Dimensions 183 × 46 × 56 cm

Title Novus Initium

Volume 473L

Background Background is an adhesive/removable black plastic.

Lighting Low-Moderate lighting provided by 4 x 39 watt T-5HO Geissemann Midday lamps. Lamps are positioned 4" above the top of the tank. Total wattage is 156 watts, or 1.25 watts per gallon.

Filtration 2 x SunSun 789 gph Powerheads provide circulation to all parts of the aquascape. Plants provide chemical and biological filter media. No mechanical filter is used.

Plants Anubias barteri 'nana',
Anubias coffeefolia,
Echinodorus grisebachii,
Echinodorus 'Oriental',
Microsorum pteropus 'needle leaf',
Staurogyne repens,
Cryptocoryne x willisii 'lucens'

Animals 4 x Crossocheilus siamensis,
10 x Otocinclus affinis,
30 x Neritina natalensis "Zebra"
(all are stricktly for clean-up, not as part of the aquascape)

Materials Substrate is mineralized soil capped with a mix of "aquasoil" and "eco-complete".
Driftwood and Stumps are Eastern Red Cedar, sun-cured and collected from Central Texas.
Small chunks of lime-based stone used to counter-balance the acidity of the wood and provide a hint of brightness to an otherwise dark aquascape.

Additional Information This aquascape has been set up for 9 months. Pressurized CO2 was used for 5 months to increase plant mass, then removed. Weekly water changes performed to remove suspended debris/detritus. Low lighting allows for low maintenance, slow growth, and little algal growth.