Hi all,
A week or so ago I < posted > for a Plant ID from a lake that I was at. This past bit ago, I decided to go snorkeling (no scuba yet, darn!). The photos you saw in that other post:
Are from directly near the shore - maybe 1 or 2 feet deep at most. They are quite dirty also. Once I went out I noticed sunfish in these "spawning beds" as I call them - literally 3 or 4 a few feet about with a massive sun fish in each. Later, I noticed one of those males spawning with a female. The aggressive behavior towards me (one rammed into my foot!) and other fish seemed so natural. Suddenly, the water dropped MUCH colder and there was a drop off. When I turned around to see the drop off, it was densely plants (with much less algae) - it looked like this:
But instead of seeing the glass, it was mounds of these crushed zebra mussel shells.
As I kept swimming, I saw more and more of these styles leading to more of these shallow areas were bass and sun fish were.
The next day, I went out further and noticed a much deeper yet still "pre drop-off" and ran into schools of baby bass.
I will note that I saw those same sun fish that next day, and realized that they "live" there and gained a new found respect for nature itself.
Also, it puts aquascaping into a new lense.
The aquarium should almost be as if you are swimming right by and you look left or right and see a snapshot of nature - just as you are passing by. I can say I always "read" that, but I finally got it!
PS looking back at Amano's tanks - I have a new found respect for him as well.
Anyways, just felt like sharing!
Josh
A week or so ago I < posted > for a Plant ID from a lake that I was at. This past bit ago, I decided to go snorkeling (no scuba yet, darn!). The photos you saw in that other post:
Are from directly near the shore - maybe 1 or 2 feet deep at most. They are quite dirty also. Once I went out I noticed sunfish in these "spawning beds" as I call them - literally 3 or 4 a few feet about with a massive sun fish in each. Later, I noticed one of those males spawning with a female. The aggressive behavior towards me (one rammed into my foot!) and other fish seemed so natural. Suddenly, the water dropped MUCH colder and there was a drop off. When I turned around to see the drop off, it was densely plants (with much less algae) - it looked like this:
But instead of seeing the glass, it was mounds of these crushed zebra mussel shells.
As I kept swimming, I saw more and more of these styles leading to more of these shallow areas were bass and sun fish were.
The next day, I went out further and noticed a much deeper yet still "pre drop-off" and ran into schools of baby bass.
I will note that I saw those same sun fish that next day, and realized that they "live" there and gained a new found respect for nature itself.
Also, it puts aquascaping into a new lense.
The aquarium should almost be as if you are swimming right by and you look left or right and see a snapshot of nature - just as you are passing by. I can say I always "read" that, but I finally got it!
PS looking back at Amano's tanks - I have a new found respect for him as well.
Anyways, just felt like sharing!
Josh