Layout 77 (80 L)

Last year I spent several months overseas with my job and wanted to create a nice aquascape upon my return home. This layout took a while to plan and I shared the whole process on the UKAPS forum (www.ukaps.org/forum). The journal has over 50,000 hits.I originally was going to go for a rock-based design (Iwagumi) but eventually decided to use Manzanita Wood and Petrified Wood. I really wanted to try out a technique that I had recently heard about with moss. The moss is chopped up into very fine pieces then attached to the décor and grown out of water but in a humid environment.I contacted Tropica and they recommended the use of a bio-yoghurt to mix with the moss. So I blended the moss (Riccardia chamedryfolia and Fissidens fontalus) with yogurt and reverse osmosis water in a handheld blender. I then simply attached the moss paste onto the wood and stones using a paintbrush.I planted all of the other plants into wet soil (TMC NutraSoil) and covered the aquarium with glass. I misted the plants every day with reverse osmosis water mixed with a small amount of liquid fertiliser using a hand spray mister. This is known as the dry-start method.After 3 weeks I flooded the aquarium and the moss remained attached to the rocks and woods, which was a big relief. The other plants grew well initially using the dry-start method but some species did not adapt very well to underwater life and melted.For this reason I will only use the dry-start method for growing mosses in the future. The blender technique using yoghurt worked brilliantly and is perfect for attached very fine plants like Riccardia chamedryfolia.Later in the aquascape's life I changed and added new plants. The best addition was Hemianthus 'Cuba' that has mixed with the mini hairgrass very nicely making a lovely texure in the foreground.Tip! All the different kinds of plants require time and knowledge about maintenance.