My5225

[Ernest Tan]

Hi to all,

Wanted to share and some form of records for myself.

Had a break of 3yrs in this hobby due to living with parents and awaiting my new home to be ready. Have my tank up and running for the past 3 weeks. Ultimately, preparing and awaiting for this year altum season.

Used to have 4L by 1.5W by 2H (4152), planted with ehiem 2080, CO2, UV, PL later T5. Had a number of fishes and tried altum and heckel which i fall in love with them! I love open top with hanging light (MH) and working towards that for my coming new tank but reality is far from dreams. ha ha.

My new set up is 5L by 2W by 2.5H (thus 5225), running on sump (3ft)! Initial intention is to try golden aro with 6253 and a 422 for planted but my fengsui sifu say aro too fierce for me and family so had to drop them. Dimension is also being restricted from 6ft to 5ft and to act as an partition instead of the normal by-the-wall type. CO dont like open top with hanging lights! Haiz........... so below is my final tank.

20140607_100939.jpg 20140607_202235.jpg 20140607_202254.jpg

Hmm.... anyone knows how to attach photos that appears big and clear without the need to click them to view?

[Ernest Tan]

Spent weeks preparing the making of the tank (Choose between the two famous tank maker), the equipment needed, the shop to go for (with reasonable price), have in mind the type of plants and fish to keep. Have been going round SG to find quotations and familiar with the latest product and technology since its has been 3 yrs when i stop this hobby. I must say some shops have relocated, some not as glory as it used to, some have goes along with trend and revamp their shop and some still the same. Some new products and technology not much change except for lighting which is more towards LEDs, cheaper (compared to 3yrs ago), more widely common and available. I was planning to get a set from Solite (MH + LED + T5) but cant find a retailer!

It took 4 weeks to build the tank and cabinet so i have to finalize the equipment i need. Decided to get from one of the shop in the west and confirmed with them less lighting. Then remember one shop in the north which very near to my new home but too late. Some item were from a shop famous in the central of SG. Wood, stone and plants was source from the east and lighting was from one retailer in the south-east (not sure if they are the only one in SG).

So everything had to be planned swee swee cos i have a specific date and time to get the setup ready so that i could meet my fengsui requirement.

[marle]

wow cool project. cant wait for your new developments.

[Ken_ng]

Nice tank and sump layout! I like the white cabinet very much.
Planted with discus?
Camping for updates.

[limz_777]

solite brand like suddenly disappear , wonder what happen to it as well , do solite fixtures have leds ?

nice sump design , looks like built for planted ?

[|squee|]

Hmm.... anyone knows how to attach photos that appears big and clear without the need to click them to view?

Use imgur and select the thumbnail option. Big images increase loading time for people with slow connections and waste bandwidth.

Did you ask your Fengshui master for the direction of water flow? So you can plan your scape accordingly...

[Ernest Tan]

Thanks squee. will consider imgur option. Yesterday was busy with work (1st July) thus replying now. Never thought about the direction of water flow for my tank cos i have a mini pond in my balcony and the placement and water flow was already advised by my sifu. Tank only particular about size and location.

[Ernest Tan]

18hrs - D-day, I am starting my installation. As my tank was delivery one week before D-day, i have the opportunity to mentally goes through my planned setup. I have also purchased my wood and rock 2 week earlier, wash them, brush them and finally soak them inside my bathtub (ha ha).

20140526_180307.jpg 20140611_163253.jpg

[marle]

Human sized driftwood

[Ernest Tan]

First step, going to setup my chiller. Decided on arctica and ehiem 1250 combi, which was advice by the auntie. Plan to place it inside my cabinet (right side) thus i have 2 set of groove on the third door. Purchased 2 fans and secure them on the upper set to act as exhaust fan for the hot air. But i will be paying my price soon!

20140609_195820.jpg 20140611_091158.jpg 20140611_094024.jpg 20140611_094030.jpg

[limz_777]

why not one fan to suck in air below , one on top to blow hot air out

[Ernest Tan]

Thought of that too but its 2 for exhaust and 2 for intake. presently just stick to 2 first

[Ernest Tan]

2nd step, bought the JBJ Auto Top up set

20140609_212726.jpg

Setting it in mode A, meaning first sensor to be in my sump tank to determine the level to activate the top up, 2nd sensor is in the top-up tank to cut off the pump when the determine level around the pump is reached. This way it could protect the pump from running dry. Assuming first sensor activated and top up pump running, first sensor high level reached it will stop operation. My top-up tank should be able to top up around 10 times if i fill up my top-up tank to full.

20140607_202243.jpg

Picture above shows my top-up tank right beside my sump. the empty space is for my Chiller.

[Ernest Tan]

20140611_095115.jpg

Sad to say, i have forgotten about the top-up pump thus went to the nearest fish shop, which is the one in the north part, and bought a small one to completed the setup. The piping and hose are supplied by my tank maker.

[Ernest Tan]

Next step, CO2 System. Bought a 5l tank and solenoid, simple counter, non-return valve and diffuser. Intention is to install them inside my sump and not the main tank. advantage and disadvantage i could think of is the acurarcy of the PH status when measuring the main tank from sump but i'm prepared to take note of the differences.
Addition item is this PH controller that monitor and control your set PH value by using CO2.

20140611_103750.jpg

This controller from Taiwan maybe in the market for some time but it is new to me cos never came across them 10 yrs ago when i first setup my 4ft and during my 7yrs in the hobby. Later stage i found out that there is also another brand from weipro but not sure of its working principle is the same as the one i bought. Nevertheless, go ahead and try it out and set up the system.

[Ernest Tan]

4th Step, Filling up the media. First time using sump as compare to ehiem 2080 thus these are the recommended stuff by the shop owner. After setting up them and found nit insufficient and bought another bio ball, bio home. Never use the carbon in the end as the chips are really fine and the net-bag bought was not really suitable. This is the part where i feel money spent wasted which i could use them for the addition bio ball and bio home!

20140611_133657.jpg

[Ernest Tan]

Next, the lighting. after sourcing around decided on MHX 60 5W LED but checking with the shop owner, ordering one set need around 3 weeks and that is one week after my D-Day so was wondering how to settle this issue? either wait for one week later or look for other set which it got to be ready stock available to justify the swap. Went down to GC to look see look see, ask about the R420R and luck is on my side The deciding factor now is the 1.75 times the cost of MHX! Can be delivered in 2 days times and that is super fast compared to the initial one. wondering around the shop while making the decision to dive in or not and saw some tools and fertilizer which was surprise and unexpected.

Below attached are my decision and a big hole in my pocket!

20140609_220658.jpg 20140609_220736.jpg 20140609_220933.jpg 20140611_161310.jpg 20140611_161428.jpg

[Ernest Tan]

The pic on the fertilizer

20140611_161926.jpg

[diazman]

Omg, a student's equipment wishlist. The Co2 system

[Ernest Tan]

Lastly, preparing the substrate for my tank. Getting them ready in position before i took a break as i have father's day celebration thus break for the event after 5hrs of setting up the hardware!

20140611_162247.jpg 20140611_162258.jpg 20140611_162636.jpg