Pavol's Jungle Canyon

By :horizon aquatics 0 comments

A Jungle Canyon Brought to Life

Inspired by the dramatic beauty of a natural canyon, Pavol set out to recreate that sense of scale, erosion, and timelessness within the confined dimensions of an aquarium. Central to his vision were the towering, weathered cliffs, constructed using Pagoda stone. Its rich, orange tones echo the sunbaked hues of canyon walls, while the natural striations and fine textures of the rock added layers of depth and realism. Careful placement, including intentional overhangs and angled formations, helped evoke the feeling of ancient geological formations shaped by wind and water over millennia.

To complement the stone, Redmoor root wood (Spider wood) was chosen and arranged to mimic the gnarled trees and roots that often cling to cliff edges and snake their way through rocky ravines. These elements give the aquascape an aged, grounded feel—like nature slowly reclaiming the stone.

The planting is intentionally restrained yet impactful. In the background, light and feathery stems of Pogostemon erectus and Rotala bangladesh provide vertical contrast. Bolbitis heudelotii and Trident fern adorn the wood like moss-covered branches in a shaded forest, while hardy Anubias and Bucephalandra varieties nestle into the rock crevices. The foreground, with its sandy substrate, is gently dotted with creeping species like Monte Carlo, Eleocharis (Hairgrass), and Eriocaulon cinereum, echoing the sparse vegetation you would find.

Together, these elements form a forest canyon-style aquascape, where hardscape takes centre stage, and each detail invites the viewer deeper into a miniature world shaped by time and nature.

What is a Competition-Style Aquascape?

A competition-style aquascape is a meticulously designed planted aquarium layout, often created for entry into prestigious contests like the IAPLC (International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest). These aquariums go beyond beauty — they are precision-crafted to meet both artistic and technical criteria.

Each layout is built using principles of perspective, depth, balance, and focal points, forming naturalistic scenes inspired by real-world landscapes such as mountains, forests, or river valleys.

Planting is done strategically and trimmed carefully to enhance the sense of scale and harmony, while the hardscape — the rocks and wood — provides the structure and flow of the design. Composition techniques such as the golden ratio or rule of thirds are often used to guide the viewer’s eye naturally through the scene.

These tanks not only express creativity but also technical mastery, often requiring high lighting, CO₂ injection, and precise plant maintenance to achieve their final polished form.

Equipment Breakdown

ADA 90P - £529.00
Lighting – Skylight Hyperspot - £569.00
Filter – Oase Biomaster Thermo 850 - £389.99

CO2 System

CO₂ Art Pro-SE Regulator Kit with added accessories

Drop checker
In tank diffuser
Non return valve
1.5kg CO2 bottle

Prices for Co2 systems start from £210 there are many different options to choose from.

Full cost of equipment is: £1,697.99 (including the CO₂ system at £210)
Prices mentioned on this blog are posted on 10/10/2025 and could increase over time, please only use prices as a rough guideline, see website for exact current prices.