The word Ryoboku, which can be translated into English “driftwood”, represents aquariums setup with woods. The layout criteria are similar to the Iwagumi style as the uniform positioning of the pieces and homogeneous woods types. Takashi Amano however expects three types of compositions:
Central: The woods are positioned inside a immaginary triangle with the summit oriented up, central composition to give stability and balance to the layout.
Lateral: Woods are positioned on one side and oriented on the center, side composition to give instability and dynamism to the layout.
“V” form: The woods are positioned on both sides leaving a central space, the composition with V form give a great deal of depth to the layout.
In the Ryoboku setups, though it is a subjective thing and depends on your choice, Takashi Amano always uses a few species of epiphytic plants that can then be attached to the woods, often mixing them together: Microsorium, Anubias and Bolbitis, and various types of mosses.
The purpose of Ryoboku setup is to represent parts of forests or forests grown naturally, so you can place internal wood that coming out of the surface of the water tank and if you want you can combine the two techniques using rocks, woods and vegetation.
Ryoboku
THIS STYLE FOCUSES ON THE FLOW OF THE WOOD. AS THE PLANTS GROW, THE FOUNDATION STONES SHOULD BECOME SUBDUED. WE RECOMMEND LAVE STONE FOR THIS TYPE OF SCAPE. LAVA STONE HAS MINIMAL TEXTURE AND PLANTS WILL READILY ROOT INTO IT. ALTHOUGH IT IS COMMON TO USE MOSS, WE SUGGEST USING MOSS SPARINGLY AND TO ACCENT DETAILS OR SHADOW. AS THE WOOD AGES, WE ENJOY THE TEXTURE AND DETAIL OF WOOD IN THIS SCAPE. AND DO NOT WANT IT OBSCURED BY AN EXCESS OF MOSS.
WE HAVE FOUND THE BEST SIZES FOR THIS TYPE OF SCAPE ARE AQUARIUMS 10-30 GALLON AND DO NOT RECOMMEND CUBES. THIS SCAPE REQUIRES LARGER SIZED WOOD SHAPED VERY SPECIFICALLY. WE MAY HAVE TO CONSTRUCT, CARVE, OR ORDER FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES TO FIND THE RIGHT WOOD FOR YOU. THIS MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TIME AND COST. LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR SCAPE. WE WILL WORK WITH YOU AND CHOOSE THE BEST HARDSCAPE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR LAYOUT WE RECOMMEND A TWINSTAR S OR E SERIES, ONF LIGHTS, OR UNS TITAN 1 FOR THIS SCAPE DEPENDING ON PLANT SELECTION. FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT WE RECOMMEND BLACK LAVA STONE. WE ARE ABLE TO CURE WOOD FOR YOU, TO AVOID MOLD OUTBREAKS IN YOUR NEW SCAPE.
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