Hey guys! I`ve been thinking of starting such tread for some time and finally I decided to do it I am not any of the great aquascapers seen here but still I hope that a short history of an average aquarist might interest someone. :talkalot: So let's start! I think I started the hobby in 2000. Planted aquarium wasn't really popular in Poland so I had a typical fish tank. It was a 60x30x35cm aquarium with very poor equipment, few plants and lots of fish.:amillanbliss: As time passed I was learning more and more, Polish aquarium magazine "Magazyn Akwarium" was one of my first sources of knowledge and I must admit that I learned a lot from it. At the end of 2003 I was addicted to Apistos and I even had some breeding success In 2004 the era of the Internet came.:celebrate:Man, that was lots of knowledge hidden in the Web. I reggistered on one of the first Polish discussion forums - akwarystyka.com.pl After few months in the magazine I mentioned above series of articles about planted aquarium were published. Then it was almost like a magic to me, and I felt it is impossible for me to create something that beatiful. I also found Mr Amano's aquascapes on the Web and was totally amazed. But I learned more and more and finally decided to start my first planted aquarium. 2005 Here it is, "My First Planted Aquarium": I really liked this tank, and I was proud of it (don't laugh - it is important to me!:muscle After this one I made some other "aquascapes", for example this one: Meanwhile I was under big influence of Norbert Sabat, Marcin Betlejewski and other Polish aquascapers' works, of course I was unable to achieve such results. I was disappointed with the tanks I made and felt burnt-out a bit. 2006 In 2006 I had to move and it was an opportunity to make a new beggining. I felt I need some rest so I took my father's old 126lts tank. I decided to makke something that would not request much attention, I would call these tank a Low Tech one, as it had only 0,3 - 0,4 W/L of lighting, no CO2 and little ferts. First aquascape in the tank, "Amazon Forest": The second one, "Edge of the Forest", my favourite actually: And the last one, "Clearing in the forest". I didn't really finish this one as I was already thinking about a real aquascape in a smaller tank: 2007 I felt I was ready to start with a HT aquarium once again. I also achieved lots of theoretical knowledge about aquascaping, it was time to put it into practice!:rock: My first aquascape in the new, 54lts aquarium, "The Spring is coming...": This one taught me a lot. I consider it as my first real aquascape, not really good of course but still an aquascape! It was my debut into IAPLC, this tank ranked 396. By this time I also discovered a great LFS nearby, which was roslinyakwariowe.pl stationary shop. Big thanks to guys working there, especially Grzegorz Mosurek! roud: I found lots of knowledge and necessary equipment, plants etc. there, and which is even more important meet many planted aquarists! I also started my website, which you can find here: Chester Aquarium The second aquascape, "Summertime": And the third one, "Rainforest Inside": Later I have decided to change the aquarium tank. I bought an 60x30x36cm aquarium, which I have up till now. The first aquascape in the new tank, "Autumn Chaos": This is one of my favourites. I am satisfied with both aquascape and photography. With this tank I started to take pictures with DSLR - it was a HUGE difference to me :crazy: 2008 By the year 2008 ADA products became popular and easily available in Poland, so I decided to try Amazonia Soil. Now, that was impressive!:rock:The substrate is absolutely amazing! So here are the scapes of the year 2008: "My first ADA Tank": "Green is boring...?": I sent this one to IAPLC '08, it ranked 534. "A Summer's Tale": And the last one, "Rest under the Red Tree": That's all up till now. What are my plans for future? Here are a few of them: - Start a tank with HQI lighting. - Begin taking aquarium pictures with flashlight. - Rank in Winning Works in IAPLC. - Keep layouts for a longer time, so that everything is well-rounded. - Keep learning and making aquascapes as good as it is possible to me. I would also like to thank all the great aquascapers for their inspiration, I will try to be as good as you are guys!
well... this is really something! my favourites are "amazon forest" (though you could have done it without this tenellus in the right front side), "summertime" (cool rocks) and "green is boring...?" (...NOT!!) "Rest under the red tree" makes an interesting scape, though ludwigia leaves breakes the pattern. you should perhaps try cutting off the tops and let new leaves develop. new ludwigia leaves have a very regular shape which would complement the strict lines of this scape. plus, try to lose these glossostigma ''refugees'' in the left front.
wow. I really enjoy looking at your tanks. Especially "summertime", "autumn chaos", "green is boring", "a summer's tale"
After having seen these tanks of yours, I would say you are ! "Summertime" and "A summer's tale" are my favourite... You are talented at aquascaping small tanks.
