20CM Cube Shrimp Tank (Iwagumi style DSM)

[rakurime]

After i have successfully setup my 40cm guppy tank, my itchy hand syndrome is acting up.

To give myself excuses and justify reasons for a new tank, i've decided to setup a new shrimp tank using a 20x20x20cm cube tank which influenced by iwagumi scaping.

Proper planning has been jotted down in my journal (excel sheet) with budgeting.

Here are some photos of the setup process:

Tank: ANS high clarity (low-iron) cube tank: 20cm x 20cm x 20cm
Lighting: Aqua Zonic 8 Blue + 32 White LED (23cm) 3.2Watts clip-on light
Filter: Dophin H200 Hang-on Filter
Bio-media: Seachem Matrix, ANS mini bacteria house junior and Biohome plus in mesh bag + black sponge
Substrate: ANS Planta soil & GEX Shrimp and plant soil
Base Fertilizers: ANS Planta base & JBL Floralpol
Additives: Mosura Old Sea Mud Powder, BT9, Shizhen, Tonic Pro
Liquid Fertilizers: Borneowild Lush & Essence K
Plants: Monte Carlo & Staurogyne
Hardscape: 4 pieces of rocks (can't tell if its Seiryu or Ryuoh stones)


Ignore the bogwood branches, moss and fishing net


This LED lighting is use to try out, not the actual lighting set.


Lay the planta base, jbl floralpol (just a small amount)


Cover the base with a layer of soil, then sprinkle Mosura old sea mud powder on it


Cover the 2nd layer with soil again, creating the shape.


Added 4 pieces of rocks and misting on the soil.


The main cast, Monte Carlo (1 pot) & Staurogyne (1 pot)


Dry Start Method Day 01
Planting in was not easy, and tried my best as its my first time doing carpet planting.


Dry Start Method Day 05 (Realized too much water, used syringe to siphon out the water)


Dry Start Method Day 10 (Rearranged the Staurogyne as some stalks were broken and couldn't plant it back)


Bought NEO CO2 to try out as this setup tank volume is just 7Litres or less, so i don't see a need to invest in a solenoid.


Dry Start Method Day 10-12 (Staurogyne roots growing out, into the soil, assuming MC roots too)


Dry Start Method Day 12-13 (Preparing bio-media and filter)



Dry Start Method Day 12 (Here comes the great flood)


Side by side with my 40cm guppy tank~


Bubbles produce by MC~ (don't think this is the "pearling effect" yet)


Day 14 (Water seemed to clear up)


CO2 produced after 48 hours upon setting up


Day 15 (MC started to spread on the right side)


Test reading,
pH : 6.5
Ammonia : 0 ppm
Nitrite : 2 ppm
Nitrate : 20 ppm

Will continue to post updates~

[fireblade]

Nice setup..Make me feel like getting another tank

[rakurime]

It's a cycle, when we see people post their new setups, we tend to get tempted to start another

[Vernonplim]

Nice and simple scape, my mind of scape..

[rakurime]

Day 17



Color of the plant is getting brighter~


Monte Carlo spreading out horizontally~


Side view of the scaping


Overview

[Goalkeeper]

Like your rocks....very nice color combination with great natural look! Where do you get them from?

[rakurime]

Thanks Goalkeeper, these are actually from my spare stash which i got it from C328, i learned from UA that its good to buy extras because you will never know when you will need it

[rakurime]

Day 23

Blue-green algae (those flossy/slimey kind) was found and accumulated over the past 1 week hence i decided to remove/syphon it out manually first to see if its effective before i resort to medication treatment method.


Did a 40-50% water change...


Monte carlo is spreading well though... and noticeable growth of staurogyne~


After the water change!

Hope all is well and may the BGA never appear again

Current photo period is 7hours and CO2 is 24/7 (about < 1 bubble per 5 seconds, using NEO-CO2 mixture)

[skytan]

Wow .
The monte carlo like doing pretty good in adapting for one week after planting.

[rakurime]

Actually it sped up after i flooded in, so DSM really works effectively.

DSM: day 01-12
Flood-in: day 12-23 (present)

For the first 12 days, i've used 2 sets of lighting to boost the root growth rate

[rakurime]

Can't seem to edit post, i've made a duplicate photo posting..

Anyway this is the view after water change last night~

[rakurime]

Growth progress in a nut shell

[fleekk]

Growth progress in a nut shell

Enjoy reading your log.

Great Effort!

[fireblade]

Looks like you are on the right track they are creeping well!

Growth progress in a nut shell

[coolblue121]

Very nice setup. I am currently starting a tank similar to yours in size, but i am planting HC instead. Ho[efully the HC will do as well as your MC

[rakurime]

Unfortunately i have stopped the Co2 injection but the tank is still running and under once per week or bi-weekly water-change regime


Day 131





Current livestock = 1 snail

[icychaosmage]

What happen to the MC carpet? I kinda like the current one. Based on the scale, it fit nicely to the tank.

[Dscheng]

U should invest in co2. U can see big difference in term of the growth.

[rakurime]

The carpet seems to be struggling without Co2, but still able to see pearling every day, i will just let it continue running for now

I have to replenish my Neo-Co2 next week

[raindropzz]

Very nice! Simple and beautiful.

Btw, where did you purchase the driftwood from?