Newbie to both Aqua-planting and Office-bound

[meepokman]

Hello to everyone

As the name suggests, I'm new to both aqua-planting and being office-bound.

Which means I'm pretty much spending a lot of time with my butt on my seat and eyes to a display.
Hence I was looking for a "fixture" that can give me some "eye time" and beautify an otherwise boring office table.

I'm already reading up and am planning a nano tank. This is what I have in mind:

ascapture.png

[mUAr_cHEe]

Your name suggest to me, Eric Khoo's debut movie starring a certain sexy siren.

Welcome to AQ. It is good you have a vision in mind. You might have more 'wet time' than 'eye time'. But the set up you have in mind is very achievable.

Happy researching!

[meepokman]

Your name suggest to me, Eric Khoo's debut movie starring a certain sexy siren.

Yes! My nick was inspired by that film.

It seems you are well-acquainted with that film

[mUAr_cHEe]

I am a sucker for local productions. If we do not believe and support our own local talent, who will?

[Urban Aquaria]

Hello to everyone

As the name suggests, I'm new to both aqua-planting and being office-bound.

Which means I'm pretty much spending a lot of time with my butt on my seat and eyes to a display.
Hence I was looking for a "fixture" that can give me some "eye time" and beautify an otherwise boring office table.

I'm already reading up and am planning a nano tank. This is what I have in mind:

ascapture.png

Yeah, Filipe Oliveira's incredible tree aquascapes definitely inspired alot of people here (including me).

Nowadays its much easier to make moss tree scapes... a few LFS have brought in ready made "bonsai tree" wood pieces which really save you the trouble of searching or making your own ideal tree structure.

Here is an example: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ogwood-arrival!

Just tie suitable moss of your choice to the tangled branches and trim regularly as they grow in density, eventually it'll develop into the nice tree-top shape like in that photo.

[Shadow]

Welcome to AQ, you choose excellent scape to be inspired with

[meepokman]

Nowadays its much easier to make moss tree scapes... a few LFS have brought in ready made "bonsai tree" wood pieces which really save you the trouble of searching or making your own ideal tree structure.

Here is an example: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ogwood-arrival!

Thank you for the link! I was by Seaview yesterday and didn't see any suitable wood.

Do you know of any LFS that I should try?

[jiajuen900]

You can try Aquatic Avenue or Aquarist Chamber

[meepokman]

You can try Aquatic Avenue or Aquarist Chamber

Thanks for the recommendation. Aquarist Chamber is not far from where I stay! I can go check them later when I knock off

[Urban Aquaria]

Thank you for the link! I was by Seaview yesterday and didn't see any suitable wood.

Do you know of any LFS that I should try?

Before you start on your tank, do check out those LFS that specialize in aquascaping... places like Green Chapter, Fishy Business, East Ocean and Aquatic Avenue.

Do an "aquascaper tour" of all those places, you'll get even more inspiration and ideas from viewing their aquascaped display tanks, and have the best chance of finding the right equipment and wood/rock hardscape materials for your aquascape.

[meepokman]

I did a little tour not too long ago. Is it normal that Bonsai wood to be so costly? In the range of $50 - $80? It is more expensive than the tank

[Urban Aquaria]

I did a little tour not too long ago. Is it normal that Bonsai wood to be so costly? In the range of $50 - $80? It is more expensive than the tank

Depends on the LFS and the size of the wood pieces... the ones at Aquatic Avenue were around $38 (if i remember correctly), maybe can check with them if they still have stock.

Prices of wood pieces usually reflect their uniqueness and "character", nice wood structures can become great centerpieces for an aquascape so some people are willing to pay a premium for them.

If you are on a budget, then just search at other LFS and see if you can find suitable wood pieces, or DIY using different pieces of wood joined together. Its all up to your creativity.

[meepokman]

I have come out with a draft shopping list during my planning.

(1) 1.5 ft tank
(2) 1.5kg Gex soil (to buy small quantity from the fellow hobbyist)
(3) Small branches and rocks to form the tree
(4) LED light
(5) Xmas Moss (Canopy of tree)
(6) Nutrient Tester

What else would I need?
Do I need CO2 and skimmer?

What plants do you recommend as carpet & background?

[Gavan]

1.5 kg of soil seems abit too little for a 1.5 ft tank. a 1 ft tank needs at least 3 litres of soil, which will already weigh around 2++ kg. dont forget to buy a HOF filter

oh ya. welcome to the poison...

[meepokman]

1.5 kg of soil seems abit too little for a 1.5 ft tank. a 1 ft tank needs at least 3 litres of soil, which will already weigh around 2++ kg. dont forget to buy a HOF filter

oh ya. welcome to the poison...

So I need about 3-4 kg of soil?

What's a HOF filter? HOF stands for?

[Gavan]

So I need about 3-4 kg of soil?

What's a HOF filter? HOF stands for?

oh. apologies. HOF is Hang-On filter. or sometimes HOB filter (hang-on-back?)

yup, you'll be surprise at how much substrate is needed. alternatively, you can use planting soil, and then top up with gravel. the Shi-fus around can advise you better on this


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[meepokman]

Ok, so I just need a filter. How about a skimmer?

[Gavan]

skimmer is good for removing excess.. stuff from the surface, eg. rotted leaves, dust, oil film (which will most likely happen) if you do regular water changes and manually skim away the top surface, should be fine. if not, you can always buy HOFs that have already integrated a floating skimmer design into it


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[Urban Aquaria]

Can also consider using a canister filter too... those will offer much higher filtration media capacity.

Co2 injection is optional but very good to have, it will improve plant growth and speed greatly, and allow you to grow more demanding plants too.

As for the amount of substrate to use, just calculate it based on the tank's base dimensions and soil height.... so if your tank is say 45cm x 24cm base (ie. like ADA Mini M size) and you want a 4cm soil height (sufficient for most smaller carpeting plants), then the calculation will be:

45 x 24 x 4 = 4,320 ÷ 1,000 = 4.32 liters or kg.

If you plant to slope the soil higher at the back as part of the layout during aquascaping, then more soil would be required.

[meepokman]

Just came back from a mini-field trip on my way home Looked at some filters.

oh. apologies. HOF is Hang-On filter. or sometimes HOB filter (hang-on-back?)

Can also consider using a canister filter too... those will offer much higher filtration media capacity.

Since I'm working on a plant tank, CO2 level is a consideration. From what I've read, I have to reduce water agitation so as to minimise CO2 loss.

Following that theory, shouldn't I avoid a HOF since water would be "cascading" like a water fall in?
Canister is out of the question since I'm setting up in my office.

Can I check if it's correct to say:
HOF - those hanging by the top of the tank
HOB - those small submersed filter?
Canister - huge external filters.

As for the amount of substrate to use, just calculate it based on the tank's base dimensions and soil height.... so if your tank is say 45cm x 24cm base (ie. like ADA Mini M size) and you want a 4cm soil height (sufficient for most smaller carpeting plants), then the calculation will be:

45 x 24 x 4 = 4,320 ÷ 1,000 = 4.32 liters or kg.

Thanks! It's a very scientific way to calculate

Co2 injection is optional but very good to have, it will improve plant growth and speed greatly, and allow you to grow more demanding plants too.

Any small CO2 system & filter+skimmer to recommend for a nano tank?