240 Liters Freshwater Planted Aquarium
Setup and photos by Pedro Mateus (Portugal)
Permission required for reproduction.
All rights reserved.
E-mail: pedro.mateus@gmail.com



Member of "The Aquatic Gardeners Association"
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/

   Intermediate setup date: 24 October 2004
   Aquarium: MP Aquarien, Model Karat 120, 240 Liters, 120x40x50
   Substrat: JBL ProFlora balls plus 40 KG 3-6 cm river bed gravel mixed 2-3 and 4-6 mm grains
   Other: 2 large, 1 medium and 1 small driftwood logs/roots
   Filter: EHEIM Professionel II 2026 950 Liters/Hour
   Thermostat: 2 x JAGER Eheim Aquatics Typ TSRH, 125 W, Total 250 W
   Lighting: up to 288W (2 x 144W, 4x36W, Power Compacts, LifeTech, 10000K Daylight (10 hours) )
   C02: JBL Profi2 Set with solenoid valve and diffuser, 1 bubble per second (10 hours).
   Thermother: Digital (0.1 Celsius precision)
   Water change: 20-30% every week
   Water elements: average PH 6.9 - 7.0, average temperature: 26-27 Celsius

   Flora: Anubias Barterri, Anubias Barterri Nana, Sagitaria Subulata, Elecocharis Acicularis,
   Echinodorus Bleheri, Echinodorus "Rosé", Hygrophila Polysperma,
   Microsorum Pteropus (*) and Microsorum Pteropus 'Tropica' (*)
   Fauna: 3 Corydora, 1 Corydora Aeneus, 4 Crossocheilus Siamensis (SAE),
   3 Otocinclus Affinis, 5 Caridina Japonica, 2 Brachydanio Rerio, 2 Melanotaenia Boesemani
   24 Paracheirodon Innesi, 1 Pomace Bridgesii , 3+ Physa Spec

* driftwood rooted

The previous planted layout



Two large driftwood roots (scrubed, showered and boiled)



100 Liters "on the side" aquarium



Partial water transfer from the main 240 Liters tank to the "on the side" aquarium




The "on the side" aquarium was filled with water and logs from the main tank.
Gravel and driftwood was added. Heating and filtration were ready.
All fish were transfered with minimum stress



Selected plants from the initial setup plus some new ones. The central container
shows the "enormous" Hygrophila Polysperma. All the old gravel was washed and boiled



Aquarium is empty and was washed and scrubbed to remove all algae.
First "fit test" for the large driftwood roots



River bed gravel filling



To prevent drift wood from floating suction cup with plastic straps were placed on
selected and well hidden spots



Driftwood settled in, gravel adjusted





Plants were distributed over the gravel and on the driftwood





Watter filling (using adjustable soft spray adapter on hose)




Macro on snails, Pomace Bridgesii bellow, on the gravel, near Anubias Barterri Nana,
Physa Spec on top, on the leaves of Hygrophila Polysperma



Overall layout across diferent view angles



  
Plants, driftwood roots and layout sections on close up



Changing light levels simulating sun rise / sun fall efects


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Setup and photos by Pedro Mateus (Portugal)
Permission required for reproduction. All rights reserved. E-mail: pedro.mateus@gmail.com