Amano Amazon biotope pics...

[lcs]

I was perusing another thread and several people mentioned layouts that Mr. Amano had done that were of the Amazon. I would love to see these to get some ideas! 8) ;D If someone could point me in the right direction, that would be great!

Lisa

[Ralph]

This is a site that has some Amano discus tanks and others in that style:

http://www.vectrapoint.com/main/phot...aquascape.html

They are amazing to look at.

[lcs]

Wow!! Nice tanks! I really liked the one with the angels and the giant val. and the rainbow tank. All good for inspiration!

Lisa

[Ralph]

I've found several sites that had one or two pictures of Amano tanks, but I remember one site that had photos of a long tank with seven of so blue colored discus (with stress bars), the tank looked like it was all Java moss around a driftwood centerpiece. I couldn't find the website though, but the pictures really left an impression on me.
If you find any other sites, please post a link here. And of course, we'd all like to see photos of your tank when you are ready.

[Debbie]

http://www.disky-design.dk/fish/images/amano4.jpg
These two may be a repeat I may have hit the paste button too many times, but that’s what these heavy duty pain killers do to a person:
http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/discus/amano/
http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/discus/amano/
Ralph I think this is the one you were talking about, I think it is riccia not java moss at the bottom of the tank:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/H.../amanopix.html
Ics, One of these links should be a workshop Amano did for an aquarium club. I hope my cut and paste were working properly (my brain for that matter). If it is not there please let me know and I can track it down (at an earlier time and when my mind is clearer)

[Ralph]

Thanks Debbie!
That last link was the one I was talking about. I don't know how practical it is but I sure like to look at it. Now I'll always know where to find it.

I went back to the home page on your first link (does anyone know what the fish are in that photo, pencils?):

http://www.disky-design.dk/fish/

He talks about his trip to Tropica and has a bunch of photos that I had never seen before on how the aquatic plants are grown commercially. Very interesting.

[lcs]

Thanks Debbie!! Not to worry, all the links worked! You're brain's still functioning !

In the "amanopix" from the geocities site, I really liked that large piece of driftwood with the java fern. (that is java fern, right?) I like the way a large centerpiece looks, but I also like the look of an aquascape that is spread out across the tank. Decisions, decisions

Here's a pic I found on Aquariacentral's board. (I think) I like the layout of this one very much.

Lisa

[Debbie]

They may be Nannostomus espei.
Lisa, I like that tank too. Like Ralph mentioned, many of Amano's tanks are not practical although beautiful. It takes great skill to keep a tank like that plus alot of time. I think the one you have there has many more practical plants that will live many years in your tank.

[Wahter]

Just as another footnote - while Mr. Amano says he models his some of his tanks from what he sees in nature on his various travels, they are not representative of the environment which many wild discus are found. So pretty as they are, Amano's tanks would not be a true discus biotope.

Walter

[lcs]

Walter,

I agree totally. Not only are Amano's tanks not representative of the Amazon, but they would require entirely too much work!!

I plan on keeping only a few species of plants that are native to S. America - except maybe the vals because I can create the look I want ;D. I'm mostly trying to look at as many tank layouts as I possibly can so I steal other people's ideas!

Right now I am leaning toward something very similar to the pic I posted above. I just love it. Of course all I have to do is find the perfect driftwood : :P

Lisa

[ronrca]

May be true Walter! However, let me throw a curve ball! ;D

As you say that the tanks do not resemble the amazon environment, neither do the discus that we have in our tanks. Im talking about bright yellow, orange, flaming reds, etc! So, my point?? Does it really matter! In an aquarium sitting in your livingroom, it is highly unlikely that you will have a muddly, tannin colored with lots of roots tank! Just a thought! ;D Now you can kill me!

[Ralph]

Ron, you just described my 29 gal.

[ronrca]

LOL! Sorry! You mean you tanks looks like this?
http://www.amazonian-fish.co.uk/images/stream2.jpg
or
http://www.amazonian-fish.co.uk/imag..._of_Amazon.jpg

I would like to see!
But, maybe Im wrong! Look at this site of wild caught discus!
http://www.amazon-exotic-import.de/G...4nge/INDEX.htm

[lcs]

I wilds !! They are amazing!!

Ron - you make a good point about being too picky about the decoration. Just please tell me you won't go over to the land of neon gravel and plastic plants! :-X

I'm just hoping that if I choose plants that require the same conditions as the discus, they will stay alive and maybe even do well - especially at the high temps.! I've had good luck with planted tanks over the last few years, but combining them with discus will be a whole new thing for me!

Lisa

[Ralph]

Yea Ron, it's a lot like the first pic, except my water is a little darker. It has white sand, driftwood, brown water, rummies, hatchets, and heckels. It's an aquired taste, I think. But now my original planted tank looks strange to me, and probably won't be in it's present state for long.

But I'm not selling the idea and would never try to talk someone out of having a planted tank. There is something almost primordial about a nicely planted tank with a group of discus gliding among the plants and wood. And if that situation doesn't exist in nature, then it probably should.