Paradise of Stem Plants
[ Special Feature ]
A key to AQUASKY’ s brightness is its high luminosity LEDs and their layout.Numbers of high luminosity LEDs are regularly dist r ibuted in a sh ifted man ner, and it makes possible to illuminate a whole aquarium layout. Heat generat ion is a common problem of high luminosity LED lamps. ADA solved the problem by employing the high radiation performance aluminum material and its unique fin structures.
It employs the material and structure of outstanding heat radiation performance.
http://www.adana.co.jp
ADA’ s AQUASKY is the world’ s first LED lighting system developed specifically for planted aquariums. A new lineup, compatible with aquarium tanks 45cm wide and 60cm wide, is to hit the market, this fall. For 60cm wide aquariums, the single light model - AQUASKY 601 and the twin light model - AQUASKY 602 are available. Choose a model according to the type of main aquatic plants planted in your 60cm-wide aquarium.
You can also install maximum of 3 LED lighting units (AQUASKY 601 x 1, AQUASKY 602 x 1) to a 60cm aquarium tank. AQUASKY 602 is capable of providing the same illuminance level as Solar I. AQUASKY series makes possible to fully appreciate aquatic plant layouts, which was hardly achieved by other LED lighting systems before.
*We measured the center spot illmunicance level with following condition: Direct illuminance level measured at 12cm from the lighting source for AQUASKY 602, and 30cm for Solar I.
It provides excellent light intensity, which is created by efficient LED layout.
LED lighting system, AQUASKY,
designed for planted aquariums.
ADA’s Lighting Systems
Higher brightness and a more simple design
NEW!
High luminosity LED lighting unit developed with ADA’ s lighting technology
front back
(Measurement distance: 12cm,
assumed distance between the light source and water surface) W60×D30cm
AQUASKY 602
8554-1 Urushiyama, Nishikan-ku, Niigata, 953-0054 Japan Aquarium： Lighting： Filter： Substrate： CO2： Cube Garden W60xD30xH36cm
AQUASKY 602 (LED 0.4W/each x 63/ 2 units) Super Jet Filter ES-300 (prototype), Bio Rio, NA Carbon, Lily Pipe P-1, Lily Pipe V-3
Aqua Soil - Amazonia, Power Sand S Pollen Glass, 3 bubbles per second via CO2 Beetle Counter (using YA/Ver.2)
Additives： Water Change： Water Quality： Aquatic Plants：
Fish ／ Invertebrates：
Brighty K, Green Brighty STEP2 1/3 once a week
Temperature 25℃ (77°F) pH：6.8 TH：20mg/ℓ Wabi-kusa Eleocharis parvula×３、
Wabi-kusa Glossostigma×５、Wabi-kusa Stemmed Plants Mix×４、 Wabi-kusa Stemmed Plants Mix Red×１
Trigonostigma espei, Otocinclus sp., Caridina japonica N A T U R E A Q U A R I U M D A T A 2 months after installation (trimmed 4 times)
AQUASKY 602 featuring high light distribution performance
*Due to the characteristics of LED, there is a variance in range of color temperature. *Install AQUASKY 601 and AQUASKY 602 to a 60cm wide aquarium (W60xD30xH36cm) for higher light intensity. *Photo is for image only. The product has a power supply cord on the side. *Other displayed products are sold separately.
AQUASKY
601
The practical single light model for 60cm wide aquariums
■Light housing unit size：W570×D68×H10mm ■Clear stand size ：W600×D94×H120mm Product specification Input voltage：AC100∼240V 50/60Hz Power consumption：30W Current consumption：900mA ±5% Luminous flux：2,520∼2,850lm Color temperature：Around 7,000K LED：0.4W/each × 63 ／ LEDlifetime：Over 30,000hrs Operating temperature range：0∼35℃
AQUASKY 602 is compatible with ADA Cube Garden / Cube Glass in the following sizes:
AQUASKY 601 is compatible with ADA Cube Garden / Cube Glass in the following sizes:
AQUASKY 451 is compatible with ADA Cube Garden / Cube Glass in the following sizes:
W45 x D24 x H16 (cm) glass thickness 5mm W45 x D24 x H30 (cm) glass thickness 5mm W45 x D27 x H30 (cm) glass thickness 5mm W60 x D30 x H18 (cm) glass thickness 5mm W60 x D30 x H36 (cm) glass thickness 6mm W60 x D30 x H45 (cm) glass thickness 6mm W60 x D30 x H18 (cm) glass thickness 5mm W60 x D30 x H36 (cm) glass thickness 6mm W60 x D30 x H45 (cm) glass thickness 6mm AQUASKY
602
The twin light model for 60cm wide planted aquariums
■Light housing unit size：W570×D68×H10mm ■Clear stand size：W600×D188×H120mm Product specification
Input voltage：AC100∼240V 50/60Hz Power consumption：60W（30W per lighting unit） Current consumption：900mA ±5%（per lighting unit） Luminous flux：2,520∼2,850lm（per lighting unit） Color temperature：Around 7,000K
LED：0.4W/each × 63 (per lighting unit) ／ LED lifetime：Over 30,000hrs Operating temperature range：0∼35℃
※AQUASKY 602 comes with 2 adapters. Each adapter takes one lighting unit.
AQUASKY
451
The single light model for 45cm wide aquariums
■Light housing unit size：W430×D68×H10mm ■Clear stand size：W450×D100×H95mm Product specification Input voltage：AC100∼240V 50/60Hz Power consumption：22W Current consumption：650mA ±5% Luminous flux：1,800∼2,160lm Color temperature：Around 7,000K
LED：0.4/each×45 ／ LED lifetime：Over 30,000hrs Operating temperature range：0∼35℃
across
J
apan
V
ol.48 Zao, Y
amagata, Japan
SUPER JET
FILTER ES-300
LILY PIPE
Mini V-2
LILY PIPE SPIN
01
02
■Standard Filtration Media
Anthracite (activated carbon in net) 2L, Bio Cube 20 1L ■Pump Specification
Flow Rate: 6.0L/min (50Hz), 7.2L/min (60Hz) Maximum Pump Head: 3.0m (50Hz), 3.6m (60Hz) ■Standard Accessories
Outflow Glass Pipe (Ø10), Inflow Glass Pipe (Ø13), Clear Hose (Ø10) 1m, Clear Hose (Ø13) 2m, Hose Clip ■External Size:Ø144 x H360mm
■Capacity: 3L
*For freshwater aquarium use only. *Flow rate and maximum pump head shown in data are under a no-load condition. *Set-package for 60 liter aquarium, SUPER JET FILTER ES-300 (LILY TYPE),
comes with an outflow glass pipe (Ø10) and inflow glass pipe (Ø13). *Set-package for 36 liter and smaller aquarium,
SUPER JET FILTER ES-300 (SPIN TYPE),
comes with newly-developed LILY PIPE SPIN (outflow) and LILY PIPE Mini (inflow).
■Size: W55mm x H210mm（Ø13）
SUPER JET FILTER ES-300 is a great external canister style filter to enjoy Nature Aquarium with small aquarium sizes up to 60 liters. Despite its compact form, this product assures excellent filtration capability and has a fine, robust body.
ADA’s compact-size Jet Filter
Professionally handcrafted body with excellent durability Equipped with a small, but powerful filter pump
ADA’s original filtration structure
Lily Pipe Mini V-2（Inflow）
■Size: W68mm x H150mm（Ø10）
Lily Pipe Spin P-1（Outflow）
■Size: W68mm x H150mm（Ø13）
* For glass thickness 5 - 6 mm.
Lily Pipe Spin P-2（Outflow）
Slows the flow of water by
creating a circling flow inside
water flow
ADA’s LILY PIPE SPIN is designed for small size aquarium up to 36 liters. This product works well to slow the water flow from SUPER JET FILTER ES-300.
Lily Pipe Mini
Lily Pipe Spin
SUPER JET FILTER ES-300
the town in the distance had become covered and invisible through the mist.
I made a new year s resolution to capture as many images of beautiful Japanese landscapes for the next ten years, and I had the sense that this scenery represented an auspicious start to a new year.
Shooting data / Deardroff 5x7, Super-Symmar 110mm XL, 1/15 sec at f22, RVP F 5×7 inch format film
DECEMBER 2012
Special Feature
Paradise of Stem Plants
Vol.48 Zao, Yamagata, Japan
Travelling across Japan
World Report in India
Vol.19 Growing Healthy and Beautiful Stem Plants
NATURE AQUARIUM Q&A
World Report in Canada
Special Feature
Paradise of
Stem
Plants
The Secrets to Balanced Planting
With their pretty pastel coloration, various leaf shapes and
the way they spread their soft leaves in water, stem plants
have a way of always attracting us to their beauty. Each type
of stem plant has its own unique charm and it should be
effectively brought out in the layout. A layout using stem
plants naturally reflects the intention of the producer, which
is one of the fun parts of making this type of layout. The
Special Feature of this issue introduces the basic rules for
skillful planting of colorful stem plants.
The ratio at which people feel the most stable and beautiful is the golden ratio. The rectangle illustrated below is a golden rectangle whose sides are in the golden ratio. A golden rectangle is partitioned into a square and a new golden rectangle is formed
when its long side is divided at the length of the short side. This partitioning can be repeated as shown in the illustration.
Difference in impression is determined by different
balances.
Bilaterally symmetrical layouts (right/left balance of 1:1)
very often appear unnatural and give a less dynamic or dull
impression. The most basic right/left balance for the layout
is 3:2 (which is an approximate value of the golden ratio)
which delivers the perception of a stable beauty.
It is Important to Ensure a Good Balance of Planted Stem Plants
Most stem plants form a lush, appealing bushthrough planting at the appropriate density and through repeated trimming. These bushes of stem plants are very important towards making a defined composition. The basic compositions are classified as: concave, convex and triangular styles. These compositions are formed by the border line created between bushes of aquatic plants and the use of open space. Using the example of the most popular style, the concave composition, the layout often looks unnatural and out of balance if the bushes of stem plants
What is the Golden Ratio of 1:1.618?
are symmetrical on either side. To make the layout appear attractive, balance the right and left sides to a ratio of 1:1.618 (the golden ratio). Of course, it is difficult to achieve the exact golden ratio in the aquarium. Therefore, we recommend that you create a balance accord-ing to the ratio of 2:3, which is an approximate value of the golden ratio formula (as a note, left-right reversal causes no problems (e.g. 3:2 vs. 2:3)). Always keep this balance in mind as you are planting or trimming your stem plants!
What are the Most Important Things to
Ensure the Effective Use of Stem Plants?
The trimming line is important to maintain a good balance of stem plants. Trimming of stem plants should be performed to ensure the left/right balance of 2:3 (or 3:2 as in this layout).
You can easily achieve a balanced planting of stem plants
when considering their colors.
Diverse color patterns are one of the great features of stem plants. The colors of stem plants are broadly divided into green and red, each of which has multiple subtle shades. To be more precise, green stem plants offer different shades ranging from dark green to light green; while red has shade variations ranging from orange and pink to deep red. This subtle change in color is closely related to our visual
impres-sions, and therefore determines how we plant and use stem plants, such as the combined use of green and red stem plants in a balanced manner and the use of some red stem plants as an accent, greatly influences the impression of the layout. The first step of making a good layout using stem plants is to figure out how to plant stem plants taking into consideration the difference in their colors.
Rotala rotundifolia (Green)
Rotala rotundifolia Rotara macrandra
Rotala rotundifolia (Green)
Pogostemon sp. 'Dassen'
Rotara macrandra sp.
Rotala rotundifolia
Rotara nanjean
Gratiora sp.
How Do You Use Colorful
Stem Plants Effectively?
Using red and green stem plants
A bush of stem plants with a rich variety of colors is formed by planting Rotala Rotundifolia (Green) at the sides while planting red plants in the center.
Using red stem plants
This layout using red stem plants as the main plant features very delicate color variations that are effectively produced by using a combination of stem plants that have a more yellowish and orangish red hues.
Difference in Color Impressions
Rules for planting
Stem plants have various colors and the color of each plant
influences the layout s overall impression. This section
discusses the varied color impressions of aquatic plants
according to their colors and tones.
Varied degree of impact by color (or hue)
In general, aquatic plants are in red, orange, yellow, greenish
yellow and green hues. Among those color variations, red
gives the strongest impression, followed by green. The
impact of the plant becomes weaker as the plant s color gets
closer to yellow.
The Impact of Aquatic Plants are Determined by Their Color Tones
Color has three dimensions - hue, brightnessand saturation. The basic color (hue) of an aquatic plant is determined by the plant s pigments and therefore the color variations of the plant is basically determined within a range between green, yellow and red. Even just the red colored aquatic plants come in many different saturation levels of red - ranging from the vivid reds of Rotala Macranda to the dusky red of Ludwigia Peruensis; while green colors also differ with various brightness levels ranging from the bright greens of Rotala
Rotundifolia (Green) to the murky greens of Lagarosiphon Major. However, when determin-ing the colors of aquatic plants, it is not easy to precisely distinguish between brightness and saturation. Due to this reason, the color tones that represent color density should be used instead of brightness and saturation to promote a greater understanding. Keeping this knowl-edge in mind, please use the Stem Plant Color Chart to the right as a reference for your planting.
Strong
Weak
Red and green plants on the top row have the strongest color impression. As you go towards the bottom row, the color impression becomes weaker. Among the plants on the same row, plants on the left have a stronger color impression than plants on the right side.
Saturation refers to the intensi-ty of the color. Pure colors such as red and green contain the highest saturation levels, while mixed colors (such as red and orange or green and yellow) have lower saturation levels. For aquatic plants, the color sat-uration differs between each species. It also varies depend-ing on the light, nutrient and other conditions of proper plant care. In general, healthy stem plants display vivid colors.
Brightness refers to the lightness and darkness of the color. Lighter colors are contain a very high brightness, while deeper and darker colors have the impression of low brightness. The lightness and darkness of the color comes to represent strong and mild color tones in black and white imagery. The tones of stem plants which are used as background plants in the layout are very important elements that greatly influence the overall impression of the planted aquari-um.
High
The impact of the color can be clearly seen if a colored image is converted into a black-and-white image. The portions with darker tones have a stronger impact while the portions with milder tones have a weaker impact.
Stem Plant Color Chart
What is brightness?
What is saturation?
HighHygropila difformis Rotara nanjean
Rotara macrandra "Green"
Hemianthus nbrosum
Hygrophila violacea
Rotala rotundifolia (Green)
Using aquatic plants with different leaf shapes
The impression of Hygrophila difformis with its relatively large leaves is softened by reducing the amount you plant and by planting narrow-leaf stem plants around it.
You can achieve a balanced planting arrangement of stem
plants when considering their leaf shapes and sizes.
Stem plants contain a variety of leaf shapes, such as the narrow leaves of Rotala and the large leaves of larger-sized Ludwigia. You may have the experience of having randomly planted stem plants without considering their leaf shapes and consequently the aquascape eventually gave a disorganized and scattered
appearance, leaving a less dynamic impres-sion. Good balance cannot be achieved if the leaf sizes of the stem plants does not fit in the size of the aquarium. It is very important for you to figure out the optimal balance of stem plants by pursuing the best combination of colors as well as the leaf shape and size of the plants used.
Large Leaf and Narrow Leaf ‒
How to Make Proper Use of Various
Leaf Sizes for Optimal Impact?
Gratiora sp.
Hygrophila stricta
Rotara macrandra
Rotala rotundifolia (Green)
Hemianthus nbrosum
Using large-leaf stem plants
Hygrophila Big Leaf is a large stem plant with long leaves. In this layout, this plant is planted slightly on the left to moderate its impression and ensure a good balance.
Rules for planting
Shape and Size of Leaf
Stem plants have variously sized leaves. The impression of
stem plants arranged in the layout greatly varies depending on
the size and shape of the leaves. This section discusses the leaf
shape and size of stem plants.
Various degrees of impact determined by leaf shape
Just as in the case of figures, stem plants with larger-sized
leaves give stronger impressions. On the other hand, stem
plants with narrower leaves form an outstandingly beautiful
thicket.
Leaf Shape and Firmness/Softness of the Impression
There are various shapes of stem plant leaves.When looking at stem plants only, the ones with large leaves give a stronger impression while the impression becomes weaker if the plant has narrow leaves, as shown in the above illustra-tions. The leaf shape influences the firmness and softness of the impression of the cluster of stem plants. A bush of stem plants with larger leaves gives a firm and heavy impression; while the soft and light impression of narrow-leaf stem plants will stand out when arranged to form a thicket. In an actual concave layout, the weight of the cluster on the right and left sides varies depending on the leaf size as well as the color impression of the plants. To help you make a better combination of stem plants, please refer to the chart on the right which introduces the some of the most commonly used green and red stem plants with different leaf sizes.
Stem plants used as an accent
The ratio at which people feel the most stable and beautiful is The attractiveness of stem plants is brought out when you create a bush or thicket with them. At this time, stem plants that have a stronger impact serve as an effective accent plant by being placed in a thicket of a single species or with other similar types of stem plants. The plants highlighted here have a great presence even when only a small quantity is used, therefore they are ideal to be used as accent plants in a layout. You can balance the layout by using and adjusting these plants as accents
to the overall scene. Limnophila aquatic Pogostemon stellatus
Green stem plants with large leaves are suitable to express a natural feeling. Narrow leaves give a more fantastic impression.
Learning the Basics of the Planted Aquarium
In January, Takashi Amano s special seminar was held for the students of the Nature
Aquarium Course, International Pet World College. The Aqua Journal Editorial Team
accompanied Mr. Amano to the seminar. This section features a special tutorial on
the layout based on Mr. Amano s lecture titled Tips for Making a Layout which had
been introduced in the seminar. We hope that you will come to understand the basic
formation of the layout and use it as a reference for your future layout creations,
while reflecting on your own sense and taste.
Takashi Amano Layout Seminar
The Golden Ratio Supports the
Bal-ance of the Layout
Mr. Amano began his talk by stating that One of the most important aspects of creating a good layout is to achieve balance; and above all, the most important thing is the golden ratio.
The golden ratio is approximately 1:1.618 in fig-ures, or rounded up to 2:3 for convenience in the aquarium. Taking Iwagumi as an example, the center of Oyaishi, or the main stone, is placed at a location at which the tank width is divided at the ratio of 1:1.618 (≈2:3). And then, Fukuishi, or secondary stone, and Soeishi, or ac-companying stone, are placed in such manner that the line between the center of the main stone and the side of the tank is divided at the ratio of 1:1.618 (≈2:3) (refer to Fig.1). This ratio also applies to the weight of the stones. It is im-portant to develop a sense of creating layouts that involve the mental calculation of this bal-ance.
Tension adds a touch of spice to the
balance
The optimal balance of the stones is achieved when the ratio of the main stone and its sup-porting stones are placed at the weight ratio of 1:1.618 (≈2:3). However, the layout may some-times look a little dull if the balance is too per-fect. In this circumstance, making the stones slightly off balance, for example at the ratio of 1:3, creates a tension and firms up the overall atmosphere of the layout. Nonetheless, an ex-cessive imbalance such as 1:0.5 and 1:1 ruins the overall balance and significantly detracts from the appearance of the layout. For this reason, this change in ratio should preferably be up to 1:3. This applies not only to the weight of the stones but also to all the elements relat-ing to balance of the layout.
The trimming line for the stem plants in the background is a good example. Many aquarists are inclined to trim the stem plants in the back-ground symmetrically, but an exactly symmetri-cal placement can undermine the natural feel
of the layout. The effective ratio to achieve a good right/left balance of the stem plants is 1:1.618 (≈2:3) which delivers the optimal bal-ance, or a maximum of up to 1:3 which is the limit to create a tension while maintaining the balance.
Identify the shades of the leaf color
From here on, stem plants are used as our ex-ample. We will give the explanation on the as-sumption that all the stem plants have almost the same leaf sizes, since the visual element of leaf size and shape influences our perception. As we describe visual impacts such as heavy or light, a leaf with a dark green has a heavier impact, while a leaf with a light green has a lighter impact. The golden ratio applies even when planning the gradient of color you will create from the various shades of stem plants. There are deep red and pink leaves under red leaves, while green leaves contain many differ-ent shades. The approach Mr. Amano devel-oped in identifying shades of color is to look at
College students are listening attentively to Mr. Amano s instructions. The opportunity to get Mr. Amano s advice while looking at an actual layout is very precious.
Balance of Iwagumi
Among various layout materials, Iwagumi requires an exceptionally high level of composition skill. How-ever, even beginners can easily try Iwagumi once they understand the basic points of stone place-ment. Fig.1 Oyaishi (main stone) Fukuishi (secondary stone) Soeishi (accompanying stone) Golden ratio Fig.2
The Balance of Shades of Aquatic Plants
When the size of the leaves are the same, select the aquatic plants to be used in such a manner that the color shade balance of approximately 2:3 is achieved. This will lead to an approximate 2:3 color shade ratio among all the aquatic plants in the aquarium and create a well-balanced impression of the layout.
Fig.3
Balance of Planting Positions for Aquatic Plants with Strong Character
Avoid using too many plants with strong character. Keep in mind that the quantity of such plants should be as moderate as 1, 3 or 5 stalks. Ultimately the planting position is in your hands, but a good balance can be achieved if you choose to plant them in a way that a scalene triangle is formed by connect-ing them together.
a color through a black and white filter in our mind. Every color shows its shade if converted into a black-and-white image. If you have trouble visualizing this at first, we suggest that you take a photograph of stem plants in a layout and convert it to a black-and-white image using a program such as Photoshop or Instagram. To determine which color has a stronger impact between yellow and yellow-ish green, Mr. Amano suggest you convert those colors to a black-and-white image in your mind to identify which color is darker.
Technically speaking, a color is divided into ten scales, with 10 being black, 5 being gray and 1 being white. Approaching color balance from the viewpoint of identifying color shades helps you see the difference in color, no matter what the actual color is. When aquatic plants are then combined at the color shade ratio of 1:1.618 (≈ 2:3), such as when combining plants with a color shade of 7 with another plant with a shade of 10 or combining plants with a color shade of 4 and 7. Doing this will lead the entire balance of color at the ratio of 1:1.618 (≈2:3). Meanwhile, let s assume the right/left balance of stem plants is set to 1:1.618. When the color balance is at 1.1618:1, which is the reverse value
unstable and an unbal-anced impression will be created. As can be seen from this ex-ample, it is important to determine the color balance based on the color shades that corre-spond to the ratio used for the composition. When using the same species of aquatic plants on the right and left sides separately, the quantity of plant used must not be equal (i.e. 1:1) on both sides, but you should main-tain a difference, such as 1:1.618 (≈2:3) on either side.
Weight is felt by leaf size and shape
Discussions up to this point were based on the assumption that several varieties of green or red aquatic plants were used and they all had relatively ordinary shapes and the same size of leaves. Now, let s evaluate cases where stem plants have differing shape characteristics. When comparing a large leaf and a small leaf, the weight of the large leaf is obviously heavier. Then, how about the comparison between a sharp leaf and round leaf? When the surface area of the leaves is the same, the sharp leaf has the stronger impact; and when the two leaves have the same diameter, the weight of the round leaf is heavier. Note that the difference in the surface area of the leaves has a greater visual impact compared to the difference in leaf shapes.
What we have to pay attention to when dis-cussing this matter is the growth of aquatic plants. Even if the plants look well-balanced im-mediately after being planted in the aquarium, the overall balance may be lost as the time goes by and the plants grow larger. To address this
should be when the aquascape is completed.
What is the theorem for a scalene
tri-angle?
Aquatic plants featuring large leaves or sharp leaf shape can be planted in small quantities, like just a few stalks, to serve as an accent of the layout. This technique can be extended to the use of red plants in the midst of an aquascape using green aquatic plants. Using a lot of plants or leaves that have a strong impact may spoil the balance with the surroundings. Therefore, the strong impression should be dispersed in the aquascape to moderate the impact. The planting positions are ultimately your option on how and where to place, but you should keep in mind that it is an important point to plant each plant in the positions of each corner of an in-verted scalene triangle. At this time, the number of stalks to be planted should be an odd number like 1, 3 and 5; and the shape of the triangle formed by the plants must not be an equilateral triangle to avoid a symmetrical ar-rangement. This is the theorem for a scalene tri-angle in planted aquarium (refer to Fig.3).
It is a necessity for you to obtain a
sense of deviating from the manual
As can be seen from the above example, we need to have a pluralistic viewpoint, more spe-cifically, the golden ratio is the basic foundation and the theorem for a scalene triangle is the basic element for character when creating a layout. While this is the basic manual and for-mula for success in layout creation, you also need to learn how to deviate from these basics when your technique becomes more ad-vanced. This becomes a process of fine adjust-ments made by purposely restructuring the composition using your own sense and feeling of how the layout should look to express a greater level of creativity. Your development in this unexplored field is dependent on your own sense and taste.
This 60cm (24in) aquarium is a
well-balanced tank as its width and height are
placed in a ratio very close to the golden
ratio. In this layout, the framework is
formed with driftwood and stem plants
are placed in the background. It is
impor-tant to keep a good balance of stem plants
while taking into consideration the
posi-tion of the driftwood and aquatic plants
arranged in the mid-ground. Within this
layout, the red stems are planted in the
center and slightly to the right side of the
center, while bright yellow-green stem
plants are arranged to the left to ensure a
bilateral balance of 2:3.
/ / / / / / / / / / / Tank Lighting system Filtration system Substrate system CO2 system Air Additives Water change Water quality Aquatic plants Fish speciesCube Garden Mist W60×D30×H36 (cm) Grand Solar II (NA Lamp 36W Twin ×2) Lighting for 10 hours a day Super Jet Filter ES-600 (Bio Rio) Aqua Soil - Amazonia, Bright Sand, Power Sand Special S, Bacter 100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC, PENAC W for Aquarium, PENAC P for Plants
Pollen Glass Type II - 2 bubbles per second with CO2 Bubble Counter (Using
Tower)
Aeration with Lily Pipe P-2 for when lighting is OFF at night
Brighty K & Green Brighty STEP 2 1/3 water change once a week Water temperature: 25°C; pH: 6.6; TH: 20mg/ℓ
Aquatic Plant
Encyclopedia
Stem plants have many different colors and
shapes of leaves and their wide variations
are one of the great charms of this plant
type. We need to know the nature and
characteristics of each plant to figure out
how to select and combine aquatic plants
to make a layout. This section introduces
popular and easily available stem plants.
Note that the data represented with icons
are for your reference only.
How to read icons
Leaf size Growth pH Light CO2
Large Narrow /small High Low High Medium Low 6.4 7.4 Hygrophila salicifolia
Hygrophila salicifolia with green narrow leaves easily develops emersed leaves once it reaches the water line. The planting amount should be moderate due to its rigid-looking appearance and large size when grown up.
Hygrophila sp. Cherry Leaf
This is a member of the Hygrophila group with large leaves. Avoid excessive use of this plant when mixing with other plants while taking its big leaf size into consideration. This plant develops beautiful brown tinted leaves when in good condition.
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Compacta'
This improved variety of Hygrophila is easy to grow. It has a short internode length and develops lush leaves. The leaves on the bottom stem are easily susceptible to insufficient light syndrome. This is a slow- growing plant.
Hygrophila sp. Red
This is a member of Hygrophila that produces long narrow leaves. It is not so fast growing. Its leaves are more in brownish color rather than red. Large 6.4 High Low
7.2
Large High Medium
6.4 7.2
Large High Medium
6.4 7.2
Large High High
6.4 7.2
strong and sold at a reasonable price. It is suited to a large tank because of its large leaves.
Eichhornia diversifolia
Its unique appearance adds a different touch to the aquascape when this plant is used as an accent of the layout. Blackened stem and leaves developing in the undergrowth of this plant is a disadvantage, common among Heteranthera Zosterifolia and other Eichhornia species.
creepy, and therefore it tends to be overwhelmed by other aquatic plants.
Hygrophila difformis
Water wisteria develops pinnate leaves when grown submersed in striking contrast to its oval emersed leaves. This plant propagates very well by growing roots out of its stem. It creeps across the tank and becomes a dominant plant.
Ludwigia palustris
This green Ludwigia member is rare and unique among Ludwigia species that are mostly reddish in color. It does not have much tolerance to trimming.
Limnophila aquatica
This is the largest Limnophila and just a few stalks of them create an impressive aquascape. Be wary of algal growth on the small leaves of this plant.
Narrow Medium Medium
6.4 7.2
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Large Medium Medium
6.4 7.2 Narrow High High 6.4 6.8 Narrow High High 6.4 6.8 Narrow Mdium Low 6.4 7.2
Ludwigia Inclinata Cuba
Ludwigia sp. Cuba features very beautiful orange whorls of leaves that are much different from other species of Ludwigia. This plant must be pruned when it almost reaches the water line to prevent it from developing emersed leaves.
Gratiola sp.
Gratiola sp. looks very appealing with tints of red when grown under favorable conditions. Its beautiful color is ideal as an accent to the aquascape. The leaf color deteriorates in case of lack of nutrients including iron.
Narrow High High
6.4 7.2
Narrow High High
6.4 7.2
Polygonum sp. Pink
The large pink leaves of Polygonum sp. Pink has a great presence that can possibly determine the overall impression of the aquascape. Avoid excessively dense planting due to its relatively large width.Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Polygonum Acuriculatum
This Polygonum member grows in Japan. It has stipules at the base of some leaves. This plant is mostly sold in emersed form, which will eventually turn into submersed form.Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Ludwigia ovaries
Among aquatic plants growing in Japan, this is one of the rare plants that develop red-tinted submersed leaves. Be careful of a damaged lower stem if newly bought.Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
How to read icons
Leaf size Growth pH Light CO2
Large Narrow /small High Low High Medium Low 6.4 7.4
status.
Small Mdium High
6.4 7.2
Alternanthera reineckii var. lilacina
This plant develops wider leaves and grows larger compared to Alternanthera reineckii. This plant adds a different touch to the layout with its leaf shape and color when used in a large tank.
Large High High
6.4 7.2
after being planted.
Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Alternanthera ocipus
As its alias Green Reineckii suggests, this plant has leaves with an olive green topside. It is strong but relatively slow- growing.
Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Alternanthera reineckii var. cardinalis
This plant develops the leaves that are slightly wavy and larger then Alternanthera reineckii. It looks uniquely appealing with a vivid red leaf backside.
Large High High
6.4 7.2
Nesaea pedicellata
Nesaea pedicellata is a beautiful plant featuring the contrast colors of red stem and yellow leaves. Sufficient light and CO2 are essential for its growth. It does not grow very fast.
Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Mayaca sellowiana
Compared with Mayaca fluviatilis, it is difficult to grow this plant while maintaining its beautiful green color. Its terminal bud is tinted with red when in good condition.
Narrow
High High
6.4 7.0
Bacopa caroliniana
Bacopa caroliniana featuring a thick leaf is usually light green in color but it turns slightly reddish when in good condition. This species requires careful planting because it is highly buoyant and can easily come off of the substrate after planting.
Medium
High Medium
6.4 7.2
Hottonia inflata
This beautiful plant grows well in Aqua Soil. Its leaf color can fade easily and therefore continuous application of liquid fertilizer is essential. Narrow High High 6.4 7.0 Mayaca fluviatilis
This strong aquatic plant has needle leaves and is suited to the background location of a small aquarium having a width of 60cm or below. Its terminal bud easily turns whitish when not in good condition.
Small High High
6.4 7.0
Lagarosiphon major
The appearance of Lagarosiphon major is unique with curly translucent dark green leaves. This plant is difficult to grow as it gets weak if light and CO2
are insufficient.
Small High High
6.4 7.0
Myriophyllum propinquum
This plant develops soft and delicate submersed leaves in significant contrast with its thick needle-like emersed leaves. It is fast growing and easy to grow.
Small High Medium
6.4 7.2
Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri has rigid-looking oval leaves that grow upward relatively slowly. It is more suitable to plant in the mid-ground location rather than background.
Medium Medium
High
6.4 7.2
How to read icons
Leaf size Growth pH Light CO2
Large Narrow /small High Low High Medium Low 6.4 7.4
conditions, this Rotala creeps sideways and then grows upwards.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Dorimalia cordata
This plant has small round leaves and grows straight upwards. It is advisable to grow this plant in a bright environment because it looks more attractive with shorter intermodes.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
and replant them to maintain this plant over a long period of time.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Lindernia anagallis
Lindernia anagallis adds a good accent to the layout with its unique angular stem and round leaves. Handle this plant with care during planting as its stem easily breaks. Medium High High 6.4 7.2 Myriophyllum mattogros-sense (Green)
It grows sideways unlike other members of Myriophyllum. It forms a beautiful thicket which can form a smooth gradient outline through trimming.
Narrow High High
6.4 7.2
Tonina fluviatilis
The clump of Tonina fluviatilis is uniquely beautiful with its curly leaves. It needs to be maintained by cutting and replanting the stems/shoots. Be aware that Cardina japonica may eat and damage this plant
Narrow High High
6.4 6.8
Tonina sp.
This member of Tonina needs is demanding in terms of light and CO2. It also requires low
KH (carbonate hardness) level. Aqua Soil is ideal for the substrate material for this plant.
Narrow
High High
6.4 6.8
Rotala macranda Green
As its name indicates, Rotala macranda Green develops foliage resembling Rotala macranda but in green color. It is stronger and easier to grow. Its leaves may turn light pink when in good condition.
Medium
High High
6.4 7.2
Rotala indica
This is a Rotala rotundifolia that turns bright red. Application of nutrients containing iron is effective to bring out vivid red color.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Ludwigia arcuata
Ludwigia arcuata s signature sharp, red leaves provide a colorful accent to any thicket of stem plants. With its unique leaf color and shape, this plant is easy to combine with other species.
Narrow High High
6.4 7.2
Rotala nanjean
A thicket of this fine-leaf Rotala in yellow or orange will become denser and more attractive through repeated trimming. This plant grows even at low CO2 level unlike other members of Rotala.
Small High Medium
6.4 7.2
Rotala rotundifolia
Along with Rotala rotundifolia (Green), this is a very popular Rotala species that is easily available. It is tinted with pink when appropriate fertilizers are applied.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Cabomba piauhyensis
This Cabomba is not red upon arrival to a shop. However, it starts developing red leaves when exposed to strong light. It is difficult to maintain its beautiful appearance.
Narrow High High
6.4 7.0
Myriophyllum tubercula-tum
Abundant light and CO2 supply are essential to maintain the red leaves of this plant. Its narrow leaves with oxygen bubbles looks fantastic.
Small High High
6.4 7.2
Myriophyllum sp.
This Myriophyllum is beautiful with its pinnately-divided orange leaves. Be careful of algae growing between the parted leaves. Narrow High High 6.4 7.2 Limnophila sessiliflora
This is a popular plant with whorls of narrow leaves. It requires high light and CO2
supply. The internodes are originally long, but they gradually become short through repeated trimming.
Narrow
High Medium
6.4 7.2
Rotala wallichii
Rotala wallichii has the narrowest leaf among red aquatic plants. Its delicate cluster containing warm color stands out in the layout. It is recommended to purchase the emersed form of this plant.
Narrow
High High
6.4 7.2
How to read icons
Leaf size Growth pH Light CO2
Large Narrow /small High Low High Medium Low 6.4 7.4
RED
Balance Chart by Leaf Color and Size
The impact in relation to the balance of the planted stem plants varies depending
on the combination of the leaf color and size of each plant. The following is a
model balance chart with leaf size on the ordinate and hue on the abscissa. Refer
to this chart to find the impact of each of the popular stem plants.
Alternanthera reineckii Alternanthera reineckii var. lilacina Polygonum sp. Pink
Ludwigia perennis
Rotala macrandra
Ludwigia glandulosa
Ludwigia repens Ludwigia ovaris
Nesaea sp.
Rotala macrandra sp.
Gratiola sp.
Ludwigia Inclinata Cuba
Pogostemon stellatus
Ludwigia arcuata Rotala indica
Myriophyllum tuberculatum
Rotala wallichii
Red plants with large leaves
This group of plants has the strongest visual impact but its excessive use may make a person viewing the layout feel as if it is too loud. The layout looks more pleasant by using this type of plants moderately.
Red plants with narrow leaves
The impact of each stalk is weak due to its narrow leaves. Adjust the impact level by the planting amount.
Green plants with large leaves
These plants are not as impactful as red plants. The weight of the balance may lean towards the larger green leaf.
Green plants with narrow leaves
This group of plants should be planted in groups as each of them gives a modest impression.
Red
Large
Small
GREEN
Rotala nanjean
Mayaca fluviatilis
Lagarosiphon madagascariensis Micranthemum unbrosum Hemianthus micranthemoides
Rotala rotundifolia (Green) Rotala sp. Ceylon Rotala rotundifolia Bacopa monnieri Hygrophila polysperma Heteranthera zosterifolia Eichhornia diversifolia Nesaea pedicellata Hygrophila difformis
Rotala macrandra Green
Bacopa caroliniana
Hygrophila angustifolia
Hygrophila Big Leaf
Many fish are seen in places where stem plants and other aquatic plants grow.
Stem Plants Living in the Wild
Stem plants in the aquarium please our
eyes with their colorful appearance. In
natural environments, this plant grows in
thickets mainly at the banks of rivers or in
shallow waters exposed to sunlight. Many
stem plants grow emersed and develop
thick emersed leaves that can withstand
strong ultra violet rays. In the waterfront
environment in tropical regions where the
water level rises significantly in rainy
Stem plants form thickets in shallow waters with sufficient flow and abundant light.
Many stem plants grow emersed unless they are submersed by nature.
Ceratopteris thalictroides growing in water under abundant sunlight.
seasons, the submerged stem plants
develop submersed leaves. They look like
a forest in the water and provide small fish
with great places to hide from their
enemies that desire to catch and eat them.
Thickets of stem plants are an important
place for small fish, since they produce
abundant oxygen through photosynthesis
and tend to attract various shellfish.
The balance of a layout can be effectively
adjusted with stem plants by making the
most use of their features, such as the
vari-ous colors, shapes and sizes of leaves. In
this layout, a good balance is achieved by
planting many different species of stem
plants in the background. When using
stem plants for this purpose, the
mid-ground location of the layout is important.
Creating an elaborate mid-ground using
driftwood and ferns helps conceal the
un-sightly bottom part of the stem plants and
helps their attractive appearance stand
out.
/
/ CO2 system
Air
Bacter 100, Clear Super, PENAC W for Aquarium, PENAC P for Plants, Tourmaline BC Pollen Glass Large 30Ø - 2 bubbles per second with CO2 Beetle Counter (Using Tower)
Aeration with Lily Pipe P-4 for 14 hours when lighting is OFF at night
/ Fish species
Trimming ‒ An Important
Process for Stem Plants
Trimming of grown aquatic plants is an
essential process to enjoy the aquascape
for a long time; and the importance of
trimming is particularly increased in a
layout using stem plants. One reason is
that stem plants can be maintained for a
very long period of time by using proper
trimming technique. However, if a grown
stem plant is left untrimmed, the bottom
part does not get sunlight and the whole
plant becomes weakened, resulting in the
Trimming Scissors Straight Type
Features suitability for use in water and sharp cutting edge that minimizes the destruction of aquatic plant cells. Dull scissors cause more damage to the plant through a sloppy cut.
collapse of the aquascape. Another reason
is that repeated trimming promotes the
formation of thickets through the
broom-like branching of stems after trimming.
These two points are the most significant
aspects of maintaining healthy stem
plants. In this case, how should we trim
stem plants to achieve beautiful thickets?
Lets take a look at trimming procedures of
an actual aquascape!
Before trimming
Trimming was performed for a driftwood layout using Rotala species as the main plant. When the plants are about to reach the water line, it is time for trimming.
1. Rotala rotundifolia 2. Rotala rotundifolia (Green) 3. Rotala sp. Ceylon
4. Myriophyllum mattogrossense (Green)
After trimming
Subtle changes have been made to the slanting trimming line. The point of making an attractive clump is to trim each of the stem plants according to their growth rate, like pruning only the protruding terminal buds of Myriophyllum mattogrossense (Green).
Inspection is conducted on the grown aquatic plants.
Aquatic plants are controlled in an orderly manner in different sections by species in a wide nursery.
Many stem plants are grown by the cut-and-replant method.
Aquatic plants are grown submersed in concrete mortar ponds with soil substrate. The grown Ludwigia glandulosa is amazingly thick.
The staff of Oriental Aquarium said that the most difficult part is to maintain an appropriate water quality that is suitable for each plant.
A Visit to an Aquatic Plant Farm
Located in the tropical country of
Singa-pore with an average daytime
tempera-ture of 24-32 °
C, Oriental Aquarium grows
more than 100 varieties of stem plants as
well as other aquatic plants in both
emersed and submersed forms in the
tropical climate. Stem plants are mainly
produced by cultivation in ponds with soil
substrate as well as hydroponic culture. As
a daily maintenance, Oriental Aquarium
applies fertilizers mainly containing
phos-phorus, potassium, calcium and
magne-sium together with pesticide and
disinfec-In this farm, stem plants are grown emersed thanks to the tropical climate.Limnophila sessilifolia with white flowers Alternanthera reineckii 'Cardinalis' ready for shipment
tant. A difficult part of growing aquatic
plants is to maintain the appropriate water
quality including pH and alkaline level. For
water hardness, too, the company
under-takes careful water quality control and
grows each aquatic plant in the water
while keeping a suitable water hardness to
reproduce the native environment of the
plant. The difficulty level of growing
aquatic plants varies depending on the
species; and Hygrophila is one of the
easiest-growing plants according to the
staff of Oriental Aquarium. In this farm,
Hygrophila species are mostly grown
emersed as they are prone to pest damage
in submersed environments. Recently,
Oriental Aquarium has begun growing
many types of aquatic plants by way of
tissue culture. Many of the aquatic plants
commercially sold in Japan are supplied by
this Singaporean farm. The production
capacity of this nursery spanning a wide
area is the best in the world. It is expected
that Oriental Aquarium will draw more
attention from now on.
I Would Like More People to
Know How Wonderful This
Hobby is through Workshops
Reported by: Joseph Uy (President of Miyabi Aqua Design Limited, ADA distributor for Canada)URL：http://www.miyabi-aqua.com/
Being a professional landscape
photogra-pher, Mr. Joseph Uy, the reporter of this
World Report, said that he sympathized
with ADA s concept Learning from Nature
at the moment he heard of it. Now, he puts
his efforts in organizing workshops, which
are gaining favorable response.
I participated in the NA Seminar held in the ADA headquarters in September 2011. There I learned about the features of each ADA product and the difference from the competi-tors items. I gained knowledge about the importance of substrate, how to apply the golden ratio to layout making and trimming techniques through hands-on sessions using actual aquariums installed in Nature Aquarium Gallery. When ADA products are sold, the detailed instructions on how to use them are given to the purchaser. Unlike luxury cars that people blindly buy, people buy ADA s products because they wish to own them. Based on my experience at the NA Seminar through which I became aware of the impor-tance of creating opportunities to showcase Nature Aquarium, I had an idea of increasing the number of aquariums to be displayed in Canada and organizing workshops actively.
After I returned to Canada, I held a workshop at the aquarium shop Aquarium West located in the downtown of Vancouver on October 30, 2011. Although the number of the participants was as small as 14, I explained about how to use and the great effects of the products such as Power Sand, Aqua Soil-New Amazonia, Bacter 100, Clear Super, Tourma-line BC and PENAC P/W in detail. In this workshop, the participants learned about how to make Nature Aquarium including attaching Riccia to a flat stone and planting of Glossostigma with Pinsettes on a one-to-one basis. For Canadian hobbyists, this was a fresh, new experience.
And on November 21, the second workshop was held for the members of Vancouver Aquatic Hobbyist Society. More than 200 people came to this workshop and closely observed my Nature Aquarium making that I
had learned from ADA. At the end of this event, a planted aquarium created during the workshop was given to a lucky dip winner and the event ended on a high note.
I believe that the event service is very impor-tant and would like to organize a seminar in schools and colleges. It would be great if ADA products ties up with an interior designer and propose display ideas.
Improve the Level of Planted
Aquarium through Local
Competitions and Unique
Workshops
Reported by: Adip Sajjan Raj, the owner of Still Water Aquatics, ADA distributor for India
The International Aquatic Plants Layout
Competition 2012 received many entries
from India. In this country, the events
supporting the local hobbyists, such as
competitions and workshops, serve as a
driving force for the growth of the
aquarium hobby. This section introduces
an Indian-style workshop.
A: Driftwood Challenge inspired by the Iwagumi Challenge which is a regular event in the NA Party.
B: Participants compete with each other over the speed and accuracy of attaching Anubias to Fuji stone using Wood Tight. C: The Indian-style Iwagumi Challenge , a competition of stone arrangement using Kei stone. This event was live telecast by the staff.
D: There are not many hobbyists who have held ADA s Kei stone in their hands. They touched and felt the texture.
of this report).
Most of India s population of over 1.4 billion has a great love for nature including fish. Indians love not only aquarium fish but also love to eat fish! When I had a talk with Mr. Takashi Amano at the ADA headquarters, we decided to organize the Indian version of the International Aquatic Plants Layout Competi-tion for Indian hobbyists who are enthusiastic about Nature Aquarium. Since then, I started to plan and prepare for it and finally made it happen. The following is the report of the event.
As you all know, India is a very big country and each region has a different climate. This means that some regions or areas have a limited choice of the aquarium materials available. The Indian hobbyists hesitate to make noise about what they want and most of them are not confident about entering international competitions. I expected that the competition to be held in India will be a great opportunity to find superior local hobbyists.
The participants to the competition were
divided into four groups to ensure a fair competition despite the regional differences. Finally we received 178 entries and among them, the most were from Bangalore, as we had expected. The competition was a great success with a wonderful outcome. ADA India decided to celebrate the top winners, and on top of it, a unique event, the come and partici-pate workshop was organized during the prize giving session because the participation of non-winners could not be expected if the award giving was the only program. This event started with quiz questions about fish and plants to draw the participants attention. Subsequently, a program using the Nature Aquarium Goods was organized. For this time, VUPPA-I was picked up as a featured item. It was a perfect opportunity to introduce VUPPA I to the participants who have never seen or touched the product. Six selected participants were instructed to open VUPPA-I and pick up the one rupee coin which had been put inside the equipment. Then, they had to reassemble the VUPPA I and install it to a Cube Garden by
tightening the screw with the coin they had picked up earlier. The person who completed these processes and then cleaned the wood dust floating on the water using VUPPA- I was declared the winner. In this event, a lady who has never owned her own aquarium became the top winner. This tells us how simple these processes are with VUPPA-I.
There are many Indian hobbyists who were exposed to their first ADA products during this event and the skill test using actual products received a favorable response from the participants. Before the end of this workshop, I made a quick layout in a small aquarium and installed a newly launched AQUASKY. This AQUASKY, which was kindly arranged and sent to us by ADA upon its debut in Japan, drew much attention from Indian hobbyists. The event participants had fun and gained a lot of knowledge about Nature Aquarium. We look forward to more enthusiastic participants and enhanced level of competition in the next event.
Growing Healthy and
Beautiful Stem Plants
Stem plants that form beautiful thickets are a part of the great charm of the
planted aquarium. It is commonly believed that growing stem plants is easy
because of the wide varieties available in shops and their fast-growing
tendency. However, as a matter of fact, it is impossible to grow healthy stem
plants without providing them the proper conditions to thrive. The Nature
Aquarium Notes of this issue introduces how to grow healthy and beautiful
stem plants.
● Light and Growth of Stem Plants
The common image people have about stem plants is that these plants grow upward by ex-tending their stems towards the water line. But how stem plants grow varies depending on the environment. The biggest environmental factor is light. Stem plants have a fundamental trait to grow upward towards the water line to seek a brighter environment when it is placed under low light conditions. In such an environment, the internodes elongate and the leaf area den-sity becomes lower. On the other hand, stem plants extend their stems diagonally upward or sideways as if they are creeping in order to uti-lize the maximum amount of light. In this case, the internodes become shorter with dense leaves. This behavior is prominent especially in Rotala species. When growing Rotala rotundifo-lia (Green) for the first time, some aquarists may wonder why the stem is extending sideways
charts on this page, the plants photosynthesis pigments have a major light absorbance peak in the blue spectrum (around 450nm) and it synchronizes with the peak of photosynthesis. Red spectrum is in fact effective for forcing cul-ture of terrestrial plants, but it is not nearly as necessary by aquatic plants that perform pho-tosynthesis underwater. Rather, red spectrum can cause algal growth in the aquarium. Mean-while, when the aquarium light is made brighter, the amount of CO2 to be injected must
be controlled accordingly. This topic will be dis-cussed later in this section.
● Substrate and Growth of Stem Plants Just as with other types of aquatic plants, the growth of stem plants varies depending on the type of substrate. Although there are some ex-ceptions for certain species of plants, stem plants generally grow faster in a substrate system that uses Aqua Soil compared to using gravel substrate, such as Oiso sand, or other types of sand / gravel. Aqua Soil contains rich organic acids which promote the growth of plant roots as well as various nutrients including nitrogen and trace elements. In Aqua Soil, stem plants develop their roots and start growing promptly after being planted. Some people might think that roots are not that important for stem plants as they absorb nutrients through the leaves. However, as a matter of fact, stem plants are unable to grow vigorously unless their stems are planted in the substrate and their roots start growing from nodes. Stem plants can be grown by cutting and replanting the stem. In this case, the plant needs to be re-planted with its terminal bud side up and the opposite node side (the portion from which the roots grow) down for its healthy growth. This way of replanting promotes the growth of ter-minal buds and the development of roots from the bottom part of the plant buried in the sub-strate by the natural effects of plant hormones. When a plant is planted in the Aqua Soil sub-strate, the plant grows faster as the active ingre-dients contained in natural soil promote the root development and nutrient absorption. In
Violet Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
Amount of light absorbed by chlorophyll (relative value)
Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Rate of photosynthesis Rate of photosynthesis (relative value) Wavelength (nm) Violet Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
Wavelength (nm)
instead of growing upwards. This is not a sign of abnormal growth but it actually indicates that the plant is growing healthily. In this case, let the plant grow as it is and provide repeated trimming to achieve denser leaves, and eventu-ally, an attractive thicket will be formed. If Rotala rotundifolia (Green) grows straight upward towards the water line, it can be deter-mined that the light intensity is insufficient. For the appropriate light intensity for your aquarium size, you may refer to the aquarium data here in Aqua Journal. Whether using a fluorescent lamp or metal halide lamp, ensuring the brightest environment possible is a crucial point for growing the various sun-loving stem plants.
For the lighting system for aquarium use, the light quality is important along with the light in-tensity. Under general lighting or a lamp for ter-restrial plants that emits warm (low color tem-perature) light, stem plants tend to grow upward just as in the case of a low light condition. Blue light that penetrates well in water is effective for the growth of aquatic plants. Under such a light, the plants de-velop healthy leaves and stems and are free from elongated stems. However, the stem plants do not look attractive under blue light only. As we know, the leaves of many stem plants are in bright green or red, but these colors do not come out beautifully under blue light. Hence, the light consist-ing of higher blue spectrum as well as the balanced ratio of green and red spectrums is ideal for the light-ing system for aquariums. NA Lamp (fluorescent lamp and metal halide lamp) has been developed to emit this ideal type of light. Some people might have the concern that the light consisting of a lower red spec-trum (around 660nm) is disadvan-tageous for the photosynthesis pro-cess of plants. As shown in the
It has been commonly said that the red spectrum in light promotes photosynthesis of plants. However in an underwater environment, photosynthesis peaks in the area of the blue region of the spectrum and therefore blue is considered more important than red color which is rapidly attenuated in water. The light emitted from NA Lamp consists of a higher blue spectrum to promote photosynthesis of aquatic plants.