GHOST TREES 1.0 "Day 55 Post Flood"

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Unofficial only because I have to decide on a name officially for this beauty. I have a few and a theme I am shooting fo so a name shouldn't be too far off.


Tank Journal / Blog
ADA Do Aqua WabiKusa Waterfall Ver.2 120cm

Tank:ADA Do Aqua WabiKusa Waterfall Ver.2 120cm (120cmx45cmx20cm)
Filtration: Odyssea CFS700 w/ 9 watt built in UV sterilizer
CO2: Painball setup running 24/7 5bps(initial flood stage through 7.1.12)
Substrate: Akadama Double Red Line SS Fine grade
Hardscape: Manzanita Logs, Malaysian drift wood and Volcanic Rocks
Heater: Hydor 200w inline system(12mm)
Water Temp: 22C

5.11.12
It arrived today finally after so much anticipation and waiting it’s finally here my glass cascade dream. :biggrin: I am very excited, I had stopped by AFA today after hearing from George that the container with my tank as well as the rest of their products had arrived and was cleared through customs and would most likely be available for my pick this evening. They were of course good to their word and I arrived around 6pm to await its unloading. The excitement I felt was like that of a child going to Disneyland for the first time :red_mouth , or waiting to board a plane or depart on your very first tropical vacation . I was antsy last night going to sleep :icon_eek::icon_roll with the excitement and anticipation. So.... here it is, pretty bare at the moment but once I get the stand set up in the bay window I will start the scape. Hopefully by next weekend or sooner.


First I apologize for the crap quality of these shots. I really miss my camera right now but oh well, its only a camera. I will try to update with better shots as I gather them.

Front with some manzi and a fern in a berry basket for some size perspective.

Side

Looking down.

As of right now this is the intended list of flora in my possession and Fauna that I plant to use in this tank and scape:

Submersed Aquatic Mosses/Plants:
5 portions Mini Pellia
4 portions Mini Fissedens
1 Potion Fissedens Fontanus
6 portions Flame Moss
1 Willow Moss
1 Riccia Flutans

8-10 -Petite Anubias ‘nana’

1 - Bolbitis cuspidata Micro - TB Rhizomes
4 - Bolbitis heudelotti - Full Lot 10’ of Rhizomes
1- Hygrophila pinnatifida
1- Hydrocotle sp
1 - portion E hydropiper
3- NLJF
3- Trident Java


Emersed plants:
3 Terrestrial mosses 4”
1 Sundew Carnivorous plant
3 Awapuhi Shampoo Ginger
11 Mimosa Pudica aka sensitive plant(I bought some sprouted seeds on Ebay we’ll see)
1 Black Bamboo (GGP)
2- Un ID’d Hawaiian ferns.

Hawaiin terrestrial mosses (to be planted at waterline on large Black lava stones)
Dicranum sp.
Thuidium sp.
Polhia sp.
Sphagnum
Plagiomnium cuspidatum

To be grown on the glass cascades
8-12 various orchids


Fauna
6 Ottocinclus
1 dozen Gal. Rasbora
1 dozen Emerald dwarf Rasbora
Clown Killies
Lampeye Killes


Inverts
Caridina simoni simoni
Red Rilli’s
Blue RIli’s
CBS &
Finally once seriously established I would like to add and hopefully breed
Black Shadow Panda’s

List of Hardscape Stockpile
40’ black lava Rock ¼” - ¾” inch
40’ DRL Akadama SS
8-12 lrg size stones
Mopani Pieces Lrg
Manzi Logs 3-6” dia. & Branch wood.

I believe that sums it up for now. Stay tuned.:fish:

Updated to add some full scale sketches of my initial layout design for the bottom section I have no real concrete idea for the upper section as far as asthetic layout other then to compliment the lower level and house the orchids and semi aquatic mosses and other terrestrial plants and hopefully a few wabi balls.
For my new tank the 120 Waterfall in the lower section it is like a 120F tank. The layout I have sketched it is to scale. I have some plant abbreviations scribbled in and general layout and placement to some extent although nothing is set in stone to say...

and in my head I want to have a narrow about 4-5 inch swift water channel coming from the back far left corner on a diagonal to the mid way point. I am trying to figure out what kinds of plants would do well in in narrow little fast water slot? I need some suggestions.
I am planing on doing a dry start so rooting and water uprooting the plant wont be too much of an issue once it is flooded. The tank will be a med to High light tank with lots of additional natural light via a north facing bay window. It will have pressurized CO2 and low dose basis FWIW for anyone's suggestions.

Blue shading equates to calm and or un-agitated water

Orange Rust shading equates to my intended fast flow current

Yellow shading equated to terrain that is barely and or gradually submerged

I plan to propel the water via a Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200 Multi-use water pump propeller and two of these mini jet 404's, they are small and can be tucked away among the wood and rocks in the back sections the will be dense with flora.

The center emersed like triangular area will be make up of Aquarium logs of mopani, manzi and sorts I wanup a wood reef/wall long that side, the other side opposite the lest side will be constructed of Rock possibly slacked flat slate and as I have access to a bunch and its cheap and stackable and I can like sandwich mosses between the layers as I stack them up to help secure them along the vertical wall/reef I am going for. So, along one side of the channel wall will be solid stacked large wood and the the other will be stone, like a stream flow where water is forced between large rock and the bank of the stream in a tight slough of fast water. Not sure if anyone can get a picture or idea of that but no worries. The main thing I need your input on is my options for plants/mosses that thrive in a fast current.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

5.12.12
Ok the unboxing continues here are some shots of the nice ADA glassware that is included. The “L” shaped inflow pipe and the long two section glass outflow pipe that will run the length of the about 1 inch shy of the the top of the back glass above the top tier. Again nothing but the best craftsmanship with this medical grade glass stemware 8) .

The glassware all packaged and taped to the bottom of the tank for secure transport. Plenty of bubble wrap was used. No cutting corners when they packed this thing for over seas shipping.

Outflow

Inflow & Outflow

included literature/instructions

 

[pariahrob]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Beautiful tank. I've been eyeing them up in the book of ADA. They are lovely. Thats a nice size to. You must feel so excited about getting it up and running.

Can't wait to watch it develop.

Rob

 

[Ady34]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Hi,
looks really nice, and its always really exciting unpacking boxes of new stuff!
Looks like youve put a lot of planning into this, be interesting to follow this waterfall tank.
Cheerio,
Ady.

 

[LancsRick]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

That's beautiful, lovely piece of workmanship! Is it just empty space under the cascades? Looks like they end halfway down the height of the tank?

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

5.12.12
ok so I have a full scale sketch that I drafted out a while ago and I am now laying in the large diameter manzi logs (4"-6" dia & 12-24"L) in place where I have envisioned them as well as working in the spikey piece of mopani that I bought years ago back in LA just because its shape was so cool and unique. It reminds me of a huge vertibrate bone of a large mammal like a rino or something prehistoric it has a hollow cave/ tunnel right through the spine of it and will make so all kinds of good places for shrimp and critters to hide of as well as lots and roots nooks for the anubias and other plants to root into.

This tank is just so big I was worried was beyond its limits but with this marvelous lay out your options and scape is limitless

Here are a few shots of the logs in place as to reflect my scale drawing I had sketched up, the smaller branch manzi is not planned just put in on the spot to experiment with dimension and space in the tank. These are
Front

Close up

Top

Here also are so pics of some plastic suction dishes like for your soap dish and such I picked up for next to nothing that I may experiment with hanging and floating flora dishes both emeresed, submersed and at the water line, oh so many options.

These are some laundry dryer and clothing mesh bags I also snagged for next to nothing in case I need them to separate and isolate some of my substrates. I may use some ¼”-3/4” Black lava to biuld up elevation and terrain in the tank in some parts and this will assist with keeping the lava from spreading wherever over time and also scratching the glass.

This is only initial playing around I no way is the tank going to sit there as I have a large bay window reserved for it and the hardscape should start going into place permanently next weekend. Until then this is just dress rehearsal.

 

[Kristoph91]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Never heard of one of these before, I look forward to seeing it progress

 

[Gill]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

This is going to be Spectacular.
Having shelves within the Tank create such a interesting array of Planting Possibilities. I modded my Current tank to make Shelves within it, and it gives me more options. Mine has corners cut away for piping, but The fish like to swim up into the shelves and so do the shrimp. It provides a resting place and somewhere for fry to hide.

The outflow is very well thought out. Gives you an even flow of water down and over the Shelves. And once all the plants have dense mats of Roots, they add an Extra level of Filtration to the tank.
And Huge grazing areas for the Shrimp that they will Love.
Are you thinking of having of the Stiphodon Gobies in this, as I have watched them climb up the roots in shelves to get to other parts of the tank. A Very Interesting Behaviour to watch.

That central wood is very interesting indeed and can see the backbone element to it.

I will be following this with in-trepidation

 

[Gill]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Just looking at the shelves, I can't see any drainage points.

Ignore, did not look at the shallow section

 

[Alastair]

My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

This looks great already even with out plants added


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[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

A morning misting for the Hawaiian collection waiting standby on the fire escape in a buss tub awaiting their time to make their move to the new tank. A little VF-11 dilution with water applied in the morning and an evening and afternoon mist of pure H2O.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

2 Hoyas, 1 Fern, 1 Terrestrial Moss & 1 Sundew (carnivorous) also awaiting transfer to the emerged sections of the tank.

 

[Alastair]

My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

2 Hoyas, 1 Fern, 1 Terrestrial Moss & 1 Sundew (carnivorous) also awaiting transfer to the emerged sections of the tank.

Any idea which fern that is


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[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Any idea which fern that is


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It is a Humata tyermanii, aka Rabbit's Foot Fern it is in a 4" pot. These are all 4" pots.

I like the way it spreads it foliage.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Cleaned out and organized the supply closet, all my hardscape materials ready to go.
30lbs Small Black Lava1/4"-3/4"
Akadama DRL 2 9L bags,
Bucket O Manzi,
Box O Black Lava Rocks Med-Med Lrg
Large Volcanic and Boulder Stones

My SGT500 Regulator I snagged on Ebay also awaiting it's build up (geeez so much to do:icon_roll) Since I am going dry start and water wont be going in for at least another six weeks my priorities both for the tank and where my finances are focused are adjusted appropriately so holding on this for the moment is ok although I wish I could afford to do it all like yesterday:icon_wink.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

5.14.12
“The map is not the territory”
Well since my stand for the tank is no there till next weekend to mid next week looks as though all I can do is toy with lay design concepts for now. What I can really see now though as compared to the full scale sketches I had and a basic footprint, the actual tank is a whole different perspective.

The map is most certainly not the territory when it comes to this tank and scaping it first hand. I am finding out that the size of the area is quite massive indeed even with the large Mazi logs and boulders I have place in there now. I placed the hard scape items in the back half section as to leave the front half for grazing area and plants.

I envision the now bare logs to be totally covered and grown in with a variety of mosses (both semi aquatic and aquatic) and anubias and bolbitus ferns also. I have also arranged the wood and rocks as so they will line up and break the flow from the lower tier waterfall directly as to ensure any plants on them stay adequately moist and also to diffuse the cascade of water directly onto the water surface(if that makes any sense).

With all the hardscape materials I have at my disposal to work with, black lava, round lrg river stones, large boulders etc... I have more than enough material to complete this build easily. This tank is just so massive and so versatile it’s hard to grasp the entire thing flowing like a Eden like creek. The upper section has just as much potential or more then the lower and right now I am completely drawing a blank as far as a layout concept for up there. I only know that it must compliment the lower sections and look as though it is an immersed / emerged extension of the lower half. My thought is to take my time in the upper half and let it slowly evolve out of the stream scape like natural evolution... Lol... I will just have to see how things progress.

Here are a few shots of the current layout concept for hardscape, as far as plant placement see my sketch post in this thread.

Looking toward the back left corner.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Gnarly piece of Mopani or other Malaysian wood I picked up about 6 years ago in LA at my LFS. Never used it in a tank yet but its shape was so sick I had to snag it. Looks like something out of a Sci Phi novel like a death star or some fragmented piece of meteor, a prehistoric vertebrae bone from some range roaming beast. Who knows my imagination runs wild with it when I hold it and look at it from different angles, as it has so many crevices, holes tunnels and crags extending for every point. Not sure where it will work is way into this layout but I believe it must it some way, shape or form.

I envision shrimp making their home it and crawling all through out it's geography as well as it being a great rooting platform for my anubias, bolbitus, mosses etc...

 

[sarahtermite]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Mutated bird skull. Love it!

Really looking forward to seeing how your tank develops; I've never seen a tank anything like this before.

 

[Ady34]

Re: My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

Hi there,
loving the enthusiasm and thought trains going on in your head.... its crazy how this hobby effects the mindset!
As for blending the in and out of tank scaping, id maybe think about using some of your logs to protrude out over the shelves. Looking at your photos you could potentially either position the logs over the shelving or saw a slot into one of the logs and slide it over the glass shelves to get it further back, following the glass gradients, rising from below up and out amongst rocks and fauna on the upper levels, that would pull the two together and look very natural especially with some emergent ferns/mosses etc growing along the log much like fallen branches on the riverbank 8) . Id try and keep to only a few types of hardscape material personally, and think the logs and branches along with river rocks would work well without the mopani.
Looking forward to the progression...
Cheerio,
Ady.

 

[WabiKasuH20Fall]

My unofficial ADA 120 DoAqua Glass Cascade Journal

@ Ady
Thanks for the feed back, that is a really good idea with sawing a slot in the log to help them bring the scape up the steps so to say. Yeah the more I look at this set up te more I agree at this time again I don't think the mopani will make the cast/cut for this scape as it is too foreign of a shape right now to toss in there with out it being a distraction.


From the mud grows a Lotus~
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