My original plan was to completely redesign the 10g freshwater tank, but yesterday, I took the plunge at Aqua Forest Aquarium and bought a whole new tank, replete with some pretty spectacular gear.

MATERIALS

• An all glass 20g ADA tank.
• A Rena Filstar xP1 canister filter.
• An MA957 CO2 regulator with solenoid valve and bubble counter.
• A 5 lb. CO2 tank.
• New ammonia, nitrite, and pH kits.
• ADA's Power Sand Special.
• ADA's Amazonia Aqua Soil.
• An exquisite little CO2 diffuser, made entirely of glass.
• Several feet of blue silicon tubing (for CO2).
• A bottle of AmQuel and a bottle of Cycle.
• Two large bunches of Christmas Moss.
• Three bunches each of Rotala indica, Ludwigia repens, and a third Rotala type.
• A not inexpensive piece of Amano-style driftwood.

DESIGN CONCEPTS

Below are diagrams and a sketch that demonstrate what I'm trying to design.



I've always been fascinated by the concept of the Golden Section or Golden Mean. I wondered what sort of spaces two opposing triangles would create. In the diagrams, you'll notice that the driftwood slashes the tank's visual space in the region left behind by two opposing triangles. I now have a strong left right, top bottom opposition.

The space characterized by the upper right triangle, pointing down, is one of height and flow. This is where I'll install large, flowing stem and bush plants. The lower right triangle, pointing up, defines the ground. A lot of unobstructed light reaches this parcel, so it lends itself to small, plains-style grasses and shrublets.

To dramatize the driftwood slash effect, I'll smother it with closely-pruned moss. This is the centerpiece, visually, of the tank. I like that with only moss and its position, I have a fixture I can easily monitor and maintain, having my way with the real estate all around it. I prefer topiary moss, which makes preserving the slash even easier.

THE PROCESS

How long did it take? About 6 hours, although if I hadn't taken all kinds of food, phone, cigarette, and potty breaks, it might have taken 4. I won't bore you with a step-by-step walkthrough of the installation (unless you're interested), but I want to share some things I encountered:

1. A beautiful tank deserves esthetically correspondent appliances. The industrial inlet and outlet tubes for the canister filter are hideous: grey and silvery blue, thick and very visible. I'll be going back to AFA in the next few days to purchase lighter, less visible materials.


2. I'm not accustomed to so much GPH power in a filter. It's both alarming and exciting. Real water flow that makes plants waver in the currents. When I upgrade the inlet/outlet tubing (see above), I'll do so with the specific goal of positioning the outlet nozzle at or around surface level, adjusting for a balance between oxygenation agitation and noise.


3. The Rotala and Ludwigia are throwaway plants. I just stuffed them into the substrate so they can contribute over the next couple of weeks to the tank's establishment.


4. Don't forget to buy silicon tape for the sealing of your CO2 regulator to its tank.


5. The guys at AFA recommended placing a plastic sheet of some kind on the substrate when you're first introducing water. This helps prevent the substrate from blasting all over the place. I used a large square of Cling Wrap for the first 4 or so gallons. After that, I switched back to the ever reliable saucer, which allows for a faster pouring rate.


6. Tubes and power cords ain't pretty. This tank is visible from all sides, so I'll probably go out of my way to acquire precious appliances that minimize the ugliness of -- stuff -- hanging out of your tank. I suspect this won't be inexpensive.


7. I'm so excited about establishing a new tank that I haven't even considered livestock. Shrimpies, of course. I'm smitten. I'm leaning toward a visually arresting mass of very small fish, for that schooling effect none of my smaller tanks can support. Say, 20 Rasbora maculata, or 20 Rocket killifish. I also learned of the freshwater puffer (about the size of a small lima bean with a tail), which I haven't ruled out as a celebrity presence in the new tank.

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS

It's hard to believe that in July, 2003, I bought my very first tank, the very same 10g tank I'm about to retire to make room for my new 20g.

During that summer, I did loads of research, turning often to the web for photos that would give me some idea of what's possible. Following is a very specific photo that always moved me. It reminded me of a primordial branch that could have been under water. Or down in the shade of a Pacific Northwest forest, where ferns live. Didn't matter. The moss configuration draping over a single piece of fallen wood has stuck with me for over three years.


From Jason at Nature Aquarium

Last fall, when I started watching Peter Jackson's video diaries illuminating the production process for King Kong, an image struck me that, as you can plainly see, drew me back to the primordial branch above.


Production still from Peter Jackson's King Kong

DAY 2 PHOTOS OF THE NEW TANK

Here is the new tank (left) and the tank (right) it is about to replace.

Throwaway plants in the background. You can see why I'm irritated by the tubes and pipes...they clutter and crowd the glass.

The driftwood and its moss nets. Much of the mature moss will die while new growth attaches to the wood and flourishes under new conditions.

Stay tuned for more, soon.