Reply With QuoteCorrect me if wrong, the difficulties do not lie in replicating the work, but rather coming up with such a scape in the first place. The beauty lies in the simplicity and originality...
Hello guys,
I'm new to this hobby and still searching for answers here. I came across a picture of a planted setup by Amano and wonder if this could be achieved with by a newbie like me.
Can anyone tell me what kind of plant that is used as the lawn and what requirements it needs (CO2, lights). I think the driftwood is tied with Java Ferns right?
Hope it could be simple enough for me to start off with. By the way my tank is 24x18x18
Correct me if wrong, the difficulties do not lie in replicating the work, but rather coming up with such a scape in the first place. The beauty lies in the simplicity and originality...
Welcome to AQ aqua_not
The plant is Glossostigma elatinoides and yes, you can get that kind of lawn. You need CO2 and lights for sure. Yes, the driftwood is tied with Java fern, and there's Cryptocoryne crispatula var. Balanse at the back.
Glosso is easy if you have enough light intensity and CO2 concentration. Light intensity is important because you want Glosso to grow sideways like in the picture, if not it will grow upwards when there's insufficient light. CO2 promotes its growth very much, as well as a good fertiliser regime.
Java fern and the cryptocoryne are equally easy to care for.
Your tank is 24 by 18 by 18 in centimetres, inches, millimetres, metres, yards, feet, or what?
Good question, here is a close up picture from the ADA web site: http://www.adaeuro.com/gallery.asp?g_id=1#
Plants: Glosso, Java Fern on the wood and hair grass if I am not mistaken. The fish are discus and this layout would suggest a tank size of 4ft or more.
This layout is achievable if you want to replicate, not forgetting the right equipment & right maintenance schedule etc. These sorts of layouts have a simplicity that many people admire, but for many aquarists the destination is not that important rather the journey is probably more important. You need to decide what you want?
In the example that you have chosen, if you didn’t know already the aquarist / photographer is T. Amano. He has over the years produced a solid body of work that is useful to explore, then interpret his work and I suggest other input sources as well to produce the aquascape that suits the locality of your future tank. Good Luck and enjoy the journey….
Just to add on, I believe the depth is about the same as the length...Originally Posted by Rupert
Good question, here is a close up picture from the ADA web site: http://www.adaeuro.com/gallery.asp?g_id=1#
Plants: Glosso, Java Fern on the wood and hair grass if I am not mistaken. The fish are discus and this layout would suggest a tank size of 4ft or more.
This layout is achievable if you want to replicate, not forgetting the right equipment & right maintenance schedule etc. These sorts of layouts have a simplicity that many people admire, but for many aquarists the destination is not that important rather the journey is probably more important. You need to decide what you want?
In the example that you have chosen, if you didn’t know already the aquarist / photographer is T. Amano. He has over the years produced a solid body of work that is useful to explore, then interpret his work and I suggest other input sources as well to produce the aquascape that suits the locality of your future tank. Good Luck and enjoy the journey….
Welcome Aqua_not!
This is one of Amano's much talked about setup. The discus all line up nicely in this beautiful photo.
It's nice you are aiming to this high standard.
Amano's tank must be really big. His mature discus are already looking small in this tank. I believe it is more than a 6'x2x'x2'.
If you want to replicate something like that in your 2' tank. Everything has to be scaled down. Use a small driftwood. Probably tied with narrow-leaf Java Fern or Windelov Fern. Can still use Glosso and Hair Grass as they are not big plants. And I won't suggest keeping discus in a 2ft tank. Just the tetras will do.
Try and let us know... good luck!
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
Woh.... so impressed to see all the beautiful tanks ..
i am a newbie here. Actually i got a 4 ft tank with bulit in cabinet, and have had it for 2 years, which i use to plant moss , fern and other etc. Lost interest after a massive change of water killed 200 of my caridnals...
Today i reset my tank and want to continue in this hobby.... any one care to help or who can i tap on for good avise ...
Thanks alot .
Last edited by ranmasatome; 19th Feb 2006 at 03:21.
I think to set up a tank like that, electricity bill will be high. Glosso needs a lot of light (maybe MH if your tank is a deep one). This means lots of electricity. And light produce heat, so you need a chiller too. For a tank like that, cost of chiller and it's consumption will also be a killer.
If $$$ not really a problem, then go for it! Setup is not really difficult (I think..hehe) but to get the plants to grow that way, maintain and keeping it is. By the way, you can go to Kinokuniya Bookshop at Takashimaya to check out Amano's books there. It says what he usse (plant, equipment and all) in the setup and I have seen this picture in one of the books there.
continue to follow your dreams....
you will never reach them !!!
Hi eggy,
Just trying to clear the myth once again.
I assume you had never seen a MH in operation. I am currently using 2 x 150watt MH for my 4x2x2 with only an AC fan running over it. The temperature is below 28 even when the lights are on for the pass 10 hours.
Its good to advise/share, but get the facts right
Yippie!! Reptiles and Fishies!
you dont need MH anyway for a tank like that.
I should be working not posting
hi Aqua_not,
welcome to AQ, that picture has been around a decade if i'm not mistaken and is timeless IMO[only the fish is dates it]...no harm trying to imitate a master.
you have done what i'd do, start thinking big![then scale to budget!]
Mr Takashi Amano's is very good at getting people hooked with his amazing aquascapes.
get the basic science of it here at Aq then proceed...the crew here will get you sorted pretty quickly...
start a journal...
Agree! 100%.Hi eggy,
Just trying to clear the myth once again.
I assume you had never seen a MH in operation. I am currently using 2 x 150watt MH for my 4x2x2 with only an AC fan running over it. The temperature is below 28 even when the lights are on for the pass 10 hours.
Its good to advise/share, but get the facts right
eggy, i was like you who believe lfs ppl who are trying to sell me a chiller 4-5 years ago!
true it's a hot spotlight but it's only hot if you don't have proper circulation of air over water surface. then again it's the same with fl's pl's what not...
150W however is hung above tank and heat radiation transfer to the tank is less than you think!
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
Thank you guys for the replies. I agree that this is a big tank and I would definitely scale down as my tank is just a 24x18x18 inch one. Forgot to ask about filtration and would it be ok if I were to use the Dennerle C030 (this is something like the Nutrafin DIY Co2). And would a 2x36w PL light be sufficient for this kind of setup? I'm getting exicited
Last edited by aqua_not; 19th Feb 2006 at 14:37.
Anything more than a 4 footer using MHs may have problems in keeping the temp below 28C using only fans. However, there are always way around it. As long as your depth is less than 2 ft tall, you can substiute using PLs or recently T5 or T8 tubes. There are people using PLs on their 5 footer without chiller. There are some people who uses MHs in their large tank without chiller but they only turn on their lights in the evening when it is cooler, and they shorten the illumination period.
Glosso can be grown uisng PLs alone. Most people are able to grow them between 3-4 watts/gallon rule.
Try it out and see for yourself. There are many forerunners here who can advise you as they probabaly faced the same problems before.
Cheers!
I have to aplogise if I gave some wrong information there. Almost all my friends who uses MH lights have chillers or fans blowing the hot air out from the top of their tank (enclosed type of tank) And I have seen a MH light in action and even seen the burnt scares of my my friend who accidentally touched the casing of the light set.
However, I am surprise by what you said about a fan being sufficent, goondoo. Not doubting you at all as we are all learning here. Maybe its just the area around the MH bulb that gets hot.
Once again I have to aplogise for the misconception given.
Last edited by benny; 19th Feb 2006 at 16:20. Reason: TERRIBLE SPELLING!!!
continue to follow your dreams....
you will never reach them !!!
I should be working not posting
hi aqua_not,
for your size tank you can rule out mh lights...way too powerful!
even 70W mh...the colour has a blue tint. you need a warm/pink fl to balance back the light for rummy noses red colour. so scratch that.
T5's are perfect. there a sale going on somewhere on aq i heard...
go for that...T5 with the plant bulbs. not actinic which is what they commonly sell it with. glosso grows great with enough light+co2+fert.
next is to sort out your substrate and source of plants. put a WTB in the classified section, normally members have a lot after a rescape...if not make some calls to your lfs...
also check out some of the guy's journals...where they hide the faucets, plumbing and stuff. great stuff...
eggy, without vets like goondoo, a lot of us are in the dark[pun intended!]
glad you're not taking personally...
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
Hi Eggy,
Just to post some quick pictures as evidence...
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...3/P1010054.JPG
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...3/P1010056.JPG
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...3/P1010061.JPG
I am happy that both indicate the temperature below 28 degrees celcius in such a warm day like today. Picture taken three hours after lights on at about 6pm.
However, I do doubt my thermometer....
PS: Do pardon the ugly DIY constructions ^^
Just to add on, my pair of MH lights run on electronic ballast and I can hold the housing of the lights with bare hands even when it was already running for 4 hours.
@ aquastuff.org
Oooo that's a timeless piece by Amano, good choice aqua_not, believe its difficult but still achievable yah.
eggy on a lighter note, maybe your friend using flood lights lah (like those at the National Stadium)
Last edited by grey_fox; 21st Feb 2006 at 15:24.
visit my photo albums @ flickr!
Just a quick link for those whom wanna see more of Amano tanks....Oooo that's a timeless piece by Amano, good choice aqua_not, believe its difficult but still achievable yah.
I wan to automate my tank!
On the discussion on the heat generated by MH, I think Eggy is just trying to point out that comparing to the other means of lightings available in this hobby, MH is the one that induces the most heat based on the same wattage. Whether your tank can maintain your desired temp depends on quite a few factors, i.e.
1) Room Temp
2) Room Ventilation
3) Water Circulation
4) Pumps/filters used
Cheers
JC
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