Getting a new tank

[Goondoo]

Hi guys,
Would be getting a 4' tank soon. It the same one used as a planted tank in Petmart. Need some clarifications before final decision.

• Lights
Rather confused here. According to 3 Watt per gallon rule, I will need 424.194W for a 4’ x 2’ x 2’ tank(excluding gravel and stuff), which is about 11 x 40W tubes. Quite exaggerating huh?


• CO2
Will upgrade to a 5kg 1 after the current 2kg one depleted.


• Substrate

o Base fertilizer
Will be about one time 4 cm thick, too much? Any particular brand to recommend?

o Gravel
I will use the same brand Vinz recommended, really easy in washing, if per pack is 10kg, will 4 packs be enough, too much?



• Cooling Fans
Probably DIY some AC fan, maybe 4.

• Filter
Is Atman AT-3337 sufficient? The other option is AT-3338

Any other stuff I need to watch out for?

Vinz, I had been hunting for a 4’ tank now Should be able to get one before lunar new year. Siao liao, this time really into it liao.... hahaha...

[Irn-Bru]

hi,

i started a thread some time back about my dilemma on getting a 3ft or 4ft tank. in that thread there are some interesting contributions from forumers on important factors to look out for when buying a new tank.

think its worth a look for u...

cheers

[sherchoo]

Billy,

You really siao liao..... great news though.

4X2X2 is definately a good size for a planted tank. Maybe you can consider custom making making at Soon Heng. But I doubt tha you can get it b4 CNY. Refer to LFS list above for address.

Lights
As I mentioned before in the other thread, a good option is MH lights. It will be cheaper in the long run. Alos maintenance is easier without the obstructing lights.

Gravel
I used 2 bags of Lonestar gravel which made about 1.5" thick

Filter
Might I suggest Eheim. They are recognised to be reliable. This maybe an important issue to you as you're most of the time overseas.

Base fert
Try aiming for 3" thick. You'll get better results with more ferterlizers.

Fan
2 AC fan wil be enough. With more fans, evaporation rate may be too much.

[vinz]

LOL... addicted liao!!!

Lights
you really goondoo on this one. How did you get 400+++ watts? According to my calculations, your tank (excluding substrate ,etc) is only 95gals (120x60x50 cubic cm). You only need 8x36W.

CO2
Litre not kg.

Substrate
- base fert, Go for about 1 inch in front and slope to about 3 to 4 inch behind, especially for big plants that form wide and deep root systems.

DIY Fan
- Start with 2. Most ppl can get about 27 to 28 celcius on an average day in an average no-direct sun location, running on lights timing. Probably 26 to 27 celcius at 24 hrs/day. So if you tank don't get this values then add another fan. Beyond those temps, adding fans are wasted.

Fan noise is a irritant (to me at least). Some of the threads on DIY fans will give you an idea of the factors that influence it.

[Goondoo]

*sigh*
Just spent my hard earn $$$ again. Ordered a 4x2x2 tank with cabinet and delivery would be made by this coming Saturday (Yipeee!!!)

Final confirmation required.
3" of fertiliser for a 4x2x2 is how many packet? Sorry, I have very weak estimation skill.

Gravel. 2 pack of 10kg, still wondering if enough

Will need to buy a plant tweezer, do I plant the plants all the way down to the fertisers level?

Vinz, the 2x40 watts lights I told you about comes with free pink tube(said to be aquarium lights), is it alrite or I need to change immediately to white ones?(remember, I over spent on tank liao hor)

Cycling:
2 Oto(good start?) will be introduce to the half fill tank, probably on the second day when cloudyness settled down.
Plant and filters(probably Atman 3337 due to tight budget) to be introduced during Chinese New Year week, water will be filled full.
CO2 probably 3-4 days later as I was told not to introduce it to the plants immediately.
Will maintain this way for the another 4 weeks, until then, a 40% water change. I dare not use my existing medias as my tetras are spotted infected by White spots recently, unless someone with safe tank willing to spare me some.

I had read those using Kitchen Ammonia stuff to shorten cycling time but I'm rather uncomfortable using those chemicals since the start.



For the 16" tank, I bought a 13W clip lamp (total estimate currently about 20w)and now I can see some of my plants bubbling liao... muahahahaha....

[Goondoo]

upz

[kaipium]

I started a 4 footer ard Christmas last year.

I used 4 packs of substrate (think it is JBL at 5kg each).

For gravel, I used 3 bags of RMC pacific gravel at 20 or 25 kg each.

started with 4 x 36W PL lights but soon added another 4x36W so now have a total of 8x36W PL lights.

Started with nutrafin DIY CO2 but now using cylinder.

Am using the Eheim 2028 and I will swear by it. Only problem was trying to get it to prime start. After that, I have forgotten all about it.

Hope this gives some idea of what u need.

Happy planting........

[Goondoo]

----------------
On 1/21/2003 9:01:54 PM

I started a 4 footer ard Christmas last year.

I used 4 packs of substrate (think it is JBL at 5kg each).

For gravel, I used 3 bags of RMC pacific gravel at 20 or 25 kg each.

started with 4 x 36W PL lights but soon added another 4x36W so now have a total of 8x36W PL lights.

Started with nutrafin DIY CO2 but now using cylinder.

Am using the Eheim 2028 and I will swear by it. Only problem was trying to get it to prime start. After that, I have forgotten all about it.

Hope this gives some idea of what u need.

Happy planting........
----------------

Just one more question, do you guys actually wash the sand before putting in? I was reading a local article and that "old time" guy doesn't seems to wash them.

Hope the web master dun mind I linking it.

Nature Aquarium

[Simon]

billy, if u dun mind washing, please do.. but IMO not necessary at all, when i first started with my 6ft, I had to wash 12x22kg of lonestar and I had many cuts from it get the point.. if the quantity is not much and if u feel like doing so, then wash them...

[vinz]

IME, it depends on the brand. I find Aqua Colisa comes with a lot of sediments which clouds the water and create a fine layer on the water surface for several days. This is after a triple-rinse.

So far, lapis (i.e. lonestar, that we recommended to you) sand, to me, seems to be clean enough to use directly, but a few ppl have stated otherwise.

[tawauboy]

to reduce the cloudiness caused by unwashed gravel, you can partially fill your tank to about 2"-3" above the gravel. start a siphon to drain the water from one corner of the tank and refill the tank from far corner of tank. should help to reduce the cloudiness.

but if you disturb the gravel while planting, you are back to square one.

[Knightmare]

Hi guy, am new to planted tank. Any1 know where I can get the co2 electric valve (or what ever they r call) so I can sync my co2 with my lighting. How much will it cost ? Do I need to bring my co2 tank along ? Need it quite urgent. Thanks

[vinz]

It's called a solenoid. Most shops that sell planted tank equipment, especially CO2 equipment should have it. The shop that sold you your CO2 should have it? Call the shop before going down to see if they are willing to fit it for you.

Other shops to try: Nature Aquarium and System and Control Engineering. Again, call first. Other forumers may have other shops to suggest.

[Goondoo]

----------------
On 1/23/2003 12:18:20 AM

It's called a solenoid. Most shops that sell planted tank equipment, especially CO2 equipment should have it. The shop that sold you your CO2 should have it? Call the shop before going down to see if they are willing to fit it for you.

Other shops to try: Nature Aquarium and System and Control Engineering. Again, call first. Other forumers may have other shops to suggest.
----------------

Just thought you might need a timer switch too.

Just for additional info, I got all my CO2 stuff from NA at a reasonable price, though I don't like his "bochap" me attitude (which Vinz later explain that he is not that warm to strangers), I must say that he give me a real detail CO2 briefing after I paid for those stuff.

[BFG]

Yo Goon! Don't use otto on the 2nd day 2 cycle your tank.[:0] Confirm they die coz your tank is currently without algae for them 2 feed. Get platy or guppy instead. At the very least, they would consume the surface bio film.

[Allen_1971]

If you plant heavily, you don't really need to worry about the initial cycle as your plants should consume what little ammonia is produce by your first inhabitants.

Your initial algae crew could consist of a couple of Otos, SAE, and yamato shrimp . however, its worth noting as BFG mentioned that Otos can be pretty sensitive fishes... so a loss of a couple could be unavoidable...

[Goondoo]

hmmm... point noted... maybe I should try some cheaper clories then, like those white body red eyes type. They seems strong enough in my previous setup.

[Allen_1971]

clories? whats that? The ideal initial start up should use pure algae eaters so that you can avoid feeding and "force" them to clean up your plants.

[vinz]

Actually, I just totally avoid putting fishes or shrimp in the first 2 weeks altogether.

[Goondoo]

----------------
On 1/23/2003 10:25:13 AM

clories? whats that? The ideal initial start up should use pure algae eaters so that you can avoid feeding and "force" them to clean up your plants.
----------------

errr... I think I meant those white cories (or did I spell wrong again, bo pian, im a name idiot) aka loa su yu...