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very informative writeup.

didn't know how i missed this topic , this is worth keeping as sticky

Search for a reference: That may be a nature photograph, other form of art, or an other tank.
I would always prefer a strong reference and to create the same inside the tank, merging with own ideas. Why these reference? Because these are always become a challenge to work a close and perfect as possible, hence lots of fun. We have discussed briefly how to do that here http://aquapetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=2627&start=50

Idea of Hardscape: What are the material can be used and a lengthy search of the same.
This is again very interesting part of the layout development. I always find hardscape material collected with a particular intention(making a scape) and when found my tank is ready with that particular choice, its an awesome satisfaction, you believe me. But its lots of hardwork in selecting the perfect material and developing as a manageable part of the scape. I see texture, color, stable composition of the material and very important size variation. Will try to make another post on how we select hardscaping material from nature and use it inside tank.

Selection of plants: Selecting the best possible plants as per experience, and hardy/easy.
I do it with minimum risk...nothing more to say as I have not tried more plants to share something interesting, but I prefer easy plants.

Fixing: Fixing the them inside the tank.\
Few journals can explain this part.

Selecting Hardscape Material: A small note that I try to follow when I collect rocks from LFS or Natural Habitat for Scaping.
Water safe: Try to avoid whitish rocks, better test it with toilet acid before collecting them from nature.
Types: Its always suggested to collect a single kind of rocks for a particular scape...which give more natural feel.
Texture: Any good texture with thin cutting and layers expected. Bigger rocks more texture preffered.
Sizes: Its the most common mistake we do when we collect rocks from nature, "all are of same sizes". I follow a simple rule, Big rock for focal point, and other supporting rocks to the size of 2/3 and 1/3 of the focal, if not getting of such just left the rock there...no use.
Shape: Avoid flat rocks as much as possible. River rocks are mostly flat shape(2D prominent), so maximum not so good for scaping.
Color: Dark colors are best.

Now goes pics of some tanks of mine over the years:
Skewed scapes
Right dominated rock (tank size 18 inch cube) Right dominated driftwood based (tank size 30X18X18) Symmetric
Nano: the branches dominating the scape (18X18X18) Moderately high mainatinance planted (48X18X18) (a detailed journal of this is available i this forum)
Low maintenance 4 feeter (48X24X24) My current rockscape
This is reasonably symmetric too (50X21X21) Next will be description of my attempted biotopes!

Nice showcase Dada

Nice Aquariums, waiting for next...

beautiful tanks dada, where are the other tanks???

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Part III: Biotopes

Lately ‘biotopes’ have caught our imagination, and ‘yours truly’ was not spared of this fever too. In my mind, I try and make distinctions between a ‘biotope’ and a ‘biotope lookalike’. To me, a biotope should have the basic structure of what the ‘actual biotope’ has and a biotope look alike will look like one, but some of the key ingredients may be artificial/or atleast not from that biotope. I sincerely, think it is almost impossible to replicate any biotope with accuracy, we differ in shades…from lookalike to attempted biotope.
I have attempted the following biotopes so far:
(a) Black water
(b) Tanganikyan
© Bengal pond
(d) Congo
I studied about them, but only a bit, and admittedly superficially! For I do not think there is any uniform South American biotope as South America is itself bigger than India! And thus, to say Indian biotope or even a Bengal pond is vague. Nonetheless, me like many others, I have knowingly committed the error.
(a) Black water:. For my 6 feeter BW tank, the look simulates that of flooded plains (post monsoon Amazon). But apart from that, there is hardly any biotope about it! Indian Almond Leaves, Lemon tree branches, Nile Sand!
The BW for me is perhaps the easiest to maintain. A stable water parameter, low lights and timely source of Indian Almond Leaves. I develop a rough idea about what kind of fishes it will have. It certainly makes it easier that no plants will be there as the light will be extremely low. I do however, experiment with floating plants. (b) Tangs: This was just an assemble of rocks, black sand and tangs ©Bengal ponds (pukur paar) was more like a paludarium, where I used moss t create a pond edge, and used Darios. Again this had an artificial background and construction sand (d) The Congo biotope was more an haphazard attempt to put Anubias and drifts. The point I am trying to make is, once creating a biotope, we will know deep inside, that it won’t probably be half as consistent as the original, the aim is how close does it look! However, things that we can do is certainly make sure that we put fishes and plants that are fom the same water bodies.
My latest venture at sundarbans biotope will be my most authentic attempt till date, where apart from the glass tank, everything I plan is from Sundarbans! The journal can be followed at: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3127