Green Hills
Updated: May 24, 2024
Plug & Play Concept
Plug & Play is a term certainly known to many of you in different topic, but perhaps difficult to fit into Aquascaping, simply because we know that Aquascaping is a set of variables and paths to reach the same goal.
And because of that, I was challenged by Twinstar and Strideways to create a project, following one of these paths. A path that Twinstar actually uses in its aquarium gallery. A simple recipe that, if followed, will certainly lead to excellent results, with minimal effort, while enjoying aquascaping and planted aquariums. And this last point, I believe is what we all want in this hobby.
As Filipe Oliveira said, don't become slaves to the aquarium!
Aquarium Information
Assembly date
01/05/2024
Size
60p Extra Clear Glass from Strideways
60x30x36cm
Stile
Brazilian
Equipment
Filter
Oase Biomaster Thermo 250
Heater
Integrated in filter
Ilumination
Twinstar 600EC
6 hours
CO2 System
Strideways CO2 Kit and Inline Diffuser
6 hours
Sterlizer
Twintar M3
Twinstar sterilizers are unique devices used to inhibit green algae and promote plant growth. Its intelligent and automatic control, managed by ALC algorithms,. They are 2x more efficient than UV filters, but unlike them, they are completely harmless to the fauna and flora of your aquarium, producing no toxicity.
Personal Note: This product is a nice to have in your aquarium but it doesn't work miracles in the treatment of algae if all the other components (light, CO2, temperature, fertilization) are not in tune. See this product as a preventive product and not as a remedial one.
Hardscape
Substrate System
Layer 1 | JBL Pro Scape Volcano Mineral |
Layer 2 | 2HR Aquarist APT Jazz |
Layer 3 | JBL Pro Scape Plant Soil |
Hardscape
Black Eldery Stone from Strideways
Fauna & Flora
Fauna
TdB
Flora
Rotala Rotundifolia Orange Juice
Rotala Rotundifolia Green
Rotala Rotundifolia Hra
H. C. Cuba
Staurogyne Repens
Cryptocoryne Parva
Eleocharis sp. Mini
Routines and Fertilization
Fertilization
Masterline Carbo | 2ml daily |
2HR Aquarist APT Complete | 2ml daily |
Seachem Pristine | 5ml weekly |
Water Change
40% / 50% Weekly
The Journey
Note: Most of the explanation follows the Twinstar method, however some of decisions and informations are mine.
Pre-assembly
To get this aquarium started with a good colony of bacteria, I cycled the filter midea (Seachem Matrix) in another aquarium for 15 days. This accelerate the cycling of a new aquarium, avoiding ammonia spikes, which are harmful to plant development.
First Week
The first week is the one that requires the most attention and work. During the first week I do daily water changes of between 40% and 50% to remove dirt and excess nutrients from the new substrate.
Second Week
In the second week I do water changes every two days.
As soon as the water was completely crystal clear, I installed the Twinstar Sterilizer to help me prevent the appearance of green algae in the aquarium from the beginning. This device works automatically, we just have to plug it in and stick it to the glass, in an area with good flow. The sterilizer, through water electrolysis, destroys the pores of the algae, which are still invisible to the human eye.
At the end of the second week I started to see the plants adapting to the aquarium and showing clear signs of growth.
Third Week
In the third week I do water changes every tree days.
It's from this week onwards that the nightmare begins for many aquarists! Looking at the nitrogen cycle, it is usually in the third week that new aquariums experience the peak of nitrites. This spike in nitrites, if not treated carefully, leads to a boom in diatoms, which feed on these nitrates. We usually call this: new fishbowl syndrome.
If this is happening to you, don't panic. As soon as the nitrite levels drop and you introduce Otocinclus or Amano Shrimp into the aquarium, they will disappear as quickly as they appeared.
At this time the plants show effective signs of growth. Over the days I have been carrying out small trimmings on the Rotalas, replanting some tips so I can start working on a dense bush early on.
So far, there are still no signs of algae.
I increased the light intensity to 90% but still 6 hours.
I continue to fertilize daily with 2ml of APT Zero and 2ml of Liquid Carbon.
CO2 around 45ppm.
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