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

pineapple

Nice wood. Interesting substrate. Let me guess, you're in Germany?

spcyamada

That piece of wood is interesting indeed. I can see that tank as a rainforest canopy once things grow in. Low/Moderate light tank?

betta almighty

got to agree. Love the wood too.

DLevy

The wood is actually pieces of dead roots, took me some time to find ones I liked. I'm from Israel but my inspiration came from a trip few years ago to Olympic NP in Washington State. I wanted a few suspended branches to fill in the space but it didn't leave much room for future fish so I left one main branch which in future I'll partially cover with ferns and/or anubias. This piece was supposed to be suspended at mid water but it started floating as I filled the tank, it is now fairly close to the top but I'm sure with time it will get back in place...

Danny

DLevy

I'm encountering what seems to be a bacterial bloom, as I understand this can be normal in a new tank. The general advice I got was to just wait till it decays by itself. I'm trying to get hold of used media from an established tank I can put in a filter in the aquarium to speed up the process. Will update as things evolve, enjoy the pictures

A general look


The film at the top


Around plant leaves


The mollies feasting


I opened the window to get enough light for the pictures, the direct sun light makes it look a little worse then it really is…

Danny

Rek

very nice wood composition

fredyk

Love your wood. You could grow somethinkg like HC emersed on it.

get some daphnia for bacterial bloom
I don't know if you can find that in mail order?

On a side note: the Pacific Northwest around British Columbia in Canada has a temperate rain forest that has very lush due to very much rainfall. may have to log in to view this article about it:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020601834.html

Pardon my English, but it's my native language, and i'm particular about punctuation, but not particular about composing my sentences.

I call this, "by the shores of the temperate rain forest" tongue firmly held in cheek.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/g...ntimage&i=2795
sorry to hijack your thread
Mark

DLevy

Thanks for the compliments, you have a very nice aquarium yourself. what is the red plant in the center?
I was in BC five years ago but didn't really get to the coast (went up the rockies ), it looks fascinating and if it's anything like Olympic NP then it's a real treasure worth while seeing

DLevy

UPDATE

The bacteria has cleared a few days ago but a day later the water took on a greenish/darker tint. Since the water was brownish to start with (all those tannins...) Its hard to tell that its turning green but after reading in several places that an algae bloom can follow a bacterial one I've decided to cover the tank and darken it for a few days. will update later this week on the way things turn out...

Danny