#1157 Life From What Remains
About This Aquascape
Life From What Remains was inspired by the way fallen trees in nature become foundations for new ecosystems. Rather than representing the end of life, the fallen wood becomes shelter, substrate, and structure for new growth. The layout was designed around that idea—plants reclaiming the fallen wood while fish move through the darker spaces beneath it. This aquascape was an important learning experience for me, evolving significantly throughout its life as I continued studying composition, plant growth, maintenance, and the way natural environments change over time.
- Filter
- Oase Biomaster 2 Thermo 600, Oase Biomaster 350, Oase CrystalSkim 600
- CO2 System
- Pressurized CO₂ injection, starting 2 hours before lights on and stopping 1 hour before lights off. Approximately 8 hours of CO₂ injection per day, typically targeting 30–35 ppm.
- Lighting
- Week Aqua L Series Pro-D
- Substrate
- Soil: UNS Contrasoil, ADA Amazonia V2 Powder Sand: Mixed Aquanatural Prairie Sand, Aquanatural Sugar White and Aquanatural Delta
- Hardscape Materials
- Seiryu Stone, Ancient Wood
- Background
- Light gray painted wall with supplemental LED backlighting
Species
Hemigrammus rhodostomus Hemigrammus bleheri Caridina multidentata Otocinclus sp Neocaridina davidi Hemigrammus cf. hyanuary
Plant species
Hydrocotyle tripartita Rotala H’ra Ludwigia ovalis Hygrophila pinnatifida Marsilea hirsuta Vallisneria nana Sagittaria subulata Anubias ‘Dragonclaw’ Blyxa japonica Staurogyne repens HC Cuba (Hemianthus callitrichoides) Bucephalandra ‘Red Silat’ Bucephalandra ‘Godzilla’ Bucephalandra ‘Amanda’ Anubias ‘Mini Coin’ Eleocharis pusilla/parvula Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green’ Anubias barteri var. nana
Fertilization
Dosed daily via Chihiros automatic doser using separate Green Leaf Aquariums KNO₃, KH₂PO₄, and micronutrient solutions. Current targets are approximately 10–20 ppm NO₃ and 1–2 ppm PO₄, with PO₄ split into two daily doses. APT root tabs/capsules are added periodically for root-feeding plants.
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