Ryan J's Amano Style Tank

Hey guys. So I've been into the tank business for just over two years now. last year I moved two warm water, after mistaking two bags of salt for sand. Yes i know i an idiot. But it was too late...

So ive joined here and read and read, and decided to start up my own semi-pro tank. Ive gathered as much info and decided to do each step correctly, the first time, obviously with the help of you guys.

So here is my design for my tank. I applied rule of thirds, focus points. Just need to ad some grass, got the grape vine wood already. Also need lights, plants that you'll suggest, moss and substrate. I plan on getting the fertz from Prof Dirk.

Please crit and comment it :bigsmile:

Tank size: 90cm(L) X 39(W) X 36(B)



I plan to cover the ground with small lawn plants and then add long grassy ones at the back OR bigger leafy plants around the base of the rocks and tree. Im trying to go for a tank that wont require pressurized CO2. Either liquid CO2 or now and then a DIY yeast CO2. This might affect lights also, not sure.

Feel free to recommend me on what worked for you if you had a similar set up.

 

Gonna call it "One tree hill" or something?

Looks good... read the Profs thread on PFP and Chemicult - long,but worth it... lighting? Aim for about 200w in total and you should be o.k - T5's if you can....

 

Sounds like a good name. I read the Prof's post on PFP and Chemicult. I would giving it a shot, but looking for something stable and trustworthy for now. Have you used it yet?

As for the lighting. I read somewhere that you must have 1 per Litre or atleast 0.5w per Litre. Whats the benefit of 200w for my 112L tank as opposed to 120w?

 

Ive always gone 2w/liter in my heavily planted set ups(but most where a lot deeper than your tank...)... Worked for me on a 8hour cycle...

Honestly,no - never personally used PFP/Chemicult... but it seems to work like a dream... My heavily planted tanks running CO2 always followed the Diane Wahlstadt method - 'bout one inch of good grade organic potting soil capped by 2 inches of PFS... Worked well for me...

 

Ok. I would probably just add some nice small lawn plants to cover the ground and then longer grassy-ish plants at the back OR bigger leavy plants around the rocks and tree. I also wana go with pressurized CO2. maybe DIY CO2

 

slojo posted a great thread on how to make your own CO@ system for like R450 - under the DIY section... Give it a bash...Seen his tank and it WORKS

 

I would say that 75% of the members on this forum who are into their plants have gone the PFP route, and no-one has had any serious issues yet. You really couldn't go wrong with it!

 

Ok. Well then il have to start considering PFP + chemicult....is it more than enough or ok for the plants I want? Im going for a setup that requires mid lighting and no pressurized CO2. Just a basic lawn.

 

hi there looking nice, about the light i think 200 watts maybe serious overkill (my opinion only), i know that overseas guys grow really difficult plants - high light plants with about 3-4 watts per gallon of lighting so that would be about 90-100 watts of light for your tank, and thats alot for a 3 foot tank - and your tank is not deep too. as for C02 the paintball route would be the cheapest as mentioned, with this much light you dont wanna go DIY yeast as it would be to unstabble and you will be constanly battling algae.

 

Thanks linga. I agree on the lighting. about 100w is enough. I wont be growing heavy plants either. Is there anyeay to have a planted tank without CO2 injection or DIY yeast. Can i go without it!?

 

yeah you can lots of ppl do it, in fact my 4 foot is planted with no C02 but then i have no demanding plants in there. it should be no problem for your moss, but carpet type plants will be difficult without the C02, plus i think with the high light without C02 could be a algae problem not sure entirely. my 4 foot only has 4 x 18watt CFLs. but my nano which is only 20 liters has a 23 watt CFL and there i ran C02 for about 3-4 weeks and have now turned it off trying to get the glosso to grow without C02.

 

Ok. ANd hows that working out for you?

What if had the carpet plants (glosso) with DIY CO2 or liquid CO2?

 

Hi Ryan, nice idea. Have a look at my 550 Cube, I use liquid CO2 and pfp/chemicult with just 72w for 150l. My plants are really flourishing.

 

Wow looks awesome! Nice to speak to someone who has picture proof of PFP working...I wanted to go that way aswell. I think i should. Are there any plants that you can recommend to cover my ground (carpet type) that'l work with your light and fertz setup?

 

Small update. I built a canopy for my tank in the last few days. Made from Meranti wood. And has a flappable lid in the from for me to access my fish. It also slides over the tank resting on corner stilts.

Then ive also decided to change my setup and rather go for a Biotope style set up. Lots of guy here have recommended that I DONT take lawn plants as it will require a high tech setup which im not aiming for....So yep the next pics will contain my process for my DIY Background


Cheers

 

Nice bit of diy!

 

Thank you very much @speedz. Nice avatar ! LOL....

 

Hi Ryanj252

I only saw this thread now and thought I'd offer some tips/thoughts:

You can most certainly grow just about any plant with a bit of patience and care. In the Western Cape, your water quality is pretty good, soft and you won't need CO2. Provided you don't install strong lights. I can guarantee that with good fertilizers, such as DSD, you can grow a nice carpet (Glosso, Marsilea, hairgrass, etc). I would suggest you look at 2 x T5 daylight bulbs running the length of your tank. That is just about perfect. The growth won't be fast, but you will manage the situation easily.

Don't be discouraged and if you still wish to do so, try out the first design again. I am keen to see the results.

 

Ahh. Thanks so much @Laure for that bit of info. Im getting two T5's at the end of the month.

As for the DSD, ive contacted Prof Dirk 4 times! And he only replied the 1st time....i tried to order his products but He is just never replying.

So another guy (@Toshi) referred me to Flourish and Flourish excel with Seachem as a substrate. He said that'd work just as good.

But thank you once again. As soon as all my toys arive....il start the scaping..I was considering doing the proper scape once im more experienced...

 

I think one of the forum sponsors stock some of the DSD products...mods? Am I correct?

Otherwise, just be patient. I know it's the start of the year, so I expect the Prof is quite busy right now.