PJAN tank : DYI Amano - picture warning

[PJAN]

Hello to all,

Lots of people asked me to show my new tank....
Here it is.

Introduction :
Marc showed wonderfull pictures of Mr Amano's tank in Japan. Rimless and on a nice cabinet with open top.
Link to this thread : http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14399

Well, to be short, I decided to build one and exchange the old big tank.
I bought some MDF ( wood), paint and a few tools and start building the stand.

5 minutes later :



10 minutes later :

Finished the woodwork with some grey paint and ordered a rimless tank.
Size 90 Gallons ( 360 litres) measuring 120 x 60 x 50 cm H.

Next day : testing day. See if it holds the 90 Gallons. Important, as Scolly can justify (Sorry mate, I couldn't resist...)



Right, the lights where not ok. I decided to test several pendants and came up with 6 x 54 Watt T5 dimmable.
You can see this pendant in this thread : http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=16792

in which I explained why I choose this type of lighting.

I threw in some wood, plants and gravel and let it all grow.
It didn't looked very nice but I needed time to collect the right plants, wood and rocks for my future aquascape. So, in the meantime the tank could mature a little bit.



The technique used, can be described as "High Tech". I wanted everything to control, just to make it easy for me.
Whats under the hood :



From left to right :
UV-lamp ( 11 Watt)
CO2-reactor ( Aquamedic 1000)
Eheim Pro II with internal heater
CO2 pressurized
Light computer ( for the dimmable T5 pendant)
CO2 computer / dosing computer
3x dosing pumps Aquamedic with liquid holders ( self made kitchen equipment)

Details are important, so look at the DYI outlet for the dosing tubes :



The aquascaping........
Maybe the most important thing to do, but the clean empty tank looked already awfully nice in my house. Almost a shame to fill it with water and stuff

But ok, here's an overview of the small steps in aquascaping land.

First the mature-tank-a-bit-with-plants :



Found some nice wood and rocks and changed the entire tank! Aqauscaping time!!



I decided to go for the "island concept". Mmm, very difficult but worth to give it a try anyway.
The plants are growing very very fast.







Still, the total green lotus ( Nynpheae glandulifera) became one of my favourites and I wanted to give it more credit... Well, I moved the wood slightly to the left and made some free space.
Ahh, better I guess and here's the result after pruning and arranging some plants.



As for the health of the plants :



And what could do such a tank on brochure??
Well here's a test :



And last but not least, the water details etc of this tank. If any interesting at all :

- bottom : some clay and peat (only a little) with gravel on top
- PH 6,65 ( average)
- KH 4
- GH 5
- NO3 between 5 - 10 mg ( KNO3 dosing)
- PO4 0 - 0,1 ( PO4 dosing)
- fertilizer 1/2 dose a week
- water change 20% / week
- T 24 degrees C
Lights :
10.30 - 12.30 50% 4 T5
12.30 - 17.30 80% 6 T5
17.30 - 20.30 50% 4 T5
20.30 - 23.30 2% 2 T5 ( evening light )

Have fun, see you at AGA-show??

PJAN

[bigstick120]

that is awesome, you make it seem so easy!!!!!!

[Snailpoo]

Yeah, you sure do have Amano's style down:

Step 1: set up the tank.
Step 2: Perfecto!


It does look amazing!



What foreground plant is that?

[Jdinh04]

The tank looks great! I especially love the stand, it looks sturdy to hold a 90g!

[timr]

Certainly is beautiful!! Great job. I love those lights

i think i over built my stand....it just might hold a house, there's a lot of 2x4's involved.

[scolley]

PJAN - what a great thread! Let's see, what did you include?...

1) Assembly pics
2) Equipment pics
3) Growth progression pics
4) Artistic expression pics
5) Critical care and feeding details

I think that about covers it! But you don't dip your toe in the water... you jump right in!

The tanks looks great, and can't wait to see it in AGA! But after everyone stops "ooohing" and "aaahhing" I'll wager you are going to have an angry mop on your hands if you don't provide some mpre details on how to build that stand!

And the dosing pumps. You have three. Why? Love to know...

BTW - Between the tank, the stand, the lights, and the magnificent aquascape, you are where I ache to be. Great stuff friend!

[Marc]

Ahh PJAN I see you finally got the pictures up! I almost missed it- been working more lately.

I really love the red paint under the hood! How did you get it to look so nice? did you have to prep the MDF a special way to make it looks so smooth and shiny! Maybe some primer?

Also, I know you had a problem with the floor being a bit unleveled- were you able to get around that?

Glad some of my pictures were able to inspire your project!

BTW I like 12-6-2006 aqua scape!

[PJAN]

@ Marc : the inspirator & MDF
Thanks again for the inspiration. Now you can see what it caused...

MDF painting : no special thing. 2x primer and 2x finishing coating. That's all.

The floor is indeed unleveled. Lucky me, this time only from the back-front and not horizontal ( front window view). The old big tank ( 178 Gallons + gravel, glass etc.etc.) caused also unleveling horizontal...maybe too much weight on the floor after all...
I leveled the stand by putting some extra strokes of carpet in the front. It is still not perfect, but on pictures you can't see it.

Although you maybe like the 12-6-2005 aquascape, you should see the last aquascape 23-06-2005 mature a bit.... Due to heavy pruning it hasn't got it's final look and it will be better. I hope...

@ Scolly : Dosing pumps

The 3 dosing pumps are for KNO3, PO4 and fertilizer. I can tweak seperately the ferts this way. But I don't use it right now, it's more for holidays etc.

Well, the stand.... use your imagination Scolly....
I think something must stay a mystery...

@ Snailpro : foreground plant

The forground plant is Hemianthus callitrichoides ( HC). Easy grower but rather slow. It will spread not as fast as Glosso.

Gr. PJAN

[Tino]

Originally Posted by scolley

But after everyone stops "ooohing" and "aaahhing" I'll wager you are going to have an angry mop on your hands if you don't provide some mpre details on how to build that stand

I'll second that.
Also , are those ADA Lilly Pipes you are using for the Eheim input/output?
Overall, neat and clean look, nothing superfluous inside and out. Well done.

[scolley]

Sorry, meant angry "mob".

[Canoe2Can]

Well, once again, PJAN, that is absolutely gorgeous. I'm curious what kind of fish you have in it? Also, good move to shift the driftwood to the left. Looks better there.

I'll just keep dreaming of a 120 some day.... Ah....

[maestro001]

Its a lovely tank!

I have to say though I cant beleive you are trusting thank size tank on 10mm mdf, hood is cheap that a 2x4 internal frame would have cost no money

[bavarian3]

Wow i really love your aquascapes youve got some serious skill Nice equipment as well..

[Laith]

Great tank and stand! I have two questions:

- Where did you get that tank? All the tanks I can find around here all have two horizontal pieces of glass fixed to the inside top of the front and back panes to keep the glass from bowing. I want to find a tank without that...

- Re the stand, it's just the sides of the stand that are supporting the tank? What's supporting it in front?

Thanks.

[Buck]

Very nice... you did indeed make it look easy.