Journal 40 Gallon Maiden Scape

[filmpunk]

Well the time has finally arrived for me to begin my first true Aquascape, so this is my Maiden Voyage into the world of Aquascaping if you will. Similar to @Sb1415's "The Beginner scaper journal" I am beginning with more of a vision than a concrete plan and I would love any input, suggestions, and constructive criticisms that you all have to offer. Here is what I'm working with to begin this:

Tank:
40 Gallon Breeder (dimensions: 36" L x 18" W x 17" D)
Lighting:
Netlea AT5S Gen 3 (90cm)
Filtration:
Oase Biomaster 2 600 Canister
Will be using intake & outflow that came w/ the Biomaster for the time being, possibly upgrading to glass or stainless in the future.
Co2:
Green Leaf Aquarium Pro-DS-1 Dual Stage Regulator
GLA Inline Atomic Inline Diffuser
5lb Bottle
Fertilization:
Mixing my own GLA Macros & Micros w/ Plantex CSM+B
Dosing Via Chihiros Dosing Pump w/ Magnetic Stirring base
Substrate:
2 Hr Aquarist APT Feast, Crushed lava rock (for height), accent gravel & decorative sand (seeking suggestions).
Hardscape:
Driftwood: Manzanita
Rock: Gneiss which I collected locally.
Plants:
Currently Being farmed which may or may not end up being used (Any suggestions on pairing, placement, or other considerations would be helpful):
Blyxa Japonica
Hygrophila Pinnatifada
Staurogyne Repens
Pogostemon Helferi
Echinodorus Aflame
Anubias Dragon Claw & various anubias variants
Riccadia Chamedryfolia
Rotala Rotundifolia Vietnam H'ra
Alternanthera reineckii var roseafolia
lobelia cardinalis
Gratiola Viscidula
Buces
Hygrophila Araguaia
Crypt Parva
Cyrpt Lucens
Lagenandra Meeboldii Green

Plants I'm Still Considering: Pogostemon Deccanensis, Limnophila Aromatica, Eriocaulon Breviscapum (if i can source it), Micranthemum 'monte carlo' (grown epiphytically).
Other considerations: Back ground.... either plain black or using frosted white window film and repurposing my Fluval Aquasky light to add a sunset effect to the background.

Water:
Will be using RO water remineralized with 2Hr Aquarist Sky Plus

Goals:
My goal here is not a contest winning tank, but a nature style aquascape that will not require an inordinate amount of maintenance. If I can maintain this with basic weekly maintenance that would be ideal. I would also love to keep this tank set up long term if possible, if I could push to 5+ years before needing to rescape that would be my ideal, but I understand sometimes things just don't work out that way. Plan currently is to finalize my hardscape set up... unsure how long this is going to take but I'm not in a rush.... when I get the hardscape to the point the tank would look great with only my hardscape, then I will move forward with a dark start. All of my driftwood is new, so I will continue the dark start until the white fuzzy mold that will inevitably form on the driftwood finally begins to subside before I begin planting.

In need of suggestions:
The tank will normally viewed at sort of a 3/4 angle from our couch, this would be my primary viewing angle. If you were to view from above I've attached some rudimentary Drawings for illustrative purposes.

I'd love to hear some ideas on how I should maybe think about laying this out. I would like to have a sand foreground (unsure about any defined "sand path" as I'm not really attempting a diorama style scape. These are sort of my options as I understand them, if there are others I'd love to hear about them. Currently leaning toward either a triangle or concave lay out, maybe with a smaller island off to one side. A single centralized Island would probably be my last choice for the simple reason they tend to feel less like a snapshot of nature and more contrived. The green arrows represent the direction of upward slope. If you have any input on how any of these layout may affect flow/ co2 distribution please advise. Would love to hear any input or thoughts on how you all might approach a layout with the above viewing angles.


My rock is dark grey/ to blackish in color, with white striations. This in an example, the white is quartz not lime or calcium. I've tested the rock with HCI and it is non reactive. Currently have some sitting in one of the farm tanks and it has not had any effect on the water parameters.

In terms of decorative sand I've been considering a darker sand to match the rock, maybe BDBS , but also considering maybe just a more natural looking sand. The area where these rocks are found don't have dark dirt around them, just regular looking dirt, this is where I would use the accent gravel to sort of create a transition between the rock work and the sand if I went with a more natural color sand. What are your thoughts?

I will begin posting photos as soon as I have my hardscape arrangement finalized. Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I used the magnetic stirrer from Chihiros for a full year+... if you aren't adding more dry ferts than water can hold (precipitating out) it's not necessary or even worth the cost. It's a nice bottle holder though, but it's loud, leaves marks/residue from the stir bars, and has been unnecessary when staying in the safe zone (-15% solubility at room temp) for diy fertilizers.

My personal findings for a -15% buffer safe zone is:

Super-Safe (85% of max solubility at Room Temp) g/mL concentrations for fertilizers:​

KNO3: 0.306g/mL
KH2PO4: 0.187g/mL
K2SO4: 0.1g/mL

You can totally exceed these numbers, but you'll approach the max solubility at room temp (70°F for me). Just letting you know if you want to save the money on the Chihiros auto stir plate.

 

[filmpunk]

Already have it... purchased awhile back when I was working crazy hours and needed a way to stay consistent with my dosing during the week. Only bought the stirrer because I would need to shake my macros before dosing because a small amount was not completely dissolving in the bottle

 

[Count Krunk]

I would opt for a yugang reactor instead. Have you seen those?

 

[filmpunk]

I have seen the Yugang reactors, first on Aquarocks Colorado, then I saw Jeff Miotke's youtube video about it. Definitely open to other options, I had been considering Tom Barr's DIY dual venturi reactor. If other methods provide better results I'm certainly willing to make adjustments.

Update:
Been working on my hardscape, and while I have come across a layout that I'm happy with at about 80% completion, it is VERY rock heavy and I feel that the amount of rock is beginning to take up valuable planting area. I know I can use epiphytic plants etc, but I don't want to rely on epiphytes to achieve a dense planting. I think I need to rework the scape... I initially planned to use the rock to sort of create terraces so I wouldn't have the soil contantly falling forward or leveling out. Terraces are still the plan, but I'm thinking I need to go find more rock to give myself more options. I THOUGHT I had collected enough to give myself plenty of options.

What are your methods for creating height in a scape if you are planning to keep it set up long term? Has anyone used Rattan Vines, what are your thoughts or experiences with it? Also what are your experiences with different types/brands of sand? Anyone have any idea where I might be able to find Eriocaulon Breviscapum? Does anyone have any experience growing Rotala mexicana 'Goias'.... its a new one i'm considering throwing into the mix....

 

[filmpunk]

So I'm considering actually ordering some stone for this aquascape. Rather than having to make the drive and trying to find additional stone, I'm seriously leaning toward the simplicity of just ordering some stone... Its late July in Texas and I'm not exactly keen on the idea of getting soaked with sweat looking for rocks in near 100 degree temps. I'm looking at Ancient Manten Stone on Aquarocks Colorado as it looks very similar to some the stone I'm already using. The description says the stone is inert and will not alter water parameters, but then I just watched Green Aqua's Ultimate Hardscape Tutorial, and Tommy mentions that Manten Stone is one of the worst for altering water chemistry...... does anyone have any experience with this? What are some of your favorite stone types that won't alter water parameters? I'd prefer to use a greyish- to black colored stone, preferably would more texture than rounded stones. Current contenders are: Manten Stone, Basalt, Blue Fin, or possibly Frodo Stone. Open to other types too, just unsure where to sourse them. Does anyone know of any good stone suppliers where I could possibly buy in bulk? Had a fantastic landscape supply store nearby a that actually sold aquarium stone, but unfortunately they decided to close the family business a couple years ago and haven't been able to find another landscape supplier with the same stone selection....

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I'm looking at Ancient Manten Stone on Aqua Rocks Colorado as it looks very similar to some the stone I'm already using. The description says the stone is inert and will not alter water parameters, but then I just watched Green Aqua's Ultimate Hardscape Tutorial, and Tommy mentions that Manten Stone is one of the worst for altering water chemistry...... does anyone have any experience with this?

My Version 1 of my 150p, 140gal aquascape was the same Manten Stone from Aqua Rocks Colorado!










I found that the stone sometimes has a lot of iron-looking red coloration in contrast with the cool blue. I can confirm that the Manten Stone does not affect water quality (that is, it does not leach carbonates/TDS like Seiryu stone, etc.). I even tested with vinegar, and there was no reaction.

This is a very large tank (140 gal) but be warned, Aquascaping stones from a store like ARC are expensive. VERY expensive.
Tommy gave me a really good deal and I still spent over $1,200 on these stones.

I'll have them forever and have already used them in a new scape, while the rest sit in my back yard lol. They are beautiful stones, but you could always check out a local rock yard with a small vial of vinegar to test, and spend 1/10th the price I did.

Obviously I got to hand-pick, and even do a test build in the dojo, with every stone. That's what I feel like I paid for -- the chance to find the exact rocks I wanted. I'm not sure if ordering online will be the same, but Tommy and Tiffany (his wife) do an excellent job of sending photos and measurements of the actual rocks you're buying, if you ask them to.

 

[filmpunk]

Aquascaping stones from a store like ARC are expensive. VERY expensive.
Tommy gave me a really good deal and I still spent over $1,200 on these stones.

This is my main concern with ordering rocks..... wouldn't even know how much to order to have enough selection to make a layout that works... I know when I bought seiryu stone it was pretty pricey and I didn't get all that much. Only have 1 shop in town with a dojo & they do have a variety of rock, but the volume is very limited. Kinda considering making another trip to Houston to visit Aquarium design group again, they have a dojo and probably the best hardscape selection in the state.... no idea on pricing, I'm sure its not cheap, but I can def see the advantage of only having to pay for the rocks I need vs a bunch of rocks that may or may not be usable.

 

[Sb1415]

hey super excited for your build. Looks like you are not a beginner or any sorts but my 2 cents from a less experienced perspective…

• go for the stainless steel lily pipes, it is a pain to wash the glass ones which gets dirty like clock work every 2 weeks. Maybe one with the skimmer to increase surface agitation and balance out co2
• Jeff miotke suggested a frosted background from Home Depot which should be there on the forums, which was super nice.
• I would look into the scape that Dennis Wong has

That might suit your needs - just a suggestion.

 

[techman81]

Kinda considering making another trip to Houston to visit Aquarium design group again

I live in the Kansas City metro and have been thinking about a road trip to visit ADG to see the gallery in person and check out their hardscape inventory.

 

[filmpunk]

ADG is pretty awesome. I'm putting that trip on hold, I bit the bullet and went to find my rocks a couple weeks ago. I'm getting pretty close to a layout I'm fairly happy with, needs a few more tweaks then I'll post some pictures

 

[Count Krunk]

This tank get going or nah?

 

[filmpunk]

Sorry for the delay in updating this and I appreciate the interest. It's currently sitting Dry on the stand in my living room, I'm about 90% happy with the hardscape, and received the Wio canyon sand a few weeks ago, but just started school again, so between school, all the overtime I've been working, and the maintenance of my current tank and 2 other farm tanks its just been hard to find the time for the finishing touches. There are some more plants that I'd like to order but just now getting to the tail end of summer temperatures in Texas so that may happen in the next few weeks. Hopefully work will slow down a bit and I'll get a break from school for the holidays to finally put some of my time back into it.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Don’t rush it, take your time. I’m no stranger to “time,” let the chips fall when your ready