Journal UNS 60S Pond Scape

[gnatster]

Played around with Hardscape for a bit today. Sure do need to work on holding the phone straight.

 

[BenB]

I like that. What does it look like if you take the piece in the middle, turn it sideways, and lean it over a bit towards the ones on the left?

 

[Art]

@gnatster just suggestions from me as well.

I like the combo of rock and wood. Seem to work well together.

I find it too balanced. Put more weight on one of the third lines.

 

[gnatster]

Spent hours the past day or so moving rocks and wood around in my "dojo". I'm feeling good about this.

 

[Ernesto]

. Filling up the Aqua Soil with PO4 was my main point.

@Art may i ask which aquasoil you used then, and how/which quantity you charged it with PO4?

 

[gnatster]

I did a thing!

Took most of the day with a break for the Canadian GP.



Hardscape glued together - Front View



Hardscape glued together - From Above



Now with substrate goodness



Rock Barrier / Base for Sand



Sand in place



A sprinkling of Decorative Stone



From above, after a spray down. I spy a glue joint I forgot to camouflage.



Wet - Front View


In Situ

 

[gnatster]

We're off to the races.

Flooded the aquarium today. RO, remineralized with Salty Shrimp GH/KH, added bottled startup bacteria, and Seachem Phosphorus. Set Inkbird to 80°F. Covered for a complete blackout.

It's my understanding that I'll want to test the PO4 levels daily and dose, according to the calculator for the brand/flavor of PO4 selected, to bring the level to 2 ppm.

 

[HarryL]

I started a 11G with no dark start, straight to plants and shrimps and just making sure ammonia level was low enough for the shrimps. Went through the typical algae phases. Then I started my 25G with dark start, not seeing much algae after introducing plants, shrimps, and fish, so far it's been four months. This is my only experience with dark start though, I don't know how much it actually contributed to preventing the algae.

 

[gnatster]

Two-week mark today 6/30/25

The ammonia level is dropping. I had problems reading the NT test kit, so I picked up a Salifert that's much easier to determine colors. Nitrite is quite high, and Nitrate is not far behind. I've been dosing Seachem PO4 daily. Had a steady 4ppm, then went away for a weekend. PO4 level sank to almost nothing.

At least another week is planned. Don't want to risk shipping during a holiday week.

 

[Art]

Had a steady 4ppm, then went away for a weekend. PO4 level sank to almost nothing.

This was something I battled frustratingly for a while until I used the dark start + PO4 method.

 

[gnatster]

Now 20 days since setup.

I've been testing everything (pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, PO4, TDS , KH, and GH) every day. On the 15th day, the Ammonia level dropped precipitously, and Nitrite and Nitrate soared. TDS had quadrupled over the 15 days as well. KH was stable, GH was rising fast. PO4 levels bounce around. 50% Water change time. Since there is only microbial life, I opted not to remineralize as my goal was dilution. I did add the daily PO4 dose.

24 Hours later, Nitrite and Nitrate levels are still maxed. TDS dropped about a third. KH stable, GH still high. PO4 stable. Perform a 60% water change. I'm feeling positive things are going well, so I ordered plants expecting a late-week delivery

(Aside - Conveniently, when I filled the tank, it took a skosh under 10 gallons including the filter, making water change percentages a snap)

Another day passes, and Nitrite and Nitrate levels are still maxed. TDS has dropped about half now into an acceptable range. KH stable, GH lower, still a bit high. PO4 is about gone (where did it all go?). I did the normal dose the day before. Added a double dose of PO4.

That brings us to today. Nitrite and Nitrate levels are still up, about 1/2 previous levels. TDS is up a little. KH down a point, GH now good. PO4 off the chart high. PO4 levels are confounding me for some reason. Clean up from testing, open my email to find a shipping notice. Plants are to be here on Tuesday. A bit of excitement, panic, and anxiety all surface at once.

Another 60% water change to bring down those Nitrite and Nitrate levels. Set up CO2 and found a leaky bubble counter. I'm having the devil of a time with the fine adjustment; just touching the needle valve changes the setting. Touch towards the more open side, and a plume of CO2 emanates into the bubble counter. Touch towards lowering the flow, and CO2 stops. It's a CO2Art dual-stage regulator. Is the needle valve rebuildable or replaceable? I'll write CO2Art and ask. I purchased it second-hand from a person who had trouble with CO2, became frustrated, and sold it off for a silly low price.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[gnatster]

For those few on the edge of their seats waiting for what today has brought...

CO2Art responded to my email overnight. They provided clear instructions on what to check over. Disassembled the needle valve to see that it was dirty. Cleaned the valve parts with alcohol, was going to replace the O-Ring, alas, that size is out in my O-Ring assortment. The O-Ring looked fine, had some give, no cuts or dents I could see, so I reused it. Assembled everything and fired it up. The needle valve is touchy, nowhere as bad as before. From there, every half hour tested pH and ran a 30-second bubble count. As of this writing, the solenoid valve has been closed for 2 hours, yet CO2 continues to flow at a reduced rate.

A table of my findings.

Time​	pH​	Bubble Count​	Comments​
11:45​	7.4​		Starting
12:45​	7.4​	41​
1:15​	7.2​	34​	Some Color Change
1:45​	7.2​	33​
2:15​	7.1​	30​	Turning Greenish
2:25​	7.1​	35​
2:45 ​	7.1​	33​	Adjusted the 2nd stage to 34 PSI after the test
3:45​	7.0​	46​
4:15​	6.9​	50​	Color is much greener
4:45​	6.9​	53​	Adjusted the 2nd stage to 35 PSI after the test. Can now see “fizzy” water.
5:15​	6.8​	74​	2nd Stage doesn’t seem to hold pressure, has drifted back to 30 PSI. Yet the bubble count is higher.
5:45​	6.8​	72​	Color has a yellowish sheen on top of the drop checker
6:15​	6.8​	72​
6:45​	6.8​	74​	The meter was flirting with 6.7
7:15​	6.8​	45​	CO2 Shut Off 15 minutes prior. Still a few bubbles flowing through the counter.
7:45​	6.8​	41​	Light Ramping Down
8:15​	6.8​	36​
9:00​	6.9​	32​	Light off for 30 min

While babysitting the CO2 all day I also had time to map out PAR with the Photone app.

Chihiro RGB II Pro 60 - At Water Surface - Light 14” Off Surface -iPhone / paper diffuser.
Red - 40
Green - 32
Blue - 46
White - 39

Left Rear

42	53	35
	71
39	52	34

Left Front

Plants arrive tomorrow, woohoo.

 

[gnatster]

Now with plants

 

[Art]

This is looking great. I love the fact that this will showcase below and above the water plants.

Looking forward to it growing in over the next couple of months.