I have kept aquariums since I was very young. What began as a little tank with guppies grew into a lasting fascination with life beneath the surface.
Even a small aquarium opens a window onto another world. There is always something to notice: a fish moving between the leaves, a new shoot on a plant or the changing play of light in the water.
From a small tank to an underwater garden
Over time, my aquariums became larger. One was a freshwater tank 160 cm long, with an underwater garden. Plants gave the space its shape, colour and depth, turning an aquarium into a landscape that could grow and change.
That is what appeals to me about aquascaping: bringing a living composition together. There is a creative side to arranging the scene, and a patient side to looking after it. You can make a plan, but then you have to give the aquarium time.
A different world: the marine aquarium
Later, I even kept a marine aquarium with live rock and anemones. It brought a different atmosphere: the forms of the rock, the movement of the anemones and the feeling of having a little piece of the sea at home.
A hobby with its own pace
For me, an aquarium is particularly calming. Looking after it asks for attention, but watching it invites me to slow down. There is no need for something spectacular to happen. Simply sitting quietly and observing that small underwater world is a pleasure in itself.
The photographs illustrate this introduction; they are not photographs of my own aquariums. Image credits and licences appear beneath each photograph.