Today, I tore out all of Asgard's old Riccia and netted down a new lawn. Last week, I noticed I'd let the Riccia grow too long -- the undergrowth, that least exposed to light, had grown yellow and lost its hold in the fishnet that held it to the driftwood. Great heaps of it floated away from its mooring, leaving bald patches of netting.

Today's rescaping was quite a chore. I had to dislodge the Java moss clump that normally lives in the driftwood's side. I had to shake free the last of the Riccia. I had to rock the driftwood so that the shrimp who lurk on the wood's natural cave fled to other parts of the tank, and then move the wood to the kitchen for scrubbing and makeover.

Laying down Riccia is actually quite soothing. Time consuming. Careful work with netting, fishing line, sharp scissors, and good light. I did a better job this time with the netting. First, I bought green netting instead of white. I also spent more time trimming the netting to match the shape of the Riccia plot. It will be invisible in a week.

I also removed the Red Cardinal (lobelia). It didn't grow elegantly and didn't complement the rest of the design.

I scrubbed the living hell out of the filter and CO2 diffuser, the tank's inner walls, and used a cooking skimmer to remove every last bit of the old Riccia.

The tank looks young, again. At least on the right side. Now, the left side, once the straggler, is full and vigorous while the new Riccia sets in.