DLevy

After much contemplation I've decided to go the natural way, it just makes more sense.
My plans have changed several times, I wanted a medium sized open aquarium with many catfish- mostly synodontises –my favorite fish. Unfortunately the aquarium I found wouldn't fit the bill so I decided on the "rain forest" theme. Long twisted wood covered with moss fern and crypts, dark gravel and colorful schools of fish or apistos.
I've spent some time collecting the equipment and stuff needed. I collected roots of dead trees and rocks from a desert stream. Tried out a few substrates in small aquariums, spent some time shop hunting for the right gravel and it is now time to do it.
I have no camera so the pictures are taken out of a video I took of the setup. The substrate made by a friend has two layers, first is peat and organic matter second is red soil/ clay. The depth is between one and a half to two inches on top of which is an inch of gravel (1-2mm black quartz).

The wood is anchored to the bottom so that it doesn't float, I didn't have a big enough pot to boil it in but it will settle with time.

The plants where planted without too much thought, I just stuck in what I could get my hands on. As time goes I will gradually replace what ever plants I have with more desirable ones.

There are more images in this link:
http://www.freshreef.com/forum/forum...?TID=8647&PN=1
Ignore the text (it says pretty much the same as said above), the pictures are chronologically ordered…

Technical details:
The aquarium is 80*40*45cm (~140 lt.) it has 2*18w lights and I'm going to add about 40-50w later on, (I'm aiming at 0.5 watts per liter), there is also sun light from a nearby window which I can control with the blinds…

Thanks for looking, C&C's are always welcome

Danny