Last month I discussed the
trimming method for relatively
fast-growing aquatic plants such
as stem plants and foreground
plants in the Nature Aquarium. This month
I will explain the proper maintenance
methods for shade-loving plants such as
ferns, mosses, and the plants in the genera
Cryptocoryne and Anubias.
Shade-loving plants are often used in
the middle ground of a layout, attached
to a composition material such as
driftwood or rocks or planted around
the composition material. They form a
group of plants that are indispensable
for the Nature Aquarium. Shade-loving
plants are often used in a layout where a
large number of light-loving plants such
as stem plants are used. It is actually rare
to find a layout solely composed of light-loving plants. Shade-loving plants come
in deep subdued colors such as dark
green and brown. They produce a nice
contrast against brightly colored light-loving plants, and they can sharpen the
visual impression of a layout.
DATA
Aquarium: Cube Garden 120-H: W120 x D45 x
H60 (cm)
Lighting: Solar I (NA lamp MH-150W) x 2 units,
turned on for 10 hours per day
Filter: Super Jet Filter ES-1200 (Bio Rio M, NA
Carbon)
Substrate: Aqua Soil, Power Sand L, Bacter 100,
Clear Super, Tourmaline BC, Penac W/for Aquarium,
Penac P
CO : Pollen Glass Beetle 50, 3 bubbles per second
2
via CO Beetle Counter (using Tower/20)
2
Aeration: For 14 hours after the light is turned off
using Lily Pipe P- 4
Additives: Brighty K; Green Brighty STEP2; ECA
Water change: 1/3 twice a week
Water quality: Temperature 25ºC, pH 7.0, TH 20
mg/l
Aquatic plants: Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae,
Cryptocoryne lucens, Cryptocoryne petchii, Echinodorus
tenellus, Microsorium pteropus, Bolbitis heudelotii,
Rotala rotundifolia “green,” Ludwigia arcuata, Hygrophila
polysperma, Eleocharis vivipara
Aquatic animals: Rasbora kalochroma, Chela
dadyburjori, Danio pathirana, Puntius oligolepis,
Inlecypris auropurpurea, Otocinclus sp., Caridina
japonica
[Note: The hardware itemized above represents the
author’s specific choices; equivalent results may be
obtained with other equipment and accessories—Eds.]
Driftwood and shade-loving plants occupy the
middle ground of this layout. The shade-loving
plants are generally sturdy and can be enjoyed
for a long time with minimal care.
Slow and
Steady Growth
Shade-loving plants tend to grow more
slowly when compared to the quick-growing light-loving plants. When a layout
is first set up, light-loving plants project a
strong presence due to their vigor. As the
layout is maintained over a long period
of time, however, light-loving plants lose
some of that vigor. On the contrary, shade-loving plants become dense with leaves and
start to increase their presence over time.
One of the reasons that shade-loving plants
are often used is that we can enjoy such a
change in a layout just as scenery changes
in nature with the seasons.
Shade-loving plants are also useful for
the middle ground when stem plants are
planted in the background. As stem plants
grow, they lose the leaves on the lower parts
of their stems, making their lower portions
quite unsightly. The lower part of the stem
plants can be hidden effectively if the middle
ground is planted with shade-loving plants
that grow slowly and therefore change very
little. When stem plants are trimmed and
a layout is temporarily sparsely planted, it
is still worth a look if shade-loving plants
remain in the middle ground. Because
of the reasons listed above, shade-loving
plants are often used in the middle ground
in the Nature Aquarium.
An example of willow
moss grown attached to driftwood.
The moss is applied to parts of the driftwood
rather than all over it, leaving some parts of the driftwood
surface exposed.
