Pandoras´s Box

Pandoras´s Box
Markus
Lemke
Filter
Eheim Mini
Lightpower
120
Lightduration
10.00 hours
CO2
none
pH
6.50
KH + GH
4
Maintenance routine
The water is filtered and clarified by the filter sponges used for the back wall and the volcanic rock piled up in the background, so a water change is de facto not necessary, even though it can be changed for aestethic reasons. Pruning and trimming is not necessary frequently, since most of the plants are slow growing plants. Approximately once a month, old leaves and moss get removed. The closed water and nutrient cycle ensures a self-sustaining system that requires almost no maintenance and represents a functioning ecosystem.

For fertilization, every 2 weeks Tropica specialized is applied. Every few days, DOOA Wabikusa mist is sprayed evenly for fertilizing the epiphytic plants.
Description
Pandora´s box was inspired by cloud forests in the south-american andes, with old tree trunks offering habitat to a rich biodiversity of epiphytes and mosses. The constantly high air humidity supports the growth of lush plants, climbing up the layout being inspired by the height transition of natural ecosystems in montane areas.

The planting consists of different areas and is oriented towards the natural height zoning of tropical ecosystems.
The aquatic area is populated by slow-growing and low-feeding aquatic plants, and to give a natural and wild impression, floating plants break the water surface.
Mangrove wood gives the impression of a fallen tree, providing habitat for mosses such as Riccardia graminifolia, Weeping Moss and Plagomnium affinis. The marsh plant Hygrophila pinnatifida gently guides the eye to the mangrove tree, which is overgrown with a variety of epiphytic plants, orchids and nepenthes. A special eye-catcher here is the Nepenthes hookeriana with its large red-spotted pitchers, which are very exciting to observe. The background is formed by a densely and wildly overgrown dripping wall, creating a harmonious and naturally overgrown overall picture. The predominant plants here are ferns, mosses and climbing plants.

The paludarium consists of an aquatic part that merges into a swamp zone and finally ends in a vegetated bank. The hardscape is made of lava stones, which are highly porous and provide optimal support for mosses and other epiphytes and are easily and effectively colonised by beneficial bacteria. A pump periodically pumps the water upwards, where it pours over the entire width of the dripping wall and keeps it sufficiently moist. The water is filtered and clarified by the filter sponges used for the back wall and the volcanic rock piled up in the background, so a water change is de facto not necessary. The closed water and nutrient cycle ensures a self-sustaining system that requires no maintenance and represents a functioning ecosystem.

Pandora´s box aims to encourage the viewer to continously stay connected with nature during working or being indoors and to have a closer look from time to time to feel like being in a natural cloud forest, with all the structures&textures, noises and smells and tamed yet wild nature. Pandora´s box aims to relax the viewer and reconnect him with nature, to calm his mind and make it easier to focus and enjoy the living moment.
Other Contests
EAEC