Memento to my 2ft adventure

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

Hello all,

Finally! I had my 2ft Tank set-up over the week-end. 12 long hours to complete and like what senior David had mentioned, many issues along the way. Nevertheless, long story short, below some photos to share with everyone:


this is my plan on paper done some months back

below photos of my setup:


Riccia preparation the night before


Tank with ADA Power Sand


Tank with ADA Amazonia Substrate


Hard Scaping done

to be continued...

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

...continuing from previous post


Aquatic plants preparation done


Planted foreground and tied moss on drift wood


Done! With water filled up, cloudy with a chances of water clearing up...


... hours later...

opening up for comments. Do keep them coming!

[felix_fx2]

Erm, no filter? i see powerhead only

The stones, the stones... big change in color will bring out the lighter color one too much... look like a brain/skull to me.
Good job with plant prep, that is a good pratice.

[Ingen]

Is that a 2ft tank and what's the moss is that on the white rock? Your powerhead looks quite powerful from the picture taken.

[HeMan]

The white rock looks scary with moss hahaha

Be careful if you don't use a filter your co2 reactor will be clot with dirt and
wont function well

[David]

You did a fantastic job in you plant preparation.

My comments as follows:

1. Your wood has insufficient branching. You are allowed to combine pieces togather.

2. Your white rock is abit too big and the color as most have mentioned. The color robs the focal point of your tank....meaning I don't know where to look the wood or the white rock.

3. Loss of balance and symmetry. I would combine more wood to form branches and occupy centre position ( or at least balance left and right) and not have the large white rock. Since you have the patience and skill to tie moss and Riccia I am sure you will do a fantastic job on the wood.

This are just my point of view...

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

Erm, no filter? i see powerhead only

The stones, the stones... big change in color will bring out the lighter color one too much... look like a brain/skull to me.
Good job with plant prep, that is a good pratice.

Have have... Hiding behind the powerhead from the angle I took the photo:




Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[kohanson]

My first impression of your tank:

1. The white rock is turning my attention to it. Probably after the rock has grown with a little green algae, it will look better.
2. The moss on the branch is tied nicely.
3. The powerhead looks really strong! You might want to shift to the back so it will not be visible from the front?

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

Is that a 2ft tank and what's the moss is that on the white rock? Your powerhead looks quite powerful from the picture taken.

Yes sir, a 2ft (60x45x45) tank, deep and pretty tall.

Ermmmm..... A little embarrass to tell.... Dead Christmas moss, pretty sad also. This is the outcome of "acting clever". Bought the moss more than a month back, tied to the rock and soak into a bucket of water with alternate days of seachem fert and everyday of Ista CO2 pills only weeks later. The final product, rock with a touch of new breed of moss, dead moss.

Yes, a little overkill on the powerhead. MaxiJet1200.


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[David]

I disagree when you said you see acting clever with regards to the moss.

You tried....and with it gain am experience. There are plenty of hobbyist new and/or old who do not even try what you did...

For that, you have my admiration....

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

You did a fantastic job in you plant preparation.

My comments as follows:

1. Your wood has insufficient branching. You are allowed to combine pieces togather.

2. Your white rock is abit too big and the color as most have mentioned. The color robs the focal point of your tank....meaning I don't know where to look the wood or the white rock.

3. Loss of balance and symmetry. I would combine more wood to form branches and occupy centre position ( or at least balance left and right) and not have the large white rock. Since you have the patience and skill to tie moss and Riccia I am sure you will do a fantastic job on the wood.

This are just my point of view...

Thanks senior David, I was reading a lot on the preparation for plants from tropica handbook. Just to make sure my money spent on plants do not go to waste.

1. You are right, I notice there isn't enough branching on the wood. That will be my next project: Tree branch extension

2. I will be changing out the "dead moss" for something more alive, hopefully the new Christmas moss will cover the majority whiteness of the rock. And dun like that lah... Look at both the wood and the rock lah... Can?

3. I was actually thinking to leave sort of a path up to the top of the slope where we can see the bloom of "bonsai":


Thank you for the 高人指点!


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

My first impression of your tank:

1. The white rock is turning my attention to it. Probably after the rock has grown with a little green algae, it will look better.
2. The moss on the branch is tied nicely.
3. The powerhead looks really strong! You might want to shift to the back so it will not be visible from the front?

1. I will wait for nice algae to grow on my white rock to cover most of the whiteness. First ever, someone hoping algae to grow fast. Is there anyway to control the growth of the algae limited to only the rock?
2. Thanks, I just planted the java moss on the branches and then tied it with fine fishing line. I'll probably work on branch extension soon.
3. Point taken, perhaps I should really place the powerhead to the back so it looks nicer from the front.

Thanks for the advice. Expect to see some update after tonight.


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[limz_777]

your filter is not 220 V ?

[thebaldingaquarist]

Hi,

I really like your preparation work, performed like a text book aquaris (not that i know how a full fledged one is like, but you are certainly UP there).

My comments,
1. tall tank. be sure that you have enough light intensity from your lights so that the HG gets enough lights at the base.
2. circulation. If i am not mistaken, you have a power head to mix CO2 with the ista mixer. Nice choice of mixer, but why not mix the CO2 outside of the tank? meaning to put the ISTA Co2 mixer outside of the tank, with its input connected to the output of the eheim ecco pro, output back into the outlet to the tank?
Leave the power head (the one that was connected to the ISTA before) in the tank as circulation. And take the other one out. meaning only the ecco pro and one power head for circulation. I think you need only a 800L/hr power head in there for enough circulation, given the layout.
3. Scape, the white rock.. very interesting. I am not being sacarstic but i really find it interesting. I would leave scape that as the focal point and have wood all over it. Nice placement of the rocks on the side of the wood. it broke the outline of the wood. though i would use smaller rocks, as the large rocks make the tank look smallish. but thats my opinion.
4. Surface agitation. I recommend that you remove the wave maker and air pipe from the power head. if possible direct the power head and the output from the mixer slightly downwards to reduce surface agitation. this is to retain CO2 in the water. Employ use of a skimmer if protein problem arises.
5. Plants. i think lindernia rotundifolia is a good choice as a background plant. where did you find it? you have chosen to place it along the sides of the tank as well. Why? Is it because you like to create a scape where the sides are bushy and enclosing the centre scape? if so, you might want to consider shifting the white rock a bit to the centre.

Keep up with the updates. I feel this tank has potential.

My 2 cents.

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

I disagree when you said you see acting clever with regards to the moss.

You tried....and with it gain am experience. There are plenty of hobbyist new and/or old who do not even try what you did...

For that, you have my admiration....

gosh... I actually got compliments for making a joke out of my moss. Hahaha... With the compliments from senior David, I'll strive to try out new stuffs that no one actually did, and update them on the forum, so that new hobbyist do not have to go through the tough and long route I took to success.

Well, I should consider myself lucky, setting up the tank with minimum hic-ups. Or should I say, I've been doing so much reading and research in my life, and i was not even that hardworking during my school days (mum's gonna kill me if she ever understands computer and happen to ponder through this forum.. Haha..), that minimized the errors to be made. Hmmmm.... Nevertheless, the journey was so "FUN"!


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

your filter is not 220 V ?

No sir, 110V, bought it from amazon, taking advantage of the free shipping:
Ehiem EccoPro 300 = US$127
PowerBright 200watt transformer = US$19
Total damage = US$146 = S$182.50 (base on 1.25 conversion rate as reflected on my CC) cheaper than anyone who could have sold the model in SG.
Finding out that one day my filter blown into pieces because of the transformer = priceless!!! (Hahahaha...)


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[limz_777]

[QUOTE=ConcaveLiNkiN;740788]No sir, 110V, bought it from amazon, taking advantage of the free shipping:
Ehiem EccoPro 300 = US$127
PowerBright 200watt transformer = US$19
Total damage = US$146 = S$182.50 (base on 1.25 conversion rate as reflected on my CC) cheaper than anyone who could have sold the model in SG.
Finding out that one day my filter blown into pieces because of the transformer = priceless!!! (Hahahaha...)


maxi jet too ? never seen marineland product sold locally

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

Hi,

I really like your preparation work, performed like a text book aquaris (not that i know how a full fledged one is like, but you are certainly UP there).

My comments,
1. tall tank. be sure that you have enough light intensity from your lights so that the HG gets enough lights at the base.
2. circulation. If i am not mistaken, you have a power head to mix CO2 with the ista mixer. Nice choice of mixer, but why not mix the CO2 outside of the tank? meaning to put the ISTA Co2 mixer outside of the tank, with its input connected to the output of the eheim ecco pro, output back into the outlet to the tank?
Leave the power head (the one that was connected to the ISTA before) in the tank as circulation. And take the other one out. meaning only the ecco pro and one power head for circulation. I think you need only a 800L/hr power head in there for enough circulation, given the layout.
3. Scape, the white rock.. very interesting. I am not being sacarstic but i really find it interesting. I would leave scape that as the focal point and have wood all over it. Nice placement of the rocks on the side of the wood. it broke the outline of the wood. though i would use smaller rocks, as the large rocks make the tank look smallish. but thats my opinion.
4. Surface agitation. I recommend that you remove the wave maker and air pipe from the power head. if possible direct the power head and the output from the mixer slightly downwards to reduce surface agitation. this is to retain CO2 in the water. Employ use of a skimmer if protein problem arises.
5. Plants. i think lindernia rotundifolia is a good choice as a background plant. where did you find it? you have chosen to place it along the sides of the tank as well. Why? Is it because you like to create a scape where the sides are bushy and enclosing the centre scape? if so, you might want to consider shifting the white rock a bit to the centre.

Keep up with the updates. I feel this tank has potential.

My 2 cents.

Thanks again for the compliment.

1. Yeah. I was also worried about the HM. Initially, bought only 1 odyssea T5 2x24W, then an advice from Roger (from Fishy Business) that light might be insufficient due to the amount of plants and taking considerations the height of the tank, this is what I got:


2. Actually, there was some hic-ups on my CO2 setup. Was planning for DIY CO2, hopefully with the pump and mixer, will draw the non-pressurized CO2 from the yeast and sugar mixture into the mixer. But the plan backfired when the pump start pushing water out of the mixer through the CO2 tubing, thus creating back pressure and CO2 could not enter the mixer. Nevertheless, problem solved. Wife could not stand me standing in front of the tank for hours trying to fix a problem I've created, gave the green light for a pressurized 3L CO2 cylinder with electronic solenoid. Heehee... Seems my hard work paid off, hahaha.... Shhhhhh...

I thought of putting the mixer outside the tank initially, but the thoughts of it leaking kills it. (I beri kia si one... Heehee..) and you are right I kind of overkilled on the powerhead. Thinking it was not enough, but it turned out too enough. Haha...
3. I bought the rock from QianHu at S$8/kg (and it weighs a total of 7KG!!! The most expensive rock I had ever purchased, in fact the only rock I had ever purchased) one fine weekend afternoon months back when I was there shopping there. And yes, unique it is. At first after purchasing the rock, I was in doubt as I was researching on aquascaping from ADA, GC, GreenMachine and other scapers on the web and YouTube, no one actually use this kind of rock! But I am not letting my money go waste. No matter what I will try to blend it into the tank, in hope it will blend nicely, and glad I was that you actually find it unique. Thanks and the rocks by the wood, courtesy of sentosa, shhhhh... I regular tanjong beach quite abit. Beach volleyball and bringing my little ger to catch fishy by the beach and letting them back in the ocean. So one day, I came across these 4 rocks, so I gave them a new habitat. Rest assured that I had soak the rocks for months and make sure they are safe for my aquarium before putting them in, in any case if my fishes die when I put them in weeks later, I will know what to remove... Oh fishes, please stay alive when you are in there *fingers crossed*
4. Yep, I will work on that a little and keep everyone updated, but the powerhead will eventually push O2 into the tank when photosynthesis stops after the lights go off. At the same time creating currents to keep algae a off.
5. I got the lindernia off MizuWorld.com, but the better quality ones could be also found at fishy business (tropica). But I believe clementi and perhaps thataquarium in yishun should have them. Why the background layout of the plants? Hmmmm... These are tall growing plants, anywhere further upfront, I might block anything i wanted to showcase behind them when they grow taller. Therefore, I thought of placing them there, afterall, I really like the 4 background plants I had chosen. It is more of a like rather than philosophy. I was also hoping to create sort of a path up the slope from the centre to witness the bloom of amania bonsai.

Thank you so much for the advice. Stay tune for more updates coming up soon.


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[kohanson]

1. I will wait for nice algae to grow on my white rock to cover most of the whiteness. First ever, someone hoping algae to grow fast. Is there anyway to control the growth of the algae limited to only the rock?
2. Thanks, I just planted the java moss on the branches and then tied it with fine fishing line. I'll probably work on branch extension soon.
3. Point taken, perhaps I should really place the powerhead to the back so it looks nicer from the front.

Thanks for the advice. Expect to see some update after tonight.


Cheers
eRic

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Haha, I actually have a little green algae growing on my driftwood and i feel it looks natural. But my whole driftwood is currently covered with full of moss now so basically, I can't see the algae. This will also ensure my oto, nerite snail and shrimps have something to eat.

[ConcaveLiNkiN]

[QUOTE=limz_777;740789]

No sir, 110V, bought it from amazon, taking advantage of the free shipping:
Ehiem EccoPro 300 = US$127
PowerBright 200watt transformer = US$19
Total damage = US$146 = S$182.50 (base on 1.25 conversion rate as reflected on my CC) cheaper than anyone who could have sold the model in SG.
Finding out that one day my filter blown into pieces because of the transformer = priceless!!! (Hahahaha...)


maxi jet too ? never seen marineland product sold locally

Precisely. Cost me US$19.99, and that is about S$25. And that is almost the price of regular powerheads in SG. But I believe this brand is pretty reliable.


Cheers
eRic

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