Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants, hardscapes, substrate, and other materials to create an underwater landscape. While freshwater aquarium plants have been used since the early 20th century, Japanese aquarist Takashi Amano revolutionized the hobby by creating the “Nature Aquarium” style starting in the 1980s.
Amano’s nature aquariums featured lush forests of stems and mosses, with Asian-inspired rock and wood hardscapes. The compositions obeyed classical Japanese concepts like wabi-sabi and zen, with minimalist designs focused on bringing natural landscapes indoors.
Takashi Amano’s Nature Aquarium style has defined the modern aquascaping world. His company, Aqua Design Amano, has inspired generations of aquarists with over 1,000 aquarium projects worldwide. The “Amano” style aquarium has become the most influential planted tank style, with devotees around the globe.
This article will cover the key principles of Amano style aquariums, biography of innovator Takashi Amano, care guidelines for keeping these living artworks thriving, and frequently asked questions about this aquascaping style.
Principles of Amano Style Aquascaping
While every Amano aquarium is unique, certain defining principles are found across Takashi Amano’s designs:
Lush Greens
Amano style aquariums feature dense groupings of aquatic plants. Typically lower-light carpeting plants create lush green “meadows” covering the substrate. Behind rise groupings of stem plants like Rotala and Ludwigia with intense coloration. Floating plants may add dapples of light across the composition.
Asian-Inspired Hardscapes
Gracefully weathered spiderwood branches and seiryu stone from Japan create the “bones” defining spaces in Amano layouts. The hardscapes obey classical Japanese concepts like wabi (transient beauty) and sabi (aged patina), creating miniaturized landscapes.
Minimalist Design
While intensely lush, Amano aquascapes have a minimalist feel. Negative spaces allow plants and hardscapes to speak for themselves, and most layouts use just a few plant species for harmonious compositions.
Asymmetric Balance
The plants, hardscape, and open water are positioned according to Japanese concepts of asymmetric balance. Compositions feel harmonious yet still dynamic.
Perspectival Depth
Sloping substrate, graded stem heights, and clearing in the midground all establish a sense of depth and distance within Amano layouts. This adds scale and pulls the viewer’s eye into the aquascape.
Every Amano aquarium applies these founding principles in original ways. But all share lush green abundance shaped by Asian artistic concepts for living aqueous art.
Biography of Takashi Amano
No discussion of nature aquariums would be complete without honoring the founder, Takashi Amano. Born in Niigata Prefecture, Japan in 1954, Amano was fascinated by aquariums from childhood. As an adolescent he dreamed of becoming a professional aquarist.
After graduating university with a degree in biology and chemistry, Amano became the editor of renowned Japanese aquarium magazine Aqua Journal in 1979. This gave him the platform to introduce the radical concept of the “Nature Aquarium” to the Japanese aquarists in the early 1980s.
Amano’s earliest nature aquariums were heavily criticized for lacking fish and decorations. But soon his lush forest aquarium layouts attracted global acclaim. By 1986, everyone wanted an “Amano” style aquarium, and the art of aquascape was born.
After judging an aquarium design contest in Germany, Amano was inspired to found Aqua Design Amano Co. Ltd., his aquarium design, supply, and plant nursery company. Over 1,000 Aqua Design Amano aquariums have now been installed worldwide.
Amano also hosted the Japanese television series “Aqua Garden” for over 10 years, teaching viewers aquarium basics. His Aqua Design Amano facility in Niigata includes the renowned “Mother of the Waters Forest” display, one of Japan’s best aquarium attractions.
Takashi Amano passed in 2015 at age 61, but left an immense legacy. His books Nature Aquarium World and Grand Designs for Small Aquariums taught generations of aquarists and cemented Amano as the father of modern aquascaping. While he is no longer alive, Amano’s lush style and artistic philosophy will continue inspiring aquatic artists worldwide.
Caring For Amano Style Aquariums
While artfully designed, Amano style aquariums flourish under some specialized care conditions:
Substrate System
Sloped aquarium substrates covered by fine gravel or sand are typical. Rich substrates with laterite clay, volcanic soil, aquarium plant substrates, and additives provide nutrition. The sloped substrate establishes depth and supports lush carpet plants.
High Light
While lower-light plants are used, most Amano layouts provide over 2 watts per gallon to allow carpets and red stem plants to thrive. Full spectrum or LED lighting approximating natural daylight works best.
CO2 Injection Pressurized
CO2 systems diffuse carbon dioxide throughout Amano tanks to maximize plant growth. This redundancy of light and carbon allows explosively fast plant growth.
Fertilization
Amano style aquariums use rich substrate and water column dosing of comprehensive fertilizers, ensuring plants don’t run short on the nitrogen, phosphorus, or micronutrients needed for health.
Mineralized water with added calcium, magnesium, and iron benefits softwater plants like mosses. RO or rainwater remineralized starting at near-zero TDS allows complete control over water chemistry.
Aquarium Filtration
Canister filters offer maximum mechanical and biological filtration for dealing with plant debris and fish waste in fast-growing Amano tanks. Filters rated for tank size multiple times over prevent stunting growth.
Algae Control
The balance of lighting, CO2, and fertilization must be maintained to halt algae in Amano aquariums. Quick-growing stems outcompeting algae and thriving cleaners like Amano shrimp and nerite snails keep glass pristine.
Following this specialized care regimen rewards aquarists with Amano style aquarium where every leaf and stem bursts with vibrant health. Lush carpets creep to life, red stems glow, and mosses create flowing green forests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Takashi Amano?
Takashi Amano was an influential Japanese aquarist and founder of Aqua Design Amano. He pioneered the “Nature aquarium” style starting in the 1980s and defined the modern planted aquarium hobby before passing at age 61 in 2015.
What makes an aquarium “Amano style”?
Amano style aquariums share several signature traits including lush carpeting and stem plants, Asian-inspired hardscapes, minimalist style, asymmetric balance, and strong perspectival depth through the aquascape.
What plants are used in Amano style aquariums?
Common Amano style aquarium plants include carpeting plants like glossostigma, hairgrass, or Monte Carlo. Tall background stem plants include Rotala, ludwigia, ammania, limnophila, and hygrophila species. Weeping moss, Java fern, anubias, and bucephalandra are also signature plants.
How do I care for an Amano style planted aquarium?
Amano style tanks thrive with specialized care including rich substrates, high light (2+ watts per gallon), pressurized CO2, comprehensive fertilization, oversized filtration, close monitoring, and control of algae through cleaners, plants, and careful balance of conditions.
Can a beginner do an Amano style aquarium?
While stunning, Amano style aquariums often prove challenging for aquarium beginners. Grasping complex dynamics between lighting, CO2 injection, and fertilization takes lighting, CO2 injection, and fertilization takes experience. Beginning with lower-light non-CO2 methods can establish critical skills.
Conclusion
Amano style aquariums follow principles like lush greens, Asian-inspired hardscapes, minimalism, and depth pioneered by renowned aquascape artist Takashi Amano. Keeping these high-growth aquariums thriving as living art requires specialized care and maintenance. But the end result allows any aquarist to bring a stunning slice of aquatic nature home.
The lush greens and textured hardscapes of Amano style aquariums fully realize Takashi Amano’s dream of bringing natural aquatic landscapes indoors. While care for these aquascaped living paintings has challenges, artistic aquarists will delight in every flowing watercolor vista these aquariums offer.
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