Maia's Tank Setup Journey

[maia]

Whoohoo! I made it to a fish store today. So many baby Amazon fishies. How did they get here alive! Saw some chiclids. Wow, they're so cute and feisty! Definitely will have a species tank once I get more experienced.

Got some black ADA soil. It covers the bottom, but might need to get some more to make it thicker. Was recommended to go to a farm by CCK with a free shuttle bus from the MRT. Anyone know the name? Going to pick up some rocks and driftwood this weekend.

Question: I don't know if there's still good bacteria in the filter media from the previous owner. Do I cycle before adding fish?

[maia]

Does anyone know a good place to buy bogwood?

[michael lai]

You can try NA(thomson rd), C328(clementi) or Ecoculture(macpherson). Most of the Bogwood available here floats so be prepare to soak it for a few weeks.

[maia]

What's the address of NA on Thomson?

[PLee]

the shop beside NA also not bad. Selling Driftwood with nice Moss with reasonable pricing as well

[maia]

Okie,
Got a nice piece of bogwood. Now...does anyone know where I can get some rocks? Heheh...need to sink it.

[valice]

You can always get them at the same place where you got your wood from.

[lEddyl]

list of LFS
think this list will be helpful

near your zone.. KEONG SEONG FISH SHOP (KS) and Nature Aquarium(NA) should be the best place for equipment

[maia]

Ok, thanks! Will check those out. heheh..the emots are so funny

I'm planning on having a low-tech planted tank (no COz). My tank is 150L and the cover has housing for 2 2ft lights. Well only one really, but another slot can be converted to light housing. I'm not in a rush to grow plants quickly. But, I am interested in having a carpet of low growing plants which I heard require lots of light. With that said, what are my options for lights?

[XnSdVd]

Hey maia, Shannon from Eco-culture the other day. I see your tank's getting along nicely. Do remember to stay away from shrimps for the time being. And yes, most of the country consider aquaculture a low end business for illiterate old men. And most in the industry are.

But i'm sure Azmi's shown you a different side to the local scene.

[maia]

Hey shannon. Ah hah, now I can visualize the lots of confusing lettered nick you were talking about

Yah, once you get past the gate keepers of old men with cramped tanks people here in the fish keeping scene are quite nice and great resources of information. It does take an investment in a few cab rides to find the good spots though.

I'm off to investigate my lighting options tonight.

Does anyone know a good resource for local/S.E. Asian fish?

[ecoculturesg]

Look all the BUAYA is coming out! Beware maia... they bites!!!

[XnSdVd]

This is what i get for promoting your shop!? Haha, that aside, Azmi is still one of the best sources for local stuff. Failing that, you can try Biotope which has a good mix of just about everything and specializes in apistos.

For lights try nature aquarium. Be prepared for the rather clueless lady who's usually at the counter. Look for Mr Chan, the fat middle aged man who runs the place. And if you feel like comparing, pay the colourful guy next door a visit. Be warned, not all the plants he sells are aquatic.

Finally, if you're REALLY want to see native fish, i'm taking a group from my school on a trek through the central catchment area this sat. We'll be passing several rivers and streams. You should be able to get decent photographs of the fish/habitats from the path if you've got a decent camera. But be warned, it's about 15.4km

[Wackytpt]

Azmi,

You and I knows who is the real buaya now beside Uncle C's avator... hahaha (Uncle C likes buaya but he is not a buaya )

[Wackytpt]

Hey shannon. Ah hah, now I can visualize the lots of confusing lettered nick you were talking about

Yah, once you get past the gate keepers of old men with cramped tanks people here in the fish keeping scene are quite nice and great resources of information. It does take an investment in a few cab rides to find the good spots though.

I'm off to investigate my lighting options tonight.

Does anyone know a good resource for local/S.E. Asian fish?

Speak to the Great Azmi... or some of our moderators like CHoy, Benny. They are very knowledgable about fishes.

[David Moses Heng]

Does anyone know a good place to buy bogwood?

hi there! From what i have gathered, you must be a lady. Well to get rocks, try 328 @ clementi. The price is as low as 70 cents a piece and the drift woods there are also pretty affordable. If you want, i can accompany you. I be there later. Just sms 96814289.

Cheers!!

[Cacatuoides]

Whoohoo! I made it to a fish store today. So many baby Amazon fishies. How did they get here alive! Saw some chiclids. Wow, they're so cute and feisty! Definitely will have a species tank once I get more experienced.

Did you saw amazon fishes and cichlids? Which shop did you saw them in?

[maia]

Eh...I don't know what buaya means

Yes, I am a girl. Did the "OMG everything is so cute!" give it away? Heheh. I'm not as airheaded as I sound sometimes.

The baby cichlids were at Wu Hu. They're black with bright blue polka dots and very feisty. Wish I could get some, but I want a community tank. There should be UN peacekeeping fish that you can put in a tank to keep everyone in line.

I already picked up my bogwood from EcoCulture. It fits just perfectly in the tank. I'll post pictures sometime this weekend once I get some more plants in. Going to pick up some rocks somewhere after work.

Questions:
* Will there be things for sale at Aquarama, or is it just exhibition and seminars?

* For a low-tech tank how many hours should the lights be on?

* I want sand in the front of my tank. Any major concerns I should have in purchasing it?

* I want a tank with Asian fish (I'm really fighting with my desire for dwarf corys ) any recommendations for fish that won't eat shrimps?
I'm planning on having:
- About 2 focus fish (colorful ones )
- A school or shoal of mid-level small sized fish
- Bottom dwellers (the only Asian ones I can think of are Kuhli loaches)
- Later some algae eaters with the shrimps (I've seen this catfish with a long thin tail I think is called an "aligator cat", anyone know anything...?)

* What kind of bioload should I calculate for shrimp? Are they happier in groups? I've never kept them before. What do those little guys need?

* Does Keong Seong have cheap rocks?


Okay...too bad I have access to this website at work. Tooooo distraaacting!

[maia]

Oh yah!

shannon, trip sounds GREAT! But I have a chinese class on Sat afternoon and it's my friend's birthday. Super busy day for me Definitely let me know if it happens again.

[Cacatuoides]

I assume yous is a 3ft tank?

A school of bright orange Rasbora Espei or Boraras (various species) will add color to the tank, a nice contrast with the plants. E. Tenulles will be fine for a low light tank. They grow pretty fine under my low light condition. Cute little badis badis at the bottom will be fine for a game of hide-and-seek. If you want shrimps, I have some really red cherry shrimps which I might give away once my new fish arrives!!

Alligator fish? Isn't that an oddball for predator tank? If not, it'll be farlowella or the whiptail catfish, you're refering to.

As for Aquarama, there are products for sale as well as see-only exhibits which showcases the latest products, an event you really don't want to miss out every 2 years!!