Today is the day for me.. yah..

**Nicky** · 30th Jan 2006, 01:00

Come to think about it, maybe I will take some pic and notes along the way when I am setting up this new tank. If the end result can face the world then I will put it on AQ like how Rupert did his. Of course English will be less 'powderful' and less graphics will be shown and less documentation of what went on in those train-of-thoughts lah..

See how it goes..

**StanChung** · 30th Jan 2006, 01:13

a journal!

yes better safe than sorry... anyway silicon cures in a day. if they can move it it should be safe...enough.

very curious about the lighting. i wonder if i can use this setup or do an mh setup. its a 5ft tank so the options aren't many for luminaires unless i go for 4 ft ones.

maybe you can start mounting the lights...would love to see that...

**Wackytpt** · 30th Jan 2006, 08:37

Nicky,

Very interested in the scape you going to you.

What substrate you going to use?

High Maint or Low Maint Tank ?

hehe

**Nicky** · 30th Jan 2006, 10:08

Originally Posted by standoyo

very curious about the lighting. i wonder if i can use this setup or do an mh setup. its a 5ft tank so the options aren't many for luminaires unless i go for 4 ft ones.

maybe you can start mounting the lights...would love to see that...

Will tell you how I feel.. I almost wanted to make a 4.5ft tank but eventually settled on a 4ft because the cost is quite scarily different. For a 4.5ft tank I will have to pay the price of a 5ft. Anyway I thought that if I were to have a 4.5 ft tank I will go for 4ft light because the suspension T5 is going to cast the light beyond the 4ft edge. For your 5ft it may be a little stretch using 4ft T5 but the 80W 5Ft T5 option is already on the market. Go for it lah.. what are you waiting for? Mai Tu Liao..

Can't hang the light now even though I am dying of itch to do so. The light needs some modifications and is sitting with Aquamarin right now.

Originally Posted by Wackytpt

What substrate you going to use?

High Maint or Low Maint Tank ?

Will be using Seachem flourite as substrate, which are recycled from my previous 4ft tank. May have to add 1 or 2 bags more. See how it goes. Was thinking of using Rio Negro sand to create some form of path like what you want to do. But thought maybe it is a little 'cliche' judging from the number of winners of 2005 ADA contest having that theme.

As I want to have the option to grow plants that take it more from the roots, will be using ADA Power Sand Special under the flourite. Instruction says the 18 litre is suitable for 622 tank but judging from the volume, I think it is too stretched. It is more like 2x18 litres is needed for my tank. What do you guys think? To make it last, will have undergravel heater to allow the option to areate the substrate every now and then.

With babies, wife and work, I quickly figured that low maint tank is the way forward to keep this hobby alive. But for a start there will be quite alot of stem plants which wiill be sacrificed once the tank stabilised.

I will be toggling the lights to create the effect of Dawn, Day and Dusk (as suggested by Lorba). So essentially it is a low-light setup.

**Ian Lim** · 30th Jan 2006, 10:36

Originally Posted by Nicky

Come to think about it, maybe I will take some pic and notes along the way when I am setting up this new tank. If the end result can face the world then I will put it on AQ like how Rupert did his. Of course English will be less 'powderful' and less graphics will be shown and less documentation of what went on in those train-of-thoughts lah..

See how it goes..

bro, picture says a thousand words, no need powerful English, your effort is much appreciated, looking forward to it.

**Wackytpt** · 30th Jan 2006, 10:38

Originally Posted by Nicky

Will tell you how I feel.. I almost wanted to make a 4.5ft tank but eventually settled on a 4ft because the cost is quite scarily different. For a 4.5ft tank I will have to pay the price of a 5ft. Anyway I thought that if I were to have a 4.5 ft tank I will go for 4ft light because the suspension T5 is going to cast the light beyond the 4ft edge. For your 5ft it may be a little stretch using 4ft T5 but the 80W 5Ft T5 option is already on the market. Go for it lah.. what are you waiting for? Mai Tu Liao..

Can't hang the light now even though I am dying of itch to do so. The light needs some modifications and is sitting with Aquamarin right now.

Will be using Seachem flourite as substrate, which are recycled from my previous 4ft tank. May have to add 1 or 2 bags more. See how it goes. Was thinking of using Rio Negro sand to create some form of path like what you want to do. But thought maybe it is a little 'cliche' judging from the number of winners of 2005 ADA contest having that theme.

As I want to have the option to grow plants that take it more from the roots, will be using ADA Power Sand Special under the flourite. Instruction says the 18 litre is suitable for 622 tank but judging from the volume, I think it is too stretched. It is more like 2x18 litres is needed for my tank. What do you guys think? To make it last, will have undergravel heater to allow the option to areate the substrate every now and then.

With babies, wife and work, I quickly figured that low maint tank is the way forward to keep this hobby alive. But for a start there will be quite alot of stem plants which wiill be sacrificed once the tank stabilised.

I will be toggling the lights to create the effect of Dawn, Day and Dusk (as suggested by Lorba). So essentially it is a low-light setup.

Hi Nick,

I was toying with that idea of using seachem flourite, Rio Negro sand & maybe power sand. Maybe can share with me if you got lobang for it. I am also interested to know more about the Dawn, Day and Dusk setup.

Is undergravel heater good?

**Nicky** · 30th Jan 2006, 10:49

Originally Posted by Wackytpt

Hi Nick,

I was toying with that idea of using seachem flourite, Rio Negro sand & maybe power sand. Maybe can share with me if you got lobang for it. I am also interested to know more about the Dawn, Day and Dusk setup.

Is undergravel heater good?

Hey I thought you should have lobang for all these.. already got the powersand (cost a

). No lobang lah.. I am the #1 supporter for planted LFS.

Lorba did a interview with some US online forum last year (?) and mentioned the Dawn, Day and Dusk effect right? Basically if you use those MH with FL/PL you turn on the FL/PL first. Then in the 'mid-day' you turn on the MH for a few hours before turning it off to create the dusk effect. Hope I didn't misquote him. Ask him lah, what the heck. For mid-day I turn on all 4 tubes of T5. For Dawn, I turn on the front 2 tubes and for dusk I turn on the back 2 tubes lah.. simple right? Of course the night light comes on before the back 2 tubes go off so that my fish will not be scared and jump.

Undergravel heater must be used by Amano setup for good reason. Even instruction of Dennerle base fert container mentioned that heater will prolong the useful life of the base fert. Many people suffer from anerobic (spelling?) substrate and have to tear down their tank right? I figured that if I can turn on my heater every now and then (not every day, every hour) it will drive convection current through the highly porous supersand and flourite. Don't you think so?

**Weirong** · 30th Jan 2006, 11:20

I think most of us here just use Malayan snails to aerate the base.
Cheap and good!

**PeterGwee** · 30th Jan 2006, 11:31

If you uproot plants regularly when doing replanting instead of just topping off, you will seldom have issues. Cables are a waste of money and simply does not make any impact on plant growth nor does the powersand unless you go lean on the water column.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**StanChung** · 31st Jan 2006, 00:54

my lighting options in kl are limited to some el louso brands. further hampered by heavy spending in recent months on fish...renovation...
will check out the T5 5ft you mention when in sg again if you could be so kind to point me in right direction...heee.

my thought are like peter's with regard to the power sand...on heating cables i think it's odd you feel you need to...
plant some rooting plants and it will take care of the sub aeration.

**solonavi** · 31st Jan 2006, 01:23

Lovely tank. Saw that u using aqua-medic T5 tube. Mind sharing the price range for the plantas tube?

Cheers
JC

**spinex** · 2nd Feb 2006, 00:44

The cabinet really very nice ! A nice piece of work. Must have the price tag that come with it

Looking forward to your setup.

**Nicky** · 2nd Feb 2006, 08:37

Originally Posted by spinex

The cabinet really very nice ! A nice piece of work. Must have the price tag that come with it

Looking forward to your setup.

Got quite alot of messages asking to see the scape.. guess there is no pressure at all huh?

Hey folks listen, I'm not the whoever-you-know that are known to produce good scape.. so I like to manage your expectation a little..
My scape is going to be simple.. and I don't believe in instant tank, ie, my setup will evolve and change along the way as I rid my fast growing plant to replace with something more docile. So don't sit back, rub your hands, and wait to see miracle.. it's not going to happen over night for me.

Shouldn't have suggested doing with Rupert has done, right? damn..

**Rupert** · 2nd Feb 2006, 21:44

Hi Nicky, listen to others for illumination of what is possible and then do what you think is correct. We are all essentially on the same journey and there are many destinations along the way… so just enjoy what you are doing and post as many pictures of your journey as you can, as we enjoy them.

I really like your cabinet… makes me want to have a “cabinet transplant”. In fact I think I need a “cabinet transplant” , this should be an allowable medical expense!

**Nicky** · 2nd Feb 2006, 23:58

Originally Posted by Rupert

Hi Nicky, listen to others for illumination of what is possible and then do what you think is correct. We are all essentially on the same journey and there are many destinations along the way… so just enjoy what you are doing and post as many pictures of your journey as you can, as we enjoy them.

I really like your cabinet… makes me want to have a “cabinet transplant”. In fact I think I need a “cabinet transplant” , this should be an allowable medical expense!

You are right Rupert.. the discussion on UG heater actually makes me sit back and ponder if my decision was right to begin with.. nonetheless I bought it already so what the heck. But the input from others makes sense to me.

Actually if I were not given a chance to see your setup in person I will be making mistakes that I will not be able to proactively avoid. So my appreciation to you, thanks. I think your cabinet is nice. There's just alot of things in there. And the style is what your 'boss' want, right? So go with it lah..

I am going to spend late Fri night doing all the combination of stacking of bogwood. Haha, there shall be only 1 person who is deciding the final pattern, and that's me.. but I will take some pic to show the process.

I have a couple of logistics to work on now..

the lights are still being modified at Aquamarin. Trying to push for sat evening pickup, else I will miss the entire weekend window.. I am trying to change the suspension point such that it is closer to the 3-core-wire so that the electrical wire can coil around the suspension wire, macham those ADA suspension lights you see in all the ADA catalogue..

then it is the work to suspense the light.. must get a weight (fishing weight or something) and suspend it from the ceiling to mark the desired position on the false ceiling.. then must climb into the roof access to connect the wire. These steps must do it right the first time.. else still got to look for the false ceiling powder to mend the ceiling, follow by painting.. but damn.. just remembered that I have not bought the step ladder yet.. how to reach the ceiling.. that's another 100$ gone..

Plants.. just found out that all my old plants have died.. I packed them in bags when I sold my old tank about 3-4 weeks ago. Of course they die right? No air - how to survive?? So I am now writing a list of plants to buy from FuWo. Orders will be placed on Fri evening after work and pickup must be on Sat evening, latest.. will also need to pick up some ferns from friends such as ChanCK and Golfmad.. if only my plants didn't die..

Of course still must remember to buy extra eheim hose.. old one looks white-color now.. more $$ needed..

My mind is racing to forecast what else is needed.. what else har?

**Nicky** · 3rd Feb 2006, 00:01

Or yah still need to get a bag or 2 of flourite as standby.. in case not enough.. more $$ needed.. haz..

**Wackytpt** · 3rd Feb 2006, 00:13

Originally Posted by Nicky

Or yah still need to get a bag or 2 of flourite as standby.. in case not enough.. more $$ needed.. haz..

Nicky, if you manage to get your flourite, do let me know where you got them. I been looking for them last time but they were out of stock.

**ranmasatome** · 3rd Feb 2006, 02:51

doesn't NA have them??

**cks** · 3rd Feb 2006, 05:47

This coming Fri night / Sat morning the action will start (when the babies and wife are asleep).. and my heart is already pounding very hard in anticipation now..

[/QUOTE]

Babies

where did they come from .
The last time I saw you at Peter's it was your first one. Twins