Black Stones (Pedras Pretas) – 60P

[Carlos Mocho]

One of these days, I woke up thinking I would like to have an iwagumi! I had an empty aquarium for about a decade and I remembered that it was a shame... I also remembered that there were some black stolen stones but I didn't remember where, and so began this adventure:



After looking for the stones, I finally found them, but after all they were not as I had imagined in my drawing. Yet they were “almost” black and were the ones I had to work with!


My initial idea was to reactivate an old aquarium that had been standing for a long time, but as I have never had an aquarium with all the proper equipment, (I've always been a few years behind what technology could offer), this time I decided that although my skill does not justify being far ahead, that I could try to apply the new technology that appeared in this last decade.

ADA soil system seemed to be one of the most balanced and complete systems (I understand there are others of great quality, but I had to start with one of them). With the ADA substrate, the stones had another reading inside the box, which forced me to make various experiments and adjustments ... The initial image with these stones turned out to be similar to this:


The great asset of the aquarium forums is that there are several thinking brains in them and I was fortunate to be registered in a portuguese forum with exceptional members who kindly guided me to this:




I know that now I will not have an iwagumi, but I can try to have a setup with potential to fill me with pleasure! No idea if I will be able to make it evolve according to my pretensions, but I am sure that I will try to take great pleasure and I will learn a lot from this experience! I also hope that you can count on your help to achieve this goal.

Planted with a few minutes: (Anubias nana Pangolino - Anubias ‘petite’ - Cryptocoryne lutea 'Hobbit' - Cryptocoryne parva - Eleocharis pusilla - Eriocaulon breviscapum - Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' - Marsilea crenata - Riccardia Chamedryfolia - Rotala macrandra 'Narrow Leaf' - Rotala sp. "H'Ra" ("Gia Lai") - Rotala spec. "Green")

Let's wait and see where this will go...

Thank you for your reading.

 

[Luciën]

Looks good, like the stone work. You have great artistic vision. Hope it will grow in well, thumbs up!!

 

[Daveslaney]

Great start. .

 

[Matt @ ScapeEasy]

Can't wait to see it grown in!

 

[aquacoen]

Nice composition!

 

[Carlos Mocho]

Thank you guys, it's encouraging to feel your approval-
So far everything seems to go well, now I'm waiting for the "algae attack" that I know is normal at the beginning.

 

[14548]

I'm not a huge fan of your stones but the composition is very nice.

 

[rebel]

Wow you've done well with stones that have little detail!! Keep going.

 

[Carlos Mocho]

Day 20th:

With the exception of Ricardia, everything seems to be developing nicely. Cuba is noticeably bigger and some runners of Eleocharis begin to be visible near the glass. There was a little "melt" in the Cryptos and the least pleasant at the moment are the tips of Eriocaulon’s leaves, however we can see new growth in the centers. Some Rotala’s tips have been cut and replanted to increase density (I am enjoying see it and I already consider leaving them to stay).

3 days ago I’ve installed the definitive filter, taking advantage of the "neo Media Pure" and the wool that I had put in the EHEIM classic 350. Now I have a 4+ 250T to work and I hope the change has not retreated too much the nitrification cycle. I still keep introducing Seachen Stability to each TPA: in the first week they were close to 90% of the water volume every other day, the next two weeks became 70% and next one will be about 55%, but they will be only twice a week. (if I notice that is required I will booster, either in the volume of water or in the frequency of WC).

The light period began with 5 hours the first 2 days then, 5:30h in the first week. The second week 6 hours daily, in the middle of the third week 6:30h, and I intend to keep it at least until the end of the 5th or 6th week (end of the nitrification cycle). Later I’m planning to extend it until 8h daily, but only later. I admit that apparently the photoperiod is short, but the aquarium is between two glass doors that provide lots of natural light from sunrise to sunset... CO2 injection starts 1: 30h before lights and ends 1h before they turn off (25/30ppm). Fertilization with Brigty K and Seachen Excell from the first day and after the first week I start adding Green Brighty Mineral.

From day 13th some filaments (perhaps diatoms) began to appear, but very few and easily controllable with a toothbrush. I understand that the introduction of some Amano Srimps would be extremely effective in controlling this problem, but I think the substract slope would be a bit terraced, so I'll try to delay if I do not even avoid introducing them. SAE in this assembly are also out of question, I pretend to introduce some Otos, but for now it is too early for them, so maybe I will put some Neocaridina trying not to screw up the layout, however I do not know if they will be effective enough, anyhow is still too early for them also... Anyway, one should not want everything perfect!
I know that for now this all is perfectly normal, so "no stress".





Thank you all for your reading.

 

[14548]

Nature is never perfect 😉

Nice growth

 

[Carlos Mocho]

If I were a conscious fish I would always have an anxiety attack on the eve of an holiday, on Fridays and on Saturdays. With the “next day's rest” it’s no need to sleep early and the vigil can always have dramatic consequences!

My dear friens the filamentous algae keep their charm of well-controlled creatures (blessed toothbrush)... The little plants grow calmly, but from so much contemplating it seems that they are paralyzed. Only with the observation of the pictures I do realize they are alive and developing!

A week ago I’ve introduced 3 Otos and 5 PRL Bee Shrimp. On the first day one of the Otos disappeared and gave no clue of his whereabouts (eventually it was either the fault of one of my cats or my maid was secretely cleaning the fish dust!). However, the second Oto, who seemed to be quite well in the early days, died after one day of disorderly movements. Fortunately the last one seems to be happy, but as appearances elude, I suppose one must feel very alone.

Cuba was already with a density difference quite evident and worryingly some leaves are turning yellow, but I know that attending the place where it is located I can’t allow it great adventures. The Rotalas in this aquarium are very anarchist: some grow madly, others insist on being quite quiet, some lie down, others seek the light, some gain color, others lose it! I do not understand any of this, but I do want discipline here in my room!

I grabbed the scissors and here it goes!... Or they strike or I'll get them out of the leaves, the stems and if needed, the roots! Poor little shrimps that have had this day their first goodies, but life is like that, today when they wake up they don't remember anything!

Day 40, before:


Day 40, after:


Thank you for your reading!