something fishy in Japan

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:34

Well, tonight is my last night in Japan before I end my holiday and head back to Singapore. I will be trying to buy some Kunuma soil and Akadama soil tomorrow before heading to the airport (I have already bought about 5kg of different substrate materials so far for my emersed cryptocorynes hobby, MAD!!! some of you might think).

I started this thread just like to share some photographs (not all were allowed by the shops actually

) of fishy things I saw in Japan which interested me (sorry I am 'Sua Ku' (country pumpkin), this is my first trip to Japan).......

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:38

What species of shrimp are these (they looked like cherry shrimp babies but I am quite certain they are not)? I have seen them in my taiwanese friend's house long time ago also kept in larger jars and tanks but forgot to ask her about it.....

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:43

Japanese moss balls (Cladophora Aegagropila) sold in cute packaging for the shrimps shown above:

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:47

This "Zicra" brand of water conditioners must be the new big thing in Japan, almost all the fish shop I went to are featuring them for all the different type of tanks. Their product line is amazingy long (for plant, terrapin, betta, etc).

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:56

Can anyone advise if there are any shop other than fish shops in Singapore that sells these products that could be found in Tokyu Hands under their chemistry products section:

pH test paper for various ranges (each roll about 6m long I think)

various types of water quality test kits

various types of chemical (i.e. NO2) test kits

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 01:58

These are the substrates I bought for my emerse cryptocoryne hobby from the fish shop here as well as Muji:

From one of the fish shop, this substrate were used by them for emersed cultivation too and has a pH of 6.2 - 6.7 as stated.

From Muji, this substrate has good water retention property. Hope I did not guess the japanese wordings' meaning wrongly.

**ranmasatome** · 11th Jun 2008, 04:08

zicra has been around for a while already so not too new...

.. don't believe everything you see there... sometimes its just normal stuff wrapped nicely..haha..

**Shadow** · 11th Jun 2008, 08:27

Japanese sure know how to wrapped

All the stuff over there was always wrap nicely. Sometime I wonder whether the packaging cost more expensive than what in it

**illumbomb** · 11th Jun 2008, 08:57

Emersed cultivated plants can be bought from the fish shops:

**jwuog** · 11th Jun 2008, 09:20

I am pretty sure those shrimps in enclosed capsules are Hawaiian red shrimp called Opae ula.

Found in lava ponds. Supposedly can survive in extreme conditions.

Remember in Singapore, they do have it once. Saw it in some Chinese newspaper long time ago.

**Jervis** · 11th Jun 2008, 09:35

Actually NASA marketed this product before (shrimps inside glass spheres) as part of their research. I saw them at some lifestyle shops a couple of years back. Costly and maintenance free.

Oh... I miss Tokyu Hands

I shall return very soon... to my playground

Those emersed cultivated plants are called WABIKUSA わびくさ　if I'm not mistaken... pioneered by ADA.

**bryan** · 11th Jun 2008, 10:59

Yes I remember seeing them at the lifestyle store at Great World City. You can still see a rather big setup at the Science Center.

**rbt** · 11th Jun 2008, 22:07

Oh yes have seen those in the science center..if i am not wrong it has been there for years.

**Jervis** · 12th Jun 2008, 00:16

Actually it can be a very educational experiment to create something similar... but it may take several attempts to get the balance right... which will result in numerous loss of lives

**illumbomb** · 12th Jun 2008, 12:11

Back at work finally, on the last day, I managed to buy some sphagnum moss, Kunuma soil and Akadama soil from the "Home Centre" store. They are really cheap, less than S$3.

I bought a thermometer + hygrometer too for about S$16.

And finally I bought 2 open lattice mats from the "100 yen" shop (this is really usefully and cheap!!!!).

Back in Singapore, satisfied and really to experiment more on my emersed cryptocoryne set up!!!!!

**Jervis** · 12th Jun 2008, 12:34

I am so excited by all your findings...

**rbt** · 12th Jun 2008, 19:43

Me too excited to see all those stuff...wish i could get into the thick of things too.

**illumbomb** · 14th Jun 2008, 09:25

And since the japanese can design the toilet bowl seat cover to be so high tech, when will we see such similar attachment sold off the shelf to be attached to our fish tank (water change, light, filter, chiller, CO2, feeding, fertilising, etc all controlled electronically).