Wabi-kusa?

[mnemenoi]

Has anyone had any experiance with this sort of a set up? I know its been mentioned a few times, but how are these setups long term? Are they basically just short term endeavors or can they be maintained for longer development? I have tossed around the idea and think it looks fun.


If I were to try it out, I'd use a shallow round glass bowl. For substrate possibly a rich loam in a terra cotta dish (to avoid discoloring the water) and power sand or even PFS. Possibly something like HC or a club fern as ground cover and crypts or anubias grown immersed. I think the only livestock would be RCS as anything else would be just too much of a gamble. Any thoughts?

Has anyone done one of these before? I'd love to hear what worked and what did not...

[eklikewhoa]

They can be maintained long term but pick out low humidity plants and you'll be good.

[mnemenoi]

Right on, I've done some low light, high humidity terrariums for tarantulas and had fun. These just look terrifically cool and very zen

[myjohnson]

Wabi-kusa is actually a trade marked term coined by ADA as a name for their koke-dama style balls. So the style itself is koke-dama and they are designed to last some time.

ADA designed the wabi-kusa balls to grow aquatic plants both emerse and submerse. I think these set ups can last some time. In its most basic form there should be a dirt ball wraped with moss and plants growing from it.

There is a good thread on aquatic plant central on DYI wabi-kusa balls. I think this is the only realistic way to own one. There are only 6 actual wabi-kusa balls in the US. All of which came from ADG.

I posted some pictures of my koke-dama set up in EK's emerse tank set-up thread.

[mnemenoi]

Thanks for the clarification, I'll certainly look into it and post up pics once I get the stuff and do it

[myjohnson]

Yeah, do keep us updated!

There are some people making koke-dama balls with aquatic plants and using it as an instant scape in their planted tanks.

Looks really promising from what I see....I might try planting that way. :)

[mnemenoi]

That does sound interesting, I am really wanting to give this a shot. I know I'll be heading to grab some aquasoil if ADG gets some in and its mostly clay, so it should work a bit better then I first thought. I've worked with a variety of club ferns and smaller pond bracken in my larger tarantula terrariums, but was wary about suppling too much light. With this I really think it will be fine and would be a great focal piece

[armthehomeless]

I've always loved wabi-kusa, but never gotten around to setting one up. I'd love to do this in the future. Please keep us updated!!

[pedropete]

neat! what species of T's? got any pics?

Right on, I've done some low light, high humidity terrariums for tarantulas and had fun. These just look terrifically cool and very zen

[pedropete]

i totally want to set up one of these, as well. i am currently looking for a good low rectangular glass box to utilize. i was thinking of hiding a mini submersible filter in between/under the rocks holding up the wabi kusa balls/planted substrate. this would allow for the shrimp/guppies/what have you in the water to survive better/longer.

[mnemenoi]

neat! what species of T's? got any pics?

I've kept T. Blondii (she got near 9+"), a few natives, and the only one I still have is a pink toe (avie aviculara)

[mnemenoi]

I'd love to keep a filter in there, but fear it might ruin the effect. If I get to frustrated I'll try and come up with something. I might even have a HOB that I drop on to polish the water and remove it once that is done.

[pedropete]

Nice! A pinktoe with a planted tank would be cool, I bet, as it is arboreal in nature. I have a B. smithi who has a terrarium lacking any plants, but with some cool rock and wood features.

A temporary HOB filter isn't a bad idea at all. You could even just run it at night or something.

I am contemplating (depending on size of glass box) having a hatchling stinkpot / mud turtle and a couple male endlers or fancy guppies, along with marimo balls (in the water part). The rocks supporting the soil balls (basically like kokedama) I would like to have wrapped up with flame or christmas moss. For flora on top, "emmersed" (more or less), i'm not sure yet....

[mnemenoi]

I think I'd go with no fish and just shrimp. They could help with cleanup and I would not have to worry with a heater, they seem to take the temp variance better and would significantly lower my bioload for sustainability in a long term setting.

[pedropete]

I think I'd go with no fish and just shrimp. They could help with cleanup and I would not have to worry with a heater, they seem to take the temp variance better and would significantly lower my bioload for sustainability in a long term setting.

that's actually probably the safest plan. maybe a snail, too.