MiamiAG

I'm posting on behalf of Jeff Senske:

I don't normally like to show layouts just after set-up and don'y ususally even shoot tanks at all until they are starting to take form. But this tank is special to me and the opportunity to work with all the ADA product one I covet, so I made an exception.

I will update these shots every couple of weeks so that we all may monitor the progress of what I believe is the first fully ADA compliant system here in the U.S. I am making it a point to use only ADA products on this tank in order to gain a better understanding of any differences and/or benefits of the ADA line. I welcome any questions you may have on any topic related to this aquarium the ADA products used.

Also, an update on ADA product line availability: We have made great progress on firming-up ADA product availability. The last real hurdle at this point is finalizing pricing. It has proven a little trickier than I first thought but we have just about got it. Rest assured we will have the e-commerce site with the entire line up and ready very soon- I would estimate sometime before Christmas barring any other unforseen issues.

Keep checking the ADG website at www.aquariumdesigngroup.com where you will click on "ShopADG" or any number of other obvious links to the ADA line. At this point I can now offer approximate pricing that I feel will be very close to actual so if there's something you are looking for in particular, please do give me a call at (281) 924-8894, and I'll be happy to assist. You mail also e-mail me directly at jsenske@aquariumdesigngroup.com.

The Tank

Species used:

• Anubias nana
  Cryptocoryne wendtii - green
  Cryptocoryne- "bronze"
  Bolbitis heudelotti
  Microsorium sp.- "narrow-leaf"
  Blyxa japonica
  Eleocharis acicularis
  Java Moss
  Isoetes japonica
  Rotala nanjean
  Rotala rotundifolia "green"
  Ammania multiflora
  Ludwigia arcuata

A "rough draft" of the wood is laid out to establish the general direction of the layout.



The POWER SAND is added as a first layer. In this 36in.X18in. tank I will use 3- 2 liter bags (6 liters total).



The orangish powder visible already on the POWER SAND is BACTER 100. Here I am adding the CLEAR SUPER.



Next I add the TOURMALINE BC.



The white powder visible is PENAC P ("P" for "Plants" variety). Not a necessity, but a product Amano uses regularly. Here I add the AQUA OIL "Amazonia", 3- 9 liter bags (27 liters total).



I layout the wood, referencing my original "rough draft".



With the hardscape in place, I prepare to add the aquatic plants. Here I have already attached Java Moss to some key branches as it is much asier to do so before adding the individual pieces of wood to the tank.



Laying out the preped plants.



I begin this layout by establishing the midground.



Using pincettes I add Blyxa japonica. I would not have chosen this plant if I were using my prior substrate mixtures as it has never done well here in Texas with our hard water. I am confident the quick pH reducing characteristcs of the ADA substrate will enable me to finally grow one of my favorite aquatic plants. (so far so good!)



Adding Isoetes japonica and background plants as a final step before slowly filling the tank.










Updated January 2005:

ShaneSmith

That is really good art. DId you set it up or the Senske's. I am surprised at how well the hardscape and all is!

dennis

Where is the wood from, ADA? Could we have any more info on the setup of the whole tank. Every bit of info possible to show off the ADA products better. Thank is a nice looking tank, IMO. That tank looks better right after setup than mine do after a couple months

jsenske

Thanks for the kind words. I (Jeff) set up the tank here in our gallery in Houston. The wood comes from a supplier here in Texas and we went ahead and bought her entire inventory as- you all know- good hardscape materials are very difficult to come by. It is very similar to types Amano uses and when he saw it, he wanted to buy a whole skid! It was very hard to say "no" to Amano!!! But we are nothing as a company doing planted tanks without such materials.

The tank is the 90cm (same dimensions as a U.S. 58 gallon-36"X18"X18").
The substrate is all ADA - Power Sand, a highly pourous peat-coated bottom layer. On top of that is Bacter 100- a bacteria and enzyme supplement containing over 100 different microorganisms in a dormant state- Clear Super- a powder-grade carbon to polish water and absorb excess organic substances and also help promote the proliferation of nitrifying bacteria. Also added is Toumaline BC- a mineral compound of iron, aluminum, sodium, boron, lithium and magnesium. These minerals are gradually dissolved and enrich the water (and roots) of important elements. I am also trying out a product from Germany called PENAC. It's function is really a whole other topic unto itself. The whole mix is topped with ADA AQUA SOIL- here I have used the "Amazonia" variety.
Lighting is the ADA Grand Solar fixture which features a 150watt HQI 8,000Kelvin bulb flanked by 2- 32watt power compacts. The 8,000K bulb just looks perfect- not too blue, not too yellow. I've had one on my tank at home for some time now and it is magical.
I could go on and on here, but probably it would be best if anyone interested just posts their questions and I'll keep checking back and answering. I also plan to do a full article on my observations of this system at different intervals that will be posted here or in the new APC online magazine.
Also, we should have the full ADA product line available and posted on our website. We have gathered/translated full and detailed product descriptions for the whole line- but with special emphasis on the substrate system as that is where I see the most interest here in the U.S. I mean, all the ADA stuff is exceedingly cool and has a great "visual energy" to it, but the substrate system is something anyone/everyone can use with their other existing equipment and really benefit. I think folks will find the description information there very enlightening. I find there's still a lot of myth/mystery surrounding the ADA products and I hope to clear a lot of that up. I think you are going to find it a lot more affordable than you might have thought as well.
I will also be using the ADA liquid fertilizers which are broken into "steps" and correspond the various phases of a planted tank- from initial set-up to long term care. I will offer a full report w/ photos on these products as well though I can tell you some tanks on Oliver Knott's website (which many APC members are already familiar with) feature the ADA liquids and I think those tanks- as far as being "non-Amano" - layouts really speak for themselves in terms of health and vigor.

IUnknown

I am so excited. The tank looks great! That is the 'Porsche' of all setups. Are the tanks, cabinets and light hangers going to be available?

Raul-7

Did you use ADA heater cables or do you not carry them? Also, is it true that ADA Amazonia, etc. have to be replaced yearly? How effective is the diffuser, does it provide near 100% diffusion?

RedBaron

Jeff, could you tell me if 8000K bulbs are typically sold with ADA lighting systems or maybe it was just your choice?

jaxal

Jeff, I guess ADA use power compact 36 W not 32 W 8000k square pin. I really want to know ADA ECA, Pyton-Git, Green Gain and PnacA (Stick form) Just let me know if you have chance to test it

jsenske

IUnknown- Yes, everything in the entire ADA line will be available.

Raul-7 -I did not use the ADA heater cables. Here in Houston it stays very warm with only 1-2 months of "cold" weather. I have used heating cables before but ultimately did not find them necessary. But yes, the ADA heating "plate" will be available, but they come in preset sizes to fit only specific dimensions and of course they correspond to the different sized ADA tanks but they basically match the following U.S. standards: 20gallon (ADA 60cm), 58 gallon (ADA 90cm), 75 gallon (ADA 120cm), 135 gallon (ADA 180cm).
Regarding the AQUA SOIL- by no means does it need to be changed out every year. Amano himself has it tanks going on 3+ years now. I can assure you that is a myth. As well, 3 or so of the last 5 AQUA JOURNALS focus was on long-term maintenance and on designing layouts specifically to be maintained for a long period of time (2+ years). This is one of the reasons I encourage people to subscribe to AQUA JOURNAL even if you don't read Japanese- you can learn a lot from the photos and the article titles and such that are in English. Also, as a side note, Amano expressed interest in doing AQUA JOURNAL in English transalation again. Clearly if a market emerges here in the U.S. (encouraged by subscriptions to Japanese version) it increases those chances. AQUA JOURNAL is more than just pictures and ads for ADA product these days as the whole back section is full of Q and A and technical info. not to mention a bounty of aquascaping inspiration.
Regarding the diffuser- it is truly a thing of beauty and simplicity and really works great. ADA even makes different size and shape diffusers to correspond to different tank sizes and needs/desired looks. The one I am using has a much greater surface area than any other diffuser I used before and was what ADA specs for the 90cm. Everything in the line strikes me as very targeted and function specific.

Red Baron- ADA 8,000K bulbs are typically included when you purchase the fixture though you can certainly specify either 8000 or 10000. Amano does at times use 10000K also, but predominantly 8000K. His regular flourescent NA bulbs have always been 8,000K. It can't express to you just how "right"/appropriate the 8,000 Kelvin bulb looks in the aquarium. Of course plants will adapt to and grow under a wide range of lighting types and temperatures, but I have always felt Amano was on to something with 8000 K - it just feels right. I have also had AQUA JOURNAL articles about the development of the 8000K bulbs translated and it is based on actual extensive field research where the under water light field of numerous aquatic plant biotopes was measured, so it's based in nature itself, not just what is easiest/cheapest to produce. No one else offers a bulb of this color temp. that I am aware of. We plant hobbyists are either getting old production/dated-theory type bulbs like 5000/6000K range, or we are sold reef tank/saltwater bulbs that are either merely repackaged to target planted tank consumers or just get a blurb on the packing that it will grow aquatic plants "also".

neilw

I dont really have much to add in the way of questions but what you are doing with this is brilliant and very interesting. I can't wait to see how the tank develops.