Hello guys, new member here!

[Jeffs]

Hey guys,

New to the forum here. Have been lurking around for a while looking for information on how to fight algae. Been in the hobby a long time but got more serious 5-6 years ago. Decided to join because I see that many members here reside in Singapore. Although I don't live in SG, but I do my fish shopping there, hence I find the forum to be very relevant for my needs. I currently have two tanks (both 120cm x 45cm x 45cm)in my apartment here in Jakarta. Will post more tank pics in the relevant sections.

My interest has always been high tech planted tank with tons of co2 and fast growing stem plants with bright lights. I try to make my tank become the centrepiece in my living and study rooms. I get almost all my plants from here in Indonesia where the prices are really cheap.

One thing that helps me tremendously in this hobby is my tap water here. I consider myself very lucky where my tapwater mixed with aqua soil always has 6.0ph, GH4 and KH3 with no chlorine/chloramine. I run the water through a cotton sediment filter and a carbon filter before entering the tank. As a result, I have a ton of appreciation for those in SG with planted/fish/shrimp tanks where you need to treat the water and have storage bins to aerate them, that for me is dedication. I tried having a planted tank in my residence in Singapore and I found it hard to have stable pH. (tried to lower from 9 to about 6 and it's always unstable, lots of fish death and algae).

Regarding fauna, I try to choose those that love soft water with low pH. I've always loved a variety of south american tetras, apisto and dicrossus, pencilfish and sometimes native fish like gouramis and boraras. I do love various Killifish (aphyosemion etc) and wild betas (betta albimarginata etc) but find it impossible to keep them because they jump out of my open top tanks. I get all my fish from Singapore where they are packed in breathing bags. The fish selection back in Jakarta is limited to the more popular neons and guppies (low purchasing power means more exotic fishes are rarely available). Even for native fishes like gouramis and boraras, it's more readily available in Singapore than in my home country. I buy and check them in my luggage and I never have any problems (Thanks Ron @ GC for your help).

Anyways, nice to meet all of you. Looking forward to learning more on this forum and interacting more with you guys

Regards,

Jeff

[Guppendler]

Hi Jeff, very nice setups you have there! I like the tank full of altums, really spectacular.

[AQMS]

Welcome to AQ Jeff..