Journal UNS 150U - Nature Aquarium

[Koan]

Awesome write up

Absolutely love the flow in this hardscape. Gorgeous!

And you're right, Hakkai stone is straight up weathered lava rock, probably a basanite it doesn't actually have fracture planes

 

[BranchScape]

Really like the layout and look forward to see how it's planted.

I like to have a temporary rock to sit on things when possible during the dark start. Typically you can remove it in a week or two. The wood might be buoyant still but it's at least partially saturated and less likely to break the glue points.

Dark start, aborted. Well, interrupted at least.

I woke up early yesterday morning as I needed to get a couple of water changes done, and refresh the CO2 generator for my plant holding tank that is currently holding some precious cargo in the form of some Eriocaulon Feather Duster that I neeeeeeeded for this build (darn if that plant isn’t difficult to find), before starting the rest of my day.

Coffee in hand, I descended the stairs into the basement and discovered that overnight the hardscape gods had some entertainment at my expense, and smited me. Hard. This happened after more than a week under water, but the necropsy revealed a tiny piece of stone that had chipped off under a glue joint, and probably initiated something of a domino effect. Possibly a hairline surface shipping crack…at a pivotal location. I didn’t even know you could break Hakkai stone! Not all of the wood floated, just three quarters of it. Thankfully, the more vertical rock that took forever to stand up and position initially during the build didn’t fall backwards and hit the glass, but the one remaining piece of wood that didn’t float, and a support rock buried in the substrate behind that stone helped keep that stable at least. I will take that as a win.

However, I think this scape below is a bit too minimalist, and needs more height, don't you? So, after taking care of the barn I rolled up my sleeves, and got to work on a somewhat unplanned 100% waterchange, interrupted by several hours of overzealous gluing.

View attachment 15619

Draining the tank took what felt like an eternity. The irony is that my water transfer pump is “out for delivery” today, along with 125’ of hoses. I thought I had a little more time to get the pump as I wasn’t intending to fully drain the tank until planting. Draining a 140 gallon tank with a Python hose is…inefficient, to put it politely. You can’t say that the hardscape gods don’t have a wry sense of humor. If I didn’t address this situation yesterday, with my schedule this week, it would have to wait until next weekend, but next weekend I could probably drain the tank in 10 minutes, not two hours. At least I got my laundry done while I was waiting, and it gave the RO system a headstart to begin cranking out another 140 gallons.

This exercise convinced me that the water transfer pump is a good way to go, though. My tanks are at basement level. It’s a walkout, and there’s not much grade. The pump will also allow me to vary more where the water drains to outside, as there is a bit of terrain to negotiate outside. Passive siphoning is just too slow for a tank this size, and too restrictive as ‘water don’t flow uphill’ as they say. And thank you, Oase, for all the extra bits and bobs they include with the filters. At least I didn't have to stand there holding the hose, and when the level got low enough, I just laid it down in the tank over a shallow dish, and didn't even lose a single grain of sand.

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With the water level finally down to about an inch, it was finally time to get to work. The hardscape went in the first time in a bare bottom tank, with no soils or sand, and I really didn’t want to excavate all that back out if I could avoid it. There’s still beneficial bacteria starting up in the substrate, but it’s about 65% aquasoil/powersand/additives to 35% sand. I knew that keeping the substrate in would slow me down, and I had no idea how long it was going to take to put it back together, so just in case I was smited again during reconstruction, I set the filters up in their happy place so I didn’t either, forget about them, or feel compelled to rush things, and could at least salvage the start of the dark start.

View attachment 15621

During the post-disaster necropsy, and subsquent reconstruction, I did question the glue. These manzanita pieces are pretty thick, not your typical wispy pieces, and are very buoyant. I am always impressed that heavy wood can float so well, but not surprised. We lived in the coastal redwood belt in California for 37 years, and one of our places flooded in the 97/98 El Niño, and watching massive full-sized redwood trees barreling down a flooded river like turbo-charge battering rams, and piling up like matchsticks on the beach, is something to behold. Thankfully this wood is much smaller, but no less ‘floaty’. Superglue, though, IMO is actually fairly fragile, and brittle, and wood is not a stable beast. I considered just covering the tank, and letting the filters run in buckets for a while so I could source a more durable glue option, but I also just wanted to get this put back together, and resume the darkstart as I am itching to get planting. Once again I was thwarted by watching too many European aquascaping videos on my re-entry into this hobby. What I really wanted to try was something like Arka Aqua-Fix Polyglue. I know the rocks are heavy enough to counter the floating potential of the wood, it’s honestly the superglue I question. During the ‘necropsy’ yesterday, it is clear that even dumping a ridiculous amount of glue into tissue paper, cotton pads, or that Riverest/Wio type dryer-lint looking stuff, the glue tends to set before truly saturating to the core of the binding agent. Or maybe I just suck at gluing

View attachment 15622

I did, late last night, after a lot of doubting myself, and my re-gluing effort, finally get the tank completely refilled, with the filters and pipes back in position. The RO system has been working like a dream, and at least had time yesterday to crank out another 140 gallons on the fly. That booster pump has had a workout already, and was worth every penny.

View attachment 15625

As a side note, I did get to test the water sensor alarm while disassembling the lily pipes from the filters yesterday. They work great, albeit the notification to my phone was a bit slow.

View attachment 15623

However, I am procrastinating this morning, and half-afraid to go back downstairs to see if I am back to square one again with Manzanita corks bobbing around in the tank. If I am defying physics here, and the forces of nature need to be reckoned with, does anyone have any alternate glues for larger scapes that they like to work with, that aren’t cumbersome to work with in tricky spaces, or take an eternity to cure? I am very open to suggestions. I am sure this won’t be the last time one of my hardscapes tries to launch itself into near-earth orbit. It happens to everyone at some point, and it is a rather humbling experience. Let's hope dark start 2.0 goes better...

View attachment 15626

 

[Capraquaria]

Really like the layout and look forward to see how it's planted.

I like to have a temporary rock to sit on things when possible during the dark start. Typically you can remove it in a week or two. The wood might be buoyant still but it's at least partially saturated and less likely to break the glue points.

I was lamenting not having any extra rocks laying around yesterday, if only for insurance. I think I need to hit the local rock yard and come up with a couple weighing stones for future scapes. Or even this one if is misbehaves again!

 

[Capraquaria]

...
And you're right, Hakkai stone is straight up weathered lava rock, probably a basanite it doesn't actually have fracture planes

Right?! It's incredibly dense, and I consider it to be almost indestructable!

I was lamenting not having any extra rocks laying around yesterday, if only for insurance. I think I need to hit the local rock yard and come up with a couple weighing stones for future scapes. Or even this one if is misbehaves again!

 

[Capraquaria]

Physics was starting to win again, and I noticed two glue joint cracks in the foreground late yesterday afternoon. As I have no heavy-enough rocks here to weigh the driftwood down, and even if I did, I am not sure how I would balance them due to the shape of the driftwood, I made my own 'sand bags'. Note to self, invest in some large media bags, because ziplocks take a bit to burp all the air out underwater. The only mesh media bags I have on hand are tiny, for additives like carbon, or Purigen, and that simply wasn't going to cut it. So I improvised. 18 inch cable ties, at strategic joints to start. Then some gravel bags comprised of 1 gallon ziplocks packed with WIO black venom nano boulders and gravel, and most of a bag of UNS Sequoia Controsand to the rescue. It's ugly, but functional, and so far the bags are staying put as they evenly distribute the weight across both sides of the arches without sliding off. Now we wait. It just needs to stay put long enough to water-log. Fingers crossed, so far it's staying put.

 

[Koan]

I made my own 'sand bags'. Note to self, invest in some large media bags, because ziplocks take a bit to burp all the air out

Haha brilliant!

 

[Capraquaria]

Hardscape staying put so far, so the gravel bags are doing their job. Every day the wood stays down is a win, and one step closer to water-logging!

Meanwhile, while riding out the dark start, I am getting a few other things in order. Reasonably late last night, the first livestock arrived, and are chilling in the quarantine tank. These are my first fish in almost 25 years, and I have to say, I could not be more impressed with Dan’s Fish. Starting with a group of 30 White Cloud Mountain Minnows. I don’t care if some think they are easy starter fish. I think they are lovely, and will complement the scape, rather than detract from it. They are hardy, and should be good dither fish for more shy species to be added later.

I always shipped fish in the past, with the exception of a Black Ghost Knifefish from a LFS back in the day. While I had read that Dan ships each fish in an individual bag, it is the first time I have received fish that way. An extra pair of hands would have been useful, but I perfected my juggling skills, and everything went smoothly. I am impressed with the quality and health of these fish. Very healthy and active on arrival, no DOA’s.



WCMM 1 of 30. You would look a little stressed, too, if you had been sloshing around in a UPS truck for 12 hours.

As for floating them to temp acclimate, I am so glad I opted for the ‘long’ lidded tank as a quarantine tank! (Excuse the dim lighting in the pics, I was keeping the lights off on that side of the room to minimize stress last night). At least they all fit. (Incase anyone is wondering, the CO2 you can see on the right is not in this tank. My plant holding tank is underneath this tank).



Finally got everyone situated around 10PM last night, and then just went to bed. This morning they are all much more relaxed, and looking great. Will update a pic once I turn the tank lights back on at lunch.

Yesterday my ATO reservoir also arrived. I might try again on the actual ATO, as I just have a cheap Digiten I picked up last year for a smaller tank that I ended up not using. Not sure I trust it. If anyone has a solid, preferably non-optical ATO they recommend, I am all ears, as I see mixed reviews on a lot of them, and most seem to be heading in the optical direction. I do like the design of these ‘Simplicity’ reservoirs, though, especially the easy access for refilling, and it tucks very nicely under the cabinet, even with the fill lid open. It also comes in a 10 gallon option, but was a bit tall for this stand, and would have to slide it out to refill it.



Next project this weekend is figuring out my best local option, other than AirGas, for filling the 10lb CO2 tank sitting next to the reservoir. Have a couple of brew supply places to scope out for that, so we’ll see. Then I can start putting together and testing the Yugang reactor

 

[Koan]

If anyone has a solid, preferably non-optical ATO they recommend

Aquacave has some of the old style Tunze 3152s left or there's an open box from Marine and Reef on Amazon

figuring out my best local option, other than AirGas, for filling the 10lb CO2

There's a Roberts Oxygen in Manassas, I use their Winchester store

 

[Capraquaria]

Aquacave has some of the old style Tunze 3152s left or there's an open box from Marine and Reef on Amazon

View attachment 15802



There's a Roberts Oxygen in Manassas, I use their Winchester store

Looks like the 3152 is only rated for 250 liters? Do you think it would work for a 540 liter tank?

And what a small world! I use the Winchester Robert's Oxygen for my liquid nitrogen deliveries. They were just here on Tuesday! I wonder if they would fill the CO2 while there are here anyway, or if I would need to drive out to Winchester? Good thought, though, and worth a call!

 

[gnatster]

If anyone has a solid, preferably non-optical ATO they recommend

I'm about to try this one. Waiting on a reship; the first one came with 2 plugs but no pump.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I use a GLH Profilux Computer to have absolutely max control and safety over my ATO. I run my tanks with two float switches, where if one of them reaches the "top", it will shut off. About 100 other features too, but I trust this system with my life.

Also, the float switches are BLACK. Idk why everything needs to be stark eye-catching white, no one even notices the float switches on my tanks.

($$$)

 

[Capraquaria]

I'm about to try this one. Waiting on a reship; the first one came with 2 plugs but no pump.

Thanks! When you take it for a test drive, would you be willing to report back? I like the dual sensors, and concept of overflow protection.

 

[Koan]

if I would need to drive out to Winchester? Good thought, though, and worth a call!

I'm sure you can use their Manassas store

Do you think it would work for a 540 liter tank

Sorry scratch that friday brain.

Here's a recent Reef to Reef discussion on what's out there

 

[Capraquaria]

I use a GLH Profilux Computer to have absolutely max control and safety over my ATO. I run my tanks with two float switches, where if one of them reaches the "top", it will shut off. About 100 other features too, but I trust this system with my life.

($$$)

I almost went with the Profilux, and still might depending on how everything else comes together (or not). As I had Chihiros lighting, I didn't need light control (although I have one flaky Bluetooth controller on one of the Vivid 3's, and am questioning that choice at the moment), and hoping the Yugang setup will handle CO2 regulation, so wasn't sure how much I would use it, but I do like that system, and it seems pretty solid. Got a little geeked out watching a Green Aqua video with Viktor a few months ago when he showed how they use it both in the gallery, and for client tanks. It's a pretty sweet system.

 

[Capraquaria]

I'm sure you can use their Manassas store



Sorry scratch that friday brain.

Here's a recent Reef to Reef discussion on what's out there

Ha, I keep forgetting they have a walkin store in Manassas. They don't deliver, so I just don't think about it.

 

[Capraquaria]

Here's a recent Reef to Reef discussion on what's out there

That was an informative read, thank you!

 

[Capraquaria]

Checked on my quarantine friends at lunch, turned on the lights, and gave them a light feed. Love it when fish settle in well after a long trip. Looking forward to eventually seeing them in the main tank where they can really swim around (currently in a 20 Long).


View attachment 20260403_113404_1.mp4

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Those yellow fins are super cool!

 

[MrJG]

Yes they are! Might have to consider an order.

These are going to be fun to watch in the tank.

 

[Capraquaria]

Those yellow fins are super cool!

They really are. I honestly wasn't expecting them to be so colorful in the fins, and certainly not in the first 24 hours. I have never kept WCMM before, and I am really liking them so far. Nice active little fish, but much less frenetic than Danios, and I really like that little pop of pizzazz in the fin color. I expect the grey in the body color will probably be more pronounced against the Hakkai stone, too. So happy with them!