4 weeks to go - advice for 4 ft tank

[vinz]

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On 10/4/2002 6:14:53 AM

with horti fert at $3 per kg bag. Use 4 bag , top up about 2 cm gravel. Then sprinkle all-over tank with root monster pellets before topping of with gravel.Bought 2 bags of the 22kg gravel.
Please, no need for JBL or dennerle base fert. Already overhaul the tank and using Dennerlle base fert (2 buckets).The result a bit poor thats why paiseh to post new setup pic.
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Plain nursery soil or special aquarium base fert... both need to be supplmented with substrate ferts for better growth, IME. The diff is that special aquarium base fert is better for plants if substrate fert is not used.

I'm using J. Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost for my 6 foot. I find the plants don't grow as well as when I started my other planted tank with JBL, before supplementation.

Both types are good mediums for roots... only the base nutrient levels are different. Anyway, eventually even the special aquarium base ferts run out of nutrients and you have to supplement anyway.

[anakin]

Vinz, you not working also ah?[] This is becoming like my main job of late, while moonlighting at my workplace []

[vinz]

I full time mod here...

Just kidding... also lull period. But got new project starting this few days.

[vinz]

Anakin, Simon is trying to link to Setiardi's pic. Unfortunately, Fujifilm does not seem to allow external linkage. Copy and paste URL will work.

[anakin]

Yep, done that and been there. Work will pick up BIG time for me next Thurs.[] will be at it for about 2 weeks. That's why I'm so glad that we're going to Teo's this Sat - timing can't be better. read thru' Nicky's thread on his new tank - learnt a bit too.

So I guess once I plant my tank, should wait for a month or 2 before I put in the shrimps and SAEs and Otos (and my wife's fav) a betta to kickstart the bacteria culture.

[anakin]

Yah - one more thing. My friend just passed me GeoLiquid for Plants. When should I add it in? Right from day 1 or after the plants has established their roots? It says it doesn't affect animals or plants - should be true, right? *skpetical look*

Haiz, this is so much more enjoyable than work...[]

[vinz]

GeoLiquid is harmless, IME... did help me clear mild green water a couple of times, but without a similar tank as a test check, can't be sure if it really worked or was pure coincidence.

[setiardi]

Sorry bros for links problem. Recently unable to do it succesfully from fujifilm or coolconnect.com

[ryan]

hey anakin... i'm doing up my 4 feet next week!
grin... btw where do u intend to get your plants from? i was thinking of going down to teos but its so out of the way...oh and how much is the 4ft 2x36watts pl set?

setiardi,
i'd like to know what base fert should i use for my 4 feet tank? you mentioned horti fert at $3 per kg bag. Use 4 bag , top up about 2 cm gravel. Then sprinkle all-over tank with root monster pellets before topping of with gravel... where do i get this horti fert and what is it called? horti has many ranges right? and the root monster pellets? is it the tabs? the big ones or u refering to the smashed up ones? where did you get your root monster in this form? thanks man!

[anakin]

HI Ryan, before you set up your tank, wanna do it such that the base fert will not show on the front and the sides? Thot of it for some time oredy, if we just use a divider when we put in the fert such that there's a margin for gravel then, we can actually achieve the effect quite easily.

[ryan]

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On 10/6/2002 7:09:58 AM

HI Ryan, before you set up your tank, wanna do it such that the base fert will not show on the front and the sides? Thot of it for some time oredy, if we just use a divider when we put in the fert such that there's a margin for gravel then, we can actually achieve the effect quite easily.
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hey interesting!
hmmmz yeah that will look nice... i was thinking of using black gravel...
how much gravel do we need? how many kg? 22 is it?

[anakin]

Hmm..let's see. Vinz calculated like this. Your tank is 45cm x 60cm. assuming that you want to have a thickness of 7.5cm (3in) hat'll work out to 20250cm3 of gravel. divide by 1000, you'll get 20.250l of gravel. so the amt really depends on the brand - you decided on it yet - Dennerle or sth else? plus we need a little bit more for the side to give that uniform effect.
My wife prefers the lapis colour - u know, the brown, white, black river colour. gotta go with her - or else can't even keep a betta at home []. just joking - she's actually quite supportive of my hobby. heng

[hwchoy]

for gravel I also use a ratio of 1.2 ie 1.2 kg gravel equals 1 litre. This depends on the type of gravel but I think is quite close for lonestar. Most gravel are sold by weight rather than by volume.