I Almost Had A Breakdown

Hello fellow fish people and scaping extraordinaires!

Don't you love that moment when you place the hardscape on or near the new tank and you realize its too big

I found a nice Pseudoacacia stump on a hike about a month ago and immediately pulled it up out of the ground to take it back with me. This was covered in moss and fungI when I found it. I let it dry out for about a week before I power washed revealing a very nice texture. Ordered tank without measuring the stump first, which as you can see was a mistake.



Black locust is a very hard wood I already knew..So after a lot of thought, I decided to both cut and break it in an attempt at keeping it with more of a natural.



Clamped down about 15cm long from the end of the root and sawed through about a centimeter upward from the bottom. Took a hammer and after a good couple wacks it finally broke


I think I'm happy with how it turned out for now I might take it outside to drag the root through some gravel to make the broken off part look more worn with age, maybe take the pressure washer to it with a less gentle rinse? Might just leave it alone and attach and Anubias to it or something.
Either way, I'm hoping to have this tank set up and start cycling by the end of next week.

 

That would look pretty awesome in some water for sure!

 

I’m pretty jealous, that’s a nice piece and will look great when you add plants.

 

Should have just got a larger tank

 

The broken off peice can add some dimension to the main stump, but I'm subbing to see where this one goes!

 

The broken off peice can add some dimension to the main stump, but I'm subbing to see where this one goes!

Can’t wait to hear it! Lucky dude!

 

Its Worth all the work it looks great.

 

The time has come, and it has begun

 

I am so jealous. Of the fact you got it free. You’re actually boiling it (I’ve had mine forever now). You have a gas stove. This is so not right on so many levels.

 

Don't be too jealous. I've poured off the super dark tannin filled water 6 times today. I know I can't get it all, but I'm sure gonna get most of it. It's on for another boil right now

 

Don't be too jealous. I've poured off the super dark tannin filled water 6 times today. I know I can't get it all, but I'm sure gonna get most of it. It's on for another boil right now

At least it’s on! I’m not even sure where mine is! Hubby is listening to me talk/type. He “says” he’s going to boil it tomorrow. Right. At least I get to enjoy yours!

 

so almost nearly a month has passed and these are pictures of what I've done.
I went with a undergravel filter as I have with my 10 gallon to get more circulation through the gravel.


In conjunction to the UGF I had modified the hang on back filter that came with the 20 gal marina tank set. I replaced the very small intake sponge with a much larger one, and on the inside I've broken out the plastic slots for the "replacement filters" and stuffed in a pond filter sponge cut to fit.



Since I was planning on supplementing flourite black with some leftover aquarium soil the issue came to the UGF being able to handle any sediment without allowing most to fall through. I cut to fit a grocery vegetable/fruit mesh bag fine enough not to cause too much blockage if any from plant roots over time. Also the way I layed down rocks all along the bottom to prop the stump up at the right angle only allows most of the substrate on the left side to touch most of the mesh, under the stump probably has the most flow since the larger rocks are stacked about 3-4inchs high.




I wanted a second air stone for the UGF, but ran out on the right side so I had to improvise with sponge.





When I first filled it was even more cloudy and messy than this, which was taking 2 days later after filling with leftover aquarium water from my 10gal. I forgot to tie down the stump as well when I filled it and the **** stump ended up floating to the top...rookie mistake! and as horrible as it seemed, a rock or 2 holding it down for a week or so seemed to waterlog it fine.


This is about a week later.


And this is today, water parameters are great!
The floating/planted bacopa was removed to allow more light for the other plants since its not too strong. With the exception of the nutrient dense bulb growing aponogeton, they are suffering a little with slow growth. A large nerite snail was the first to be added after the first signs of hair algae on the glass the second week. After that 2 regular and 4 peppered cory catfish have been slowly being added to the aquarium over the course of the last 2 weeks with monitoring, and have shown no signs of illness from the black locust wood I'm happy to say they seem to be thriving and one or two may even be pregnant!

 

I enjoyed this post very much. Thank you!

 

I’m jealous. Sounds too cool! Thank you.

 

That turned out amazing! Nice job.

 

That looks so amazing!! What a great job!

 

Thanks y'all! I really enjoyed working with this piece of wood!

If I find anymore noteworthy pieces of wood then I will bring em home and create another thread. I'll be looking for a new piece or two for my 5gal betta aquarium

 

It's kind of odd but I liked the "haze." It made it look like mist.

 

It's kind of odd but I liked the "haze." It made it look like mist.

An eerie mist, perhaps a good Halloween foggy aquarium theme haha