銅製止逆閥 Brass Check Valve

原本的塑膠止逆閥一點都不止逆了，漏水漏的很嚴重。

It's about time to replace the old check valve that doesn't seem checking anymore.

今天收到eBay訂的銅製止逆閥，只要4塊澳幣又免運。

Received the Brass Check Valve that ordered on eBay, $4 AUD including freight.

接上去到目前為止都不再有漏水跡象，與風管連接的也很密合。看起來滿有質感的～

It connects firmly with both end of the air tubes, and most importantly it's doing it's job. Looks like a quality piece.

佗び草 失敗作一號 Wabikusa failure No.1

由於下了一整個禮拜的雨，再加上都有注意保濕。苔玉的狀況很不錯。

雖然針葉皇冠老葉都黃掉枯萎，但新葉子適應的很不錯。真不愧是爛命草第一名，相信新的水上業應該很快就會長出來了。

凱羅小圓葉也是差不多的狀況，也能看到頂端發新芽。

偷偷插在旁邊的迷你牛。

珍珠草表現就很兩極化，可以看到整個直接爛葉。

也可以看到欣欣向榮的一面。

整體來說，狀況頗佳。

至於試驗用的泥塊，經過一個禮拜的自然乾糙、變得十分堅硬。 

接下來就是測試是否能夠下水 。

剛下水就有不好的預感，果然不出五分鐘就整個散掉了。

現在確定直接下水是沒有可能了。皇冠草達人Kazemi有完整且成功的佗び草經驗，也建議我不要用粘土含量這麼高的土。在他的部落格中提到他是用Klasmann的泥炭土，接下來應該也是朝這個方向去找類似的泥炭土才來進行下一個實驗作。

至於其他的半成品，山不轉路轉、總有其他的應用方式。再來慢慢思考看看吧！往好的方面想、至少有苔玉一件作品是成功的。

Day 28

水桶養草 Bucket Plant keeping

發這篇並不是要去推翻其它正規種草的理論，如果你有讀到我過往的文章就知道一般該有的種草設備我一樣也沒有少。本篇只是分享其實還有不同的玩法。 

I am not trying to overturn any other plant keeping theory. As matter of the fact, I have those plant keeping equipment not less than any others. This article is only to share a different way of plant keeping.

這是我放在陽台的水桶，裡面的水都是每週從草缸裡換出來的。照理來說剛換進去時co2的濃度應該不會太低、水也很肥。水溫每天從正午的28度左右到夜晚的23度不等。

I have this bucket on my veranda. I use my nano tank water to refill the bucket after my weekly water change. Reason for that is because my nano tank water contains rich nutrient, trace elements and co2, which can be used by the bucket plants. The bucket water temp is between 28 (mid-day) to 23 (night time).

可以明顯看到光合作用旺盛所產生的泡泡浮載水面上。

The air bubble on the water surface is the clear evidence of photosynthesis.

 一個月前裡面只有葉子都枯壞的水草莖，過程中有部分發黑壞死挑掉。存活下來如圖中的綠宮廷的草況就發展的蠻好的。等待數量再多一點再來做個綠宮廷佗び草。
I started with some dying Rotala stems without any leaves left. Some of the stem ended up black and died, but most of them survived and shot some new branches like the Rotala rotundifolia Green form in the photo.

凱羅小圓葉不僅發新芽、而且葉子還滿紅的，根部的發展也很明顯。

Rotala rotundifolia ''colorata'' did survive pretty well too, not only the leaves are colourful and the root system is establishing. 

事實上，上週用來試作佗び草的凱羅小圓葉就是這樣取得的。如果有修剪下來的草、不見得要直接丟掉，可以用這樣簡單的方式來保留草種。

In fact, this where I got my Rotala rotundifolia ''colorata'' from for the wabikusa creation. Bucket plant keeping can be an ideal way for you to keep your trimmed plants instead of chucking them away in the bin.

佗び草 試作 (續) D.I.Y. Wabikusa Project Cont.

這次準備了有珍珠草

Hem. micranthemoides

針葉皇冠

Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy Chain Sword)

凱羅小圓葉

Rotala rotundifolia ''colorata'' 

還有臺灣墨絲

Taxiphyllum alternans (Taiwan Moss)

先將之前買好的盆栽用土倒入水桶

Add the muck mixture into the bucket

慢慢注入適量的水，邊攪拌邊用手去感覺土的黏度

Pour water slowly, stiring until it's sticky without being too wet

將土揉成球狀

Knead into a ball shape

插入針葉皇冠

Insert the Echinodorus tenellus

再用臺灣墨絲把整顆泥球包覆住

Cover the entire ball with Taiwan moss

用釣魚線纏好，苔玉完成！

Tight the moss with fishing line, Kokedama Done!!

接著掺入黑土來製作佗び草，也是攪拌均勻

To make Wabikusa, further add some Plant aqua soil to mix with

然後再塑成厚度2公分，直徑約５公分的餅狀泥塊

Knead into 2cm thick and 5cm diameter pancake

接著就是慢慢的把草插上去

Insert the plants slowly and gently 

由於土有粘性、比在水缸裡種草容易許多

It's actually easier than planting in the tank

邊種的過程中、記得要不斷噴水保濕

Don't forget to keep the plants moist during the process

完成了就裝盒

Wabikusa Done

怎麼有一塊什麼都沒種的？那是準備到時候實驗並觀察放在水裡能維持多久不分解，並且是否對魚蝦有害。

The extra piece without any plants is made for observation, to see how quick it will dissolved in the water and if it does any harm to the live creatures.

還滿可愛的

Kinda cute

接著要放在陰暗潮濕處等水中草慢慢轉水上草，能不能成功就等一個禮拜後吧

Leave the kokedama and wabikusa in shade for a week and wait for the result

TERTIAL + Zailed 10W LED PAR20 5000k

對於一個1.3呎的小缸子來說燈具的選擇並不是這麼多，一般市面上的水族用燈具多設計給1.5呎或者2呎缸。曾經使用過一組中國製造的1.3呎 PL燈具，但一直有散熱不佳的困擾、尤其在夏日容易造成水溫的提高。最終這組廉價的燈具以短路燒壞燈管失收場。

There aren't many choices of light-fitting for a 1.3ft nano tank. What available on the the market are usually designed for 1.5ft or 2ft. I had a Made in China 1.3ft PL lighting-fitting, but have always struggled with the thermal solution, especially during the summer times when it created more heat to the tank water. This poorly made light fitting end up short circuit burnt.

開放缸對我來說有種莫名的吸引力，但又不可能為了小缸子特別去打造燈具。在因緣際會下在IKEA找到了這組桌燈TERTIAL，這組燈具能夠輕鬆的固定在桌沿而且採E27接頭，可以接各種E27燈泡、省電燈泡或LED。這組燈的銀色烤漆沉穩大方、且材質也很不錯，目前用了一年都沒有刮傷或掉漆的情況。能夠隨意調整角度也是它的優點之一。如此我的小缸也看起來像開放缸了.

I've always want to have an Open Tank, but could not afford a custom made high tech lights for the nano tank. I found this TERTIAL desk lamp from IKEA, which could be easily installed and takes all E27 socket incandescent bulbs, energy saving bulbs or LED. The cover finishes with silver paint nicely, there has not been a scratch since I purchased it a year ago; and it is multi-angle adjustable. So my nano tank somehow looks like an open tank after TERTIAL is installed.

燈具裡面我搭配了Zailed 10W LED PAR20。這顆PAR燈主要是用來做美術品照明、光譜並非針對植物所設計。裡面載有八顆CREE MX-6 5000k，紅色那段的波長的確弱了點。但散熱、演色、60度折射鏡和750lm...等原因都讓我選擇繼續用這顆而不換粉紫色的植物栽培燈。

I decided to use Zailed 10W LED PAR20. Although this lamp is design for gallery and museum environment than plant growth. It contains 8x CREE MX-6 5000k, which has less performance for Range of Wavelengths 600-700 nm (red). However, the advantage of its' thermal solution, performance, 60degree reflectors and 750lm makes me want to stick with LED lamp instead of the plant growth LEDs. 

更讓我滿意的是他的穿透力

Moreover, I am fully satisfied with its' penetration.

設計優良的折射鏡能將光線打透至土下1.5cm左右

The reflectors are designed to penetrates the light to 1.5cm deep under soil surface.

目前還找不到哪組水族專用燈具比這個搭配的C/P值更高了。

So far, I could not find a small aquarium light-fitting that has better Cost/Performance than this combination.

佗び草 試作 D.I.Y. Wabikusa Project

今天又收到包裹，怎麼會是一筒？

Yes another parcel today!!

盆栽專門店寄來的

It's from a Bonsai nursery

裡面是一包盆栽專用肥土，運費好貴～

Muck Mixed is contained and the freight is just damn expensive~

ADA推出佗び草之後，就一直覺得這東西還滿好玩的。不論作為簡單、典雅的苔玉或者能快速高密度成長的水中草都頗為實用。臺灣水草栽培場開發成功後、詢問度也開始熱了起來。也看過歐美的水草玩家分享自己的 D.I.Y. 佗び草製作方法。

This wbikusa has drawn my attention ever since ADA announced it. It's really ideal to use as simple and elegant kokedama or in aqualandscaping which grows highly dense and fast. Wabikusa has become more popular in Taiwan after it's successfully nurtured and become available in the market. I have also seen auqalandscaper from U.S. sharing how wabikusa can be home made on YouTube.

我想也來試作佗び草以及苔玉。不過因為對於園藝用土很陌生，再加上澳洲也很難取得赤玉土和富士砂因此轉而向盆栽專門店求救。買了一包栽景專用的肥土，裡面是已經配好了泥炭、黏土與蛭石，準備用前兩個禮拜設缸多出來的黑土混合、試試看能不能自己做出佗び草囉。

I am interested to make my own wabikusa and kokedama; nevertheless I have very little knowledge about what soil to use. Plus it's difficult to obtain Akadama soil and Fuji sand (that Japanese people use to create kokedama) here in Australia. I decided to turn to Bonsai nursery for help and found this supplier who is selling pre-made Muck Mixed soil. This muck contains mixture of peat, clay and vermiculite that is used for Saikei. I am planning to mix this muck with aqua soil and see if I can make my own wabikusa. 

Day 19

其實這是兩天前拍的，今天又稍微有些成長。除了一直冒嫩芽之外，也開始走莖。

It's actually taken two days ago. Other than more new leaves, the root system is established and start sending out runners.

類 ADA 玻璃溫度計 ADA-like Glass Hang-on Thermometer

又收到包裹了。因為只要 $3.99AUD 又免運就買來試試。

Yet, another parcel. It's only $3.99AUD inc freight, and thought gives a shot.

伊利水族牌

Easy-Aqua Branded

看起來質感還算不錯。

The finish doesn't look too bad.

買了最小號的。

It's the smallest size I got.

下水了，希望溫度能測的準確、不然就只是個裝飾品了...

Hope it gets accurate reads, otherwise it might just be another decoration...