Journal "Solar Fields" - 270L Aquascape

[Bolbi]

Dimensions: 120x50x45cm - 270 liters or 71 gallon
Lighting: Chihiros A1201 x2
Filtration: Oase BioMaster Thermo 600, Eheim 2217
CO2: Pressurised 3 bps - DIY CO2 reactor (connected on Eheim 2217)
Substrate: Lava gravel, ADA Aquasoil Amazonia Light
Hardscape: Dogwood, Red Moor wood, Galapagos rocks
Flora: Glossostigma elatinoides, Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba', Anubias sp. 'Mini Coin', Anubias sp. 'Pangolino',Callicostella prabaktiana, Vesicularia sp. 'Mini Christmas moss', Microsorum sp. 'Dwarf narrow leaf', Nymphaea gardneriana 'Santarem', Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis sp. 'Montevidensis ADA',
Fauna: Crossocheilus oblongus, Caridina multidentata, Clithon corona, Planorbarius corneus (Leopard Ramshorn snails)
Fertilization: Bolbi Plantavit red booster 6ml and Plantavit potassium+ 3ml - daily via Chihiros dosing pump - in frist few weeks, later switching to Plantavit complete
Water change: 50% twice a week (at the moment)

Substrate & Hardscape construction​

First layer, about 50 liters of crushed lava rock. A mosquito net with velcro was used to prevent it from mixing with the soil.

Now it's time to build the hardscape.

Dogwood branches in combination with Galapagos rocks. These rocks are basalt rocks, much heavier than regular lava which makes the wood stable and safe from moving. The branches are secured to the stones using cable ties and additionally glued with a combination of rock wool and super glue.

I use ADA Amazonia Light as a nutrient substrate here. The goal is slower plant growth.

Pieces of Red Moor wood as a detail. They are placed slightly above the substrate to remain visible when the Glossostigma forms a carpet.

Day 1 - Planting​

Glossostigma was planted quite sparingly, only one in vitro cup was used.

Day 26​

Significant diatom bloom caused by the release of silicates from the stones.

Mold has formed on the wood. Nothing concerning, it will subside over time.

An algae-eating crew has been introduced: SAE, Amano shrimps, and snails.

Glossostigma is growing vertically.

It needs to be trimmed regularly to encourage horizontal growth. The upper parts of the plant can be replanted.

 

[Tim Harrison]

Very nice scape

 

[Unexpected]

Looking like a soon to be fantastic tank. Following!

 

[Kwyet]

Looks great! Cool idea with the mosquito netting.

 

[OmidNiav]

Nice start. Would you be adding any more plants? If so, any concerns with roots reaching the mosquito net and causing uplifting as plants are pulled over time?

 

[Bolbi]

Yes, I’m planning to add more plants. I’m not done attaching the moss yet. I’m waiting for the wood to be cleaned of mold and for some new plants to arrive (a few interesting lilies).
As for uprooting plants, I don’t plan on doing that. I’ve planned out a spot for each plant, and any future interventions will only involve trimming, without moving or uprooting them. If removal does become necessary, I think it’s feasible to carefully vacuum out the soil around the plant and use scissors to cut the roots right at the net.

 

[Bolbi]

Day 43​

The diatom is still present, but fortunately, there are no other types of algae. The wood has been completely cleaned of mold, so it's time to add moss to it.

The moss is cut into smaller pieces, approximately 1cm², and attached to the wood using gel super glue.

This glue can be used underwater, but it is easier to work above the water when changing the water. There is no need to add too much moss; the goal is to achieve natural spreading, as the moss will attach itself to the surface as it grows.

Glossostigma has started creeping along the substrate!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

What moss did you go with?

 

[Count Krunk]

Great tank, following along.

 

[Bolbi]

What moss did you go with?

On the rocks, where I want an overlaying effect, I have glued Callicostella prabaktiana. For a bolder effect, I have used Mini Christmas moss at the bases of the branches. Additionally, I plan to add more Callicostella sporadically on the branches to enhance the overall composition.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Nice reminds me of my Pilo moss but the fronds of this type have a greater space between eachother

 

[Tim Harrison]

Day 43​

The diatom is still present, but fortunately, there are no other types of algae. The wood has been completely cleaned of mold, so it's time to add moss to it.

The moss is cut into smaller pieces, approximately 1cm², and attached to the wood using gel super glue.

This glue can be used underwater, but it is easier to work above the water when changing the water. There is no need to add too much moss; the goal is to achieve natural spreading, as the moss will attach itself to the surface as it grows.

Glossostigma has started creeping along the substrate!

Very nice, well done
Love how the roots snake through the substrate, very true to nature.

 

[Bolbi]

Nice reminds me of my Pilo moss but the fronds of this type have a greater space between eachother

Indeed, it looks very similar. The good thing about this moss is that it attaches well to the hardscape, making maintenance easy. I mostly just thin it out by pulling out the excess moss with my fingers without worrying that it will detach from the hardscape.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

100%, same for the pilo. It’s an aggressive thick moss and bounces back quite quickly and densely.

 

[Bolbi]

Day 49​

Switching from Plantavit red booster to Plantavit complete.

The first 7 weeks, red booster 6ml and potassium+ 6ml per 240L (net) added (every 24h); 0.25 mg/L NO3, 0.1 mg/L PO4, 2.25 mg/L K, 0.1 mg/L Mg, 0.05 mg/L Fe + other trace elements.

Now, complete 6ml and potassium+ 6ml per 240L (net) adds (every 24h); 1.25 mg/L NO3, 0.25 mg/L PO4, 2.5 mg/L K, 0.1 mg/L Mg, 0.05 mg/L Fe + other trace elements.

The reason for adding red booster during the first 7 weeks is the release of nitrates from ADA Amazonia Light, as seen below in the test comparison of Amazonia and Amazonia Light.

Nymphaea gardneriana 'Santarem'

Callicostella prabaktiana

Eleocharis sp. 'Montevidensis ADA'

 

[Bolbi]

Day 58​

The brown algae has almost completely disappeared. The water change regime has been reduced from twice a week to once a week. The photoperiod has been increased from 7 to 8 hours a day.

The aquarium maintenance routine at this stage consists of regularly trimming the vertical growth of Glossostigma and changing the water.

Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba'

Anubias sp. 'Mini Coin'

Vesicularia sp. 'Mini Christmas'

Caridina multidentata (Amano shrimp)

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Looking really great, great pictures.

 

[Bolbi]

Day 72​

Riccardia sp. 'Micro'

 

[BenB]

Looks amazing! Everything is starting to take off.

 

[Bolbi]

Day 83​

A school of Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi 'Smoke' has been introduced. Glossostigma elatinoides has been drastically trimmed, just a few millimeters above the substrate.

Glossostigma is very resilient to trimming. Frequent trimming encourages the development of lateral shoots, resulting in denser growth. This photograph showcases its regenerative ability. From trimmed leaves (without part of the stem) that floated on the water's surface for about a week, tiny roots first appeared, followed by shoots that eventually formed new plants.

Nymphaea sp. 'Peru - Puerto Maldonado'

Substrate enrichment

Capsules were applied only under Eleocharis sp. and Nymphaea sp. to promote more robust growth.