Superb Scape - Full Interview And Some Setup Pictures

[SuperColey1]

I sent Llj a picture of this scape the moment I saw it. Was just spectacular in my eyes. Here is an interview with the aquascaper - Héctor Baca - from Mexico and some good shots of how he put it together. Good for all of us to see and learn just what goes into creating a scape like this.

http/www.aquascapingworld.com/forum/aquascape-month/3472-september-2010-aquascape-month-sky-cliff.html

AC

 

[PDSimon]

Stunning scape

 

[stevereade]

Awesome

 

[BackToTheFishes]

speechless!!!!!!!

 

[ian]

good looking tank, this was the one we were critiquing at you house the other day...then we looked at a tank with some trees, and then some more trees at another angle

 

[fluffycabbage]

wow!

 

[Verminator89]

Truely magnificent. One day i would love to own a tank scaped like this.

 

[stevereade]

Your not alone there

 

[lljdma06]

Thank you for sharing this AC, I was inspired by this scape too. Great to see scapes from across the pond, huh? Latinos know a lot about making beautiful things and this is no exception.

What I really like was the very clever use of native materials. HC, I bet, grows in Mexico. It grows in FL too, aren't I lucky? And the rocks. It makes the scape easier to design if materials are readily available. Also, the idea of letting the HC "go wild". I know it's not really "wild", but that he didn't butcher it to death and let it trail.. IMO, that is what makes the scape really, really stand out. Finally, the selection of Boraras for the fauna. Makes the tank look absolutely massive. Great fish choice. So many scapes are ruined IMO by stupid fish choices.

Shame it only ranked #80. It is more innovative than other scapes.

llj

 

[Biulu]

Remember, when you got this scape llj? I thought he would have used vulcanic rock because of its availability in Mex and also the good grip plants can get on it, as it is so rough and full of little holes. I definitively need to get into contact with him as I have never seen boraras here, so far... HOw could you tell it were boraras though? The fish in the picture are too small for me to make out more than saying it is a shoaling fish.

The same with eleocharis and the mosses. There is only java moss to be had here... Since tropica has stopped importing, I really wouldn't know where he gets these plants from.

It is also amazing how Mexicans immediately see opportunities to commercialise things... I hope he will do well and really extend the hobby over here. This will only be good for everybody involved.

 

[SuperColey1]

Latinos. Now you've got me going. lol

It is quite true actualy. We are seeing many Mexicans coming through. Also some from Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Chile. The S Americans are making a charge into this hobby right now.

Quite strange because the more established countries are falling away a little during the financial decline.

Biulu - Check out how many members commenting on that thread are from Mexico. Seems you're in the right place at the mo

AC

 

[Biulu]

That is right! We have one advantage though: fish are considerably cheaper than in the west or north America. Here I buy 1 congo tetra for 1.20 USD! Not to talk about the smaller fish that come between 0.20 and 0.80 USD/each. And so are the tanks. My bowfront (180 litres/46 g) in glass cost me 100 USD. We don't have all the fancy filters though... Fluval is the only one you get here and only the cheaper versions for smaller tanks. I imported my filter from the US through a friend with a post box there. Only recently we are able to get plant tubes, but only the T8.

The only setback we have had is the fact that tropica is no longer importing and that is really restricting our plant choice. Plants that are easily available are the local ones: Hygrophila, alternanthera, bacopa etc. But crypts is already becoming a problem and if you find them they cost you easily 10 USD for a small algae infested plant.

I noticed that Hector is from Mexico city (DF as we call it here). I will try to contact him directly to find out where he sources his plants. Although it is a 6 hrs ride away for me, this is where I normally go to get plants and fish.

 

[ian]

wow thats expensive for a small crypt, Lu! I can see a gap in the market, start propergating your own.

 

[lljdma06]

HOw could you tell it were boraras though? The fish in the picture are too small for me to make out more than saying it is a shoaling fish.

I kept the species, I think it is boraras uropthalmoides (sp) if I'm not mistaken. I think others were suprised I knew what fish it was too.

You really should get in contact with him.

Biulu, can you access an online list of Mexican invasive plant species, especially aquatics? I bet you can find some nice species in that list. They would probably be growing naturally in waterways. I just picked up the hydrocotyle from my front lawn.

llj

 

[Biulu]

Well, knowing that Hector lives in Mexico city, he must have travelled a long way to get to clean waterbodies... And where I live, most streams are seasonal because of the long drought.