Nature Aquarium

[Arbinde]

Hello all,
I am from Lalitpur, Nepal. I am setting up a “new” tank as a “nature” aquarium. I am trying to build a stream/river composition. The tank is a 120cm X 45cm X 45cm. Approximately 240 litres.
The tank is located in a shaded area of the dining room. There is a large window to its right which will be shaded with heavy curtains. A large window about 4 metres away in front. Other windows are further away. My plan is to complete the layout in the coming week.

1. I want to start the tank without plants and allow it to cycle for two weeks or so.
2. Then add plants towards the end of August along with CO2.
3. Once the tank is moderately stable in 2 months or so, add a dozen Amano shrimp.
4. Followed by half a dozen Octocinclus fishes.
5. Eventually about 2 dozen or so Rasboras (Harlequin) fishes.
6. Followed by about half a dozen Boesemani fishes.

The following image is the current state of my composition:


Hardscape:
Seiryu Stone
Drift wood is of Malaysian origin.

Substrate:
Small rocks in bags. (Chinese Origin) along with old media.

Soil:
ADA Amazonia v2

Sand:
Local river sand

Filters:
Oase BioMaster 600
Sunsun HW-304B

Filter Media:
ADA Bio-Rio & Neo Media Pure

Lighting
Chihiros RBG Vivid - 2 units

Plants
Shaded Areas
Cryptocoryne (depending on availability)
Anubias barteri 'Petite'

Water column
Bolbitis heudelotii
Bucephalandra (Variant depending on availability)
Java Moss (I don't like moss too much because of maintenance issues (little bits keep getting blown about and grows)

Background
Cyperus Helferi
Other Stems - I plan to keep other stems as well until the tank is well established and then slow remove them, one by one, until only the Cyperus helferi remains in the background.

My background: This is my third tank. My first was also a nature tank which I got setup just before the COVID lockdowns. This was my learning tank where I learned about plants and fishes, CO2, maintenance, filters etc. This tank is still around, though I have removed the fishes. I am going to give it away soon. The second tank is much better but it suffered a lack of maintenance except regular water changes. The difficulty is that I found that I was allergic to cold water hence could not get anything done until recently.

I am inspired by George Farmer of course as well the Amano himself. I am no means an expert so critiques and suggestions are most welcome.

 

[Bradders]

From my (non-expert) perspective:

1. It has a great tank length, which is going to give fish a nice run.
2. I love the large stump-like wood on the right, which dovetails into the rock and continues to curve around. I would say that the entry point of the wood on the right is about a third of the way in, which makes the eye flow from right to left.
3. Absolutely love the cave on the right, and it is going to be great to see fish utilise that!
4. The use of hardscape colours looks great, and I think plants and some bright fish will complement the scape.

 

[Arbinde]

Hi @Bradders,
Thank you for your kind comments.

Yes, the tank length does provide ample space for schooling fish like the rasboras space to run well.

The focus points are definitely the large stump on the right and the large seiryu on the left. I have raised the stump in provide for the cave like area. I plan to put a bit of shade loving plants like Anubias barteri "petite" and Crypts in that area, while keeping it open for the water to flow through.

 

[Arbinde]

Update: 24th Aug
I completed my layout about 2 days ago.
I confined the substrate and soil around the stumps of wood and Seiryu rocks. I planned to use only river sand for the rest of the area.
For my substrate, I first used a kind of light, porous rocks, as show below. The reddish ones. They feel like lava rocks. I am not 100% sure.



Then I added a inch think layer of tiny pumice, as shown below:

To prevent the soil from flowing into the sand through gaps of the larger Seiryu rocks, I used small rock chips to fill those gaps, the best I could. The substrate finally looked like this:


I then added ADA Bacter, Tourmaline and Super Clear onto the substrate and cover the substrate with soil. The soil cover was at least 3-4 inches at a minimum.

Finally, put in sand in the rest of the areas.


This is what the final layout looks like:



(Apologies for the reflection)..

I cleaned up a Sunsun filter, hoses and lily pipes, and then put in the water a few hours ago. This is what it looked like after the water was in.

 

[Arbinde]

There was some old media in the Sunsun filter (ADA Bio Rio and Seachem) but they smelled really bad as it had been in the sitting in the unused filter for a month or so, so I did not use it. I used two packets of new Neo Media Pure filter media. I thoroughly rinsed the old filter media and dried them out in the sun. I will reuse them in a Bio Master, that I will add in a week or two later.

Over the next week or so:
1. I plan to do water changes (25%) every day for the next 7 days. Then do 50% weekly as normal.
2. Monitor water parameters (pH, GH and Ammonia and Nitrates).
I want to have the water clear and low nitrates before I start planting. I will not be keeping the lights on, until then. Will start lights once the plants are in.

 

[Arbinde]

Update: 29th August

Due to delays in getting the plants from my suppliers, I decided to go the dark start method. I havent made any water changes except topping up the tank.

I closed all the curtains for the past 5 days. This morning, I got some brown paper and covered the tank from the sides. I also started aeration for the past 4 days.

I started testing the pH, GH, KH, ammonia, and nitrate levels for the past two days. I am seeing very low levels of nitrates and nitrites but zero ammonia, thus far.

 

[Arbinde]

Update: 28th September
Two days ago, I brought the plants home and planted into the tank. Here are the updates:
1. I changed about 80% of the water. I used stored rainwater for the water change.
2. The plants were: (i) Bolbitis; (ii) Anubias (petite); and (iii) Microsorum (Narrow).
3. I transferred some Vallisneria that I had from a previous tank.


Results:
a. The amount of plants is really not enough. A tad bit disappointed. I plan to buy some stem plants and plant them quickly to stave off algae.
b. The rain water was very soft so I remineralised the water (using 2Hr Aquarist APT SKY). TDS meter reads 100ppm now.
c. After the water change, pH went to 7.8 - 8.0. No exactly where I wanted it to be.
d. After 24 hours, I setup CO2 and the lights.
e. I set my lights to 20% (about 30 watts). The following is my light settings:



f. CO2 is set to for 5 hours at the rate of 4-5 bubbles / sec.


g. I am also put in aeration using two air stones an hour after CO2 stops.

This morning the pH is 7.6. I think this is good. TDS reads at 100ppm.

Next steps:
1. Plant as much stem plants as possible.
2. Fertilizers: I haven't started fertilising yet. I am going to wait a few more days before starting fertilisers. I will use Tropica Specialised Nutrition, 4ml a day (about 30 minutes before the photo period.
3. Increase light intensity by 10% every week.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The rain water was very soft so I remineralised the water (using 2Hr Aquarist APT SKY). TDS meter reads 100ppm now.

Just don't add anything like as <"much remineraliser">? You are going to add magnesium (Mg) with you fertiliser, so you only need to add a pinch of calcium (Ca)

After the water change, pH went to 7.8 - 8.0. No exactly where I wanted it to be.

If you have added some carbonate hardness (alkalinity)? That would account for it. You rock looks like it might be limestone (CaCO3) in which case you are going to be adding a lot of calcium (Ca++) and bicarbonate (2HCO3-) ions. If you haven't added any dKH and the the rocks aren't limestone? It isn't a very meaningful measurement.

tad bit disappointed. I plan to buy some stem plants and plant them quickly to stave off algae.

Can you get a floating plant? or even pyo?

cheers Darrel

 

[Arbinde]

Hi Darell,
Thanks you for your kind comments.

Regarding the mineraliser, I will be mindful using it in the future. Immediately after the last water change, I tested the TDS and it was somewhere near mid-30s if I remember correctly. I then added the mineraliser which brought it to 100ppm. It seems to be stable now. Current reading an hour before photo period ends, reads 101ppm @ 22.3 degrees C. This is about close to 40 hours from the last water change.


The rocks are "Seiryu" which I believe is limestone. I have some 15-18 kgs of them in the tank. I haven't yet started on the fertiliser, I will keep testing to see if this increases in a meaningful way.

I plan to keep Amano shrimp and I hope keeping the TDS under 150ppm would be okie.

Regarding the pH, current reading (an hour before the photo period ends), stands at 7.1 @ 22.5 degree C. I feel pretty confident that after the CO2 has been used, this will remain within a stable range.


Post the photo period, the aeration will continue.

I have also planted 6 bunches of Rotala today in a hurry.

I hope this is going to will help from disastrous algae breakouts. I noted some of the plants pearling today including the rotala.

I may opt for a 33% water change tomorrow if the weather becomes better (we are in a midst of some insane amount of rain). Then start with the ferts.

Thank you.

Arbinde

 

[richardcunliffe]

This is looking great. Love the layout. Keep us posted! 🇳🇵