Meet Mahen Adaranthe

Mahen Adaranthe is a mechanical engineer by profession — but it's nature, not engineering, that has truly shaped who he is. He grew up in the Malenadu region of Karnataka, a landscape of dense forests, flowing streams, and remarkable biodiversity, and that early immersion left a lasting mark on him.

By The Weekend Aquarist

Estimated read time: 4–5 minutes

His aquarium journey began the way many great obsessions do: with a childhood gift. His father handed him his first aquarium, and what looked like a simple present quietly became a 25-year passion — one that has taken him from goldfish and angelfish all the way to Arowanas, Oscars, and demanding species like Discus.

From Fishkeeping to Nature Aquariums

For the past six years, Mahen's focus has shifted toward planted aquariums — what's often called the "nature aquarium" style. To sharpen his craft, he completed the Level-A Aquascaping Program at Aqua Design Amano (ADA), an experience he describes as transformative, teaching him to recreate natural ecosystems underwater with real precision and artistic intent.

"Planted aquariums are where science meets art — where every element works together to create a balanced, living system."

From Sketch to Stream

Mahen's current tank draws its inspiration from backwaters back home — the kind of place where submerged wood emerges naturally from still water, creating a raw, untouched look he wanted to bring indoors. The centerpiece is driftwood he personally collected from a stream in his native region, then carefully cut and reshaped to match a concept he'd first worked out on paper.

That hand-drawn concept became the blueprint for the entire build. Seiryu rocks complete the hardscape, joined with the driftwood to form a stable, cohesive base — and the planting was chosen just as deliberately, favouring species that keep the look natural without demanding constant intervention. Life was added just as thoughtfully. Discus anchor the tank as the centerpiece species, with Gouramis and Rams adding character and movement, and schooling Neon Tetras bringing colour to the water column. Lower down, a cleanup and grazing crew rounds things out — every species chosen, in Mahen's words, not just for beauty, but for how it fits into the ecosystem.

What This Hobby Means to Me

For Mahen, the tank has become something closer to identity than hobby — a source of calm after a busy day, and increasingly, something he shares with his daughter. Watching her sit fascinated in front of the glass, he says, brings back the same curiosity and wonder that started his own journey decades ago.

A hobby that began with a gift from his father is quietly becoming a gift he's passing on to the next generation.

Baby's Day Out

That connection came full circle in an unexpected way. For Mahen's daughter Shreshta, the underwater world has always been fascinating — the family's aquarium at home is somewhere she watches daily, following the fish as they glide, pause, and disappear behind the plants. To her, it isn't just a tank of water — it's a living window into another world. One quiet afternoon, that fascination found a new target. While Mahen was reading through The Weekend Aquarist, a vivid photograph caught Shreshta's eye from across the room — a brightly coloured fish with glowing orange fins and an intense, watchful gaze. The article identified it as Channa amphibeus, a species rediscovered after 85 years. To Shreshta, still crawling closer for a better look, it was simply another beautiful fish.

Days later, the family visited Aquarium Paradise, a public aquarium, expecting nothing more than a pleasant outing. But something extraordinary was waiting behind the glass. Walking past the tanks, there it was — the very same creature from the magazine. The same distinctive shape, the same fiery fins. Only this time, it was alive, swimming slowly just inches from the glass, creating a quiet exchange between a tiny observer and a rediscovered survivor of nature. For Mahen, it felt like witnessing a piece of history. For Shreshta, it was simply a familiar wonder — a fish she already half-recognised, now made real.

A story that began with curiosity, continued with recognition, and became a memory — the day a picture came alive.

Read the full story in The Weekend Aquarist

The complete feature in our March 2026 issue includes Mahen's full stocking list — down to the shrimp and snails rounding out the bottom of the tank — the technical setup behind the aquascape, and the original feature on Channa amphibeus, "Lost & Found After 85 Years," that first caught Shreshta's eye.

👉Buy this issue or subscribe to The Weekend Aquarist to experience the complete tribute.