An aquascape is defined as “an arrangement of elements (such as plants and rocks) in an aquarium intended to create the appearance of a natural aquatic environment”. I think creating an aquascape, or “gardening under water,” is one component of creating a reef habitat, as introducing, growing, and caring for corals, inverts, bacteria, beneficial algae, etc. are all part of creating a healthy reef habitat for fish. Also, anything a hobbyist creates is not going to really be anything like an ocean reef, given the tank size constraints of the average hobbyist, amongst other things.
Not all aquascapes are a NSA, as a NSA is a style of aquascape. I agree that some NSAs are too minimalist for fish to be happy. However, I’ve also seen some NSAs that have lots of caves, tunnels, arches, holes, nooks, and crannies for fish to hide, swim through, and thrive, etc. An NSA is a way to incorporate negative space, which enables better flow throughout the tank to remove waste, which in turn creates a healthier environment for the fish. It can serve as an alternative to stacking rocks, and in turn promotes the opportunity to create more intricate caves, tunnels, arches, holes, nooks, and crannies for your fish to explore and thrive. In my opinion, it doesn’t have to be super open and minimalist to be an NSA.
I’m not saying NSA is for everyone or the best option. Just saying I don’t think they’re all designed in a way that isn’t beneficial for fish. And of course, there are many other types of aquascapes other than NSA to create a healthy habitat for fish.
