Tom's 180 wood scaping

[Wö£fëñxXx]

Nice job Tom, I like your light hangers too I believe I noticed from another thread.
When I purchased and received my 120P it took me around two months to get it setup, I took my time and had a lot on my plate also, looking back I really enjoyed that part of the process too.
It really paid off taking my sweet time.
Looking good., although, the moving part sucks, I do not envy you there at all.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by garuf

Tom, where are the inlet/outlets? I keep looking and I can't see them.

Hehe, that's the point.
One is pointing right at you actually, it's coming up through the gravel.
Add plants, there's no way you can see anything.

Also how are you planning on removing the surface scum all tanks get at some point if you have no surface skimmer?
I'm growing more and more fascinated by this set-up.

No need, I have no surface scum(SS) on any of the tanks I have used canisters on.

The main plus for a sump and skimming is really easy of maintaining the water level(But you are screwed if you do not add enough water to the sump when you leave for a week or 2 without an auto top off+ float switch etc).

With good plant growth, large 50-60% weekly water changes, good CO2, good current, little issues arise.

If you drive plant growth well, have good pearling and surface movement (ripples but not enough to break the surface) , SS should not be an issue.

Folks without good current and that have poor or variable plant growth/CO2, seem to have a lot more SS issues.

How does ADA do it you might ask as well?
Only a few of the larger tanks have the Surface skimmers.

If ADa can, so can I, but those darn lily pipes. They get dirty fast and then are an even worse eye sore. You can use the metal in/out lets that ADA makes, but then it's still just another pipe going in/out of the tank.

Take a look at the 15 year old tanks, the 90 Gallon avove, see any pipes?
Overflow? Heater? There are no drilled holes either, see any wires other than the Lights?

Nope.

Same approach here.

But Collectoritus is not an issue these days. I am fine because all the rarer plants are pretty much always available now.

So I can scape without worry.
And I have several good sized tanks to chose from.

I'll take some more pics later tonight.

The outflow is 2 3/4" Lok line's coming from the left actually, the right is the 1" intake. You'll never see it buried in the weeds.





That's the opposite leaf hygro, it turns red under intense light, a nice bright green otherwise, a more preferred color to me.

It makes a nice easy to deal with foreground or middle or even background plant.

Easy to care for and it's easy to prune.
Does not grow straight up or get scraggely.

Note, this is not the dwarf Hygro I sold in the past and showed a small nano full of it.


Regards,
Tom Barr

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by Wö£fëñxXx

Nice job Tom, I like your light hangers too I believe I noticed from another thread.
When I purchased and received my 120P it took me around two months to get it setup, I took my time and had a lot on my plate also, looking back I really enjoyed that part of the process too.
It really paid off taking my sweet time.
Looking good., although, the moving part sucks, I do not envy you there at all.

Well, using Glass suction disc make moving large tanks a snap, I bought 4, each holds about 150lbs, so that's about right for the 180 and 4-6 people and tic tac ing it. The 120 gal is easy with 2 folks using the disc.

Still, no small chore.
Gladly, several folks from the local plant club offered their help, and where well fed for their services.

Good reason to have a local plant club if nothing else

Regards,
Tom Barr

[MARIMOBALL]

Is this a glasscages.com tank? Im trying to decide on a ADA 120p or a glasscages 120cm starfire tank, but don't know how good is the finished edges on the glasscages tank.

[plantbrain]

If you live in LA, just go with Lemar, they make custom glass tanks with nice edges.

Rainbow Pet shop can order you one.

Regards,
tom barr

[MARIMOBALL]

Tom you don't remember but I bought aquasoil from you and I picked up the soil at Rainbow pet Ill give them a call thanks.

[plantbrain]

I remember you. I'm old, not senile.

Here's some new pics of the filters etc and the back of the tank.





Since folks have trouble visualizing the bulkheads and concept of no tubes and no overflow, here's a tank without any wood(yet):



Here's the 38 gal with everything under there, just waiting for the tank really.

[plantbrain]

Dup post of senility

[turbowagon]

haha, what an ironic double-post with the senile comment.

Looks like a sweet setup. I'm looking forward to seeing it progress.

[samckitt]

Tom, what is the white material you have under the tank itself?

[NeverEndingNinja]

polystyrene.

[samckitt]

Like a sheet of Styrofoam? What for, cushion? Is that required? I have never done that & not had any problems.

[garuf]

Thanks tom, I get it now :$.
I wish I'd had the foresight to have bought a custom tank now rather than my butchered 10.
Also interesting you mention about SS, I'm plauged with the stuff even though my co2 is constant I run EI and have pearling (algae too though).

Also you mention a sump helps to keep the tank water level constant? I must so I like this idea as in a week I lose 2" of water through evap. and could really do with cutting it back. This is on just a 10! I'm fearful my 5 will lose even more through evap in a week.

[@marko@]

Originally Posted by garuf

This is on just a 10! I'm fearful my 5 will lose even more through evap in a week.

evap depends on heat of the water, humidity of the surrounding area, and surface area. unless you 5gal has the same surface area as your 10gal the water will evaporate less then in the 10gal, but it will still lose more fractionally (if the 10 loses 1/5 the 5 could lose 3/10).

[garuf]

Oof, still not great, I don't want to clog Tom's thread so I'll start a new one.