Aquascaping, interview with Rose Danford-Phillips

In this interview with Matthew Reeve, Rose Danford-Phillips shares some of her insights and tips on aquascaping and growing aquatic ferns. Matthew’s own journey into growing tropical ferns started as a teenager when he developed a deep interest in aquarium plants. Rose and Matthew met in July during the BPS and Carnivorous Plant Society Show at RHS Wisley, where Matthew was displaying some aquatic ferns.

What exactly is aquascaping?

Aquascaping is underwater gardening in a glass box, with the aim of creating a beautiful miniature aquatic landscape. It’s a really nice aquarium where you take inspiration from nature and recreate it with sands, soils, wood, rocks and lots of plants. It’s a big learning curve at the start, but if you’re already green-fingered then you’re already halfway there, as if you focus on growing healthy plants, the aquarium will flourish and the fish will thrive.

What sparked your interest in aquascaping?

In 2020 when we were all spending a lot of time inside, I realised I really needed a connection with nature to keep me grounded. I started watching YouTube videos of people’s aquariums which I found really relaxing. I remembered that as a young child my dad had kept an aquarium, and how fun it had been.

Soon, I found myself researching how I could make my own, and then set my first one up cheaply with all second-hand equipment. At first I focused on growing healthy plants only as a small collection, but very quickly I got into the aquascaping side of things—arranging everything beautifully as you would in a garden, on small scale. I then joined the UK Aquatic Plant Society (ukaps.org) which is full of useful information and a brilliant community, which really

Is your focus on the fish or the plants?

My focus is to create a thriving aquatic garden full of ‘wildlife’. I consider it an ecosystem approach, where fish and plants are equally important. As sentient creatures it is important that I design the aquarium with the needs of the fish in mind, and essential to the needs of the fish are healthy plants.

We met at the fern and carnivorous plant show at RHS Wisley in July, do you have a particular interest in ferns?

My dad is a trained gardener with a fascination with ferns and a lovely collection, and so of course is a member of the BPS. I grow a lot of aquatic ferns and have come to love them, and this has got me more interested in other ferns too. I was lured to the show with his suggestion that there could be some nice terrestrial ferns there which I could grow just above the waterline of my aquariums. Many aquatic plants grow emergently out of the water, but all of mine have been decimated by aphids, so I was looking

for ferns which wouldn’t mind being perched above an aquarium and would be immune to the aphid’s vampiric nature. It was an unexpected treat to see some aquarium representation at the show and meet you!

Which species of ferns have you used in your aquascapes?

I have used quite a few different ferns in my aquascapes. The ferns I use the most are the epiphytes: Microsorum pteropus (commonly known as ‘Java Fern’, this fern has recently moved into the genus Leptochilus), including the varieties ‘Trident’, ‘Sunburst’, ‘Black Forest’ and ‘Petit’, as well as Bolbitis heudelotii. Many more unusual varieties of Bolbitis exist which are hard to come by. I also have kept Marsilea (which grows happily

on the bottom of the tank and makes a lawn which looks like clover), several types of the floating ferns, Salvinia and Azolla, as well as the only filmy fern I’ve come across so far, Crepidomanes sp. ‘Auriculatum’.

Can you grow ferns aquatically long term?

Yes, ferns are one of the best long-term aquatic plants to grow. They grow more slowly than other aquatic plants, but they last much longer and are stable and reliable. Unlike many aquarium plants they are unfussy and easy to grow in many different waters, temperatures and light levels, and their dense growth makes for great fish habitat.

What are their basic aquatic requirements?

Aquatic ferns basic requirements are in line with all aquatic plants—an aquarium full of water (can be tap, Reverse Osmosis filtered or a mixture), some water flow, and some light (but not too much, generally I run my lights at 50% for aquatic ferns), and a bit of fertiliser too. They will grow in unheated and heated aquariums in the UK, so you can keep them with a wide variety of fish, snails and shrimp. Some aquatic ferns float so need nothing else, some are epiphytes so grow best tied or glued to wood, and some need ‘aquasoil’ at the bottom of the aquarium to nourish their roots.

My water is very hard, is it better to use rainwater?

When growing aquatic ferns you generally don’t need to worry about the hardness of the water. They have grown well for me in hard London tap water and in soft rainwater. Personally I like to use soft water because I love tropical fish from soft-water areas, and they do better in water similar to their origin.

Do you use fertiliser? Would you recommend any particular brands?

Yes, if you grow aquatic plants it’s important to add fertiliser. I use TNC Complete fertiliser in my aquariums.

What about heating and lighting?

Aquatic ferns are unfussy about heating and lighting. I keep my tropical aquariums at 24 °C on average, and I also have grown them without a heater. Any aquarium heater will do, my favourite ones are built into an external filter so the equipment is hidden. As ferns are slow-growing, it is better to grow them in low light so algae doesn’t grow on their leaves.

Aquarium lights come in many many forms, and are often quite expensive. I have grown ferns well with a generic cheap white grow light, but if you want something more special that brings out the colours of the plants and fish it’s best to go to a specialist aquascaping shop like aquariumgardens.co.uk, riverwoodaquatics.co.uk, or

horizonaquatics.co.uk. I also recommend buying lights second-hand on

eBay and UKAPS.

Is filtering or aerating the water important?

Yes, filtering the water is important. Think of the aquarium filter like your heart, kidneys and lungs—pumping water full of life-giving beneficial dissolved nutrients around your body to cells, and at the same time sucking water full of waste into the filter which can be consumed. It also disturbs the water’s surface, allowing for greater oxygen in the

water column.

Are you a fan of using CO2 injection in your planted aquariums?

Using CO2 injection in aquascaping is called ‘high tech’, and not using it is called ‘low tech’. When you add CO2, you also need to add more fertiliser, use a more powerful light, and change more water weekly to account for the accelerated growth. Plants grown with this ‘high tech’ method are generally bigger, greener, lusher, and grow much faster. Some plants can only be grown with the ‘high tech’ method, but the plants I like to grow (ferns, waterlilies, mosses, grasses, emergent and floating plants) don’t need CO2 to grow well, so I don’t bother. The ‘high tech’ method requires more expense on equipment, energy and maintenance, and as I have five aquariums it is too much work. It is very popular though, and worth trying once you have the basics down.

Any tips for keeping algae under control?

To keep algae under control the best thing you can do is start with very low light, and slowly increase to a medium amount of light (which is generally 60% power on an aquarium light). Aquariums don’t need to be brightly lit for the plants to grow well, and bright light will cause algae. You can also reduce algae by ensuring you have good water flow, do regular water changes and trim plants.

What is your inspiration for creating different aquascapes? Would you describe them as biotopes?

My inspiration comes from many places, but primarily from nature—streams, ponds and small rivers, both those I see at home, and of the tropical places that the plants and fish come from. Recently my inspiration was visiting Great Dixter and seeing the beautiful way they mix plants in borders. I am not interested in only using plants from specific locations, I go with what looks good together to me, and have fun with it, so my

aquariums aren’t biotopes (where everything is place-specific).

Although I don’t create true biotopes, another big inspiration comes from the fish I keep—what does their natural habitat look like, and how can I recreate that and encourage natural behaviour in their aquarium? Luckily, many fish come from places with a lot of plants! You can find videos of natural habitats on YouTube, and I highly recommend the ‘Water Worlds’ episode of The Green Planet on the BBC. I also keep in mind how much work I want to do—some plants are more difficult and more effort to keep (for example they require Reverse Osmosis filtered water or a ‘high tech’ setup). I used to keep these more high-maintenance plants, but it took away from the relaxation I get from my aquariums. Finally I look at people’s journals on UKAPS, and on Instagram where many aquascapers post their tanks, and how their aquariums are developing. There is an

enormous amount of creativity around, it’s easy to get inspired!

Do they require much maintenance?

It depends! For one medium-sized aquarium (say, 60 l) the weekly maintenance can easily fit into an hour at the weekend or an evening. This includes a water change, cleaning the glass and trimming plants. You also need to feed your fish daily. When you first set up an aquarium it can be more work, maybe two hours a week, as you need to do bigger water changes and more cleanings while the tank is unstable. With time, the

plants and beneficial bacteria establish and the aquarium becomes stable, and so you can do less. It also depends on your aim—what plants do you want to grow, and how difficult they are. If you begin with ferns, it will be an easy and enjoyable start. Even though it does take some effort, for me the benefits of an aquarium are enormous and totally worth it. It’s extremely satisfying and relaxing to watch my beautiful little slices of the world thrive. I actually enjoy doing maintenance on my tanks, it’s quite therapeutic, so it doesn’t feel like wasted time.

Any tips for buying aquatic ferns?

You can find aquatic ferns at many aquarium shops, particularly varieties of Microsorum and Bolbitis. For more unusual plants, I like to go to Wildwoods World of Water in Enfield or I look online at shops and on forums. Often fellow hobbyists have great plants for sale. Since Brexit, it’s been much harder to find more unusual aquatic ferns, so if I find them, I buy them!

How do you plant the ferns in the aquascapes? I can see many are growing as epiphytes.

My favourite aquatic ferns are epiphytes, which don’t require a nutritious soil, and grow best attached (by thread or glue) to wood or even rocks in the aquarium. This makes them extremely simple to grow, and means that they can be placed at any height in the aquarium allowing for interesting arrangements. A simple but beautiful aquascape can be made with a thin layer of sand and a piece of aquarium wood which reaches the top of the aquarium. Tie several epiphytic aquatic ferns to the wood at different heights, and you’re done!

What’s the next ‘big thing’ in aquascaping?

The next big thing in aquascaping is marine aquariums where seaweed (or macroalgae) is grown to create a saltwater garden. Macroalgae are fascinating, alien plants, grown very easily, and clean the water like freshwater aquatic plants too, so are really useful. They’re not only beautiful, they also make a marine aquarium cheaper and easier to manage. I think fern lovers would like macroalgae, Caulerpa sp. particularly has some similar forms. I set up a macroalgae marine tank this summer, and it’s completely enthralling! Once you have one aquarium with one ecosystem, it’s quite difficult to stop yourself from getting another…

What are your top tips for getting started?

Start with some research—go on YouTube and search for aquascaping videos (the videos that got my hooked are by @foo_the_flowerhorn on YouTube, very relaxing), go on the ukaps.org (I recommend starting in the ‘Featured Journals’ section which is full of inspiration) and just see if it interests you. If you find yourself imagining what you would do, and where it could fit in your home, then you’re ready for the next step… Take the

plunge, and learn as you go! Make a list of everything you’re interested in and make a little plan. You can use seriouslyfish.com to work out what the requirements of different fish are. Remember you don’t need fish for the first month at least, so focus first on growing healthy plants, and you’ll be fine. The hobby can be expensive, but there’s nothing wrong with starting small, or with second-hand equipment. I recommend beginners start with an aquarium that’s 60 cm long and approx 60 l of water—it’s small enough to manage, but big enough that you can buy a good range of plants

and aquariums.

Finally, what’s your favourite aquatic fern species?

My favourite aquatic fern species is a classic Microsorum ‘Trident’. It’s easily available, it’s got a beautiful form appropriate for small and large aquariums, and it grows strongly in even basic set-ups. A slightly more unusual favourite fern is Microsorum ‘Sunrise’ which has a lovely lime-green serrated frond, which is unusual in aquatic plants. A beautiful aquatic fern I would love to keep, but haven’t been able to source yet is the filmy fern Crepidomanes malabaricum (C. malabaricum is a synonym of C. intramarginale). It’s on my bucket list, and I think it’ll become a favourite when I finally get my hands on it!

ROSE DANFORD-PHILLIPS

Rose is a designer from London, and has been aquascaping since 2020, which quickly led her to develop a passion for aquatic ferns. She recently rescaped the South American exhibit at the Horniman Museum Aquarium with a group of fellow London aquarists.