Need help with 2ft!

[d0t]

Hello!
Super newbie at work here so hope you all can answer my questions.
Anyway, i'm looking at a 2ft no or low Co2 setup. You see i haven't bought anything but i do plan on keeping it low cost. Would appreciate if you experienced people could advise on what to buy. Namely, substrate, gravel, lights, filter, plants.

1. I would like to keep moss, and not too huge plants, but leafy ones.
I've seen pictures of tanks with just substrate or substrate plus gravel.Which one is a better setup? Which substrate to buy? i sort of prefer it brownish.

2. Would really need recommendations on lights. Like even the housing itself, and of course the tubes.

3. Plants. What kind of plants??

4. Would buying stuff from JB be cheaper? Any good fish shops in JB area?

[Weirong]

Hello!
Super newbie at work here so hope you all can answer my questions.
Anyway, i'm looking at a 2ft no or low Co2 setup. You see i haven't bought anything but i do plan on keeping it low cost. Would appreciate if you experienced people could advise on what to buy. Namely, substrate, gravel, lights, filter, plants.

1. I would like to keep moss, and not too huge plants, but leafy ones.
I've seen pictures of tanks with just substrate or substrate plus gravel.Which one is a better setup? Which substrate to buy? i sort of prefer it brownish.

2. Would really need recommendations on lights. Like even the housing itself, and of course the tubes.

3. Plants. What kind of plants??

4. Would buying stuff from JB be cheaper? Any good fish shops in JB area?

Hi super newbie! Good to see new blood entering the aquarium scene.
Maybe you can list your budget 1st, that way, it's easier to calculate.
Also, your choice of substrate would depend on what kind of an aquascaper you are...
And I really think you should get everything in Singapore if you can. Unless you do know where to get stuff in JB. Otherwise you will just end up driving in circles.

[benny]

Hi d0t,

Welcome to Aquatic Quotient!

Here's an estimate of a simple 2 ft tank that I did earlier..

01. Five Plan 2 ft tank - S$15
02. Background paper S$2.50
03. 1 X 15 W FL 2 ft light set S$18
04. 2 packets of brown aquarium gravel S$6 X 2 = S$12
05. Hang on Filter S$19
06. 4X Java fern on driftwood S$3 X 4 = S$12
05. 2 X Anubias barteri var nana S$6 X 2 = S$12
06. 20 X neon tetra $0.30 X 20 = S$6
07. 3 X otocinclus S$1.50 X 3 = S$4.50

Total cost = S$101
Not included: Fish net (S$2), hose for changing water (S$5.50), water conditioner (S$6), Aquarium salt (S$1), Fish food (S$3), 2 ft stand (S$18 ). All costings based on actual items at C328.

If your budget allows, you can add a fan. Once you have that, you can consider adding moss on driftwood and you can probably get it free from the friendly folks here at the forum.

Once you are settled down, you can consider a DIY CO2 and play with more plants.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

[michael lai]

Dear dOt,
Welcome to the club and happy CNY. Don't be overly worried about the cost first. A 2 footer is a good tank to start with. Maybe you could get 1x 18w pl or 1x 36w pl light, there are lots of ppl upgrading just watch for it at the market segment. Hmm..it'll depend on how brown you want to go for sand. 'Lapis' is cheap and good abeit it's not all brown, you can also invest in ADA or dennerle.( Good but costly, but all dark brown ). You can also DIY Co2 but read it up first. ( Website: The Krib ) or simply just ask the brethrens here or check previous threads. You might want to check out some scapes before you decide on the scape you want, try the aquascaping segments.
Lastly, don't worry about being a newbie, don't know just ask Have fun....

[|squee|]

Welcome to AQ!

1) To be clear, I refer to the substrate as the portion where plants are planted in, and gravel as things like inert sand, decorative pebbles etc. Most of us use substrates for planted tanks, which consist of a) base fertiliser (optional, but usually a norm) and b) the "gravel" itself. Dennerle has a brown gravel for your needs if I'm not wrong. The shops at c328 and it's immediate surroundings are good shopping areas, as well as Nature Aquarium and Colourful Aquarium opposite Thomson Medical Centre. There are lots of other shops as well.

2) For a two feet tank, consider getting a 36W light set. This will give you ample lighting for a non-CO2 tank. Ask the LFS.

3) There are lots you can consider. Java fern and its variants, Anubias barteri var. Nana (or Nana for short), Saggitaria subulata, Vallisneria species, and various mosses provided you have low temperature of at least below 28 degrees.

4) That one I do not know, since I've never been to JB to buy fish stuff

You may also want to read the link in my signature for more useful info. Good luck!

[d0t]

The shops at c328 and it's immediate surroundings are good shopping areas, as well as Nature Aquarium and Colourful Aquarium opposite Thomson Medical Centre. There are lots of other shops as well.

sorry but where's c328?

[d0t]

Total cost = S$101
Not included: Fish net (S$2), hose for changing water (S$5.50), water conditioner (S$6), Aquarium salt (S$1), Fish food (S$3), 2 ft stand (S$18 ). All costings based on actual items at C328.

Hi and thanks benny. 100 dollars is definitely something i can play around with and perhaps more. Will definitely get down to doing this once i figure out where c328 is. btw you called the 2ft tank, 5 plan 2 ft tank. what's that?

[rtcc86]

c328 is at clementi ave 2... click here.. yup

[diki]

Just got some advice for u.

Do cycle your tank for a while (up to at least 2 weeks) before putting in your fishes. Else can use cheap $2 feeders (guppy, molly or platy) to help u cycle the tank before putting other fishes in. For cycling of tank, please search the net or forum. You should know this before starting on one to make less mistakes. Also put in your subtrate (sand), plants (if u buy any) and water before u run your filter. Also add conditioners to your water.

FYI, 5 plan is a brand name. There are many sizes for this brand.

[|squee|]

c328 is Clementi block 328, near Clementi MRT. So sorry for being unclear =x

Any other questions, just shoot.

[Justikanz]

Hi d0t

Welcome to the world of planted tanks.

C328 is Clementi Florist and Aquarium at Blk 328, Clementi Ave 2.

I would suggest, if you are really super newbie, you might want to ask someone who knows about such stuff along to C328... Sometimes things can get a little out of hand for a newbie there. Too many things to see and choose at one time.

[diki]

c328 is Clementi block 328, near Clementi MRT. So sorry for being unclear =x

Any other questions, just shoot.

BTW, please be informed that the C328 is the shop named Clementi Florist and Aquarium. There are 3 fish shops along this stretch. C328 is the first shop beside the coffee shop (rather pack shop, u see u will know what I mean). Middle one is called C328 ... (cannot remember but not the C328 we mean here) and the last one is PolyArt. Do find out what u what and need before dropping in. Else u see those equipment, u also blur.

Eg. U want a 2 ft tank (glass/plastic)? Filter (flow rate as too high not ideal around 200L/h - 400L/h is good enough). Lighting set (PL/FL? 15/18/36/55 watts (depending on plants)?