My First Aquascaping

[Thatasky]

This is my first aquascape project that was started in December 2014, it was planned since December but to get all the needed equipments and things to complete this project (Specially funds to buy stuff) was accomplish by February 2015. (Thanks for 13th Month and CNY Bonus) Note: Getting all this stuff required a lot of justification to wife. Quite challenging to get fund for this hobby.

Some History:
During my college day, i got hook up on fish only aquarium. I got 2 Gar fish and 1 Silver Arowana on a 6 feet tank. I got all fishes around 6 inches. Aquarium look spacious. After few years and the only thing i can say DAMN, where I'm going to keep these fishes. How noob I'm during that time and for god sake internet is not yet part of our life so information are very scarce. You just rely on LFS advise.

Got married then came to SG for work. My housemate move out on our hdb unit and left this 50x30x26 cm aquarium with a walking catfish on it. Literally 1/4 muddy water and this catfish only. So i take care poor thing.

Attachment 47279


No filter, No Air pump nothing. So i bought a filter and some stuffs and it became like this.

Attachment 47280

After having a taste of this experience and with the help of the internet information. I can't help but to amaze on the aqua scaping i saw online and trigger my interest and decide to have a 2nd aquarium tank.

Here are the tank stats:

Tank Size: 60cm x 30cm x 36cm (High Clarity / Low Iron Glass)
Substrate: ADA Aqua Soil New Amazonia (Powder Type) and ADA Power Sand S

Filter System: Eheim Ecco Pro 130 standard inflow and outflow pipe (The green pipe)
Filter Media: Seachem Matrix
Temperature: 29-30°C (Day) / 27-28°C (Night)

Lighting: Aqualigther 2 (60cm)
Light Duration: 8 hours (1pm-8pm) )with digital timer

Pressurized Co2: DIY CO2 (Citric acid and Baking soda mixture) / 2bps
Co2 Duration: 8 hours (12 nn-7pm)
Fertilizer: ProLife / 1ml daily
Fan/Chiller: None

Water Change Regime: 95% 2nd day 95% 4th day

Water Parameters: as of 26/2/2015 tank Still Cycling
Tested using API Freshwater Master Test Kit
pH = 6.6
Ammonia = 8 ppm
Nitrite = 5 ppm
Nitrate = 160 ppm

Hard Scape: Ohko Stone/Dragoon Stone

Some picture of during setup stage:

tank1.jpg

tank2.jpg
tank3.jpg
After putting some plant

[meepokman]

Nice set up. Looking forward to your future updates

[Shadow]

Not bad for the first try

Change your DIY CO2 to pressurize, easier to control.

[fireblade]

nice tank there..

turn your intake pipe the other way...
the longer side should connect to the hose and the shorter side should be in the tank, then it should sit nicely in your tank.

flatten the soil in front .. find that irregular soil in front makes the tank looks a bit more messy

[Phillipians]

Since you spent quite a bit on the lights, tank and filter, might as well go all the way and get pressurized co2 as well.

Also, while the colour rendition of the aqualighter is superb, but it might not be sufficient for the plants to crawl nicely; especially your foreground plant.

[Thatasky]

Since you spent quite a bit on the lights, tank and filter, might as well go all the way and get pressurized co2 as well.

Also, while the colour rendition of the aqualighter is superb, but it might not be sufficient for the plants to crawl nicely; especially your foreground plant.

I'll think about pressurized CO2. So far my DIY citric acid giving me a consistent pressure. And I'm not sure where to put it. I don't have enough space for that humungous tank. My DIY also got solenoid to stop the flow during night time.

About the Aqualighter 2, I think if sufficient enough. But maybe you can advise for it, because my Rotala rotundifolia are crawling to the point instead of growing vertically. It's leaning up to the substrate . When i pull it to stand up it got a lots of root on the substrates.

So I'm not sure does the crawling effect means it getting too much light or they any other explanation about it.

[Thatasky]

Can i have some advise guys about carpet plant.
Which is better, HC or Monte Carlo. I actually planted this 2 types on my aquarium(will try to post some picture when i got home) and it seems both are growing Ok. But still deciding which one to keep. Then the other one I'll transfer it to my bottom tank.

[Shadow]

My DIY also got solenoid to stop the flow during night time.

I'm interested to see how it work. My guess the solenoid will open up at night otherwise I wonder how you make sure it does not blow up over pressure

[Shadow]

Can i have some advise guys about carpet plant.
Which is better, HC or Monte Carlo. I actually planted this 2 types on my aquarium(will try to post some picture when i got home) and it seems both are growing Ok. But still deciding which one to keep. Then the other one I'll transfer it to my bottom tank.

I will vote for monte carlo, much easier compare to HC. You can keep it as thick as 4cm without sign of yellowing at the bottom.

[Thatasky]

I will vote for monte carlo, much easier compare to HC. You can keep it as thick as 4cm without sign of yellowing at the bottom.

I'll take note on that one. Very good justification to keep monte carlo. Appreciate that. I didn't know that it can be kept 4cm thick.

[Shadow]

Neither do I, until I look at my neglected tank, 3.5cm to be exact but I'm sure 4cm would not be a problem.

[Thatasky]

I'm interested to see how it work. My guess the solenoid will open up at night otherwise I wonder how you make sure it does not blow up over pressure

Hi Bro, see picture of my DIY citric acid mixed, i bought this online and added the extra regulator for my other tank. It got a release valve once pressure are build too much. Now observing how long the mixture last.
Co2.jpgCo2-1.jpgCo2-3.jpg

The Solenoid that I'm using.
solenoid.jpg

[Thatasky]

nice tank there..

turn your intake pipe the other way...
the longer side should connect to the hose and the shorter side should be in the tank, then it should sit nicely in your tank.

flatten the soil in front .. find that irregular soil in front makes the tank looks a bit more messy

Bro thanks for the advise about the inlet, now look better.

Eheim redo.jpgEheim Redo 2.jpg

[Phillipians]

Definitely if your rotala is crawling I would presume that there is enough light the a back portion. The aqualighter is pretty slim, not sure if that light will be sufficient for the whole tank for the foreground. Monitor and see if it is good enough. But like I said, I love the colour spectrum of the light. Saw first hand at GC
That said, pressurized CO2 is still the most economical in the long run. You have no space? Get the 0.8 or 1 L CO2 aluminium ones.

[Thatasky]

Definitely if your rotala is crawling I would presume that there is enough light the a back portion. The aqualighter is pretty slim, not sure if that light will be sufficient for the whole tank for the foreground. Monitor and see if it is good enough. But like I said, I love the colour spectrum of the light. Saw first hand at GC
That said, pressurized CO2 is still the most economical in the long run. You have no space? Get the 0.8 or 1 L CO2 aluminium ones.

Phillipians, i also wondering that if its enough for the back and front of the aquarium. But after i got home today i was surprised what i saw on my aquarium, the background plant and monte carlo are pearling. Does that means they getting enough light right?

[Shadow]

interesting DIY CO2 setup but if you have space for 2x1.5L soft drink bottle, you should have enough scape for 2L CO2 tank.

[Thatasky]

Bro how i wish i can stick in that Co2 tank. But see the back of the wall were all my stuff are stored. I'm not sure of my wife will not kill me if i added a co2 tank. Co2 tank looks very expensive not like this DYI co2.

[fireblade]

A co2 pressurised tank is definitely safer then 2 pet bottles... and if you are lucky, they don't cause that much if you can find a 2nd hand one.

[Phillipians]

Pearling is a good sign thought it does not 100% mean that they will crawl. However, since they are pearling then leave it first. I may be wrong hehe.

But yup like the rest said, you do have space for a 1L or 2L aluminium co2 tank. Go to our buy/sell section. You may be able to find a bargain. Camp there first lol

[Phillipians]

Pearling is a good sign though it does not 100% mean...

Sorry spelling error... a little anal... English teacher - what to do? LOL