Back in the 1970s, when I first started my aquarium hobby, the Dutch-style aquarium was all I knew. It was my go-to style for creating aquatic setups. However, in the late 90s, I stumbled upon the books of Takashi Amano, which immediately transformed my approach to the hobby. I built several Cichlid biotype setups before life got busy with marriage and kids, leaving me with little time for my hobby.
But now, as my kids have grown into adults and left home, I find myself returning to the hobby that brings me so much joy. With a wealth of modern aquascaping styles available, I've found my preferences leaning towards nature aquariums and Iwagumi layouts. There's something truly captivating about these styles that showcases the beauty of nature within an aquarium setting.
While I admire the intricacy of some aquascaping styles, I don't feel confident in creating something overly complex. I am content with my minimalist 10-litre aquarium, featuring a vibrant male Hellboy Plakat Betta swimming among the Anubias barteri var. nana plants1 attached to driftwood. I named the fish "Laddy D".
I am enjoying my minimalist aquascape (underwater garden) and the peacefulness it brings to my home. But I have plans for something much bigger for the future.
- The plants were purchased at Buceplant. ↩
