shape it took by itself. I trimmed some parts down so that the Glossostigma elatinoidesis would spread as naturally as it could. So you can say this part of the layout is designed by Mother Nature.
The part between the islands is also an attempt to establish an illusion of depth. However, in looking at it again, it may need more trimming, or perhaps I will remove the whole section to see how it looks. Hemianthus micranthemoides, on the far right side is going to be removed soon, it takes to much focus from the islands because of its natural beauty. Once removed, it will open up that part of the tank. This aquascape is constantly changing and evolving just like nature.
GREATEST CHALLENGES
The hardscape placement of the red moor roots was the hardest bit. I tried to point them in one general direction and then random directions but it didn't feel right. The gut feeling was not there so I took a break to figure it out. When I came back I saw that a couple of branches were pointing down and suddenly I felt that gut feeling; this was it! The roots will all point down in the gravel, and yes, I was back on track.
Maintaining the tank is rather easy now and the algae keeps it ugly face somewhere else. The plants are growing fast and needs only a little trimming every now and then.
FINAL THOUGHTS & ADVICE
It is good to have a initial plan when aquascaping but don´t be afraid to change it if you feel that something is wrong. Observe nature and how it designs itself. Try not to directly copy something you like but instead sample small bits from your favorites and put them together to create harmony.
A planted tank with only a handful of different plants usually works the best, so my advice is to keep the plant list short. Remember you should use the plants that you love and not because they are difficult. Aquascaping and planted aquarium keeping in general will become easier and you’ll find it quite satisfying and addictive.
10-06-2009, 02:44 PM
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