Journal An 'arium of some kind.

[Myrtle]

Update time.
Things move slowly, growth-wise in low tech, but there's always something happening. The ex-arium now sports the moss log/filter contraption which suits it a bit better than the tidal 35. The raft at the front is growing in well, too well when it comes to the hydrocotyle! It also proved to be a big hit with the male imbellis in there, who has raised 2 nests of fry under it so far! I've had to move the females out temporarily as he was getting quite cross with them trying to eat his babies! Shine a torch in there after lights out and it's a fair sea of fry.
The Juncus repens failed (again) sio it was replaced with Eeleocharis sp. I've never been successful with Juncus repens so I'm giving up on it. The Cyperus helferi is still holdng on, though I'm not sure what it isn't liking. Perhaps it's confused as the air temperature is cooler than the water, which would be the other way around in nature (I think?). The acorus seems to be doing ok though and the crypt sea appears to be thriving, not that I can really see much of it! Anyway, here it is as of today, home to 1 male Betta imbellis and his army of fry:

The exo-terra is slowly growing in. I lost a couple of orchids but others (restrepias and oncidium especially) and the small colony of yellow cherries is stable, though not reproducing yet. I'm hoping that it's due to the temperature and once we hit summer they'll have some shrimplets. I was a bit concerned that the water parameters would cause them moulting issues but so far, they've been moulting fine. Even though the misting unit sprays water with a tds of 0, I make sure I add some tap to the pond part during water changes.

 

[Myrtle]

Because I just can't leave things alone, there have been changes to the original 'arium; it is now truly a paludarium. The land portion at the back was really just wasted space as I couldn't plant anything in the rear left quarter and the two plants that were planted would be fine without soil, so I did it. It also means that there is a deceptively large water body behind what is visible, which is accessible to the fish/shrimp. I was originally thinking to put clown killies in there, but I wanted a species which would build a colony and the shrimp would likely eat the clown killie's eggs as they're so tiny. I considered several other killies but either they preferred a higher temperature or they would become too large. Eventually, I opted for Phallicthys tico - the Dwarf Merry Widow. There are 2 pairs plus a random fry in there now. Just hoping I don't get completely overrun, which is why I've always avoided livebearers before now! It's impossible to get a photo right now because of the light, but here's a pic from when I first changed it (this was back on 14th April so it's had chance to settle now!). I'll add better photos when the light allows...

 

[Myrtle]

Sadly, the OG arium, the shallow tank succumbed to The Great Move and the need to reduce the number of heated open topped tanks. Fear not though, for it has been resurrected in the glorious shape of an Aquael Leddy 60, meaning the imbellis have the same footprint but more water! Huzzah!
Here's how it looks now, excuse the reflections (it's a south facing room and it's sunny):

The eagle-eyed amongst you may spot the wall of hydrocotyle on the left, which was the emersed section at the front of the OG arium. I'm sure it will convert easily enough... Having been stored floating in the pond due to lack of anywhere else long enough for it to go, it now sports a small selection of livestock, including it's own colony of blackworms. Whether I can get them to colonise the tank before they're pickled off remains to be seen.
The hardscape is almost entirely made up of the ivy wood which was in the OG arium, plus the substrate, plants and filtration, so it was pretty much a straight swap with added rock. As per, my budget was for the tank only, so the rocks are from my garden. They are best viewed from the other side, though as this in now a 3 sided tank. This view also shows the filter branch (the wiggly bit of wood across the top) which I was happy to be able to include, but it also shows the equipment off well! Quick thank you to @_Maq_ for giving me the confidence to chuck the cyperus helferi in here too, hopefully it'll grow

It wasn't all plain sailing though, as part way through, one of my dogs knocked a whole tub of shrimp food into a 12l fry tank (my bad for not putting the top on) so there was an emergency relocation of said imbellis fry into this tank. I didn't plan to raise them all with the adults, but no chance of catching them now! At least they're all alive, which is more than can be said for the poor fry tank (excuse for a rescape!) and they're being ignored by Mr Imbellis. Sadly, with imbellis being part of the splendens complex, even though they're known as the peaceful betta, Mr Imbellis wasn't very nice to the girls once they had served their purpose, and despite many hiding places, it wasn't enough. It was next to impossible to catch them, but I did manage to save two, who sadly succumbed to their injuries There's a lot to be said for keeping peaceful fish! Still, the next generation is growing well and once they are sexable (as much as they are) I'll remove the males and leave the females in there with their dad. There are 20+ youngsters so they can't all be male!