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11-01-2007, 10:52 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 22321 |  November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
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! | 
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11-01-2007, 02:28 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 212
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 13500 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
The tank looks great. I love the layering of those plants on the right and how big the groups have gotten for all the plants. Wonderful job. | |
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11-01-2007, 04:44 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 188
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 11350 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
I love this tank. I think I remember reading a thread about it a few weeks ago. I've never seen Tiger Barbs look so good! | |
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11-10-2007, 11:52 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Orléans, France
Posts: 145
Plant Points: 13565 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
Contratulations John ^^
The 3rd member of www.paysages-aquatiques.com to have this honor, it's just amazing  | |
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11-10-2007, 12:20 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Middleburg, Florida
Posts: 39
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 7600 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
Beautiful tank! Lotta hard work went into this, I'm sure.
Keep Smilin'
John  | |
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11-11-2007, 02:01 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 165
Plant Points: 11900 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
wow stunning... it really is... i hope one day to have a aquarium looking just like that..
Well done  | |
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11-27-2007, 07:50 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: West Covina, California
Posts: 39
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 2550 | Re: November 2007 Tank of the Month: Jonathan Robert
Awesome! | |
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