Small Fish's 3 ft setup

[SmallFish]

Hi,

Setup 3 months, wanted it to be a low-tech tank but couldn't resist the beautiful flora available. In the end, had to battle with our worst enemy, the dreaded BBA. Read many forumers woes and sucesses, as well as advice.
decided to go ahead with the blackout. Also invested in CO2 tank, fert, more lights .. It was worth it, had been BBA/HairAlgae free for a week now.
I am still experimenting with the CO2 level / absorption, wish to achieve pearling within 1st hour.

Feel free to comment please.
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Details :
3*1.5*1.5 feet
FL + PL lights ~3wpg (10hrs)
CO2 ~4bps (10hrs)
Atman III external filter
Lapis sand with root monster
1 x Fan

Flora:
MM/HM
E.Tenellus
Hairgrass
Japonica
Crypts
Java fern (windelov, narrow)
Nanas
Moss (Java, Christmas, Weeping)
Vallisneria
Rotala sp.
Ludwigia Aspen
Ceraptopteris
Egeria Densa
'coconut' plant
Hornwort
floating plant ..

Fauna :
Cardinals (8x)
Rummynose (2x)
Rams (2x)
White Cloud Mountains (2x)
Otos (2x)
'Hu Lu' Loach (2x)
Glowlight Danio (1x)
Guppies (2x)
Others (4x)
Malayan Shrimps (5x), Cherry Shrimps(10x), Yamato Shrimps(3x)

Tank setup 3 months ago.

My lighting period is currently 11 hrs a day (8am - 7pm), but i intend to reduce it to 9 hrs (10am - 7pm). I was thinking of changing to T5 lights, to experience pearling effect, and to reduce heat (coz i do not intend to invest in chiller).

Just battled BBA a while ago, so far so good. Except that APP died, and Japonica a tad weak.

[Thirteen]

All seems fine there is it on any liquid fert regime? Can manipulate the dosage of liquid fert to reach optimum condition for your plants to pearl.

[SmallFish]

Hi Junliang,

I am on Liquid fert (Tropica) once a week for trace elements, KNO3 powder (lushgro), and P (seachem) liquid.

I am still experimenting with the dosage and CO2 levels. But read that lighting also plays a critical part. But ya rite, let me try with existing lights first and see if the other 2 variables can bring about the pearling effect.
(then can save on some $$ )

Cheers.

[FishFan]

Nice set-up you have there. Kind of wild but yet tamed in certain aspects.

[SmallFish]

Hi Kelvin, thanks for the kind words.
And good observation there, the wild look was what I wanted it to look n feel like.
I have always loved nature

Cheers,
Joe

[taz_boy]

very wild looking. good efforts put in

[AquaObsession]

Nice tank... I like the depth

[ng2651]

Nice setup with a good mixture of plants.

[SmallFish]

Thanks for viewing and the kind words bros

Keep it coming

[richietay]

Nice setup and the number of plants used, makes it kind of wild look!

by the way, you have any front view of the entire scape pictures?

[Spawnster]

wow i really like the lush look. good job!

[kemp]

me too, like the depth. Lush growth of plant, nice!

Nice tank... I like the depth