Aquascape of the Month June 2015: "Himalayan Forest"

John N.

John N.

Administrator
Staff member
June 2015 Aquascape of the Month
______________________________________________
Himalayan Forest
by Rajiv Sharma

HimalayanForestFB_900.jpg

INTRODUCTION​

rs_pic.jpg


Myself is Rajiv Sharma. I am 38 years young and belong to Delhi, INDIA. By profession, I am a Teacher in a school in Delhi. I fell in love with aquariums in the beginning of 2001. I have successfully kept Gold fishes, tetras, cichlids, flowerhorns, Discus, livebearers, Channas, Arowana etc. but now I am keeping only planted tanks. I have also visited many water bodies of Northern region of India to explore the fishes/invertebrates and plants. I am also running an India based aquarium forum www.aquapetz.com.

1. What inspired this layout?

This layout is inspired by the dense forests of The Great Himalaya Mountain. I visited many times in the Himalayan region and always want to put a small model of forest in a glassbox. In September, 2013, I made several drawings of forest. Finally I finalized a drawing after discussion with my wife Sangeeta Sharma.

2. How did you create the illusions or design?

I used slopes, woods and rocks to create the illusion of a forest. Different types of woods providing the illusion of a natural forest; whereas the rocks are essential element of a mountain. After initial hardscape, I formed a mountain river with the help of small pebbles and white sand.

3. What tips do you have to help someone create a layout like this?
  1. Research on a forest which theme you want to convert in an aquascape.
  2. Convert your rough idea into drawing.
  3. Collect the suitable hardscape material such as rocks, woods etc. All of these can also be collect from Mother Nature.
  4. Consider the Aquascaping Rules such as Golden ratio etc at the the time of hardscaping.
  5. Try to implement as much you can do. Hardscape material can be arranged perfectly after some trial and errors.
  6. Mosses infested easily with algae so always be ready to fight with algae.
  7. Plantation is the key of success so choose every plant carefully so that the plant will appear as the part of nature.
Himalayan Forest_Day30.jpg


4. Interesting Features

Giving life to an idea is most difficult thing. I was not assured that my idea will take shape properly or not. But after two months of plant growth, the dead woods started to show the illusion of live trees. After four months, I tried to put some red plants over the woods. I choose the Alternanthera reneikki mini to show the illusion of red tree. The small leaves od Anubias petite on right side tree provided the illusion of Ficus species trees while the mosses provide the illusion of coniferous forests.

After 5 months the aquascape was a real model of Himalayan region forest. I got many compliments from friends, relatives and neighbors.

Himalayan Forest Development Progression (Day 1 through Day 75)

Himalayan Forest_Day01.jpg Himalayan Forest_Day30.jpg Himalayan Forest_Day60.jpg Himalayan Forest_Day75.jpg Himalayan Forest_Final.jpg

Other Aquascapes by Rajiv Sharma

Lonely Island_45X30X30cm.jpg Moss Paradise_45X30X30cm.jpg Paludarium_90X45X45cm.jpg Green Desert_90X45X45cm.jpg Rock Garden_90X45X45.jpg
 
Rajiv

Very interesting fantastic Aquascapes you seem to developed a special style that replicates nature at its best.

Congratulations on all of your work.


Keith:):)
 
Hey Rajiv, one thing I forgot to ask you is how do you manage to keep the driftwood pointing straight up?

-John N.
 
This is one of the most intriguing and inspirational scapes i've seen till now, seeing the little dimensions you build it in. Absolutely amazing work of scale. I feel kinda sorry i didn't see this before i tried to build my own piece of jungle forest in my little tank. This is a build you realy have to see live for many hours to get a grips of what's realy going on in there. :)

John N. said:
Plantation is the key of success so choose every plant carefully so that the plant will appear as the part of nature.
Click to expand...
This couldn't be done any better! Even on the photo of day one it already looks like if mother nature sended this tank down to earth herself. As a dark foggy forest in the early spring time in the cold regions of the northern hemisphere. And than with every photo see it slowly develop into the summer time, seeing a jungle comming to live. :love:
 
I must agree with Marcel by using different back lighting you could create many effects from Sunrise to Sunsets even that misty fogy look.

Keith:):)
 
Indeed Keith.. :eek: now you're saying taking a closer look, it's the backlight behind the frosted backpanel.. At first glance i thought it was startup bloom... Amazing effect.. :love:
 
Keith it is.. :) i know what to do now! Allready ordered me a rgb led strip and going to find me some frosted sheet.. :) Learning everyday something new..
Thanks guys..
 
Marcel

You do not have to buy special tubes/globes coloured cellophane will do a far better job plus more colour variations.

Keith:):)
 
Keith it's this one i ordered. $ 7.- :)
Knipsel.JPG

Got a TC420 controler to set each channel to it percentage and so you can craete all these colors from site bellow.
http://www.december.com/html/spec/colorper.html (Crazy how many colors you can create with rgb leds)

Works great allready playing with light above the tank as ambient moon light. But never realy thought of experimenting with this as back light.

I think a transparent white frosted cellophane is enough, the color i make with the leds behind it.. For those $ 7,- i'll take the chance, think it will work out..
 
Marcel

Is that all by the time you test each one you will be worn out.

Name each test photo otherwise you will forget what settings you used.

Keith:):)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top