ADA 90P journal (updated with new pictures 8-30-08)

Well I FINALLY got my ADA 90P stand up and running. Here is the set up..

What you think?

(by the way -it took a LONG time to get everything going smooth under the tank!)

[Matt M]

That looks very nice. I love your hardscape. Hopefully when you get the plants in there they're do well.

Thanks so much - those rocks are from a Rock yard that Jeff over at ADG told me about. I drove up there and picked up a bunch of them. I have alot left over if anyone is interested. May be able to ship them in the flat rate box so the shipping isn't that much.

I just planted some HC, so I'll see how that takes off. Then I plan on putting some nice hair grass in the back..

By the way here is the stats on this tank

Tank - ADA 90P
Stand - ADA Look-a-like stand that I had custom made
bottom layer : Tourmaline BC
2nd layer - 1 bag power sand
3rd layer - 3 bags ADA Aquasoil
Pressured CO2 - using a Aquamedica Reactor 1000
ADA glass Lilly Pipes (inflow, and outflow)
Eheim 2217 Filter
ADA Clear tubing - for inflow, and outlflow
ADA Grand Solar 1 light (this is the most expense light I have ever bought by the way...but it's awesome)
ADA Grand Solar 1 light stand
ADA Ferts - Step1, Brighty K, Special Lights, ECA, Green Gain, Green Bactar
Also using All ADA filter Media (Palm Net, Bio Rio, Bamboo Charcoal, NA Carbon)
Regulator from Orlando - his best one (for co2)
co2 - 20 pound tank
aquimedic reactor 1000 (for co2 diffusion)
ADA Garden Mat
ADA Pro-Pincettes M with grip (tweezers) (for larger stem plants)
ADA Pro-Pincettes M (tweezers) (for small plants)
ADA Pro-Scissors - curve type
ADA Brighty K, Step 1, Special lights, ECA, Green Gain, Green Bacatar for ferts

[dthb4438]

I got two reactors from Orlando for $25 each, both tucked under the stand, not visible in any way, looks way cool, high tech and does an outstanding job diffusing all C02 in the water. I am a very satisfied customer of the in-line reactor. He even specially built one for me that was a little bit shorter for my 29 gallon (the stand is smaller) and again, it is a perfect solution. I have tried countless reactors, diffusers and airstones, only to give them away on RAOK's or sell them. Just my opinion.

I bought one of Orlando's regulator's for this tank. It is working great.

I bought the Aquimedic reactor simply to avoid having to make one, and Jeff over at ADG suggested buying this one vs. the DYI one...

[CobraGuppy]

Beautiful tank. Nice amount of hc you got there lol.

Orlando sells reactors?

Is it like a special order thing because i don't see it in his shop

Oh maybe I'm confused. I bought a reactor off of a guy here - I thought his name was Orlando - maybe I was wrong.

In regards to the HC - thanks. I bought it off of ebay and it came in two large mats. Instead of doing stem, by stem, I just sort of broke off chunks, and sort of buried the ends in the substrate - we'll see how it goes.

This was alot of money to spend on a tank (and all the gear that goes with it) -but I am very excited to see how it fills in. This is sort of the centerpiece of my living room (this or the plasma ) so I hope i can get it to look nice!

Jeff over at ADG is just great to deal with. If anyone is every thinking of buying any ADA products he treats every customer like they are spending a million dollars - so I HIGHLY recommend him!

[roybot73]

That's a lot of Aquasoil and light without a lot of plant mass...
What are your water parameters like? NH3 has to be off the charts!

That is what you are supposed to have for the 90P - 3 - 9 liter bags. That isn't to much, that is just right.

The tank was just set up - so yes the water stats are all out of wack, which is why I do not put fish in the tank for 4 weeks.

[roybot73]

Originally Posted by rick4him

That is what you are supposed to have for the 90P - 3 - 9 liter bags. That isn't to much, that is just right.

The tank was just set up - so yes the water stats are all out of wack, which is why I do not put fish in the tank for 4 weeks.

I wasn't questioning the amount of Aquasoil, but commenting on how there is a low plant mass in relation to the Aquasoil. More plants - especially stems (even if you don't plan on keeping them in there permanantly) will help the treacherous early stages of setup. If you aren't sure what I'm getting at, check CmLaracy's 75-P journal. I'm sure he can chime in and offer some advice on a new setup with original Aquasoil.

Lots and lots and lots of water changes for a few weeks -- fun stuff indeed, but well worth it in the end. If you don't already have it, may I recommend some "Bacter 100"? It really helps if it's under the substrate, but can be put directly into the water column as well (small amounts, of course). That, coupled with daily dosing of "Green Bacter" will help you out a great deal with cycling the tank.

How long is your photoperiod, and what combination of lights are you using right now? Any ferts?

The layout looks very nice, BTW!

Hey thank you so much. I am using the Grand Solar one light. Jeff told me to leave it on 10 hours a day (3 hours with just the florescent, then 4 hours of metal h. and florescent then 3 more just florescent) He said I should do this from the get go.

I am using Brighty K (5 pumps per day) and Green Bacatar (18 drops each day the first week)

Then in a month I will use step one, special lights, ECA, ...

is this ok?

As far as water changes, is 50% every 2 days ok? Does this help out with an alga outbreak?

[roybot73]

Advice from Jeff can't be a bad thing, but 10 hours seems like a lot to me.

I did 50% changes every day for a week, then every other day for the second week. Get an NH3 test kit if you don't already have one, and monitor daily.

[@marko@]

i like your rock placement. i know its not what you were asking, but i dont know the answer to that and i doubt you will mind the compliment.

[eyebeatbadgers]

Very impressive list of products you've purchased. I suppose your wallet has seen better days.

If you don't mind, would you give a ballpark estimate of the total cost of this setup?

I'm in the planning stages of my next tank venture, a 75 gallon, and am curious how your name brand setup compares.

Did you think about doing a dry-start setup for your HC?

Marko - Thanks so much for the compliment. I was worried that the rocks didn't look nice where i put them, and it is my first time doing a tank like this. So thank you.

Eyebeatbadgers - Your right, my wallet has seen better days - this thing is a MAJOR investment. I bought everything over time, but if you go to Jeff's ADG website you can price out everything I bought. With everything I'm right around 3000 dollars...(you can knock off a third of that if you don't get the same light I got....That light is pricy, but MANNNN it is awesome...If you haven't ever seen one in person you should....it's insane how it makes your tank look.)

The lily pipers were around 100 a piece, plus I bought two sets of ADA tweezers, and some of their scissors - which are AMAZING!