The ZEN 90 Build Inspired by Takashi Amano

[asonitez]

I have never had more than 3 different types of corals in my tank at any given time. AS a matter of fact I upgraded my tank 3 times the same year. I have finally settled on a 90 Gallon tank that I have decided to do right with good equip and care.

I have been looking at some of the aquascaping around and one thing I have never noticed is anyone using a fast growing coral to cover their sand bed or something of the nature.

It would seem that with placement and such most people ultimately just stuff as many corals as they can to create a lush colorful landscape.

I love that but Its been done before. Instead I was thinking of doing something more artistic and creative. Something like this...

http://fish.mongabay.com/images/bigtank.jpg

Obviously the Color and the Texture as well as the actual stock used will differ. At first when I started this project I decided that I would try and Search for tanks that were Coral Specific... But I did not find any. So I decided I would make it my goal to create it.

Goals:
The Tank must "Light Up" under Flourescent Lighting
It must be functional and inherently easy to maintain with minimal moving around.
It will require Periodic Trimming and "training" but not in over excess.


Over the past month or so I have been collecting and Storing various amounts of Kenya Tree and GSP.

Now to many people these particular Corals are literally weeds. GSP gets out of hand very easilly and will over take many corals without care. Kenya Trees Will drop children all over the place and even after Cutting them off they will grow again. PERFECT!

GSP Glows Brilliantly Green under Actinics and Kenya Tree although not as flourescent they Glow Red/Pink depending on your Actinics.

Ultimately the GSP will Cover My sand bed except in certain areas that I will Surround by Live Rock(Creating a Wall that can be Grown on but defining an area that I can easily trim to keep it at bay.

The GSP will look like This...
http://www.myfishtank.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/amanotank.jpg

Obviously My Live Rock will need to be placed in the Aquarium as well.

I ordered 12 feet of Acrylic rod from USPlastics.com 5/8" and I have been drilling and dry fitting them together to create the structures I'm going for. Over all there will be 2/3 Arches Stemming from 1 Mountain and 1 Skinnier Tower. There the Kenya Tree will Sit in Valleys Surrounded by GSP on Posts made of Live Rock. The Sand "beds" will be there mostly for the Wrasses that Call it home and other fish that might like to play in it. Over All my tank will look like this after Completion.

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/files/zenscene_324.jpg

For those of you who will inevitably ask.

Lighting 8X 54Watt T5 HO - Current USA Nova Extreme
Skimming Aqua Euro Classic 250
Sump 30 Gallon Oceanic Model 2
Flow
3 X SureFlow Modded MaxiJet 900's + Return Flow Mag 12
Cooling
Ultra Quiet Zero Chill Fans Under Cabinet Venting Air In and Out as well as 2 fans in the Canopy Doing the same In addition to the Current-USA Fans in the Canopy.

All fans are Wired to a DigiDoc
http://www.obfuscated-engineer.com/blog/archives/digiblackb.jpg

Designed for PC's but work Fine for Aquaria. They Key is to Seal the Thermo Probe with Silicone in a mold and Leave the Probing Tip open. I use the cheap Bubbles you get for 25 cents from the vending machine drill a hole in it and then feed the probe sensor through it. i then fill it carefully with silicone until the probe wires are encased and wait 48 hours. Its water tight after that. Even Then... I've used the probes in water cooling situations for 3 years on my current pc and no problems. And I never sealed it with silicone or anything for that matter.

I purchased a small power supply from Newegg which powers all of the PC Fans AND the DigiDoc easilly. Best part is that it is only a few inches big and fits in a Standard Radio Shack project box.

In all Including the Digidoc from ebay and the fans from there as well + the power Supply my entire cooling setup cost me
less than 100$ It comes with 8 Probes.

I will be cutting a Suitable Hole in the Side of the stand and Placing the DigiDoc in there. I can control all fans independently set them on a temperature sensor or have them cycle. Oh.. And its Backlit.

If All Goes to Plan then pics of the live tank should be up soon.

I don't plan to Just keep those corals but I will have things like Monti's etc Growing precariously off of cliffs and the like. And Zoo's covering other things.

Thanks for reading this Very Long Post. I promise pictures are sure to follow.

[sm51498]

Sounds like a good concept, very fresh and interesting. In my experience GSP will not grow over sand, so are you planning on some kind of hard bottom in some areas and sand in others? If you wanted the sand look you could use some kind of epoxy mixed with sand for the areas to be covered by GSP and just use sand for the areas you want loose sand in. I can't wait to see how you execute this obviously well thought out concept.

[asonitez]

Thanks SM i hope it will be. So far its been quite an adventure. AS for the GSP. I purchased some Flat Marco Rock that is able to go on the surface of my sand bed. I have chiseled parts of the rock away to make it fit.

[JustinReef]

I am just finishing up my Lagoon tank...Not quite a true lagoon but close I guess. A true lagoon would have no live rock, very little flow and stuff like cyano...which I do not want!

I was kind of thinking along the same lines as you though...I wanted something a little different than what I usually see. Its a custom tank that is 72x20x20, so quite shallow. I have 200lbs. of LR but only about 60-70 lbs. in my display and the rest in the sump. The tank is heavily planted with macro algae and the focus is on a 1.5' in diameter toadstool leather. I have macro growing in the sandbed as well as Anthelia (sp.) and Xenia. I wasn't going for the "zen" look as much as you but a very, very natural looking tank. I find that most tanks on here are beautiful but very man made looking to me. Too clean and perfect. I keep the glass and equipment very clean but Im really not worried about what grows on the rocks and actually welcome it.

Another somewhat unique thing I have just finished up is mounting a 250watt MH reflector at one end of the tank pointing diagonally across the tank for a really natural looking light effect. I just need to work on making the reflector more concentrated in one spot. It spreads a bit too much right now. I actually got this and many of my ideas for this tank from European tanks. If you search European forums, you tend to find more diverse and unique tanks and ideas.

Your right about the kenya tree, Mine grows like a weed!

Anyways, sorry if thats off topic but I really like your idea and can't wait to see it come together!

[tydtran]

Great idea. Look forward to watching your progress.l

[xtm]

GSP will not create a mat like a Glossostigma would. It needs a solid foundation to lay a mat on. You can recreate that green mat look by laying a flat shelf rocks on the substrate and letting the GSP grow on it-- BUT you will have some major issues with detritus.

Now If you are going for the planted tank look, I suggest you look into some macroalgae (Seagrasses or maybe Turtle grass?) Since most of these can be anchored directly on your sandbed. Start reading some threads in the Macroalgae forum, you will get some really good ideas.

[bpoore89]

This looks like a really cool idea. Tagging along

[sm51498]

^He a;ready said he was using shelf rock to attach the gsp to. I don't think detritus would be an issue, its just like putting down rock on a bare-bottom tank or on a sand bed for that matter and eventually nothing will penetrate the rock where the gsp grows.