jsenske

This is a new 90cm system I recently installed for one of my clients. She was actually the very first client I ever did a planted tank for back in 1997. It was really cool to do an ADA system for her after having been through 2 different Oceanic standard "canopy, matching stand, etc." 58 gallons. Her last one was cherry-wood set-up. Nice, but suffice it to say doing a full ADA system for her was a lot more fun. She has always given me free reign to do whatever I want with the layout, which is a real bonus as well.
Here I wanted to do something with a lot of long-term potential, but with a twist. Working with the Old Black Wood was a dream, and I was for once really happy with the hardscape.

Substrate: ADA Aqua Soil, Power Sand Special "M", Tourmaline BC, Bright Sand
Hardscape: Old Black Wood driftwood from ADA
Plants: Cryptocoryne lucens, Cryptocoryne ponterdefolia, Crypt balansae, Crypt retrospiralis, Crypt wendtii "Mi-Oya", Microsorium pteropus, Java Moss, Anubias nana, Lobelia cardinalis "red", true dwarf Sagitaria subulata, Rotala rotundifolia "green", Polygonum sp. "pink", Comcesalea sp. (not yet identified per Luis Navarro).
Filter: Eheim 2217, Lily Pipe inflow V-7 17mm, Lily Pipe outflow P-4 13mm
media: Eheim Ehfi-mech, ADA BIO-RIO 2-liters, ADA NA-CARBON
CO2: Aqua Medic reactor 1000
Lighting: ADA Grand Solar I fixture with 2- 36 watt PCs and 1- 150 watt HQI halogen (all 8,000K)


1. Potential...



2. Tourmaline BC.


3. Power Sand Special M, about 4 liters from a 6 liter bag used here.



4. Aqua Soil AMAZONIA added. I used all of 2- 9liter bags, since I will be adding decorative sand to the semi-circular area. Instead of doing a divider, i am just being careful and keeping everything separated as I go.



5. ADA BRIGHT SAND is added: here is used all of an 8kg bag.



6. Driftwood selection: I brought more than I planned to use so there's plenty to work with if something is not setting the way I want it. Always nice to have an extra piece or two on hand.



7. Setting the base pieces. This came together very fast. Old Black Wood really goes together easily as there'a a certain consistency to it. Very easy to work with, I found.



8. This client was thrilled with the idea of having wood breaking the surface. Ask and ye shall receive. I just love the drama and added dimension of it.



9. I add just enough water to wet the substrate. Really, this makes planting much easier and does not cloud the water at all. So when you fill, things start out nice and clear.



10. Adding plants: I have a new source for some very nice plants that offers some excellent crypts that can be a little hard to find sometimes. Crypt lucens, C. ponterdefolia and C. balanse all came in in absolutely PRIMO condition. C. lucens is one of my all time favorites.



11. Finished adding plants, very slowly fill. Note the clarity already.



12. A view from the opposite side.



13. Full tank-- clean and clear in the first 5 minutes. I do not understand the approach of filling the tank with water and then adding plants anymore. It just makes a mess, regardless of substrate choice it seems. Try this if you don't alreay do it-- I think you'll be impressed with the results.



14. Another view: Note too the consistency of the java fern on the wood-- it is really easy to work with evenly grown plants for this type of layout.



15. Top view: Golly I love open top tanks.



16. Inside view.



17. This is the little whirlpool created by the hydrodynamic action if the Lily Pipe return. Kinda cool.



18. Full system view. Stoked.





19. FYI. Very simple clean attachment bracket for the arm stand (fixture stand).



20. This gives a feel for the depth of the Aqua Soil. Very thin layer Power Sand is all that was used-- and all that should be used in order to avoid some of the issues some have complained about with it.



21. A little system shot-- keeping it simple on this one. The client already had a reactor, so we went that route rather than investing in a diffuser. That's my install, not my guys. Their work is MUCH cleaner than mine!



I will do my best to keep posting the progress on this tank.

Jdinh04

I'm stunned! You guys have done so many great scapes, i'm very impressed. I love the stand, it looks really nice and also the side holes for the tubing of the canister filter.

That bright sand is just killing my eyes! I love it, will probably be using that when I officially scape my tank. Great job ADG, can't wait to see the progress this tank turns out.

jD

SUBORPHAN

that is a very beautiful job Jeff. yet another creation to be added to the large number of gorgeous creations you guys have done. really inspirational. especially that black wood looks divine and matches so well with the Amazonia AquaSoil. and the bright sand breaks nicely the green and black dominance. are you planning to use a background on this one?

ilir.

John P.

That's a beauty. Low maintenance, too, with those plants. I hope she's really happy with this one!

Is the arm stand on your site? Do you think the Solar I w/NA-Lamp MH-150W (without the tubes) would be enough to grow horizontal Glosso in that tank? How about in the Cube Garden 120-P (48")?

Bavarian3

Thanks for taking the time to post this Jeff, very inspiring while trying to get my ada 90cm going.
What a big difference the two extra peices of wood coming out of the tank made. Cant wait to see this grow in! This shows how important a good hardscape

Question: What size ada tubing did you use for the filter? I have the same setup with a 2217 coming, it would be quite funny to use the tubing it comes with! It will also have a hydor inline. Is the flow good enough even with the lily outflow and inline piece?

-Charles

jeff@adg

Thanks guys.
John, the arm stand is not on the site as it really only fits/goes with the 90cm tank & stand. It sells for $200. I think the Solar I is not quite enough on this tank in general. I mean, it would be good in an isolated area of the tank I think, but not really enough reach and punch to cover the whole tank surface area.
I have a client with a 120-P, and that tank takes 2- Solar I fixtures. I will have a full shoot of that tank soon.
Bavarian, the tubing for a 2217 is 17mm on the inflow, 13mm on the outflow.

I find that a 2217 run through a reactor ir PERFECT flow. A 2217 and diffuser setup, the flow is too much through the P-4 13mm Liliy Pipe outflow. But the head pressure loss through a reactor dials it down just enough, makes it more like a 2215, which on a diffuser set-up, is perfect on the 90cm.
90cm tank: reactor- use a 2217
diffuser- use a 2215 (a 2215 takes inflow Lily Pipe V-5 13mm).

Thanks for the kind words all.

Steven_Chong

Awesome set up man! I think there's a nice level of unity to the plant choice.


I don't know if this question is ok, being a little off topic-- how does the lighting/hanging of lights work for other sized ADA tanks? (like 60cm ones)

jeff@adg

The 60cm system uses a different arn stand. You can see it on the website:
http://www.adgshop.com/PhotoGallery....=3#largerphoto
The same arn stand attaches to the cabinet stand for the 60 tank also. I have that system at home and will shoot that soon also (been waiting for the layout to mature-- I did not do an initial set-up shoot on that tank).
The arm stand concept is very simple and works extremely well. I have been very impressed with overall sturdiness/simplicity of the design.

Rek

very nice

Axeru

Nice setup, the blackwood is just awesome. Just wonder about the clear tubing, is that avaliable to buy anywhere, haven't been able to find it yet?