Have you ever stood in front of a perfect underwater landscape in an aquarium, as if it were a work of art? Behind the apparent simplicity of such beauty lie years of experience, a subtle understanding of nature, and sophisticated technology. One of the masters who has turned the creation of such living pictures into a conscious craft is Yuri Zhupanov.
His approach to aquascaping is not just about arranging rocks and plants. It is a whole philosophy, where every detail, from the shape of a driftwood to the power of light, serves a common harmonious idea. In this article, we will not just admire the finished works. We will try to figure out how to recreate such a miracle with our own hands.
We will go all the way together — from the very first idea and sketch on paper to choosing the right equipment and the finer points of care. You will learn what Yuri focuses on, how he achieves balance in his small underwater world, and what practical techniques even a beginner can learn.
Idea and hard scape
This is my third aquarium in my entire life. The first two were 10 and 12 liters. You understand that you can't really get going with that kind of volume.
The more I got into aquascaping, the more obsessive I became about a serious project. The turning point was a trip to Albania.
In Albania, I saw many beautiful landscapes and was greatly inspired to create an aquascape.
The decision to make a new aquarium came to me during a trip, and I began collecting various stones and driftwood. I brought about half of all the decorations from Albania.
Upon arrival, I didn't waste any time — I bought an aquarium, purchased some more decorations, and started gluing the hardscape.
The hardscape is a gorge intertwined with roots and snags.
All decorations are glued together. I used super glue and cotton wool. I stuck the cotton wool between two decorations and soaked it with super glue. It holds very well.
I made different levels and terraces out of stones and driftwood, using about 10 tubes of superglue to stick everything together. The hardscape was the most time-consuming part, taking me about a month to complete in the evenings.
Thanks to the reliable adhesive, the stones hold well and don't crumble down.
Equipment
In this project, I tried to do as much as possible with my own hands.
Is it worth it? Of course not. While I was designing everything, I could have earned enough to buy branded equipment from ADA.
Is it worth it? Definitely yes! For me, aquarium keeping is a hobby for the soul, something like meditation. I get great pleasure when I see the things I have created working exactly as I intended.
Aquarium design
Before that, I had two aquariums, 10 and 12 liters. The first one housed an African spadefoot toad, and the second one had cherry shrimp and several nano fish. In the new project, I wanted to combine fish, shrimp, and a frog in one aquarium. Since the frog is a predator, it was decided to glue a glass partition into the aquarium, thereby dividing the aquarium into two parts.
There is also glass covering the right side of the aquarium to prevent the frog from jumping out.
There are holes in the partition (at the bottom and back wall) for water circulation between the two parts of the aquarium.
Filtration
The external filter is made from a 2.5 liter jar. I made two large and one small hole in the lid. I screwed garden fittings into the large holes, threaded a wire through the small one, and filled everything with aquarium sealant. Silicone seals well, but it can come off under mechanical stress. For reliability, I poured epoxy resin over everything. The result is a super lid that can be screwed onto any jar.
I use sponges and ceramic rings as filler.
The pump is located at the top of the jar and pushes water into the aquarium. Since the design is airtight, negative pressure is created in the jar and water from the aquarium flows through the second tube to the bottom of the jar, passes through the fillers and enters the pump, which pushes the water into the aquarium. Well, you get the idea, right?
The inlet and outlet of the external filter are located on different sides of the partition in the aquarium. Since there are holes in the partition at the bottom of the aquarium, the water passes through a thick layer of soil, which provides additional biological filtration.
To improve the flow and provide mechanical filtration, I decided to install an internal filter with a fine-pored sponge on the right side of the aquarium.
Lighting
I also made the lamp myself. It consists of two 9W LED strips, a wire box is used as the body, and several aluminum tubes from an old cabinet are used as legs. I connected everything, glued it together, and painted it. The wires are completely invisible as they run inside the aluminum tubes.
The lamp turned out well. The light is of medium brightness, with a total power of ≈ 1300 lm, but this is more than enough for this aquarium due to the high hardscape and shallow depth. All light-loving plants are located approximately 10-15 cm from the water surface.
The aquarium also has backlighting, which makes the landscape look “endless.”
I took a translucent window film and stuck it on the back wall. Behind the film, I placed an LED strip that shines upwards. Behind the LED strip, at an angle, there is a white plexiglass sheet that reflects light into the aquarium.
Lighting regime
Thanks to the backlighting and two separate timers on the lights, I created a sunrise/sunset effect in the aquarium. At 1:30 p.m., the backlight turns on, imitating the sun rising above the horizon, at 2:00 p.m. the main light turns on and stays on until 10:00 p.m., and at 10:30 p.m. the backlight turns off.
Thus, the daylight hours in the aquarium are 9 hours.
This is what dawn looks like in the aquarium.
Carbon dioxide supply
CO2 is supplied using a system based on soda and citric acid, which I designed myself. The reagents last for about a month and a half. Of all the things I've done myself, this system is the only thing I regret. I should have bought a cylinder, which I will do soon.
I received a defective pressure gauge that leaked carbon dioxide. Not much, but the pressure kept dropping. After the second refill of reagents, the lids from Aliexpress cracked badly. It's a good thing I noticed this, otherwise there would have been a disaster. I had to order new lids from a person who casts them himself, with a plastic thickness of 5 mm.
In general, I strongly advise against assembling homemade Co2 systems based on citric acid, and even more so with moonshine. There is no pleasure in it, and the reliability leaves much to be desired.
Yuri Zhupanov's aquascape is not just an underwater landscape, but an art form where nature, attention to detail, and patience work together. He shows how to create a living corner of beauty in your home aquarium by thinking through the design, selecting plants and equipment, and doing everything yourself, even if you are not a professional. The main thing is to start simple, take it step by step, and enjoy the process, not just the result.
Starting and maintaining the aquarium
It took about three months from the start of the project to filling the aquarium with water.
Raising fry is the most crucial stage. Their first food will be live dust, infusoria, or special ready-made feed for young fish. Clean water and regular but very careful feeding will help the little ones grow and get stronger, becoming your new favorites. How ternetzias reproduce: reproduction in a common aquarium
If you are lucky and tiny fry appear in your general aquarium, the main task is to give them a chance to survive. Adult fish, including the parents, perceive them as food. Dense thickets of small-leaved plants, such as Java moss, where the fry can hide, can help.
Ternetzias can reproduce in an artificial pond. It should be remembered that this is a schooling fish. There must be representatives of both sexes. If a female is about to spawn, she and the potential father must be moved to a separate glass container. The only thing is that everything must be in moderation and balanced. Experts advise preparing for spawning in a separate aquarium tank. However, there are situations when fish begin to reproduce in the aquarium.
Many people wait for the fish to “get pregnant,” but there is an important point here. Ternecia do not get pregnant in the usual sense of the word; they spawn eggs. The female simply becomes noticeably fuller when she is filled with eggs. During this period, the male's fins become brighter and more contrasting. Their dance in the thicket of plants is a sure sign that spawning may begin soon.
Aquarium size for mollies
Without waiting a month after starting the aquarium, I went and bought a single Gyrinocheilus fish. Gyrik cleaned everything to a shine in four days. I know that this fish is not suitable for this volume, but while it is small, it is an excellent helper in the fight against fouling. When it grows a little, I will give it to someone with a larger volume, fortunately there are people who can take it.
The aquarium is now more than three months old, everything is stable, and there are practically no algae. I haven't tested the water parameters since the launch. Every day I add 1.5 ml of Micro+ and 1.5 ml of Macro+ Yermolaev (calculated using the Aquayer app on my phone).
As you can see, anyone can create an aquarium filled with life and harmony, like Yuri Zhupanov's. The main thing is not to rush and follow a well-thought-out plan. Start with an idea, carefully prepare the foundation, and only then move on to the equipment and live plants.
Your aquascape is a living picture that will constantly change. Don't be afraid to experiment and make adjustments. Over time, you will learn to feel the balance in your little underwater world.
The journey from an empty glass box to a lush garden is an exciting one. It requires patience, but the reward is enormous: a piece of living nature in your home, created with your own hands.
