Ada 60P

[jag51186]

So, my next tank has been on the way for awhile now, and I've been doing LOADS of research on various websites/forums and I am too excited to not start a journal. Nothing has been done yet except planning...and looooooooots of thinking. What we know so far: high tech planted tank...that's basically it right now haha. Still thinking on what styling I will be going with and such. But, here's the stats.
 
Tank: ADA 60P, 60 x 30 x 36 cm (24 x 12 x 14 inches) 17 gallons
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia, no additives
Lighting: Buildmyled Dutch Original series 6300K w/ manual dimmer
Filter: Eheim 350 classic (2215) 
Heater: Hydor inline 200W
CO2: Green Leaf Aquariums GRO 1 system w/ 5 lb tank and atomic diffuser in tank
Stand: Wife's grandpa is making an L for my computer desk, and it will go on there.
 
That's all we know so far. I am planning on getting some Seiryu stones, and Manzanita driftwood to mess around with. Might do a two-tone with sand on one side. But, I haven't really decided yet...I just know I want a ton of plants. I might make it a mini dutch even, but we shall see.
 
Quick pic

 
I actually have two bags of Amazonia, just in case...but figured it would be redundant in the pic. And this is all I have of the equipment so far, the rest is still en route/being made.

 

[RCA]

Exciting times ahead, we love pics, so keep em coming.
I like my hydro heater, so much easier, and no ugly heater to have to hide.

 

[Munroco]

Looking forward to seeing this take shape. Will be particularly interested in the CO2 part as I've been thinking of trying it.

 

[jag51186]

Looking forward to seeing this take shape. Will be particularly interested in the CO2 part as I've been thinking of trying it.

 
I will definitely keep you posted. I'm excited to try it out, and won't be adding livestock for at least two months after initial startup, so hopefully I'll have it dialed in to a "non-lethal" level by that point. Got my Hydor heater today, the Eheim arrives tomorrow...and I just contacted someone about getting some Manzanita driftwood. My light isn't due here for another week yet, and not sure on the CO2 setup...so it might not be until Feb til I start...but once I get my hardscape materials, I'm sure I will be fiddling with that endlessly.

 

[jag51186]

Well, I am receiving Yamaya Stones, driftwood, and my buildmyled.com light next week. And that should be the last of the equipment. So, I figured it's time to do my leak testing...so here it is...super exciting!
 

 
A tank with just water in it! Assuming it passes the test, and I receive everything on time, I will be posting potential hardscape layouts next week. Looking forward to everyone's input!

 

[jag51186]

Ok, some potential scapes...
 
Scapes 001 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Scapes 002 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Scapes 003 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Scapes 004 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
I am planning on a carpet of Dwarf Baby Tears along the front section of the rock wall, then various stem plants in the back amongst the wood and such. Thoughts??

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I like Scape 002 the best.  The carpeting sounds good at the front.  I'm partial to the gentle foliage of cabomba for the background.  I'd say that moss connected to the wood will also look amazing... willowy moss maybe.

 

[boshk]

looks good!! I like #3.
 
What type of fish are you planning to get if any?

 

[jag51186]

I like Scape 002 the best.  The carpeting sounds good at the front.  I'm partial to the gentle foliage of cabomba for the background.  I'd say that moss connected to the wood will also look amazing... willowy moss maybe.

 
I do like Cabomba a lot, but I was thinking of going with some Pogostemnon Erectus, for a somewhat similar look but larger.
 

looks good!! I like #3.
 
What type of fish are you planning to get if any?

 
I honestly haven't thought much on it yet, though in the back of my mind I am logging possibilities. So far, I've considered CPD's, any of the micro rasboras, Endlers (Would need something to eat babies), Scarlet Badis, Killifish...I like killifish a lot, but I plan on this being an open-topped tank and worry about them jumping. I've seen another ADA 60P that had killifish with no top, and they stayed in.

 

[jag51186]

Dry Start in progress!
 
HC planted 001 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
HC planted 003 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
HC planted 004 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Hoping this HC takes off like crazy and carpets like mad. I had changed the rocks around more to attempt to make things look more natural. Not sure how well I succeeded, but that's what I ended up with. The wood is soaking currently.
 
For the rest of my plant list, so far I am thinking.
Staurogyne repens
Alternanthera Reineckii 'mini'
Pogostemnon Erectus
Pogostemnon helferi
Rotala macrandra
Ammania bonsai
 
who knows what else.
 
Oh and Fissidens Fontanus on the wood.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Keep us updated.

 

[jag51186]

So, just got done flooding this bad boy. Couldn't stand waiting anymore. The driftwood layout ended up being different as well, and it might even change again, because it takes up more room than I anticipated, and I really want to pack this thing with plants! So, the baby tears didn't full carpet, but I think they have a strong root system going at this point and I anticipate a full carpet eventually. I also ended up getting some Alternanthera Reineckii 'mini', Staurogyne repens, and Ammania Bonsai as my first plants. I ordered some Bucephalandra Kamandau Purple-Blue, and they send a small Hades variety for free 

 . Was initially planning on trying this in my low tech, but decided to go forward with the high tech so I threw them in there super-glued to driftwood. I also have some Pogostemon helferi on the way to add! Was wanting some type of rotala as well as pogo erectus as well, but I think I will see how things go for awhile. But, I'm probably going to order some Fissidens Fontanus to glue to my other driftwood piece. Pictures to come tomorrow once it settles some...
 
Also, I think I messed up my CO2 regulator already. Put in an email to GLA to see if I can get it figured out/fixed...but that's problems for another day 

 

[jag51186]

Got the regulator working!! Woohoo!! Pictures as promised!!
 
I am taking votes on what should go in the back left, I want something tall since the rest of my plants are fairly small. Currently thinking either Ludwigia arcuata or Rotala Wallichii, but am open to other suggestions! Can't wait for this bad boy to fill in, as you can see I took out most of the driftwood, and a bunch of rocks to make room for plants. Going to glue some Fissidens Fontanus to the rocks on the right, and got some Pogostemon helferi coming that I will mix in wherever I can fit it.
 

 

 
Bucephalandra Purple-blue
 

 
Buce 'Hades' (free sample!)
 

 

 

 

[jag51186]

Got my Pogo helferi in there now too, and they sent a free cup of t/c, so I had way more than I wanted...so it's packed now, minus the back left corner which is waiting for ludwigia arcuata

 

[jag51186]

So it's been about ten days or so, and I now have everything in the tank. It feels like it never changes, but looking back at the original pictures you can really tell how things are taking off...super excited for all this! Can't wait to trim things and pack the plants close together! I am operating at 50% power on my lights, cranked co2, and half EI dosing right now. I will up this starting next week since the plants are establishing fairly well. Hope you guys like it! 
 
Current plant list:
Ludwigia arcuata
Ammania bonsai
Pogostemon helferi
Alternanthera reineckii mini
Bucephalandra purple blue 
Buce hades
Staurogyne repens
Hemianthus callictrichoides cuba (Dwarf baby tears)
Fissidens Fontanus
Proserpinaca palustris ( I think that's what it is, got it from LFS a long time ago and had it in a low tech and it wasn't doing great, so put it in the high tech)
 
Pardon the stainless steel, some of the Fissidens stuck to it, so I figured I would see if it will grow.
 
High tech update one week in 012 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
High tech update one week in 009 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
High tech update one week in 008 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Gotta love bubbles!
High tech update one week in 005 by Jason Grohmann, on Flickr
 
Thanks all!