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Gang,

Recently I discussed in another thread a potential new tank. After a few back and forths, we (I) decided that the best option is a 40G Breeder, which has the dimensions of 36x18x16 (LxWxH).

The tank will be mainly used to create an aquascape, I am not planning on raising another 100 Espei in there. Furthermore, the plants for this tank will mostly consist of Anubias and Crypts, although one or the other more light hungry plant is in the picture as well, for example Hair Grass and Blyxa.

The tank will be viewable from all sides as it pretty much stands in the middle of the room (behind a couch that is facing my 125G).

Now, here is my current list of hardware for this tank, please provide me with input on what you think about it:

- 40G Breeder
- Stand
- Single 96W Power Compact lighstrip, with a 6,700K bulb and elevated over the glass top on legs
- 200W Stealth Heater
- Pressurized CO2 System with glass diffuser outlet
- Eheim Pro II 2026 Canister Filter
- 5 bags of Eco-Complete
- Various pieces of driftwood
- Rock decoration
- All the small stuff, like thermometer, fish net, and what not

So, does that sound good to you? Do you think the filter is overpowering? Did I forget something? Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks in advance,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF,
I think you are on the right track with everything.

Are you going to work it so you can't see the filter and such?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Did I forget something? Anything else you would like to add?

Driftwood/ hardscape.

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Back in the saddle!

Hey now, I mentioned these:

- Various pieces of driftwood
- Rock decoration



Or is that not what you mean, NowherMan6?

Wings - I assume the filter hoses and stuff would be in plain sight. I plant to stick intake, spraybar, heater, and diffuser all in one corner of the tank. On the sort side will be the heater and the intake, in the long side the spraybar (vertically) and the CO2 diffuser. Does that make sense? This way I have all wires (even the light cord) coming down in one spot, seems to be the least distraction.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

That's pretty much what I meant, except this time actually arrange them how you want them outside the tank before even putting down the substrate - this way you'll avoid the algae mess that happened in the 125. In other words, don't rush to set up the tank, just make sure everything looks the way you want it too first. At least that's what I'm goign to try to do when i tear down my tank and set up another

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Back in the saddle!

Wings - I assume the filter hoses and stuff would be in plain sight. I plant to stick intake, spraybar, heater, and diffuser all in one corner of the tank. On the sort side will be the heater and the intake, in the long side the spraybar (vertically) and the CO2 diffuser. Does that make sense? This way I have all wires (even the light cord) coming down in one spot, seems to be the least distraction.

Yeah I think that would work out alright. I am thinking of making a PVC pipe to run under my gravel so I can have the intake some where at the far end of the tank once I move my tank.
Something like this


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

Yeah, your priciple would be easily achieved with a canister filter, you simply place the intake and spray bar on opposite sides of the tank. But I actually don't think this would be such a great idea. I would assume that the water from the spray bar is being pushed towards the intake and would take the first shot at being sucked up again, creating rather stale areas in the section below the spraybar.

In your system I see the flaw that potentially loads of matter would collect in the pipe as it is the lowest point in the system. And how are you going to clean that buried mess?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

My tank is set up like this right now... well without the under gravel set up stuff. Under the spray bar isn't really a dead spot. I am getting a second under current coming back from the gravel up.

I see the issue with the gunk getting stuck in the intake pipe. I didn't think of that.

So you are just going to put all the goodies in one corner?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

So you are just going to put all the goodies in one corner?

Yup Wings, all in one corner.

This would be a view from the top into that corner:

Attached Image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ahh I see says the blind man to his deaf wife.

I might have to try that one out. It would be way less work than trying to do the PVC thing. And lets just face it. I am lazy! Not to mention I have a few other things on my mind!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ok Gang,

Last night I bought the tank, it will be here towards the end of next week.

This is the phase where the purchase of each item makes me rather nervous. Thoughts like to following constantly go through my mind:

- Will a single 96w be enough for Blyxa and Hair Grass?
- Will Hair Grass spread in Eco?
- Is 6,700 K the best to get or would there be a better range with the same growth results but more pleasing to the eye (I heard about a GE bulb in the 9000 range with great growth results) ?
- Is the 2026 Eheim overpowering?
- Will I find a Spray Bar and Intake kit for it, and if so, can it be that they are too long for my placement idea?
- Is my vision for the tank somewhat in sink with reality?
- am I estimating the plant sizes right for the real tank size (like, will a wood/anubias/rock/plant group actually fit in 18" of width while being on a hill) ?
- And last but not least: Am I ready for this?

And once I am done with answering all these questions as good as I can, I start from the beginning as all my ansers are not solid.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Will a single 96w be enough for Blyxa and Hair Grass?
- Will Hair Grass spread in Eco?
- Is 6,700 K the best to get or would there be a better range with the same growth results but more pleasing to the eye (I heard about a GE bulb in the 9000 range with great growth results) ?
- Is the 2026 Eheim overpowering?
- Will I find a Spray Bar and Intake kit for it, and if so, can it be that they are too long for my placement idea?
- Is my vision for the tank somewhat in sink with reality?
- am I estimating the plant sizes right for the real tank size (like, will a wood/anubias/rock/plant group actually fit in 18" of width while being on a hill) ?
- And last but not least: Am I ready for this?

- it should. no experience with it but EC granules range from small to sand like, so it should find its way.

- 6700 K is the most readily available. ADA and ADG both use special 8000K bulbs, I think they're a clearer white, less yellow etc. they're also brighter but when getting to 9000K I would worry about washing out the tank colors.

- the Eheim shouldn't be overpowering becuase you can lower the return flow can't you?

- I dunno

- I'm not sure where you layed out a detailed plan for the tank so I don't know - but you've been very technical to a fault in your other tanks so I doubt you're out of touch with reality on this one.

- 18 inches wide by 36 long should be more than enough. the challange will be finding the right pieces of wood and rock and anubias types to make the tank look natural to the human eye. I would stay away from barteri and stick with smaller types for example.

- meh, probably not. but that hasn't stopped any of us before...

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Back in the saddle!

meh, probably not. but that hasn't stopped any of us before

- That is true, we just keep on trying

Let me try to give you an idea on what I plan to do, but don't laugh at me:

As you know, the tank is pretty much viewable from all sides. I am planning to create two hills, one on each long end of the tank. On these hills will be driftwood braches, fanning out towards the middle of the tank but not quite reaching it (that is where the low height of the tank comes in handy as the branch can almost reach the top and an equally long branch would still not be able to reach the middle of the tank.

So this would be the basic face-off, two hills fighting for dominance, like armies. Now, taller plants (generals) will gather on these hills and debate their plans for the battle. These generals would be the crypts, anubias, and other medium sized plants, protected in a ring of rock. Sloping down on these hills are the foot soldiers, aka Hair Grass, eventually reaching each other in the middle of the field. Strategically placed within these troops are sergeants (Blyxa) that keep everything in check. Occasionally, a landmark like a small hill or forest (marked by maybe a rock or a different plant, I could see a small area of Pearl Grass doing that job), will break up the plains.

And that's it

BTW, it is a battle like around 1800 and before in Europe, when armies faced off in long rows and many columns deep, all serving as cannon food (what where they thinking? ).

So - any input?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So - any input?

I think yoy never got to play war games as a kid! Very interesting way of looking at things though.

Do you have a drawing yet? It sounds simmilar to your 20G.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Wings,

No, no drawing yet, except for the one I posted in the thread where I asked for advice on the tank size.

I think yoy never got to play war games as a kid!

Well, my young friend: When I was your age I was already a Sergeant

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thats scary!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Since the tank will be viewed from all angles it makes sense to create a "3-D" scape. SOunds good - but a drawing would help

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Back in the saddle!

Ok,

I guess you really enjoy torturing me

So I went ahead and created a drawing of my plan (for the vision-challenged amongst us). Top part shows the tank from the side, bottom is a view from the top.

What do you think now?

Attached Image:

Schematic Layout

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What did you use to create that picture??? Is it Microsoft Word by any chance???

kj fishy-finn <*)))><
20 Gallon Album
5 Gallon Album

Kayla - it's PowerPoint

Gang, can I interpret your lack of response to my drawing to the fact that you dont like the layout? Or you don't think it will work?

I spent hours on drawing these pictures (), so please let me know what you think, as tomorrow is the time to order.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club