February '08 - "Serenity" - Pedro Nuno's 400 L Nature Aquarium. (Portugal)

It's been a while since I featured a Nature Aquarium in the style popularized by Takashi Amano since the early 90's. Besides the aesthetic beauty of this month's tank, it's interesting to note the option for keeping a very low pH (5.5) and a drastic water change routine - 50% every 3 days!

Owner:	Pedro Nuno, from Portugal.
Website:	Aquascaping stop design
Setup:	June 2007.
Dimensions:	150x60x45 cm.
Volume:	400 L (nominal).
Filtration:	Eheim 2215 and 2217 Canisters.
Lighting:	Ramirezi light strip hung on the ceiling, with 4x80 W T5 (8000K, 6500K, 6500K, 4200K).
Substrate:	Tropica AquaCare and akadama special (2 - 3 mm).
Decoration:	Driftwood and basalt/shale rocks.
Others:	2 kg CO2 cylinder with solenoid valve and Eheim diffuser.
Water:	Temp 26°C, pH 5.5.
Maintenance:	Water changes of 50% every 3 days.
Fauna:	Hemigrammus bleheri and Trigonostigma heteromorpha.
Flora:	Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba', Hemianthus micranthemoides, Heteranthera zosterifolia, Ludwigia repens 'red rubin', Christmas Moss, Blyxa japonica, Pogostemon helferi, Rotala indica, Rotala rotundifolia, Rotala sp. 'green', Ludwigia arcuata, Anubias nana.
Comments:	I wanted to give a Portuguese name to this setup, but since it was done with a great deal of calmness and pondering, I decided that the name SERENITY would be a path to success. I had algae in the beginning, but none anymore. Nitrate and Phosphate are always at elevated levels, algae doesn't break out because I have nutrient consumption well compensated, the relationship between micronutrients/macronutrients, light and CO2 is very well balanced. And the 50% water change every 3 days...ehehe, it's like with discus, the plants are thankful.

If you'd like to submit an aquarium for Tank of the Month, just contact me.

A little before and a little after planting

Zoom out showing the tank placement in the room

Photos taken by Pedro Nuno and displayed here with his permission.