Journal 40B Flooded Creek

[JuJuFish]

This is a journal for my Marineland 40B that I bought 3 years ago at the LFS. It was the only 36” long tank I could find at the time, before I learned I could order them from somewhere else. It has evolved over the years from one thing to another, mostly without any plan. But nearly a year ago I decided to make a scape inspired by the creek at a friend’s house that was flooded from days of heavy rains. The marginal plants on the bank were submerged and below them was a layer of roots and sticks with patches of moss on the sand bed. The inhabitants would be Pygmy corydoras, Habrosus Corydoras, and Neocaridina shrimp. So … lots of sand and good hiding spots.

I built a ledge from spider wood and dragon stone. Added some trident ferns to the hardscape and dwarf sag in the sand. Fissidens moss on the sticks. A bit of Java Narrow K. And waited. The Blyxa japonica exploded in my 100g tank so I stuck some of that in the hardscape. Then pulled out the dwarf sag. Added moss covered sticks to the substrate surface. And continued to tweak here and there.

This is what it looks like now, 11 months later.



Oase Biomaster Thermo 350
Oase Crystalskim 350
Netlea AT5s light
Chihiros Tiny Z to light the foreground

Blyxa japonica
Java Fern Trident Mini and regular
Fissidens fontanus
Pilo moss
Bolbitis heudelotii from Petsmart

Spider wood, dragon stone, manzanita, cypress, oak and magnolia leaves.
Pool filter sand.

GLA ferts. PPS Pro.
RO water, Gh 6, Kh 1-2.

Pygmy corydoras
Habrosus corydoras
Aspidoras raimundi
Neocaridina (red)
Ramshorn snails
And scuds that I will never, ever be able to be rid of.

 

[JuJuFish]

This is where it started …

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Damn that exploded for sure!

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I love this tank. Shadows are underrated in aquascaping.

Is that blyxa planted epiphytically? Or is it in soil?

 

[JuJuFish]

I love this tank. Shadows are underrated in aquascaping.

Is that blyxa planted epiphytically? Or is it in soil?

Thanks so much. I love the shadows, too.

No soil for the Blyxa. Just stuffed into nooks and crannies. I also got a couple of hang on the back holders (Versa slims from Poth-O-Carry on Etsy). I added foam to the holders, made a slit, and stuffed Blyxa in them, too. Early days, they looked great and really covered the back of the tank. Now everything has grown in so much I can barely see them. Thinking about taking them out. Great shrimp habitat though.

Blyxa stuffed into the hardscape.

 

[JuJuFish]

I pulled out the HOB containers from the back of the tank that held the Blyxa. So thick and lush! But it had gotten so crowded back there and the leaves on the surface were trapping debris. Now to find a new home for them.