The 700 gal indoor sunken garden project

[A Hill]

The pictures look great and the hanger looks really nice. Too bad its stationary... Ohh well. Could I suggest trying to get a brass cover for the light made making it all look much more sleek and together? If made make sure there is plenty of vents

Originally Posted by natx

Yeah I was at the New England Aquarium for member's night last night, and as much as I love that place and their beautiful exhibits, they don't have anything that could hold a candle to the level of detail and craftsmanship being put into this project.

Thats because its a personal location with privet funds. That seems to be the way of the world...

-Andrew

[runwithit]

that tank dwarfs you... i guess i really understood how big it was until the pic with you in it. wow.. truly emazing. the possibilities are limitless.

[medicineman]

Thank you for comments and supports.

@fish_newb
Brass fixture would be nice, colour and shape blends in well. Not so easy to buy/make one though.

@runwithit,
The guy inside was not me
(if you remember my other tank with this poor guy stuck inside)
Who will take the shot then?

@Dufus,
There is a big brom already. Need to find more of the smaller sp, or some tilandtia and orchids.

@PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn,
Stingray is one possibility. Motoro ones would be nice, they can remain plate small and tamed to be handfed.


I decided the new wood is too big and bulky for this use. Good enough that the seller allows for goods exchange (perhaps I will pick plants or branchy slender woods).

Being finished in soaking and cleaning for fine dust for these past few days,
all lava rocks goes in and form the hardscape, creating a bit beachy look.


Kinda split into two sections of rock grouping. Another angle of view from top.


And one other from the side.


Now I can see that I got lots of open space by the front area. Perhaps a good place to plant some tiny plants, of course in partially. I'm thinking of hairgrass, that is if I can find enough number this weekend (well, another waste of water because I will want level to be low enough for planting in).

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

have you thought about adding some shelves to the back, so you could put smaller plants at the back there

personally i like the wood like that, and would try and get a fem more pieces that match (create a river bank feel)

[FelixAvery]

its nice but i feel you need more uright element to the hardscape
like this tank
http://www.naturacquario.net/amano/all05/01.jpg
http://www.naturacquario.net/amano/all05/02.jpg
http://www.naturacquario.net/amano/all05/03.jpg
http://www.naturacquario.net/amano/all05/06.jpg

[medicineman]

Well... if it is not one of Mr Amano's masterpiece.
I cannot agree more that I need slender branches, probably the ones that pierce out of water to give the pond a better look. This must be done in the future, look for good driftwood and soak them well.


Planting time now.

My package of plants arrived to my delight. Two boxes full of plants. This time I did not hunt for plants, I back ordered them for the best and preferably the good sized ones. I got various bigger size hygrophilla, huge cypts, assorted echinodorus, some crinum, some ferns and others.

I start off immediately, not leaving excess precious time before the plants can go bad. First of all water level is being lowered as low as possible to ease planting job. Then the planting continue in just damp condition, and in this way of planting, things get much easier. No excessive murkiness since ther is no disturbance to the substrate to mix with water. When planting dry, a handheld sprayer is your best friend, keep the plants moist enough during the planting and filling water.




It took quite some time to fill the pond despite the fact that the house is fitted with double 1000L water towers and two wells. Reserves almost ran out so water filling must be stopped for a while and continue the next day.

[rodney]

Very nice job medicine man. IMHO I prefer medicine mans aquarium a tad more than aminos. Sure aminos is nice but it really only revovles around the scape and not so much the fish. Medicines looks natural and looks as if it would be a better natural habitat to observe the fish.

But eh what do I know im still having trouble with my 10 gallon LOL.

Rodney

[FelixAvery]

looks AMazaing! love it

[dufus]

Cool, gonna be fun to see this one later.

May i suggest some plants?
1st- Philidendron monstera(monstera deliciosa) or similar.
It has large(1meter or so) leaves and it vines and is epiphitic.

2. Alocasia "black velvet"
my favorite alocasia, has a nice color to it and stays fairly small ussually.

3. philidendron gloriosum
another nice philo that creeps instead of vines.

[medicineman]

@dufus,
Thanks. I could use more plants for the cliff. Collect and buy them slowly.

@rodney,
Well... Amano has his own unique styling and they are good.

Filled and running now. The filter started to work and hopefully in several days, the combination of filter and bacteria will clear up the water murkiness.
My 20lb+ CO2 cylinder is not back yet from refilling (yeah, no more CO2 in the city like last time!) and currently I use spare leftover 4lb one. Running at 6bps via 3 blown micro bubbler points, I am hoping it could buy some time.



Seen from second floor. Quite a jewel at night.


I'm not finished with planting the pond yet. Thing is I ran out of small plants. Planting will continue with several dozens of foreground plants later on, though I still like to left a large amount of open space by the front for fishies to hang around. Then some more plants to the waterworks, perhaps anubias and some emmersed growth aquatic plants will work.

[jeffboyarrdee]

THis is awesome! a dream setup for me! are you having melting problems with crypts?

[JasonHornbuckle]

i personally am not a big fan of the "branches coming up out of the water" look

i'm sure there are lots of other things you could do to give a similar effect. like planting trees or something that would grow out of the water, or using really tall rocks or whatever

[jeffboyarrdee]

yea! or atleast have branches coming out with vines on them, or some plant life

[gotwins86]

Awesome! Looks really good. I was just kinda skimming through the first few pages so I might have missed it, but have you decided on what type of fish you are putting in there?

[rodney]

Originally Posted by jeffboyarrdee

yea! or atleast have branches coming out with vines on them, or some plant life

LOL why everyone wants to copy what other people have already done I don't know. Honestly, I have spent hours skimming through ada aquariums and hardly ever see anything new, just different combinations of what other people have done, be creative for goodness sake

Rodney