Last summer I got in touch with Jonny Smith, car journalist and TV presenter, probably best known from Fifth Gear.
Jonny's been a keen fishkeeper since he was a child, but he admitted his tank had seen better days, and accepted the offer of a makeover.
The tank is viewable from three sides so I considered this into the layout.
This is the result - before and after. The full feature was covered in PFK last year.
Before - frontal
Before - rear
After - frontal
After - rear
The tank has been running for almost 6 months and it's still looking great, although I think Jonny is keen to try out some new plants now. I have recommended crypts to replace the Hygrophila pinnatifida.
The aquascape design is deliberately low maintenance with Jonny spending a lot of time away from home. The floating plants provide a lot of shade that limit growth nicely and help prevent any algae.
Tank specs -
Tank - 120 x 45 x45cm optiwhite from Aquarium Cabinet Solutions
Lighting - Arcadia OT2 luminaire with Hagen Life-Glo and Arcadia Plant Pro 54w T5, split photoperiod, 2 x 5hr
Filtration - Fluval G6, Aquasys lily pipes, Hydor ETH300 inline heater
CO2 - TMC pressurised system with solenoid, Boyu inline diffuser, 5Kg CO2 fire extinguisher, Aquasys bubble counter and drop checker
Substrate - Unipac Maui Sand
Ferts - 10ml per day TPN+
Water - Hard tap water, 50% water change per week
Decor - Unipac XL Sumatra Wood and pebbles
Plants - Mature Java ferns, Bolbitis, Anubias barteri, Hygrophila pinnatifida, floating Amazon frogbit. All Tropica, supplied from one of my old tanks
Fish - Various community fish
Jonny's been a keen fishkeeper since he was a child, but he admitted his tank had seen better days, and accepted the offer of a makeover.
The tank is viewable from three sides so I considered this into the layout.
This is the result - before and after. The full feature was covered in PFK last year.
Before - frontal
Before - rear
After - frontal
After - rear
The tank has been running for almost 6 months and it's still looking great, although I think Jonny is keen to try out some new plants now. I have recommended crypts to replace the Hygrophila pinnatifida.
The aquascape design is deliberately low maintenance with Jonny spending a lot of time away from home. The floating plants provide a lot of shade that limit growth nicely and help prevent any algae.
Tank specs -
Tank - 120 x 45 x45cm optiwhite from Aquarium Cabinet Solutions
Lighting - Arcadia OT2 luminaire with Hagen Life-Glo and Arcadia Plant Pro 54w T5, split photoperiod, 2 x 5hr
Filtration - Fluval G6, Aquasys lily pipes, Hydor ETH300 inline heater
CO2 - TMC pressurised system with solenoid, Boyu inline diffuser, 5Kg CO2 fire extinguisher, Aquasys bubble counter and drop checker
Substrate - Unipac Maui Sand
Ferts - 10ml per day TPN+
Water - Hard tap water, 50% water change per week
Decor - Unipac XL Sumatra Wood and pebbles
Plants - Mature Java ferns, Bolbitis, Anubias barteri, Hygrophila pinnatifida, floating Amazon frogbit. All Tropica, supplied from one of my old tanks
Fish - Various community fish
What large rocks/pebbles did you use?
