Chapter 4 — Actual Results: One Year of Observations

Chapter 4

Actual Results — Observations and Measured Data

One year of operational records from the author's tank

4.1 Author's Implementation Specifications

The following is the specific configuration adopted by the author. Please refer to it as an implementation example applying the general procedures from Chapter 3 to this environment.

4.1.1 Physical Configuration

The physical configuration of the tank system is shown below.

Item	Details
Tank Size	40×60×30cm (tall, custom-made)
Sump	30cm high type
Substrate	Fired akadama soil (hard) — weak acid buffering (around pH 6.85)
Sump Media	Fired akadama soil (hard) spread
Layout Stone	古葉石（チャーム）
Lighting	ブリムパネルA（植物用ライト）
Temperature	25-26°C (heater managed)

4.1.2 Livestock Composition

Main Tank

The livestock composition of the main tank is shown below. Species were selected with each layer of the food chain in mind, from bottom-dwellers to apex predators.

Species	Qty	Layer/Role
Angelfish	3	Apex predator
Nannostomus beckfordi	7	Mid-upper
Ring loach	1	Bottom
Hong Kong pleco	2	Bottom / algae control
Dwarf puffer	1	Mid / snail control
African dwarf frog	3	Low-mid
Neocaridina shrimp	Multiple	Bottom / cleanup
Ramshorn snails	Multiple	Bottom / decomposition

Sump (Detritivores)

Tubifex worms, Gammarus, Neocaridina shrimp, etc. are stocked. A full-auto method (pump-passable size) is employed.

Aquatic Plants

Eichhornia azurea and Vallisneria are planted. Both grow well without CO₂ supplementation.

Fig. Author's tank overview — 40×60×30cm custom overflow tank. Fired akadama substrate, Koyo stone layout.

4.1.3 Carbon Source Extract Composition

Base Liquid

Three types of carbon sources are mixed in the following ratio and dispensed into a pump bottle.

Ingredient	Amount	Active Component	Decomposition Rate
Vodka (40%)	200 ml	Ethanol ≈ 63g	Fast
Rice vinegar (4.2% acidity)	50 ml	Acetic acid ≈ 2.2g	Medium
Granulated sugar	15 g	Sucrose 15g	Slow

Carbon-weight ratio: Ethanol : Acetic acid : Sucrose ≈ 82 : 2 : 16. Mix all and fill a pump bottle. The vodka alcohol acts as a preservative, enabling room-temperature storage.

Fig. Carbon source extract in pump bottle. The amber color comes from infused materials like rooibos tea. One pump per day into the sump.

Infusion Materials (Trace Element Supplementation)

The base liquid (vodka + rice vinegar) functions directly as an extraction solvent for trace elements. Ethanol dissolves a wider range of organic compounds than water, and acetic acid leaches minerals like calcium. By infusing materials in these solvents, carbon source dosing and trace element supplementation are unified, eliminating the need to purchase separate liquid fertilizers. The following are examples used by the author; any material capable of supplying the target minerals can be substituted.

Material	Elements Supplied
Seaweed salt (Moshio)	Na, K, Mg, Ca, Iodine
Banana (flesh only)	Potassium, Mg
Rooibos tea	Ca, K, Zn, Mn, etc.

⚠ Warning
Use only the edible flesh of banana. Peels may contain pesticide residue that can leach into the extract and kill all shrimp.

4.1.4 Notable: Freshwater Hydroid Colony Formation

Approximately one year after starting operations, organisms believed to be freshwater hydroid colonies were observed growing in the sump. They extend branching stolons, densely colonizing aquatic plants and glass surfaces. These cnidarians are rarely reported in freshwater environments, and the system's abundant bacteria and micro-crustaceans may have enabled their establishment. This is documented as an interesting observation indicating ecosystem complexification.

Fig. Close-up of hydroid colony removed from sump. Branching stolons and brown floc (bacterial colonies) are visible.

Fig. Hydroid colony growing on plant stems, branching as it grows underwater.

4.2 Measured Data and Observations

4.2.1 pH Stability

6.85pH

Maintained continuously for 1 year

Acidic (pH4)Neutral (pH7)Alkaline (pH9)

pH 6.85 has been stably maintained for one year. This result suggests that the nitrification process is effectively bypassed — i.e., no pH decline from nitric acid is occurring. This coincides with the buffering equilibrium point of fired akadama soil, supporting the "pH lock" hypothesis described in Chapter 1, Section 4.

4.2.2 Daily Maintenance

DailyOne pump of carbon extract into sump

DailyObserve tank (check for abnormalities)

As neededTop off when water level drops

As neededTrim plants when overgrown

Maintenance effectively converges to "one pump and observation."

4.3 Cost and Availability

The main materials required for this system, along with their costs and availability, are shown below.

Item	Cost	Source
Overflow tank	High (biggest hurdle)	Aquarium shops / online
Fired akadama soil	Inexpensive	Home center
Vodka, rice vinegar, sugar	Inexpensive	Supermarket
Seaweed salt, banana, rooibos tea	Inexpensive	Supermarket
Benthos	Cheap to free	Fishing shops / collecting (availability is the challenge)

Once you have the overflow tank, running costs are virtually zero.