20CM Cube Shrimp Tank (Iwagumi style DSM)

[rakurime]

The bogwood branches are from East Ocean

[ivanthensf]

Nice setup! Could you also post some shots of your guppy tank.

[FluffyBunny]

Bro, mind sharing your experience in using neo co2? Is it reliable?

[rakurime]

Bro, mind sharing your experience in using neo co2? Is it reliable?

Hi there, i've stopped using it as i ran out of the mix (it lasts up to 40over days) and i have no issues just that the only problem is the diffuser will release CO2 24/7 without stopping. Might be any issue if there's sensitive livestock inside as it will cause PH swings

Now this tank is purely sustaining on its own by a T5 lamp and dophin h80 filter, weekly water change is still being done, the carpet is growing slowly and can see that the top part of the plants are growing out slowly. (non-co2 injection)

[fireblade]

after using DIY CO2 for a certain period, I really appreciate compress air CO2.... no need to do micture every month...

Btw, Rakurime not sure if you know about the sugar and yeast mixture that produce CO2? think you should be able to do that for your kit.

[20Babies]

Hi Rakurine

Your post has inspired me to try my own planted tank.
This will be my first time.
May I ask where you bought your items and what would be the estimated cost to do this setup?
Appreciate your advice.
Thanks

[rakurime]

Hi Rakurine

Your post has inspired me to try my own planted tank.
This will be my first time.
May I ask where you bought your items and what would be the estimated cost to do this setup?
Appreciate your advice.
Thanks

Hi there, thanks for the encouragement as the tank is still running up to date: but somehow the condition is no longer as pristine as before: will post photos update soon~

The breakdown includes:

• Tank: $25 (East Ocean)
• Black Oyama paper: $1
• Light: T5 bought it 2nd hand
• Filter: currently running on Dophin H80 ($9) C328
• Filter media: running on ANS Clearmax nano only ($7-8.) (East Ocean or C328.)
• Soil: $6-9 (East Ocean)
• Fertilizers: JBL Florapol 350g ($9.60) & ANS Planta Base $6-8 (East Ocean) Borneowild Lush 250ml ($12.50) (GC or C328.)
• Plants: Staurogyne $3 per cup and Monte Carlo $3 per cup (C328.)
• Rocks: $0.90x4 (sizing varies) (C328.)
• Neo CO2 kit: $25 (last 50 days)

Total costs without lighting: around $120+/-
Most of the stuffs i got it from East Ocean and C328

[20Babies]

Thanks, Bro.
Maybe get another Neo CO2 or there is also CO2 water cost about $20+ last for 2mths.

Went to Seaview and they recommended me GEX soil which has all the fertilizer n nutrient for aqua plant. So no need to add fertilizer during setup.
After reading mix review on GEX soil, I am unsure if I should get that soil.

What soil did you get?
Do I need to add planta base, if I have enough soil to do the aquascape?
Do I also need to put Bacteria House?

Sorry so many questions...

[fireblade]

20Babies,

look at first posting.. information you need are there....

Thanks, Bro.
Maybe get another Neo CO2 or there is also CO2 water cost about $20+ last for 2mths.

Went to Seaview and they recommended me GEX soil which has all the fertilizer n nutrient for aqua plant. So no need to add fertilizer during setup.
After reading mix review on GEX soil, I am unsure if I should get that soil.

What soil did you get?
Do I need to add planta base, if I have enough soil to do the aquascape?
Do I also need to put Bacteria House?

Sorry so many questions...

[rakurime]

Thanks, Bro.
Maybe get another Neo CO2 or there is also CO2 water cost about $20+ last for 2mths.

Went to Seaview and they recommended me GEX soil which has all the fertilizer n nutrient for aqua plant. So no need to add fertilizer during setup.
After reading mix review on GEX soil, I am unsure if I should get that soil.

What soil did you get?
Do I need to add planta base, if I have enough soil to do the aquascape?
Do I also need to put Bacteria House?

Sorry so many questions...

GEX soil for plant is good, the one in green packaging, but i'm using the red color one for shrimp, you don't really have to put base fertilizer or planta base, during the dry start i did mist the monte carlo with very minimal "lush" in the spray bottle mixture, to enhance the growth (not sure whether it was working or not effective)

i used both GEX for base, and ANS Planta soil for top layer and it is really good for planting, easily plot in the runners as the granules are smaller than GEX and the price is around the same (though nutrients not as rich as GEX, hence the cycling stage took lesser time for my case).

Planta base is to boost the growth of the roots, which eventually may help in fasten the process of rooting in to soil, if your soil is very high in nutrients you may skip this, not compulsory to use it. (I actually shared it with a friend as he is using most of it, i took the remaining to experiment and try out)

Bacteria house as filter media, yes of cause but depending on your tank volume and what livestock are you intending to keep in future, for my case i changed to a small filter as i only have 2 juvenile molly and 1 snail in it, bioload is very minimal and the waste is acting as nutrients for the plants, hence i used ANS Clearmax nano as filter media (change it monthly) so i will keep ammonia and nitrate at the lowest..

[20Babies]

Thank you, Bro.
You are very helpful!

[benjamin216]

By using HOF, wouldnt it make the CO2 injection redudant? Or at least less useful that it would be.

[rakurime]

By using HOF, wouldnt it make the CO2 injection redudant? Or at least less useful that it would be.

From what i've observed the plants were growing well with the CO2 injection, supposedly having the similar flow-through-cycle as using lily pipes but not as bad as using spray/rain bar

[fish21]

Nice diary......have fun!