My first Aquascape

[Rozza]

I bit the bullet, went shopping to the local pet stores and scaped my first aquascape:

The ingredients:

• Superfish home 110 tank - I had planned to go for the 80 but at the last minute (fearing I had too many plants) I upsized
• Some rock - unsure what type, plus a big piece of flint from my old garden
• Spider wood pieces
• Flora base pro - ridiculous expensive but hobsons choice - nothing else there
• Plants:
  • Alternanthera cardinalis
  • Anubias barteri
  • Anubias congensis
  • Cryptocoryne balansae
  • Cryptocoryne costata
  • Cryptocoryne lutea
  • Echinodorus sankt elmsfeuer
  • Micranthemum monte carlo
  • Microsorum pteropus
  • Microsorum narrow leaf
  • Pogostemon erectus
• Day two additions:
  • Salvinia auriculata
  • Moss balls
  • Some taller plants (sorry they came without a label) I think they were Bacopa's
  • Cherry shrimps x 10

The build

When buying the tank, rocks and spider wood I tried to arrange bits on top of a tank box. I also bought 24 plants, I had no idea what I was buying really, I recalled 'monte carlo' and 'java ferns' from youtube videos but couldn't recall any others. However, there wasn't a huge amount of choice and I had no real idea. As this is a simple no co2 system, some are probably doomed to struggle in this tank - they can always be transplanted to another tank in the future.

I over did the soil level, and used some bags to hold the soil for the extra height at the back. I struggled to get the arrangement for the spider wood I had in the shop - but happy with the new one. I broke one of the rocks into two with a hammer and then had to bring in a big piece of flint to fill the space. On youtube they make supergluing the plants to the rock / wood look easy, now its all planted I can see loads of white glue where I over did it or failed to get two peices of wood to glue together.

I didn't have any tweezers to plant the plants, they had run out in the shop, luckily wilckos had some knitting needles which I used. I planted some of the ferns that probably should be attached to a rock - I hope they cope.

The background plants are all small at the moment - so that and the upgraded tank size mean that the tank will develop some of the missing height in the future.

 

[hypnogogia]

Looking good. Your tank doesn’t look as though it is fully supported.

 

[Karmicnull]

Most of the plants you listed should cope in low tech. For the ferns you need to make sure the rhizomes aren't buried - if they are they will eventually rot away and the fern will die. Good luck with the Monte Carlo - that may end up a casualty. I use bits of moss to artfully hide all my glue disasters (of which there are many). When it comes to attaching hardscape together I prefer to use silicone as I find glue can't cope with the amount I accidentally knock stuff!
Cheers,
Simon

 

[MichaelJ]

I bit the bullet, went shopping to the local pet stores and scaped my first aquascape:

Hi @Rozza Looking good! I would add more plants though - I would double down on Crypts and Anubias and add more floating plants - such as Frogbit.

Also make sure you get some good fertilization going - TNC Complete or so.

Good luck!

Most of the plants you listed should cope in low tech.

I agree.

For the ferns you need to make sure the rhizomes aren't buried - if they are they will eventually rot away and the fern will die.

True and same goes for the Anubias.

Good luck with the Monte Carlo - that may end up a casualty.

Unfortunately yes, I never managed to get Monte Carlo to grow in my low-tech tanks, but I have seen people doing it.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Rozza]

Thanks for the comments, I'll heed the advice

Your tank doesn’t look as though it is fully supported.

Yeah, its part of the design of the superfish home tank - they look like they have a band wrapped around them with the lights at the top.

For the ferns you need to make sure the rhizomes aren't buried - if they are they will eventually rot away and the fern will die.

Thats good to know, I'll grab some peebles from the local garden center and glue them to that. Also thanks @MichaelJ I'll do the same for the Anubias

I prefer to use silicone as I find glue can't cope with the amount I accidentally knock stuff!

Ah! I'll see how the glue copes, I might get away with it in this scape but for my next ones I'll keep that in mind. I'll plan those tanks more and won't be in as much a rush as I was this weekend - sometimes you've just got to get going

I would add more plants though - I would double down on Crypts and Anubias and add more floating plants - such as Frogbit.

Also make sure you get some good fertilization going - TNC Complete or so.

Looks like I'll be plant shopping again! The irony of my last second upsizing of the tank because I thought I had too many plants, only to find the plants I bought actually looked too few is not lost on me and makes me chuckle!

 

[heliophyte]

Congratz on your first tank!
The top feels a little empty right now, but if that bacopa takes off that will hopefully change soon.

 

[Rozza]

So patience is a virtue that I appear to be lacking. I've added some Cherry shrimp, 10 Harlequins and 3 yoyo loaches. I'm using API Quick start and 50% water changes to manage the water quality. My water change process is also improving, thanks to a small pump for draining and refilling the water.

In other news, I've noticed that my spiderwood has started to generate some slime:

I read up on here and believe it will go away of its own volition in a few weeks?

 

[Hufsa]

3 yoyo loaches

Oh dear you werent kidding about the virtues
Im not gonna lie this doesnt sound really good @Rozza , its way too early to add fish, its been 3 days(?) unless I am mistaken?

Its really not too late to take them back to the shop, tell them you've made a mistake, which, if im being frank and I also say this with support and care, you kinda have.
In addition to the timeline here, the yoyos will grow fairly large, will kill your shrimp in short order, and loaches are also quite jolly fish that like to redecorate and eat plants for fun. I love loaches, but there is a reason im not keeping them in my planted tank. Sometimes they will do okay with java ferns and anubias with minor damage, and sometimes.. not. Its really important to check the requirements of new fish species before you buy.

I urge you to reconsider

 

[Rozza]

tell them you've made a mistake, which, if im being frank and I also say this with support and care, you kinda have

Yes, I agree and think I have made a big mistake - especially, as they're so lively I can't even catch them 😭 Unfortunately, I believed the store clerk who said they'd be suitable, when I should have known better and checked first. When I do a water change later I will try an catch them and return them.

I fear without patience and following the advice I've read, I've set myself up for a very bumpy ride.

 

[Eddie2006]

i have learned in the netherlends often pet stores or pet smarts which aren't specialised in fish want to sell you items you don,t even need for example my mom went to the store for me to get food and she got back with medicines because the store owner told her the fish need regular treatment even if they aren't sick atm

 

[pat1cp]

Yes, I agree and think I have made a big mistake - especially, as they're so lively I can't even catch them 😭 Unfortunately, I believed the store clerk who said they'd be suitable, when I should have known better and checked first. When I do a water change later I will try an catch them and return them.

I fear without patience and following the advice I've read, I've set myself up for a very bumpy ride.

Draining 70% of the water will help catching them.

 

[Rozza]

Latest update, I was unable to return the yoyo loaches, so I'm stuck with the little terrors. Although, I do like them and while they are still lively, they are much less manic than when they were first introduced. The occasional plant, usually a Monte Carlo ends up floating with the floating plants.

Other than that I'm pleased to say the tank is settling in nicely, regular 60% water changes have helped maintain the water quality. I was getting some surface slime - white string algae?

Which after researching seemed to be caused by the lack of surface water movement. The original filter system, is poorly designed, its hidden in a white box which both impedes the filter flow and prevents adjusting the filter. So I've also added a Biomaster 350, the extra flow has made a big improvement, and its even helped shift some of the slime off the spider wood. I've seen other Superfish home users have successfully removed the old filter box, so eventually the Biomaster will become the only filter for the tank.

I've also added more plants to the aquascape, I have followed a more is more approach, so there is no subtlety to the plant varieties. The aim was to improve the water quality as quickly as possible, given I had jumped the gun and added fish in too early.

The changes have improved both the water quality and the flow of the tank:

I have some glass lilly pipes and surface skimmer on order and will replace the default oase pipes in the future - probably at the same time as removing the old filter box.

 

[Hufsa]

I was unable to return the yoyo loaches, so I'm stuck with the little terrors.

What happened?

Other I was getting some surface slime - white string algae?

I would be vigilant in removing this surface scum, it will impede the gaseous exchange of your tank. In tanks with CO2 injection, which yours luckily doesnt seem to be, this kind of thing can be deadly because it will cause the CO2 to build up to dangerous levels suddenly.

Which after researching seemed to be caused by the lack of surface water movement. The original filter system, is poorly designed, its hidden in a white box which both impedes the filter flow and prevents adjusting the filter. So I've also added a Biomaster 350, the extra flow has made a big improvement, and its even helped shift some of the slime off the spider wood. I've seen other Superfish home users have successfully removed the old filter box, so eventually the Biomaster will become the only filter for the tank.

Good plan of action

I have followed a more is more approach

😂 There are a lot of us in this club, welcome

 

[arcturus]

The bacterial film on the wood will eventually disappear but this can take several weeks. You can use a toothbrush or metal brush to scrub the wood while changing the water and then syphon out the slime. You don't need to be thorough; just remove what you can. The slime is not a problem, but sometimes it can start covering the plants and the hardscape if it gets out of control.

Algae such as diatoms should also start appearing soon and can last for several weeks. "Green water" due to bacterial blooms is not uncommon as well during the startup stage. You do not want to use algaecides or any other algae control products. Just let nature take its course. These algae and bacteria can be somewhat controlled by adjusting lights, regular water changes, and maintenance, but it will take time for them to start clearing out.

You should also add (a lot of) <fast growing plants> and more floating plants to your tank. The sooner the better. This is the best tool you have to control the algae and to keep the water parameters more stable. This is particularly important because you added livestock way too soon to an immature tank. In a few weeks you can add snails and shrimp to help out with the algae (but only if you intend keeping them in the future).

Keep up with the frequent water changes. I do not know if the soil you are using will leech ammonia or not, but you should keep changing ~50% of the water a few times per week for now because of the livestock. Also read about the <"dark start" method> so that you can minimize some of these issues in a future tank. Also, read <these excellent UKAPS threads> about <cycling and stabilizing> a tank.

The Oase 350 should be enough for this tank but you need to make sure that the water is circulating all around the tank. You need surface agitation (visible ripples all over the surface, but without splashes) but you also need good circulation at the substrate level.

You should add a skimmer to help removing the surface film (the SunSun JY-03 or the Eheim Skim 350 are good choices). You can run the skimmer on a timer for a few hours during the night. In a few months you might not need to use it daily anymore, but for now you should.

 

[Hufsa]

In a few weeks you can add snails and shrimp to help out with the algae (but only if you intend keeping them in the future).

I just want to add a note to this, you cant do this if you still have the loaches. Or, you can, but they will kill both in fairly short order.
I would still quite like to know what happened with returning the fish.
Yoyos grow to a decent size, and I think your tank is on the small side for them

 

[Rozza]

Thanks all for the feedback I'm continuing with regular large water changes, the ammonia levels are very low, but the nitrate levels mean I still have to do daily / every other day water changes.

I just want to add a note to this, you cant do this if you still have the loaches. Or, you can, but they will kill both in fairly short order.
I would still quite like to know what happened with returning the fish.

Thanks @Hufsa, I definitely won't be adding any until I move the loaches, as feared the shrimp ended up as food. With regards to returning them, not much to tell; the store was unhelpful, the manager wasn't available at the time and I basically got fobbed off - the promise to callback also never happened. Its not huge loss as I like the little guys, but I know this isn't the tank for them, they certainly don't like some of the planting I've done and have moved some out the way 🤣 .

I am planning on moving them to the tank I got gifted from a friend when its ready and getting something more suitable for the aquascape - any recommendations? I've started to cycle this one, some plants are arriving this week, which should be protected by the cobbles. I've also got some fine gravel sand coming to they will have something to bury around in.



Its nice having a tank in my office and I plan on using this tank as mainly a temporary tank, for growing plants on etc.. So I doubt this will be the yoyo leaches final home, I have plans for a new tank and I was thinking a large Chichlid tank could be good place for them. However, I have read mixed reviews on mixing the two varieties - seems to be the way with fish keeping! So any experience / guidance would be good 🙏

With the aquascape tank, I managed to remove the filter box - it was siliconed on with two small strips and came off without too much fuss. The look is much cleaner now and the flow improved. I did a big water change yesterday and found to my horror when it came to refilling I had no hot water 😱 So after a mild panic, I had the water back on and heating.


I put an air stone in while I waited and spent a good amount of time on the floating plants; removing any detritus / leaves that they seem to hide and any dying wilted floating plants. I also took time and trimmed some of the plants - especially where the original leaves had wilted or were torn.

The Oase 350 should be enough for this tank but you need to make sure that the water is circulating all around the tank. You need surface agitation (visible ripples all over the surface, but without splashes) but you also need good circulation at the substrate level.

Good to know, I ordered some glass ware - a lilly and skimmer intake, but I got the wrong size, so awaiting the correct size. I like the idea of getting a plug in skimmer as well as I think it'll come in useful, especially when giving the plants a trim.

In other news the shrimp tank is coming on well:


I capped the aquasoil with black gravel and have noticed my readings in there are much better than in the bigger tank 🤷‍♂️

 

[Hufsa]

Sounds like youre doing good by them, im glad. They are really fun fish to have. Anubias and javaferns should do well with loaches, or something else that is either durable or that grows too fast to care about some nibbling. Epiphytes are good since they are resistant to "redecorating". Pebbles to protect plants are a good move. They love shady driftwood, nooks and crannies and PVC pipes of all sorts. Also quite fond of swimming against the flow, so a well placed wavemaker will make them dance for you. Dont skip your heart medication, they also like to sleep belly up on the substrate, giving their owner a fright!
..I never got used to it personally

 

[Rozza]

Its been 6 months since my last update! All tanks are doing well.

The main tank:

Is thriving, the rams head snail population has exploded and every so often I do a cull and put a bundle in the loaches tank. The shrimp also are thriving, after initially disappearing, I cleaned the oase filter and found 50 baby shrimp living in the sponge filter cartridge. They all got moved back into the main tank and each major clean I find new ones.
Fish wise - its been a bit of a mixed bag, one of my dwarf gouramis passed from bloated gourami disease. One morning it had look liked it had swallowed a marble and the next it was dead. The other downside to an "aquascape" tank has been losing some fish to jumping. This isn't really discussed on the YouTube channels. All my checkered barbs had jumped out by mid March, then this week I found two small checkered barbs - so not sure if was due to spawning?! Anyway, I now have a mix of tetras - cardinal, rummy nose and red, 3 galaxy rasbporas, one beautiful gourami and some endler guppies. And the tank seems nicely balanced.

The loaches tank:

Is ticking over nicely, the loaches are quite mischievous fish and one has grown considerably compared to the other two. The penguin tetras hold their own in the tank and three yellow rams complete the tank. The loaches love the rocky bottom and are often checking the nooks for food. Every so often they get a treat of the excess of snails, which keeps them entertained for a couple of days. I have been caught out by them sleeping upside down a couple of times!

It been a fun six months - the tanks themselves are easy to maintain and seem balanced - excess plants go into the loaches tank and get nibbled. Not sure what I plan next, I'm just enjoying the tanks as they are now!