2013 New Project

[chocolatelala]

You have 2 type of rocks in your tank, normally for iwagumi you want to have the same rocks. Also do read on golden rule or rule of third, it will help you on composition, where to put the main rock.

Dear Robert,

Thank you for the advice. I'm not planting iwagumi style. (Will try iwagumi style on another 2ft tank in my office after CNY)
The lava rock color is close to the ADA soil. I just use them to support some of the plants.

Planted.jpg
Foreground and middle ground planted six different types of plants. HC Cuba, Japan hair grass, mini nana. The rest, I'm not sure their name. All bought from Pasir Ris farm, not sure the shop name. (next to a marine fish shop).

Only fill up 3 pails of 1 days old water (filled and left it for 24 hrs). will continues the process daily.
Attachment 34358

Background plants will select and plant them within this week.

Finger cross.

[chocolatelala]

Hi All,

Urgent help needed!

Where can I buy STRONG AND CLEAR 16mm Ø Suction side(inside) hose to fit my Eheim 2028 filter? I checked few hardware shop. Can't find any

And Aslo a reliable convertor/adaptors from 16mm Ø to 12mm Ø. (From Eheim filter to CO2 external reactor) And 12mm Ø to 16mm Ø (From CO2 external reactor to 16mm Lily pipe)

CO2 reactor.JPG

Bought two brand new blue color convertor/adaptors from NA. leaking badly on both 12mm Ø side!

Thank you.

[Urban Aquaria]

You can check with East Ocean at Havelock, i got clear 12/16mm tubing from them a while back for my eheim filters and they are working well so far no leaks, not sure if they have clear 16/22mm tubing too but you could just call them to check.

For the tubing reducer/adaptors, you could also check with them too.

Alternatively, you could get the adaptors from Qian Hu (they are the importer for eheim so you could just get the original adaptors from them).

[AQMS]

polyart and c328 have it.
Bought from them before.
so far so good.

[chocolatelala]

polyart and c328 have it.
Bought from them before.
so far so good.

Hi Zerofighter, thank you for your prompt reply

You can check with East Ocean at Havelock, i got clear 12/16mm tubing from them a while back for my eheim filters and they are working well so far no leaks, not sure if they have clear 16/22mm tubing too but you could just call them to check.

For the tubing reducer/adaptors, you could also check with them too.

Alternatively, you could get the adaptors from Qian Hu (they are the importer for eheim so you could just get the original adaptors from them).

Hi Urban Aquaria. thank you for your prompt reply


I found out what went wrong. manufacture defect on the 12mm reducer/adaptors. Owner agreed the blue reducer/adaptors is manufacture defect. He checked and confirmed all have the same problem for this shipment. See attached picture.
16mm to 12mm adaptor.jpg


Just to play safe and have peace of mind. I bought all Eheim parts. Too bad don't match my lovely LILY pipe.
Attachment 34366

[Urban Aquaria]

Just to play safe and have peace of mind. I bought all Eheim parts. Too bad don't match my lovely LILY pipe.

Don't worry... after 1-2 months of usage, the lily pipes will be coated green with algae, so they will match the eheim tubing too.

[chocolatelala]

Don't worry... after 1-2 months of usage, the lily pipes will be coated green with algae, so they will match the eheim tubing too.

Haha... agreed

[chocolatelala]

Hi All,
Finally water filled. Ikea Expedit going strong. not a single sign of stress.

See attached pictures.

IMG_2881.jpg

HC look happy.
Attachment 34389

I'm sure will take months to look as green as the 2' tank.
IMG_2887.jpg


Only problem PH is extremely low reading only between 5.6 to 6.1 last 6 hours.
Is that normal for new set up?
Any advice or suggestion?

[mukyo]

congrats bro. keep posting. inspiring.
looks clean. so guessing the soil is makimg the low ph.
what soil was it again?

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Thank you

[chocolatelala]

congrats bro. keep posting. inspiring.
looks clean. so guessing the soil is makimg the low ph.
what soil was it again?

Thank you Mukyo
I used 3 packs 9kg Aqua Soil-Africana from ADA and 1.5 packs of 10kg normal sand (no sure the name. bought from NA)

[mincedmeat]

Want to share with us what plants you put into the tank?

[Urban Aquaria]

Only problem PH is extremely low reading only between 5.6 to 6.1 last 6 hours.
Is that normal for new set up?
Any advice or suggestion?

Yeah, that's quite common for ADA Aqua Soil substrates, the pH will be very low initially and the ammonia will be very high, most people plant heavily from the start to take advantage of all the released nutrients.

Just do large water changes daily (which is part of the recommended steps by ADA), add mature media from your existing tank, and it'll be cycled quite fast.

For new tanks with mature media added, i usually do 100% water change daily for the first 3 days, then 75% daily for next 2 days, then 50% daily for the next 2 days... it usually cycles fully within a week and the pH should stabilize nicely at around 6.4-6.6.

[chocolatelala]

More Pictures to share

Lily pipe really a piece of art. love it
photo (13).jpg

All Eheim's reducer/adaptor and hoses work well.
photo (14).jpg

[chocolatelala]

Yeah, that's quite common for ADA Aqua Soil substrates, the pH will be very low initially and the ammonia will be very high, most people plant heavily from the start to take advantage of all the released nutrients.

Just do large water changes daily (which is part of the recommended steps by ADA), add mature media from your existing tank, and it'll be cycled quite fast.

For new tanks with mature media added, i usually do 100% water change daily for the first 3 days, then 75% daily for next 2 days, then 50% daily for the next 2 days... it usually cycles fully within a week and the pH should stabilize nicely at around 6.4-6.6.

Thank you Urban Aquaria. Will change water this evening. and next few days. I think I need to add more plants(especially background). Since you mentioned take advantage of all the released nutrients with the new soil.
Partly my whole family will be away for week (3-9 Feb) to visit my in-law before CNY. better to make sure water condition stable before we leave it without care for week

Want to share with us what plants you put into the tank?

Dear Mincedmeat,

Seriously I don't know most of their name.
I know I bought some HC, mini Nana, Japanese hair grass (haven't plant yet). the rest not sure. very sorry. maybe I try to take some pictures sometime this week.
Cheers
Attachment 34402

[limyw]

can I ask what is the benefit/use of the eheim reducer/adaptor?

[AQMS]

He used the reducer because he wants to use the CO2 external reactor,
If you look at the picture ts post the filter use 16mm tube and the extrenal reactor uses 12mm tube
so he need a converter or reducer to connect it.

[limyw]

ok thanks. I was thinking of doing the same for my eheim cannister too, and saw some reactors showing a linkup to the outlet of the filter cannister. my filter uses the smaller tube so I guess I dont need a reducer. but do I still need a reactor or diffuser for this ? (sory TS for "highjacking" this with my query)

[chocolatelala]

Hi All,

Day 2
70% water changed. added two driftwoods and some moss from my 2ft tank.
Will buy more plants for background.

Day 2.jpg

[chocolatelala]

He used the reducer because he wants to use the CO2 external reactor,
If you look at the picture ts post the filter use 16mm tube and the extrenal reactor uses 12mm tube
so he need a converter or reducer to connect it.

Bingo. Perfect explanation.
Thank you Zerofighter.

[felix_fx2]

driftwood at center looks out of place.
like driving a wedge through your scape

Sent from my GT-N7105