Current build status of my nano tree stump

[castle]

Started building a desktop nano; which will only be seen from the front and angled left. Plan is to be lighting planted, primarily using moss and some small epiphytes

Anyway, lightings a little poor but you should be able to get the idea 👌





I wanted to have this “over hang concept”



Finally, I carved out the bottom to hide the pump for the trickle fountain to come up through the centre. A 500mm 10mm drill bit did the pipe line.



Photos ain’t doing it justice but it looks nice in person 😊

Tries an image with the normal lights on…



Gravel is ❤️ (note, gravel comes from in-laws garden!)

 

[castle]

Went for it after work today, mostly planted up and the shenanigans of getting that wood to attach to the stone. The stone the wood rests on was very heavy and the angle to glue left me no choice but to remove the wood and glue outside of the tank.







A bit of a mare, I covered the glue with some dark sand to try and hide as much cotton pad as I could.

Then I prepared the fissindens (thanks @palcene) I did this by nutri-bulleting it with about half an egg cup of water:





After this, I painted on some mossy water…



Like that tbh.



Finally added some teeny anubias to some of the cracks to the wood, however I have moved one since that image 😅

Now I must mist for a couple of weeks. Planning to add a single crypt spiralis tiger on the right and left, with probably one last anubias addition rear front left. It’ll be slightly bare planted but that’s ok with this one.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

This is cool. Looking forward to seeing the progress

 

[Spartacus]

Looking very good 🙂 Quite an unusual bit of wood! If it helps I read that you can use capillary matting (for greenhouses etc) attaching it to the wood to create a wet area for a large section of moss etc. Similar to ADA's Terra Tape just a whole world cheaper 🙂

 

[Cornelius]

Then I prepared the fissindens I did this by nutri-bulleting it with about half an egg cup of water

What is nutri-bulleting? Can you tell me more about it?

 

[castle]

What is nutri-bulleting? Can you tell me more about it?

Sure it’s the technique of food blending some moss into small/tiny bits to then paint on the hardscape. Once applied the tiny bits of moss grow and cling to the surface. It takes about 2 weeks for good rooting. Maybe a bit longer if temperature is low (like where I am). Nutribullet is a gimmicky food blender in the UK but any blender will work.

There was a “yoghurt method” that was similar but I found the yoghurt to go a bit too smelly for my liking. You can find references to that on here 👍

 

[Wookii]

This is a great idea @castle - I have been planning something similar for a little UNS shallow tank I have, but with rock, and pumping the water up and over the top so it trickles all down it to support moss and plant growth on it.

 

[castle]

This is a great idea @castle - I have been planning something similar for a little UNS shallow tank I have, but with rock, and pumping the water up and over the top so it trickles all down it to support moss and plant growth on it.

Thanks @Wookii - for growth above water there has to be some kind of draw up for water, in my last experiment (drilling holes) I noticed how dry these plants got even though they were less than an inch above water. However water flowing over rocks will be some trial and improvement as I can imagine an anticlimactic single wet stone at the top then it runs below the stones 😅

 

[Wookii]

as I can imagine an anticlimactic single wet stone at the top then it runs below the stones 😅

Yeah, I figured I'd have to use a manifold to split the tube from the pump into at least three or four bits of air-tube to exit at different points at the top of the rock.

 

[Cornelius]

Sure it’s the technique of food blending some moss into small/tiny bits to then paint on the hardscape. Once applied the tiny bits of moss grow and cling to the surface. It takes about 2 weeks for good rooting. Maybe a bit longer if temperature is low (like where I am). Nutribullet is a gimmicky food blender in the UK but any blender will work.

There was a “yoghurt method” that was similar but I found the yoghurt to go a bit too smelly for my liking. You can find references to that on here 👍

I am familiar with that way of growing mosses. I just didnt understand the meaning of the word 'nutri-bulleting'.
That is clear now, thanks.

I have tried both methods several times, but using yoghurt was more successful for me.
Yoghurt is more sticky so that moss won't not float away. And the smell? Well, with a transparent foil you do not notice anything.

 

[castle]

I am familiar with that way of growing mosses. I just didnt understand the meaning of the word 'nutri-bulleting'.
That is clear now, thanks.

I have tried both methods several times, but using yoghurt was more successful for me.
Yoghurt is more sticky so that moss won't not float away. And the smell? Well, with a transparent foil you do not notice anything.

Sorry, just assumed you didn’t know the technique! I have always suspected the yoghurt method causes BGA 😬 I used it twice, got BGA never again!

 

[Cornelius]

No problem.
Personally I have never had BGA with the yoghurt method. (for results you can look into my album)
And to be honest I don't think BGA is triggered by this. Maybe there are other factors that have been of influence.

 

[castle]

Been spraying a few times a day, just now waiting for a couple of plants to be delivered and then I will fill 👍 that then allows me to play with the pump and start thinking about the above water section.

 

[castle]

Filled 👍

Moss attached great. Log stayed in place alright, and pump worked pretty good. Added a few more plants:

Aquafleur Anubias Nana Coin × 1
Aquafleur Anubias Bonsai × 1
Stoffels Bucephalandra x 1

I also drilled a hole for water to flow onto the other side of the log.

Mossy:


Half filled:


Water trickle:


Sadly I’m not super happy with it in the end, I have always been viewing it from a down angle and not straight on, the side view isn’t very well thought out but I’ll adapt. I’ll post a FTS later once lights are out.

Oh, here’s a short of the waterfall thingy:

 

[castle]

Will do a water change tomorrow, but not looking too bad.







I will be changing the light, hanging one of the old lights I made for the Holes tank. But for now, the cheapy light works, luckily family are happy with it. As this tank will eventually be in our entrance hallway 😬

Wife wants a betta, I want snails….

Heater/Vuppa temporary until I connect biothermo - in many months time.

 

[AlemBa]

Impressive. Congrats 👏

 

[castle]

Impressive. Congrats 👏

Thank you, I think this one may grow into quite a nice aquarium, but let’s see what the crypts do 🫣

 

[AlemBa]

Thank you, I think this one may grow into quite a nice aquarium, but let’s see what the crypts do 🫣

Betta will Enjoy this for sure

 

[castle]

Also after some recommendations for some plants to attach to the log above water, especially after plants that like their roots wet? Maybe a nice moss that’ll attach? I have some random ferns growing out of my walls which I might try but they’re for the dry bit…

 

[AlemBa]

I didnt have this kind a scape before but i know comon moss and small fern will grow