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Something... Something... Shallow UG Tank!

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Have decided to shut this setup down. It isn’t the end of playtime with Utricularia graminifolia though. Will be transplanting what is in this 45F to the Aquascaper 1200 which will be cleared down shortly.

Four feet of UG Iwagumi with better access for trimming. Should be simple but cool 😎

Really love this plant and gained a better appreciation for its adaptability and tenacity in different zones of the aquaria.

Hope this journal has been helpful for anyone wanting to try our carnivorous friend. Maybe more learning to be had at a larger scale in the 1200 but we’ll see…
 
Looking forward to it Geoffrey! Will you be using RO water on the 1200?

Yep @Courtneybst same drill as this tank.

Will also be good to go through the same startup process again on a second setup to check if it works. Build some confidence around that method potentially.

Know peeps have done mixed planting with UG. Personally, more interested in keeping it mono species so there’s a better chance you can figure out what makes Utricularia graminifolia tick over a scale of years. Using a larger setup like the 1200 is easier to commit to as it is in the living room this time, keep a closer eye on it.

Still hunting for those large pieces of lava rock first 🪨
 
Is this a full on shut down, dust sheets and all... or is there a phoenix in the 45F ashes?

Keen to keep the 45F @John q . Not sure what to do next though. Off to see Pavol Kulanda scape today, see what inspires.

Between the reef tank, 1200 and 45F there’s a decent mix of things always going on here. There’s always something to learn and the three different formats facilitate that well. It’s fun!
 
What I wanted to do in my 45f was a carpet of hairgrass with nymphaea pygmae in the very rear and a gravel/sand foreground but never quite got there. Maybe that’s something for you ;)
 
Honestly @John q haven’t a clue what is happening now.

The Long Haired Colonel has got involved 🙄

Suffice to say that upper command is fully against the Iwagumi campaign in the lounge.

Had just sourced some large lava rock for the 1200 as well:

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So.. that campaign is ermmn... dead in the water.. 😉

Pretty much, it’s a three to one vote against so pretty done, cut and shut. It’s a rare occasion that any tank in this house gets as much as a cursory look, let alone a strong opinion, so will take it they’re all serious.

Just got amped up to tear down both the 1200 and 45F as well. There’s a little bit of yourself poured into these creations and destroying them doesn’t come easy. Bit of a tease getting prepared to wreck and ruin only to call it off.

If the 45F has to stay then so be it. As an Iwagumi it plays a little away from strict design, but instinctively appeals without effort.

Currently, the Utricularia graminifolia needs cutting closer to the substrate to reveal the stones more effectively.

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The Oyaishi is central but slides off to the right due to its shape. It betrays the golden ratio but skates enough of the line in the small 45F format to get an acceptable positioning.

The Fukuishi, back right, isn’t the same colour or texture but does it’s job of balancing the Oyaishi and strengthens its position. The Oyaishi is heavy and pushes its weight down forcing the Fukuishi in an upward and outward inflection.

The Soeishi is split between two stones, front right and front left next to the Oyaishi. Same texture and colour, laid flat to respect the Oyaishi’s strength.

The Suteishi, back left, is true to its sacrificial nature and is distanced, succumbing to being overgrown.

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Not particularly a blinder of an Iwagumi, but it recognises and pays respect to the relationship between the stones. To be fair, the 1200 Iwagumi would have just been a rinse and repeat, albeit at a larger scale. The primary concern is keeping Utricularia graminifolia growing in a tank across the years, which it is.
 
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