November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert - Library

November 2007 Tank of the Month
A Path Through the Jungle
by Jonathan Robert

Introduction and Background

Hello, my name is Jonathan Robert (Jojodu13). I'm a 25 years old and I work as a mechanic. I started in the hobby about 4 years ago, when I got my uncle's tank (96l) for free. Since I didn't know anything about the hobby then, I just kept some easy fish like Xiphophorus maculatus, Poecilia sphenops, etc...

Then I found a French internet forum (Forumaqua) and that's when I discovered planted tanks. From this site, I learn the aquascaping techniques used by many well known "professionals." Looking at all the beautiful pictures triggered something inside me and inspired me to buy a larger tank.

About the Tank

I then bought a 330l tank, the dimensions of which were chosen to have a large ground surface (50cm width), with an internal filter. Little by little, I managed to gather more specialized equipment like CO2 supply, a better lighting system, etc...

I now had what I needed to start my first planted tank. It was quite difficult in the beginning since I didn't know how to arrange plants. Colors and leaves mixes were not satisfying but I kept on trying and eventually managed to improve step by step.

Tank Specifications

Tank Dimensions/Volume: 120 cm(L) x 48 cm(w) x 52 cm(h)
Lighting: 3 T8 biolux 120cm 36w + reflectors, 2 T8 aquarelle 10 000K, 120cm 36w + reflectors 1 h/day
Filtration System: 1 internal filtration with 1100 l/h pump and 1 external filter eheim 2236 600l/h
C02 supplementation: Pressurized 2kg dennerle bottle + double manometer + electrovalve + bubble counter + modified tunze reactor inside the internal filter 2 bubles/sec.
Substrate: Red Sea 40w 24v heating cable pouzzolane (5cm), mesh, and Red Sea Florabase (7cm)

Tank Maintenance, Fertilizer System and Water Chemisty

Water Change : 60l once a week - 100% R/O water + mineral salt dennerle
Plant Trimming : 1 to 2 times per weeks

Basic Fertilizer :DUPLAPLANT : 2 tablets per weeks
Daily Fertilizer : DUPLAPLANT24 : 3 drops per days
KNO3 : 10 ppm every 3 days
KH2PO4 : 1 ppm every 2 days
ECA ADA : 10 drops per days
Plocher A, W, P + 5 sticks

PH 6.9
GH 7 ppm
KH 5 ppm
NO2 0 ppm
NO3 10 ppm
PO4 1 ppm
FE 0.1ppm
nh4 0 ppm
nh3 0 ppm

Rotala rotundifolia

View of Hemianthus callitrichoides foreground

Puntius tetrazona

Aquascaping Technique

In the beginning, this aquascape was meant to be well structured, with an open space in the center but, due to a lack of time and of trimming technique, the planned structure turned into a jungle. Since I happened to like this jungle, I decided to let this aquascape live its life freely with as few trimming as possible.
Plants were planted very densely and trimmed quite often (one or twice a week) so as to produce dense and bulky thickets. Most plants have been moved several times since they did not look as expected. Some would "weep" whereas they were meant to grow tall and straight and vice versa.

This layout has been set up a year ago but has been through a horrible start. All plants have suffered a 7-8 months long PO4 deficiency, which I could not guess. It has then been only 4 months since this tank found its correct balance, and all plants now can grow steadily. That was the greatest challenge to discover this deficiency, fix it, and make this layout very quickly for the CAPA French Aquascaping Contest.

9 Months after Initial Setup

Plant List

November 2007 Tank of the Month - "A Path Through the Jungle"

New Setup in progress

Final Thoughts

I'm trying to create a new aquascape with wood hard scape, but the algae is very difficult and invading. The substrate must be "dead." In my next aquascape, I want to set out again at the beginning with a made home substrate. Until next time!