Aquascaping is to aquariums as bonsai is to houseplants

Aquascaping is an approach to aquarium-keeping that emphasizes the creation and maintenance of a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem for aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates. It was pioneered in Japan by Takashi Amano in the 1980s, but I only discovered it in 2018. Since then aquascapes have been a persistent feature in our home.

In 2022 I entered the Olympics of the aquascaping world, the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest run by Takashi Amano’s company, Aqua Design Amano. My entry, which I built, grew and meticulously maintained for seven months before taking a single photograph for entry, placed 3rd in the United States and 182nd in the world, accomplishing my personal goal of placing in the top 10% worldwide. It was one of the most technically challenging creative pursuits I’ve ever undertaken.

Since then I’ve eased up a bit. My aquascaping practice these days is less about labor and perfection, and more about calm and sustainable balance — more emphasis on mindfully enjoying the process than on achieving perfection.