So You like Gardening? What About Underwater Gardening?

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  I know you might be picturing someone with a snorkel and gardening tool in hand and as funny as that seems it’s certainly not the case! We are talking about Aquascaping which is a combination of keeping aquatic animals and gardening underwater. Aquascape is becoming increasingly popular as a home time hobby and there are some good reasons as to why; which we are going to cover along with some general information on Aquascaping and how to get started yourself.

So What Is Aquascaping All About?

Aquascaping, although you may never have heard of it before, is not actually a new thing. Aquascaping is all about creating an underwater or partially submerged garden. There are many different types of aquascapes that you can create, something which we will talk about a little later on. The whole point of aquascaping is to create an indoor underwater garden that combines the best elements of a garden and an aquarium.

The point of it all is to create your own eco system that you can control, you can decide what goes in it, and you don’t even have to go outside to do it. It’s a great way to combine your favorite hobbies of gardening and fish keeping in one neat little space. There are people who choose to keep their aquascapes a plant only environment, but the vast majority of people do choose to put fish inside of it too.

The Difference Between Aquascaping and Normal Gardening

Well, the difference here is pretty clear. You average garden is going to be outside in your backyard, it will get natural sunlight, and yes, it is going to be on dry land. On the other hand, an aquascape is usually created indoors, it is built inside of a reef tank or terrarium, and of course the plants are usually submerged or at least partially submerged in water. Also, you would be pretty hard pressed to find fish and turtles swimming around your rose bush.

How to Get Started with Aquascaping

Getting started with aquascaping really is not that hard. Keep in mind that a smaller aquascape won’t cost you all that much, but a larger one can definitely run up your credit card because there are quite a few things you will need to get to create a nice environment.

First of all, you are going to need to get yourself some kind of tank or terrarium. For a beginner something like a betta tank will do just fine (this site covers some cool betta fish tanks). The point is that you need some kind of water proof glass box to build the aquascape in. Moreover, you are going to need to choose what kind of substrate you want, which is the bottom layer in the tank. This could be rocks, gravel, sand, or some kind of grass, or maybe nothing at all.

Then you are going to need to choose what type or types of plants you want to house in your aquascape, what fish you want in there, and what kind of rocks, driftwood, and decoration you want as well. Keep in mind that all of these aspects will depend on the type of aquascape you are trying to create.

In addition to plants and fish, incorporating a beautiful tuxedo urchin or neon tetra will add a unique touch to your underwater garden. These unique creatures not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Other than that, especially if you have fish, you are going to need a protein skimmer (Aquascapeaddiction.com has covered a detailed article on what skimmers do and the benefits of using one in your tank), a UV sterilizer, a light, and a filter. An aquascape is a little expensive to set up, but the awesome look is definitely worth it. The bigger ones are definitely going to be expensive, but you can choose to start with something smaller that won’t cost you too much.

3 Reasons Why Aquascaping Is Awesome

Aquascaping is awesome for a variety of reasons, not just because it’s a cool garden and fish tank combo. So, why is aquascaping so awesome?

1. It’s Very Relaxing

People who do gardening do it because it is a very relaxing hobby. You get to work with plants that don’t talk back to you and you get to create your own little world. The same can be said for people who own fish. Something about the sound of the babbling water, and something about watching those neat little creatures swim around is simply serene.

Now you can imagine just how peaceful it is when both of those things are combined into one. There is nothing more relaxing than working on a hobby that you truly enjoy, working with animals, and working with beautiful plants. It’s a way to block out all of that negativity of the world.

2. Not too Expensive to Get Started (You Can Start with a Small Tank)

Another big benefit of aquascaping is that it is not very expensive to start up. Sure, a giant tank, 200 fish, and 2 tons of plants will cost you quite a bit. However you can start out smaller too. Just get a 10 gallon tank for 40 bucks, some fish for 20 bucks, and some plants for another 30. Aquascaping is one of those rare hobbies that won’t clean out your bank account.

3. It’s Not Weather Permitted like Traditional Gardening

Many people like aquascaping because the weather has no effect on it. Gardens are susceptible to the weather, and a few bad days can completely destroy whatever plants you have. Plus you probably are not going to go out gardening in a rain storm either. Well, aquascaping is done inside from the comfort of your home, so you don’t have to worry about the weather affecting your cool new hobby.

Different Types of Aquascapes

There are a few different types of aquascapes that you can choose from. Here are the most popular ones.

Dutch

These aquascapes often have many different kinds of plants of different sizes, different shapes, and different colors too. This is a very neat kind of aquascapes that features a diverse array of plant life and usually has some very small fish inside.

Japanese Nature

This style of aquascapes often features many different rocks, or even small underwater mountain ranges. Moreover, these aquascapes usually do not have a diverse array of plants, mostly just short grasses or short bottom dwelling plants. This is a minimalist type of aquascapes that often only has a few small fish.

Japanese Jungle

This type of aquascapes features the most diverse array of plants of all different sizes, types, shapes, and colors. They often feature plants with big leaves, long vines, and colorful hues. The whole point of them is to resemble an underwater jungle, a jungle with a few small fish inside of it.

Paladriums 

A paladrium is a special type of aquascape where less than half of it is submerged. They feature both underwater and above water sections, both of which house unique plants. This enables totally submerged plants to live in it as well as ground dwelling plants with their roots digging through the substrate into the water. This type of aquascapes often features no fish or animal life.

Salt Water Reef

This type of aquascapes resembles a coral reef. It features rocks, a variety of colorful coral, fish, and of course salt water too.

Aquascaping – Conclusion

Aquascaping is a truly awesome hobby that is relaxing, fairly cheap, educational, and does not make you deal with outside weather either. These things make for beautiful additions to any home, they are fairly easy to take care of, and they are a lot of fun. If you want to combine your favorite hobbies of gardening and fish keeping, then an aquascape is the way to go.

Click the links below for any posts you have missed:

The Logistics of Moving

Buying the Right Vanity

What to Look for in a Landscaping Company

Welcome to Our New Home

Polishing Concrete

The Smart Way to Replace Your Bathroom Vanity

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Toodles,