Tank's ADA 60-F Journal

[tank0211]

THE BEGININNG

So, I started researching planted tanks back in 07', but unfortunately rough times were ahead & my plans were put on the shelf so that I could deal w/ life's challenges. While cleaning this weekend I re-discovered my ADA 60-F & Cal Aqua lilly pipes, both still in their packaging, in the closet & was inspired to finish what I had started as sort of an homage to new beginnings.

This will be a slow going journal folks so be aware. I'm still in the research & planning stages, but I wanted to start a thread in order to get some advice/tips, which I think will be quite valuable to me as a novice, while I get things started & as I move forward. I will do my best to provide pictures when applicable, but I've just gotten my 1st digital camera & I'm not so good w/ it just yet.

Here's a few of the tanks I've been inspired by:
http://www.cau-aqua.net/index.php?op...=1&key=0&hit=1
http://www.cau-aqua.net/index.php?op...=1&key=0&hit=1

Ok, so my plan is to go w/ low light, no CO2, hardscape dominated tank w/ a few easy to care for/ maintain plants, some sparkling gourami, shrimp & snails. I'm also planning to hang the tank on the wall w/ a custom made wooden cabinet beneath to hide all the equipment. If all goes according to plan this will emulate a clean ADA set-up w/ a country feel & it will be mounted on the wall.

Equipment:
Tank- ADA 60-F
http://www.adgshop.com/60cm_Flat_Cub...p/102-8555.htm
Glass- Cal Aqua 13mm Efflux/ Influx
http://www.calaqualabs.com/Fluxus.html
Filter- Ehiem 2213
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...03&pcatid=3603
Heater- Hydor 200W Inline Heater 1/2".
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...id=11369&r=414
Lighting- Finnex Ray II 16"
http://www.finnex.net/index.php?opti...hk=1&Itemid=61

Hardscape:
Substrate- ADA New Amazonia Powder Type 3L
http://www.adgshop.com/product_p/104-051.htm
ADA Nile Sand 2.6L
http://www.adgshop.com/product_p/104-067.htm
Caribsea Super Naturals Blue Ridge 5lbs
http://www.caribsea.com/itempage_fre...ernaturals.htm
Driftwood- Texas Select XSM
http://www.adgshop.com/Texas_Select_...aselectxsm.htm
Rocks- Manten Stone 6lbs
http://www.adgshop.com/Manten_Stone_p/mantenstone.htm

Plants:
Total novice here so completely open to suggestions for what I'm planning.

Fish:
(8) Galaxy Rasbora
http://msjinkzd.com/freshwater/wp-co...12/01/cpd1.jpg

Inverts:
Shrimp- Red Cherry Shrimp (Open to suggestions)
http://www.planetinverts.com/Red%20Cherry%20Shrimp.html
Snails- Open to suggestions

Well, that's all for now. Any suggestions & advice are welcome & appreciated.

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by tank0211

Plan is to go w/ low light, no CO2,

Lighting- Planning a low watt DIY LED strip

Easiest plants are moss, ferns, and crypts. The crypts do best with root tabs added to the substrate. I think API tabs the best. Buying plants from member of forum the best. Just might want to wait until spring, depending on the temp where you live or ship from.

Also might want to try an El Natural style. It is low maintenance. Some only change water 1x a year doing it . I have to change water montly.

In the lighting section Hoppy has many threads on DIY LED light strips. APC

[tank0211]

Originally Posted by Hilde

Easiest plants are moss, ferns, and crypts. The crypts do best with root tabs added to the substrate. I think API tabs the best. Buying plants from member of forum the best. Just might want to wait until spring, depending on the temp where you live or ship from.

Also might want to try an El Natural style. It is low maintenance. Some only change water 1x a year doing it . I have to change water montly.

In the lighting section Hoppy has many threads on DIY LED light strips. APC

Thanks for that bit of help Hilde I surely appreciate it much.
I'll check out some of those threads tonight.

I will be starting the custom box that will hide the equipment under the tank this weekend.
I hope to have some pics to share soon.

Lots of views, still looking for more advice/suggestions if you can spare
a few minutes of your time w/ a reply on anything.

[tank0211]

UPDATE TIME!

The cabinet is hung on two heavy duty brackets lag screwed into the wall studs. It's approximately 38x12x18. I distressed the wood using a chain, a hammer, some screws and a chisel. The stain color is call gunstock made by Min Wax. All-together it took around 10 hours & cost about $80. The light pole is made of 1/2" conduit & is attached to the wall inside the cabinet through a drilled hole in the top w/ a cost of $8. Both the pole & light housing will be getting an antiqued paint job to match the cabinet hardware closely. I will also be drilling holes for the lilly pipes tubing which will attach to the 2213 housed inside the cabinet w/ a power strip, timer & inline heater.

[tank0211]

UPDATE TIME!

Everything is ordered, aside from plants & livestock, & on it's way!

Also, still looking for suggestions on plants, fish & inverts as well as what to run in the 2213? I plan to use whatever it comes w/ + chemi-pure elite. I've also decided to dose excel sparingly. Not sure it will even be needed, but decided it would be good to have on hand since I won't be running CO2.

As far as plants go I know I'd like some moss of course & thinking christmas &/ or flame, but not sure on anything else as of yet. Maybe a narrow leaf java fern.

Anyways, all other posts have been updated accordingly.

I Hope to have more pictures as packages arrive & the week moves forward folks.

[CatB]

i think sparkling gouramis would eat any shrimp you added. maybe not. i'd do some small schooling fish, personally, like a type of tetra.

[tank0211]

Originally Posted by CatB

i think sparkling gouramis would eat any shrimp you added. maybe not. i'd do some small schooling fish, personally, like a type of tetra.

Hmm, from what I've read they are very peaceful fish that are quite tolerant of their tankmates & they only get 1.5" long at max, but I've no hands-on experience w/ them.

On the shrimp front I'm now thinking Red Cherry Shrimp as from what I've read they are one of if not 'the' best beginners shrimp out there atm.

Anyone care to chime in on Sparkling Gouramis + RCS getting along well

[tank0211]

Ok, quick update & pic. Everything is drilled & painted now. Just need to figure out what I'm going to use through the eyelets on the light to hang it. Also need to find some 12/16mm clear tubing to avoid using the green eheim tubing. I didn't expect it to be so hard to find tubing, but alas I'm not surprised. (note: already have some home depot 1/2 & 3/8 ID tubing & I don't like it.) Will be adding the substrate/ sand this weekend & messing around w/ scaping, but here is a preliminary shot. Not sure I like it, but we'll see.

[tank0211]

Here's some new pics from my finished hardscape.

Full set-up shot


Close-up front


Close-up left-front


Close-up left


Close-up right

[mythin]

wow great looking hardscape, i love those tank demensions! cant wait to see it planted. I dont know if you plan on planting the light colored sandy area, but i wouldn't, i love how it looks like a beach up to the point the darker rocks start. Definitely do some fissidens or mini pellia on the rocks, some nice green/red stems mixed through out the wood work, you can do a lot, great start!

[xmas_one]

Nice hardscape, looks great!

[ayobreezie]

Clean scape.

[IWANNAGOFAST]

Love the scape! Word to the wise on the cal aqua pipes. Because the tank is so shallow, and the outflow is pointed down, you're going to blow your substrate around if you keep it that low

[tank0211]

I'm pretty happy w/ how the hardscape turned out as well. Thanks for all the complements!

@mythin: Nope, won't be planting the beach area. Planning all low light easy to care for plants as this is my first foray into planted tanks & I won't be using CO2. Thinking both anubias nana & petite, java fern & java moss. Still researching on the low-light thread though so this may change some.

@IWANNAGOFAST: Yeah, I've had issues before in reef tanks w/ the outflow blowing the substrate around allot. TBH I just had the pipes set-up like that for safety until the tank was ready to go & had it in my head to find the proper height right off. Thanks for the heads up!

Now I wait until my wood is nice and saturated as to not float up when I flood the tank after planting. In the mean time I will be finalizing which plants I want, where I'll put them & of course ordering them (preferably from an upstanding forum member). Any recommendations?

P.S. Can anyone elaborate on the blending of moss & painting it on the rocks/wood technique? It's something I'm intrigued by & might possibly like to try, but I don't have any tank water to use & have read that it doesn't always adhere strongly. Could a person just use some RODI water, blend & paint it on? Is there anywhere I can read-up on this technique or would it just be easier to tie it to the rocks/wood?

[akpoly]

Amazing scape! It wouldn't even need plants to look finished. Nice use of big rocks and small rocks. Good job at getting the same colored rocks!

The only comment I would say is maybe on the next tank, get sand that is close in color to the rocks. Sand is usually created from rocks. Would help more with the illusion.