Introduction While many hobbyists rely on water parameter readings of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate to monitor their water quality, these parameters alone do not give a complete picture of water quality. The tank water may have a high pathogenic bacteria load (in the case of new/unstable/under-filtered systems) or other forms of organic waste molecules that have not yet […]
Above: a tank at peak. When tanks reach their ‘instagram moment’, it unfortunately also signals that (a) trimming and/or (b) replanting is soon due. In reality, planted tanks are crop-fields, not perennial forests. They look best when they fill the tank. But this peak also marks the ‘point of harvest’. If we do not remove […]
Biofiltration 101 The decomposition of waste products in a tank happen in many stages. Fish & plants (yes, plants too, in the form of old leaves and old plant parts) excrete organic waste in the form of waste proteins, amino acids, cellular lining, dead cells, fiber, urea and other organic by products. Snails, shrimps and other detritus […]
Unlike in the case of a new aquarium setup, with an existing set up, making use of the existing microorganisms within the filter and substrate is the most efficient method and poses the minimal risk of failure. Yet, there are some notes on transplanting of beneficial microorganisms that are worth knowing: firstly, it is ideal […]
Storage of Layout Materials and Utilization of Layout Goods When the layout materials such as stones and driftwood are not to be used for a long period of time despite their feature of being repeatedly usable, they should be kept in an appropriate manner. Stones should be left outside so that it will be exposed […]
Sozo Haishoku Sozo Haishoku, a process of replacing aquatic plants without changing the composition framework of the layout, is mainly performed for lwagumi layouts, since heavy stones are difficult to be removed particularly from large tanks for rearrangement, unlike driftwood which is light in weight. A totally identical lwagumi cannot be achieved even if the […]
Although the Nature Aquarium can be maintained for a long period of time by the trimming and cutting-and-replanting of aquatic plants, it will eventually reach its life limit for reasons such as deteriorated substrate condition. Particularly when the water flow within the substrate has been affected as a result of high compaction and broken grains […]
4Being natural products, the layout materials used in the Nature Aquarium such as stones and driftwood are all different and each of them has its own unique features. By bringing out these features, you will be able to make your own distinctive layout. If you have found a layout material you like, you can fully […]