We asked some Proscapers to present their work to our community, which means you. Phillip Tauchmann created a model aquarium at home several months ago and recorded its setting-up and development with JBL ProScape in videos and photos.
Discover the story of Philipp Tauchmann’s dream aquarium by means of a step-by-step video. Below you can read the progress report in the artist’s own words:
When I replaced my second aquarium with a 60 x 45 x 45 Cube Garden, JBL happened to be launching the new ProScape range and kindly offered me this system for testing purposes. Inspired by numerous photos and videos of natural habitats I wanted to reproduce a steep, planted slope inside the aquarium. In the catfish shop in Chemnitz I acquired a chest full of deep black heavy lava clumps and some nice pieces of driftwood, which fitted my ideas exactly. Back at home, I started on the first design, and I repeatedly modified it for several days until I was finally satisfied. The stone positioning was particularly important with such a high layering of soil, because I needed to avert a sagging of the substrate at a later date. On a quiet evening I started with the setting-up, with a camera in the background to record everything step-by-step. This makes it easy for you to follow the setup steps in the video. For the sand surface I chose JBL Sansibar RIVER , because I liked its colour and grain best and because in my experience prerinsing in water was not necessary. The usual slight clouding caused by abrasion of the aqua soil did not happen JBL PROSCAPE PLANT SOIL BROWN and so, soon after filling the tank I had almost crystal-clear water, as is clearly visible in the video. Now it was time to get familiar with the PROSCAPE Special fertilisers and to adjust the fertilisation accordingly. As basic fertiliser I used JBL PROSCAPE NPK MACROELEMENTS and JBL PROSCAPE Fe +MICROELEMENTS And, as needed, added JBL PROSCAPE N MACROELEMENTS (nitrate) and JBL PROSCAPE P MACROELEMENTS (phosphate), to reach my desired values. With JBL PROAQUATEST LAB PROSCAPE I checked the water two to three times a week for the nitrate, phosphate and iron content. Because experience tells me that a slight overdosing of the full iron fertiliser will create a brush algae explosion, I initially started quite slowly with very few Fe+ microelements to prevent the iron level from increasing to above 0.1 mg/l. When checking on the plant growth, I noticed a deficiency of micronutrients. I therefore increased the dosage and to my surprise the brush algae failed to appear. After 4 months the structure inside the tank had taken on its intended shape and so it was time for the so-called “final shot”, which means for the final photo that shows us scapers that the aquarium has reached its optimum condition. In my opinion the result is quite impressive and the final shot with the title "Escarpment" attained 58th place on the "European Aquatic Plants Layout Contest".
4 months after the setting-up
The data at a glance:
Aquarium: ADA Cube Garden 60 x 45 x 45 (cm)
Lighting: Giesemann Matrixx II (2 x 24 Watt JBL SOLAR NATUR T5 ULTRA, 24-39 W + 2 x 24 Watt JBL SOLAR TROPIC T5 ULTRA, 24-39 W
Filter: JBL CristalProfi e901 greenline (original equipment)
Heating: JBL PROTEMP S 100 (to 25 °C)
CO2 system: JBL PROFLORA m602
Substrate: JBL PROSCAPE VOLCANO MINERAL + JBL PROSCAPE VOLCANO POWDER + JBL PROSCAPE PLANT SOIL BROWN
Fertilisation: JBL PROSCAPE Fe +MICROELEMENTS + JBL PROSCAPE NPK MACROELEMENTS and JBL PROSCAPE N MACROELEMENTS + JBL PROSCAPE P MACROELEMENTS according to demand
Fish: Aplocheilichthys normani, Corydoras habrosus, Otocinclus sp. negros
Invertebrates: Caridina japonica
Plants: Blyxa japonica, Eleocharis sp mini, Hygrophila pinnatifida, Micranthemum sp. monte carlo, Hemianthus micranthemoides, Didiplis diandra, Riccardia chamedrifolia
We hope you liked this little story. Do leave a comment with your feedback.
We intend to present you with further such aquarium reports in future, to encourage you to recreate similar masterpieces.
Small tip: If you would like to reach ideal fertilising conditions for thriving plant growth, the ProScape dosage calculator will help you to calculate the correct dosing of the fertiliser. Philipp also used it with success to care for his Proscape.
Flickr More pictures of Philipp Tauchmann‘s ProScape:
