8 Gallon Philippines

Here we have an 8 gallon display using an all-glass aquarium, the same used in Autumn. But this is much different in a few ways. for one, the layout is structured with driftwood as opposed to stones. The driftwood is a dark brown tone with prominent branches and knob-like features. Another key difference from Autumn is that this display utilizes two different types of substrate. In the back sections, the substrate is a dark plant soil, and the front contains a bright white sand. The combination of the use of driftwood and white sand contrasts well with the plants. The sand in the foreground provides a sense of "openness" and depth that otherwise would have been hidden. 

The plants utilized in this layout all have a Southeast Asian origin. The main plant to be emphasized are the ferns that are attached to the driftwood. This was an uncommon java fern from the Philippines. It tends to grow much smaller and much more compact than its more common cousin strain. This is one important reason why this plant was selected specifically for this layout, and that is to stay proportional to the body of water used. The proportion of plant size to aquarium size creates a depth perception that adds to the aesthetic of this display. 

8 Gallon 2008