tank pjan

[Canoe2Can]

What I find so amazing is that you're growing all this with what seems to be a pretty small amount of light. 220 Watts over a 180 gallon tank is only 1.2 Wpg; a lot less than many others are using. How do you have your lights set up? What distance from the water and how far apart? How often do you replace the bulbs?

I'm curious because I'm impressed. Very much so.

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by e.lark

All four tanks are stellar. Incredible eye for aquascaping, I really like the thin driftwood used. What exactly root is that from? What are the floating plants in pic 3?

Thanks!
The thin driftwood is local. There are "peat area's" here which contains wood conserved for thousands of years. But it's tricky wood and rather soft.
Some problems (algea...) where directly related to this wood and now I don't use it anymore. Pitty, but I am more satisfied with the tropical wood.

Floating plants : Limnobium laveagatum

Originally Posted by Marc

PJAN- WOW Im impressed! GREAT TANK. I'll have the dimensions of the ADA tanks for you soon!

The tank is great, but bigggg. I find it rather easier to aquascape a smaller tank. With such a big tank, you have really a lot of space to fill in. Also you need a lott of plants, wood or rocks. It's almost impossible ($$) to plant the tank and the first step in aquascaping is always 'grow much plants and scape later'. The latest aquascape contains now 150 (!) stems of stargrass...
Bigger is not always better...in my opinion. The maintenance is huge and you almost have to swimm...to get something done in the back..

Gr. PJAN

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by Canoe2Can

What I find so amazing is that you're growing all this with what seems to be a pretty small amount of light. 220 Watts over a 180 gallon tank is only 1.2 Wpg; a lot less than many others are using. How do you have your lights set up? What distance from the water and how far apart? How often do you replace the bulbs?

I'm curious because I'm impressed. Very much so.

Well, the lights are equally devided in the hood. I use reflectors.
The lamps are 5 cm (2 -3 inches) from the surface. Normally I use 1 lamp every 15 -20 cm (10 - 15 inches). The lamps are T5 fluorescent.
There are some area's with lower light (left and right). But it is enough to keep the Glosso down. Replacement : when they are broken... According the techdata of these lamps, they will keep 90% of the power during there life-time.

Tomorrow I can place a picture of the hood.

Gr. PJAN

[Buck]

The lack of plants from side to side and top to bottom I think is what attracts me most to your tank's many looks. You did not go overboard with plant varieties and kept it very natural looking.
I love the latest tanks look with the "hydrocotyle variety(?) growing sparsely around the end of the wood in the front center. This tank will be a real charmer in a couple months !

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by Buck

The lack of plants from side to side and top to bottom I think is what attracts me most to your tank's many looks. You did not go overboard with plant varieties and kept it very natural looking.
I love the latest tanks look with the "hydrocotyle variety(?) growing sparsely around the end of the wood in the front center. This tank will be a real charmer in a couple months !

Buck

Your the first one noticing the detail I was planning with the Hydrocotyle verticillata and the wood... I am amazed.
It's a nice plant and now growing fast and spreading all over the place.

Gr. PJAN

[GTApuffgal]

Please forgive the ignorant noobie here... I just really like your planting style, Pjan! And - as I said - NOOBIE! In photo #3 there is a plant with little "offshoot" looking things swooping up and floating at the top. Almost like the little "baby spiders" hanging from a spider plant. I know you listed your plants for that tank, but I don't know which one that is - and I think the effect is stunning. Please let me know!

Thanks! Kathy

[Thanks]

Originally Posted by PJAN

Latest project : natural looking aquascape.
5 weeks old aquascaping and still working on the Lotus..

Gr. PJAN

what is that sword plant in the middle right? the one with green older leaves, and redish/bronze newer leaves. I have it in my tank, it's getting huge! i have had it for almost a year, but have no idea what it is
is it echinodorus rubin?

[Aulonochromis]

You have a really good eye for aquascaping. I like the less is more approach, leaving more of an open, natural feeling to the tank. It is really effective. Beautiful work.

[m3th0d]

Beautiful!

PJAN, in the very first picture on the first page... what are those tall val-looking plants in the way back?

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by GTApuffgal

Please forgive the ignorant noobie here... I just really like your planting style, Pjan! And - as I said - NOOBIE! In photo #3 there is a plant with little "offshoot" looking things swooping up and floating at the top. Almost like the little "baby spiders" hanging from a spider plant. I know you listed your plants for that tank, but I don't know which one that is - and I think the effect is stunning. Please let me know!

Thanks! Kathy

Ask questions ! I do it all the time.
The plant is called "Limnobium laevigatum", a floating plant with flat leaves.
The roots can be rather long and the plant grows fast with enough PO4 and NO3. It can be held in summertime in a pond.

Originally Posted by GTm3th0d

PJAN, in the very first picture on the first page... what are those tall val-looking plants in the way back?

They are "Cyperus helferi", small bright green leaves. Plant likes some peat near the roots.

Originally Posted by GTthanks

what is that sword plant in the middle right? the one with green older leaves, and redish/bronze newer leaves. I have it in my tank, it's getting huge! i have had it for almost a year, but have no idea what it is
is it echinodorus rubin?

I bought this one as "Echinodorus horizontalis". It was a very small plant with round green leaves and supposed to stay small. I planted it on 7th januari, and now it has rather tall leaves already .
So I can be wrong here and the redish leaves are strange for Ech. horizontalis.

Thanks all for the

Gr. PJAN

[GTApuffgal]

Thanks PJAN!

Kathy

[GTApuffgal]

Pjan, it's been a couple of weeks... (Impatient toe-tapping) More photo updates PLEASE!!!

Kathy

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by GTApuffgal

Pjan, it's been a couple of weeks... (Impatient toe-tapping) More photo updates PLEASE!!!

Kathy

Ah, well.

I am in the middle of tearing down the entire tank....to make space...
Because I am building a new tank (120x60Wx50H) with open top.

The reason for this action (swap the 140x80Wx60H - 178 gallons for the smaller one 120x60Wx50H - 90 gallons) was the maintenance problems I suffered from. I always needed a small ladder.... ( ) to reach the bottom of the tank, lighting was so-so (just enough) and filtration was also a slight problem.

The new tank is "Amano-style" with open top and grey cabinet.
This tank will be my 'competition' tank and due to the smaller size, it's easier for me to scape and do maintenance without hurting my back

I will post pictures of the new tank & cabinet as soon I recieve the new tank. Should be in 1 or 2 weeks or so.

Gr. PJAN

[GTApuffgal]

Originally Posted by PJAN

Ah, well.

The new tank is "Amano-style" with open top and grey cabinet.
This tank will be my 'competition' tank and due to the smaller size, it's easier for me to scape and do maintenance without hurting my back

I will post pictures of the new tank & cabinet as soon I recieve the new tank. Should be in 1 or 2 weeks or so.

Gr. PJAN

Okay, PJAN - you're off the hook. I am giving you 2 weeks... I am not a patient person, however, the prospect of seeing this new tank will give me something to look forward to! HURRY!

Kathy

[PJAN]

Originally Posted by GTApuffgal

Okay, PJAN - you're off the hook. I am giving you 2 weeks... I am not a patient person, however, the prospect of seeing this new tank will give me something to look forward to! HURRY!

Kathy

Oh boy. Sorry for the inconvenience....
I'm not a patient person too.... I took the decission in a split second... but a custom made tank takes always 2 -3 weeks delivering time.

But ... the grey cabinet is almost finished and I am ready to move.
Waiting for the tank right now
Be patient, it will be very nice...

Gr. PJAN