This are the most beautiful aquariums which I have seen.
Your aquariums are as good as Amano's, really
And you aren't beginner! You are expert!

Aha...some info about tanks

44l

Dimensions: 64x30x23 cm
Lights: 18W Philips TLD 965 (9 hrs/day)
Filtration: AquaClear MINI
CO2 injection: Nil
Parameters: not measured
Fertilisation: Nil
Water change: 5l per week
Water temp: 24C
Plants: Vesicularia montagnei (Xmass moss), e.tenellus, lilaeopsis brasilensis
Bioload: 100-300 shrimps (Red Fire+tigers), 1 oto

48l

Dimensions: 64x30x25 cm
Lights: 2x18W Philips TLD 965 (9 hrs/day)
Filtration: AquaClear 150
CO2 injection: 4.4kg bottle 1.5bps
Parameters: KH 4, GH 6, pH 6.7, NO3 0-3, PO4 0.2-0.5
Fertilisation: 100% RO + Planta Gainer PRO: Hydro, Micro, Ferro, KNO3, K2SO4, K2HPO4
Water change: 10-13l past 4day
Water temp: 24C
Plants: Taxiphyllum sp. (Taiwan moss), Rotala sp. "green"
Bioload: amanos, rainbows, tigers shrimps, otos, Xiphophorus maculatus, Black molly...i'm looking for smal fishes

Hi some update 48l tank (day69)

"Sunset" "Cloudy" "Orange sky" "Sunrise"






...and "The God Hand"

TAKASI AMMANO IS NOTHING,YOU ARE BETTER.
YOUR TANK IS exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,exquisite,
.....

Super !

Hello Duch,

you are using RO and you are keeping low KH and GH and NO3.
what are your experiences with planted aquarium with RO and wihout RO - only with water from tap?

Hi Jacik

jacik napísal:
what are your experiences with planted aquarium with RO and wihout RO - only with water from tap?

I tray answer that

I have hard water in tap (KH 9-10, GH 16-18, pH 7.5) so in all my planted tanks (25,48,180l) I used 100% RO. I never used 100% tap water in planted tank so hard to tell me something about it. IMHO hard water isn't bad for plants but is better (than soft) for algae. When you have high KH, dosing CO2 is problematic, pH is also high. When i started my first planted tank (180l in april 2004) i used tap water mixed with RO and i had big problem with some algae (i dont know english common name). When I bought RO filter and i used more soft water the problem with algae gone (pH drop down, under 7.0).
Now i used 100% RO because i want control all micros and macros. My fertilizer is specially for tank with 100% RO.
Planta Gainer PRO Hydro contain Ca,Mg,Na,K,S,CaCO3 so KH/GH level is depend on you (you can have KH/GH 2/3 or 10/12 )
PGP Micro is basic micros fertilizer, PGP Ferro is daily micros fertilizer with bit more Fe and Mn than PGP Micro. PGP Macro is basic NPK fertilizer with biostimulators (whatever it is ).
I think in soft water you don't have use so much fertilizers (assimilate is better) and it's good for SA fish

i asked this question to you because i knew that amano used to keep kh and gh as low as you do. he explained that the reason is algae.
how much approximatly cost this fertilizers per month?

jacik napísal:i asked this question to you because i knew that amano used to keep kh and gh as low as you do. he explained that the reason is algae.

I don't know is that true, i read that water in Japan is very soft. I think Mr Amano don't use special water (RO mix with tap etc.)

how much approximatly cost this fertilizers per month?

Well...PGP series (4 fertilizer, 500ml each) cost 25pln/bottle (about 8$)
I used all four fertilizer in tank 180l from august 2004 to february 2005 and i still have about 100ml Micro, 80ml Hydro, 150ml Ferro, 80ml Macro ..so it's suffice for a long time.
For exampele - with 500l fertilizer you can prepare:
Hydro - 2000l of water
Micro - 2000l
Macro - 4000l
Ferro - 7500l
http://www.aqua-art.pl/produkty/produkty.html
Of course this are recomendations from producent.

In 180l(45-50l water change per week) I used:
Hydro - 100% recomendation from producent
Micro - 60%
Macro - 50%
Ferro - 40%
Maybe its not so good like ADA staff (step1,2,3) but good enought

nowadays you maintain only little tanks. do you think that is hard to keep bigger tanks than little? What was the reason for your decision to end up your bigger tank?

jacik napísal:do you think that is hard to keep bigger tanks than little?

I think that small tank (capacity 40-60l) with light 0.5-0.7W/l isn't so hard to keep but there is a little more work (often water changing, you must be carefull with fertilizers). Problems starts(IMO) with capacity under 20-15l and light over 1W/l. I lost my adventure in 25l tank with 1.6W/l....one mistake and BOOM

What was the reason for your decision to end up your bigger tank?

There was a few reasons:
1. Water change (gather 40-50l RO water in 5l canisters week by week was like torture for me)
2. I have small room (10m2) so 180l tank take place
3. Energy . 180l tank used 2.5 more electricity than my two new tanks (44 and 48l)

Hi Duch, I have one little question.. but question for me very important. Can you told me some details about taking photographies? Especially how do you make special light effects used when you taking photos "Sunset" "Cloudy" "Orange sky" "Sunrise" ?

I love this photos (and your tanks too ) And one day, when i´ll have my own tank in perfect condition - like you, I want make same photos

"Sunset"
White background 12cm behind tank
Basic tank lighting (2x18W/965)
Bonus light: 1x18W/827 behind tank and one 40-60lamp over tank on the left site



"Cloudy"
White background 12cm behind tank
Basic tank lighting (2x18W/965)

"Orange sky"
Orange background 12cm behind tank
Basic tank lighting (2x18W/965)
Bonus light: 1x18W/827 behind tank

"Sunrise"
White background 12cm behind tank
Lighting: 1x18W/827 behind tank and one 75Wlamp over tank on the left site

All photo shoot Canon a80 on manual:
ISO 50-100
1/15-1/25s
F 3.2-5

Duch: wau.. it´s so simple
The best things are simple things! (.. my favourite slogan)
Thanks 4 inspiration! Respect brother !

Hi DUCH , yes so simple and perfectly solution of backround too .
Your tanks are wonderful and so healthy ! hat down
As wrote ROOX :
"Thanks for inspiration! Respect brother !"

Call me Mr Simple
"Make everything simple as possible....but not simpler"

Hi Duch, I must confess that I enjoy your tanks very much.
Your tanks with tetras and wonderfull water plants looks like a little paradise. I am gonna try to remake my tanks this or next weekend and I´ ll be happy to they make them so nice as yours. With respect, Sami.

Ok. My old 180l tank (pictures from december 2004).

WOW

it is as fata morgana , oasis or garden of eden
simply miracle , duch you´re professional , also it´s nothing new for you . I waaaant too

speechless...

duch tvoje akva je nadherne

Thanks for comments

Some info:

Dimensions: 100x40x45 cm
Lights: 4x30W (11 hrs/day)
Filtration: Eheim 2215
CO2 injection: 5kg bottle 1-1.5bps
Parameters: KH 3, GH 4, pH 6.7, NO3 0-3, PO4 0.2
Fertilisation: 100% RO + Planta Gainer PRO: Hydro, Micro, Ferro, Macro
Water change: 40-50 every week
Water temp: 26C
Plants: Taiwan moss, Java moss, Erect moss, didiplis diandra, hemianthus micranthemoides, Rotala sp. "green"
Bioload: shrimps, otos, Paracheirodon axelrodi, black molly

Hi Duch!
I would like to ask you, when you set up your aqua, used you some fertilizer into the bottom? (for exampe: JBL Florapol)