Julian Marsh has been building planted aquariums for two decades, from shallow iwagumi bowls to room-dominating jungle tanks. He writes Moss & Minnow’s guides to aquascaping styles, composition, and planted-tank design — where a glass box becomes a landscape.

He teaches composition through principles, not products: where the eye should rest, how negative space works, what a single stone is doing in the frame. Gear comes later, if it comes up at all.

He’s comfortable telling you a tank needs six weeks to settle — and that the waiting is part of the craft.

“Before you place the first stone, decide where the eye should rest. Every rock after that is either helping or arguing.”