PEMfish
Well-Known Member
I have just typed up this article tonight and know that I always think my writing is acceptable when its fresh. It not for months that i start to see the flaws.
I am asking for help revising it.
Watch to be sure of;
consistency of terms
No repetitiveness
Ease of reading; flow
Voice; somewhere between good novel and official medical journal entry is good.
Content; is there anything lacking?
Mechanics; wrong words used?
Thank you all
Once I come up with a final version I will post it here.
Alright, so the file is too big. I will paste it into this post;
Pictures were lost, anyone that would like to receive a copy of the file once I get it finished please PM your e-mail address when I post the article.
Aquascaping a Planted Aquarium
By Paul Moreau
Building the system in witch you keep your fresh water fish and plants is a science. Little to no skill or talent is required here, just raw knowledge, the more you posses the greater the outcome will be. Good equipment used effectively will be necessary to create a breathtaking display. But what is needed to make the actual display beautiful is an art. I, nor anyone can teach you that talent. It can be learned, but not taught. I can, however show you some of the things that make the great displays great.
Like I said before, the equipment needs to be up to your goals as you are. There are several different routs to go with it and that’s not what I am trying to explain here. I will say the tank needs to be at least 18 inches wide, and no more than 24 inches tall for the average hobbyist. Exceptions are rare for most people’s goals but a well skilled hobbyist, Takashi Amano has built one with stunning results.
Once you have your equipment in place you will need to do your hard scape. The hard scape is the dry layout consisting of rock, driftwood, and substrate. Your hard scape will need to have a strong visual flow to bring you a pleasing end result. Do not plan to use plants to create flow, instead use the plants to enhance the flow, and never let them contradict it. You must have a complete final plan of what you will be doing in the way of plants before you can complete your hard scape. A red bush like bunch of plants is commonly used as the focal point. You must know what you will use for the focal point and where it will go. My recommended spot involves what is not technically, but often referred to as the perfect number. I believe its comes from religion. 1.618 is the one I am talking about. Divide the length of your tank by it and the number you get is how far from a side you should place your focal point. But you can place it wherever you want; another common place is on a thirds mark. Notice it is never centered. The visual flow should start or end at the focal point as the viewer’s eye will be drawn to it and the flow will guide their gaze. Without strong flow and focal point there will be no obvious place to look making the tank seem cluttered and stressful. A few large objects should be used over many small ones. Be sure that the grain and shape of the wood and the texture patter of rock align to the flow you are trying to create.
The profile of you aquascpe can have an impact far more powerful than commonly realized. The most common profile shape seen in great tanks is a V shape. A slanted one may also be used, or for tanks with a more cube like shape a solid profile shape all across with only the sides absent can be used. The profile should fallow and enhance the flow. The revealed background should be solid color as to not draw attention, distracting from the display. White and blue are used but nothing is used more than black. White creates a sense of continuance. The human mind is curios, this color will add interest. Blue can be distracting if the right shade is not chosen. Most steer away from this color. Black makes the colors pop and absorbs most light shifting attention to the plants. The edge of the profile should be a clean line, not a layer of plants you can see through.
The foreground can reveal the substrate or hide it- preferring do use the plants as a strong point, not the lines. Due to the fact that most foregrounds are only a small section of the tank a plant that fallows the scale should be used. One with many small leaves and no predominant stems is best. The boundaries should vary wile complimenting the scheme of the tank giving the tank a natural look. It should flow into the mid ground while contrasting to it in color and texture.
The focal point and majority content is held in the mid ground of most aquascapes. Here groups of plants are grown and hard objects are placed. The colors come alive and contrast is at its peak. With colors and textures all around the chance to create strong contrast witch will show off the beauty of your plants is great. Since most Focal points are held in this layer flows dominant areas bring the viewers eye here. Use that to make the display breath taking. Large clumps of plants are better than small ones. Not only dose that keep the look of the display simple enough to channel attention to the strong points but it keeps the viewer from being able to see through the clumps of species making the plants seem healthier and thus giving the overall look of the display a better appeal.
Usually blending smoothly into the mid ground the background is a less extraordinary layer. It rarely holds interest and is often there just to complement the grand scheme of the aquasape. A single pieces is often chosen, a stemmed plant or val works well.
Plant choice is the factor that will in the end, make your display a wonder or a wreck. Try to find plants for your needs, instead of trying to work in a species that you adore. Be sure your equipment can support every choice and the species will fit well in its designated space. It should contrast to those around it and grow into a dense bush like patch. Large leaf and red plants should be used sparingly as they draw attention to themselves and can take away from the scheme of the aquascape. Be sure they will take to the height you need them to as large steps in height will make the tank look unfinished.
To create your dream tank you will need practice. You will not accomplish it on your fist few tries. A stunning tank is not as common as the average turnaround rate of this hobby is five years. Do not get discouraged; you are not in a fast paced hobby. Keep at it and it will come. Your equipment must be up to par witch means a bit more spending than most anticipate but it will be worth it for years to come. Do alot of research, then some more. There is an infinite amount of knowledge to be known and unlocked in this hobby. Keep rigorously involved and you will not be bored.
I am asking for help revising it.
Watch to be sure of;
consistency of terms
No repetitiveness
Ease of reading; flow
Voice; somewhere between good novel and official medical journal entry is good.
Content; is there anything lacking?
Mechanics; wrong words used?
Thank you all
Once I come up with a final version I will post it here.
Alright, so the file is too big. I will paste it into this post;
Pictures were lost, anyone that would like to receive a copy of the file once I get it finished please PM your e-mail address when I post the article.
Aquascaping a Planted Aquarium
By Paul Moreau
Building the system in witch you keep your fresh water fish and plants is a science. Little to no skill or talent is required here, just raw knowledge, the more you posses the greater the outcome will be. Good equipment used effectively will be necessary to create a breathtaking display. But what is needed to make the actual display beautiful is an art. I, nor anyone can teach you that talent. It can be learned, but not taught. I can, however show you some of the things that make the great displays great.
Like I said before, the equipment needs to be up to your goals as you are. There are several different routs to go with it and that’s not what I am trying to explain here. I will say the tank needs to be at least 18 inches wide, and no more than 24 inches tall for the average hobbyist. Exceptions are rare for most people’s goals but a well skilled hobbyist, Takashi Amano has built one with stunning results.
Once you have your equipment in place you will need to do your hard scape. The hard scape is the dry layout consisting of rock, driftwood, and substrate. Your hard scape will need to have a strong visual flow to bring you a pleasing end result. Do not plan to use plants to create flow, instead use the plants to enhance the flow, and never let them contradict it. You must have a complete final plan of what you will be doing in the way of plants before you can complete your hard scape. A red bush like bunch of plants is commonly used as the focal point. You must know what you will use for the focal point and where it will go. My recommended spot involves what is not technically, but often referred to as the perfect number. I believe its comes from religion. 1.618 is the one I am talking about. Divide the length of your tank by it and the number you get is how far from a side you should place your focal point. But you can place it wherever you want; another common place is on a thirds mark. Notice it is never centered. The visual flow should start or end at the focal point as the viewer’s eye will be drawn to it and the flow will guide their gaze. Without strong flow and focal point there will be no obvious place to look making the tank seem cluttered and stressful. A few large objects should be used over many small ones. Be sure that the grain and shape of the wood and the texture patter of rock align to the flow you are trying to create.
The profile of you aquascpe can have an impact far more powerful than commonly realized. The most common profile shape seen in great tanks is a V shape. A slanted one may also be used, or for tanks with a more cube like shape a solid profile shape all across with only the sides absent can be used. The profile should fallow and enhance the flow. The revealed background should be solid color as to not draw attention, distracting from the display. White and blue are used but nothing is used more than black. White creates a sense of continuance. The human mind is curios, this color will add interest. Blue can be distracting if the right shade is not chosen. Most steer away from this color. Black makes the colors pop and absorbs most light shifting attention to the plants. The edge of the profile should be a clean line, not a layer of plants you can see through.
The foreground can reveal the substrate or hide it- preferring do use the plants as a strong point, not the lines. Due to the fact that most foregrounds are only a small section of the tank a plant that fallows the scale should be used. One with many small leaves and no predominant stems is best. The boundaries should vary wile complimenting the scheme of the tank giving the tank a natural look. It should flow into the mid ground while contrasting to it in color and texture.
The focal point and majority content is held in the mid ground of most aquascapes. Here groups of plants are grown and hard objects are placed. The colors come alive and contrast is at its peak. With colors and textures all around the chance to create strong contrast witch will show off the beauty of your plants is great. Since most Focal points are held in this layer flows dominant areas bring the viewers eye here. Use that to make the display breath taking. Large clumps of plants are better than small ones. Not only dose that keep the look of the display simple enough to channel attention to the strong points but it keeps the viewer from being able to see through the clumps of species making the plants seem healthier and thus giving the overall look of the display a better appeal.
Usually blending smoothly into the mid ground the background is a less extraordinary layer. It rarely holds interest and is often there just to complement the grand scheme of the aquasape. A single pieces is often chosen, a stemmed plant or val works well.
Plant choice is the factor that will in the end, make your display a wonder or a wreck. Try to find plants for your needs, instead of trying to work in a species that you adore. Be sure your equipment can support every choice and the species will fit well in its designated space. It should contrast to those around it and grow into a dense bush like patch. Large leaf and red plants should be used sparingly as they draw attention to themselves and can take away from the scheme of the aquascape. Be sure they will take to the height you need them to as large steps in height will make the tank look unfinished.
To create your dream tank you will need practice. You will not accomplish it on your fist few tries. A stunning tank is not as common as the average turnaround rate of this hobby is five years. Do not get discouraged; you are not in a fast paced hobby. Keep at it and it will come. Your equipment must be up to par witch means a bit more spending than most anticipate but it will be worth it for years to come. Do alot of research, then some more. There is an infinite amount of knowledge to be known and unlocked in this hobby. Keep rigorously involved and you will not be bored.
