[gsmitchell]

Hi everyone, I have been a lurker here, and occasional poster on other planted tank websites for quite a while now. I have always enjoyed seeing the amazing tanks people have set up. While mine pales in comparison to many here, I thought it was probably time to start a journal showing its progress.

Equipment:
ADA 60C
150 Watt Metal Halide
Pressurized CO2 injected with a Mazzei 384 injector
Magnum 350 canister filter, flow supplemented with a Danner 500 pump (to add pressure to make the Mazzei work properly)

Substrate:
ADA Powersand Special M
ADA Aquasoil Malaya
ADA "Old black Wood"
Pinkish granite from the Colorado Springs area in Colorado

Current Plants:
Utricularia graminifolia
Hemianthus callitrichoides
Eriocaulon sp. 'Thailand'
Pogostemon helferi (Downoi)
Blyxa japonica
Narrow (or possibly needle) leaf java fern (sold as needle leaf by Aqua Forest in SF)
Java fern sp. 'Trident'
Bolbitis heudelotii
Bacopa sp. 'Colorata'
Anubias nana
Anubias nana 'petite'
Poaceae sp. 'Purple Bamboo'

Inhabitants:
CRS

Here is a pic of the original hardscape:

I wish I had more pics of setting up the hardscape, but, as you will notice, I ended up changing it quite a lot as time progressed. The driftwood was slanted more to more feel of depth with the midground elements extending into the foreground. The large piece of driftwood in the picture was also removed, and replaced with a smaller one to which the bolbitis is attached.

Then, the tank was finally planted, and hardscape arranged in its final location around July 15 (with slightly cloudy water)

Here are some pic of the present day state of the tank, you will notice that I added a few plants, and rearranged the hardscape a bit.

The growth though in just 6 weeks has been amazing. I have to thin out the Blyxa weekly, the UG is growing very quickly. I am a bit worried that the main java fern may begin to overwhelm the tank, so it may need to be thinned in the next few weeks as well. I also really want the bolbitis to fill in.

The idea with this tank was to use the lighter reddish and brownish colors of the granite and the Malaya to contrast with the green of the plants, and the dark brown/black of the wood. I think that it turned out rather well. One problem is that I have found that the reddish colors clash badly with many red colored plants, especially if they are a darker red or purple. The bacopa that I threw in there seems to work well though.

I also really wanted to have a tank that was viewable from two angles, and looked good from both. Thus the reason for going with the cube. I think that I have achieved that. Anyway, please let me know what you think of the tank. I am always looking to improve the tank, and my aquascaping skills in general, so please feel free to provide criticism. (I promise, I can take it). Thanks!

Greg

 

[tfmcder]

Very nice setup! The growth is amazing and so healthy! I would say you achieved the look you were going for! Congratulations.

My only issue is the downoi in the front. It looks a little out of place to me...but that's just me.

You have inspired me to redo my 30 to be two sided now...thanks!

O, and welcome to APC!!!

 

[orlando]

Very well done..You have made great use of the space in the tank. I think the best Ive seen in any 60c..Very nice.

P.S
Any chance of getting photos of the guts? Mazzei and the like?

 

[chagovatoloco]

As a "lurker" I would say that you where paying attention. Nice tank. I think any one on here would be proud to have that in their home.

 

[MiKlo]

very nice setup!! lots of depth!!

 

[krisw]

Great scape! That Java Fern sp. 'Trident' is the best how it lays down and branches out.

 

[gsmitchell]

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

My only issue is the downoi in the front. It looks a little out of place to me...but that's just me.

I agree, the idea with the downoi was to have a small area of small plants below the rocks, and it got a bit out of hand, and just grew too much. I think that I will try removing it and see what that does for the tank.

Orlando, I would happily take a photo of the "guts" of the setup, but it is really crammed in there. The stand is a custom job by me, and is really narrow. Thus, everything is really crammed in there, but I will do my best in the next few days to try to get a pic of it (I will be out of town until Monday, but perhaps when I get back).

Oh yeah, and here is a pic of one of my berried CRS, she has had the eggs for about 25 days, so hopefully soon I will have new shrimplets. I am anxious to see how these turn out. Most of the other CRS in the tank (there are only 5 in there) are SS and higher grade Mosuras, so hopefully, even though she is a bit lower grade, I will have some higher grade babies. I also have a berried Mosura crystal black in the tank, but she is a bit more shy and won't come out for pictures .

 

[4f1hmi]

good job! hope to see more from you!

 

[foofooree]

!!!!!! Wow, thats great! A 60c is an enormous cube!! I love it! That ug is da bomb

 

[gsmitchell]

!!!!!! Wow, thats great! A 60c is an enormous cube!! I love it! That ug is da bomb

That's funny, when I read your post, I thought to my self "well, I don't think its really that big of a tank", and then I realized that I am an idiot. The tank is a 45C, for some reason I had a brain fart when I started the thread and called it a 60. Apparently I need a vacation...good thing I am on one now.

Greg

 

[foofooree]

lol, I was just about to ask how you got a 60 c, since the closest to that they have is a 55c