MOSSY STREAM: Dooa Mizukusa wall

[Ady34]

I’m really enjoying the JUNGLE PUDDLE mizukusa wall riparium, so have decided to do another Mizukusa wall project in my ADA 60f tank. This will be more of a paludarium as the tank has a slightly different perspective and allows
for greater underwater focus.



It’s in the very early stages as I only just purchased hardscape over the weekend with the plan to create a mossy stream, loosely based on a Borneo fish and planting scheme, with the end plan to house a group of chilli rasbora and some freshwater shrimp.

I began getting a feel for the hardscape layout last night based on my concept….



Cheerio for now,
Ady.

 

[Ady34]

The hardscape materials are:

Yamaya stone…



and Talawa wood…



Yamaya stone is a new material to me but gives me a nice a ‘stream’ feel. I have used Talawa wood before in my Re-education scape. Its linear structure and bark offer a nice tree feel.
I will use a sand and gravel substrate, and planting will be in the main part moss and bucephelandra species.

 

[Ady34]

⚒️ H A R D S C A P E B U I L D ⚒️

Making progress on the mossy stream…

 

[Ady34]

I have finalised the hardscape now and added the substrate.
I have gone for a slightly unconventional mix of substrates, not specifically representative of the main hardscaping rock used. Usually I try to match the larger graded gravels to the rock type used in colour pallette and form, however I have utilised a varied mix of gravel types and colours in this scape. When I’ve been looking at natural streams often the riverbed has different coloured pebbles to that of the main larger stones which you see. I guess this is down to location and geology and the natural processes of erosion.
A mix of wio elederly gravel, dennerle rio xingu and river gravel, ADA congo sand in various grades and finally ADA Mekong sand for the finer lighter finish have all been used and mixed to give a stream bed feel. Once wet these colours will show more.

I will plant the moss wall and perhaps some of the emergent layers and then fill and run the tank for a few weeks to allow the ‘fungus biofilm’ phase of the wood to peak before adding moss and underwater planting.









Cheerio,

 

[Ady34]

Hi,
I filled the tank last night and ‘mossed’ up the wabi mats. I’ll plant a bit more of the emersed areas and leave the underwater planting for a few weeks to allow the fungus wood phase to pass…

Hardscape completed:


Filled and operational:



Cheerio,

 

[Mike Singh]

@Ady34 which moss did you use for the moss wall?

 

[Ady34]

@Ady34 which moss did you use for the moss wall?

Christmas moss 😁

 

[Ady34]

P L A N T I N G P R O G R E S S

Made some further progress with planting, and earlier last week I added some Maidenhair ferns to the upper branches, fed with a dooa terra tape water wick from the Mizukusa wall weir like I did in the jungle puddle with the higher positioned plants. I removed all soil and again wrapped the roots in sphagnum moss. Some terrestrial ferns were added also using the same sphagnum moss technique.
Over the weekend I have added some moss to the emersed branches and rocks and also some bucephelandra to the emersed and submersed sections. Still a few more to add, especially underwater and then the moss to the underwater wood once ready.
Really enjoying this build and looking forward to the chilli rasbora in the future, they will be perfect fish for this set up.

Currently running with increased mist duration while the emersed bucephelandra are adapting. I’m also manually mist spraying when I pass the tank….working today though so hoping they won’t dry out during the day 😬





















Cheerio,

 

[Sarpijk]

Having used Maidenhair ferns in many setups be prepared for countless new plantlets growing in the moss in due time!

 

[Ady34]

Having used Maidenhair ferns in many setups be prepared for countless new plantlets growing in the moss in due time!View attachment 219901

Looking forward to it 🤞🏻😁🌿💚

 

[Ady34]

Planted underwater now.
Will hope the small in vitro buce don’t melt and then enjoy things naturalising 😁












I have a small climbing/trailing begonia sp. lita to add to the rear wall and I think that will just about do.
A simpler planting concept than the Jungle Puddle paludarium which will add a nice variation at home.

Cheerio
Ady.

 

[ianmianmianm]

Loving this

 

[Iain Sutherland]

This looks amazing mate, any updates?

 

[Ady34]

Loving this

Thanks, me too 😀

 

[Ady34]

This looks amazing mate, any updates?

Thanks Iain, yes it’s been doing really well to be honest until very recently where I now have a massive black aphid outbreak which are slowly killing my maidenhair ferns 😢
I am trying Diatomaceous earth to treat the aphid infestation but it’s so messy. I may try alcohol as a more direct method of killing. It’s tricky to get suitable treatment with it being over a tank with fish and inverts. Fingers crossed something will work as I’ve been loving it and the chilli rasbora are perfect fish 😍

A recent image….

 

[tacy k]

Ladybird and lacewing larvae eat them. Or ladybirds if you can find any. Might be worth trying. (Although I tried putting them on an aphid infested Hellebore and the wretched things kept wandering off!)

 

[Maf 2500]

The thing about aphids is they have zero armour or strength or speed. Their only superpower is reproducing quickly. If you could spend 10-15 minutes a day combing through the maidenhair with your fingers and gently squishing the aphids you would have the numbers under control in a week or two. They are mainly sugar so it is not too gross on the fingers, just wash your hands afterwards! Very nice tank, btw.

 

[Ady34]

Ladybird and lacewing larvae eat them. Or ladybirds if you can find any. Might be worth trying. (Although I tried putting them on an aphid infested Hellebore and the wretched things kept wandering off!)

Yes I’ve looked into the mealybug ladybird that eats mealybugs etc. normal ladybirds don’t tend to touch the aphids so I would need to purchase some specifically. I think I will try alcohol first and use the predator method as a last resort 😀🙌🏻

The thing about aphids is they have zero armour or strength or speed. Their only superpower is reproducing quickly. If you could spend 10-15 minutes a day combing through the maidenhair with your fingers and gently squishing the aphids you would have the numbers under control in a week or two. They are mainly sugar so it is not too gross on the fingers, just wash your hands afterwards! Very nice tank, btw.

Yeah I have been ‘squishing’ but tried the diatomaceous earth treatment which stopped me from doing that as the powder them falls everywhere making a mess again 🤦🏼‍♂️ I’ve vacuumed the powder tonight as it didn’t appear to be working so will again get back to squishing and will try alcohol spray too.
Thanks for the tips all, I really want them gone so my ferns get back to a lovely green without there sticky coating 😂

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Yes I’ve looked into the mealybug ladybird that eats mealybugs etc

Although I tried putting them on an aphid infested Hellebore and the wretched things kept wandering off!)

I bought <"Cryptolaemus montrouzieri"> for the glasshouse. It started well, but they soon decided to leave and they fly really strongly when it is warm. If I put a mealybug effected plant in the glasshouse, it is pretty quickly cleaned up, but I have no idea what eats them.

The parasitoid wasps of the genus Aphidius <"are much more effective">. I never bought these, they just arrived on their own, I'm not sure how they would do in a house. In the glasshouse there are usually a few aphids in the spring, but they all end up parasitised as the temperature climbs.

I also purchased the midge <"Aphidoletes aphidimyza">, they persisted for a long time but I'm not sure I have any left.

cheers Darrel

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Thanks Iain, yes it’s been doing really well to be honest until very recently where I now have a massive black aphid outbreak which are slowly killing my maidenhair ferns 😢
I am trying Diatomaceous earth to treat the aphid infestation but it’s so messy. I may try alcohol as a more direct method of killing. It’s tricky to get suitable treatment with it being over a tank with fish and inverts. Fingers crossed something will work as I’ve been loving it and the chilli rasbora are perfect fish 😍

A recent image….
View attachment 223089

love it mate, feels like a real slice out of nature! You could just cut the maidenhair down entirely, you might be surprised how quick it comes back, in a few months you would never know (going way back in time but recall Alistair documented doing exactly that and how long it took to grow back in his chocolate puddle journal although all the photos have now gone so tricky to find)