Ongart's 5 ft planted Aquascape

[ongart chareonpong]

Let me show you a couple of shots of the tank & I might as well share with you what I used to set it up as follows:





Substrates- Pumice stone # 00, Bio-gravel + Ferka Aquabase & top it up with ADA Amazonia II.

Lightings- BOYU 55w X 4 PL 7200k each, 2X36w Sylvania Aquastar 6500k & 10000k. It's 0.65w/ltr medium intensity. Turn them on 10hrs a day with Timer. I have 3x5" fan to keep the temp around 26 C during this cool months. Believe the low temp helps minimize algae growth.

CO2- Using Harris 601 regulator with a solenoid valve which discharges at 2 bps with Timer.

Any questions so far ?

As for the plants, please don't ask me their names as I only know a few & still learning.

Cheers

[godprint]

nice setup!

hi ongart, are there alot of LFS in bkk to visit?

is there any must-visit LFS?

thanks!

[marle]

wide array of plants! The choice of your plants makes your tank look very bright, you might want to consider planting more plants at the background?

[Jungle-mania]

I recommend grouping your plants according to their species and to their height,with the tallest and fastest growing right at the back, so it will look less haphazard. Secondly, shift your rocks to a side and cacade them to the centre. Thirdly, get a black oyama paper for your backdrop. Lastly, i skip the platys for some tetras as they tend to produce tons of crap.

[sohbee]

not a bad setup but if can group the plants of the same species

[ongart chareonpong]

Thank you all for compliments & valuable suggestions for which I've put them on my ' 'What To Do' list. My special thanks go to :
Benny for rearranging my posts.
jungle-mania, I've tried to regroup the plants & the rocks which really looked better. As for the platys, only 3 left & will keep them as I love their bright red color. Btw what's oyama paper & whereabout one can buy it ?
Lastly a reply to godprint on must visit LFS in Bkk, the answer is Ja-tu-jak park which I'm sure many of you are well aware of & have been there more than once. Its official spelling is Chatuchak. If you get a chance to visit this place, I recommend you do it on w/day as there'd be less people.
Cheers

[s1c1lee]

I like your idea of keeping the tweezers at the side. What are you using to hold them?

I'm surprised your lighting is only 0.65w/ltr. I have BBA even with 1.5W/ltr. Then again, I am not sure if its due to poor water circulation. I have 1 x 2028 for my 4x2x2. I've added a small pump with rainbar 2 weeks ago. I'm still experimenting.

Regards,
SC

[ongart chareonpong]

SC
I used a rubber suction cup which has a hook attached to it. I'm sure you can find similar item from any kitchenware or hardware store.

As much as I'd like to share your thought on the light intensity but I haven't got a clue what is BBA and 1x2028. Pls enlighten me ?
Cheers
Henry (ongart c)

[cs_sg]

SC
I used a rubber suction cup which has a hook attached to it. I'm sure you can find similar item from any kitchenware or hardware store.

As much as I'd like to share your thought on the light intensity but I haven't got a clue what is BBA and 1x2028. Pls enlighten me ?
Cheers
Henry (ongart c)

BBA = Black Brush Algae (A good article on aquarium algae here)
1x 2028 = 1 unit of Eheim model 2028 cannister filter

Hope that helps

[Jungle-mania]

oyama paper is a black paper that you can stick to the back of your tank. this helps to heighten the effect of the aquascape.

[Goondoo]

oyama paper is a black paper that you can stick to the back of your tank. this helps to heighten the effect of the aquascape.

Correction: Oyama paper is a piece of water proof coloured paper, need not be black

[ongart chareonpong]

jungle-mania & goondoo, thks for more info on oyama paper. Now I'll have to look for it.
SC, re your nightmare with BBA, I just wanted to add what you've already learned from Aquaticscape link. Firstly about the fishes, besides SEA, Scatophagus argus argus is better one but its downside is that it may eat some of your young leaves too, another one is Black Molly. Lastly, since you seem to like experimenting, you may wan to try using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide solution & water, the same stuff uses for cleaning wounds, at the rate of 0.5-0.7cc/ltr. Turn off the filter, use a syringe, inject the diluted solution directly to BBA very slowly at 1-2 cc/spot. It'll die within an hour or so. Try a few spots first when finished, turn on full light which will convert H2O2 into oxygen & water. Turn on filter after a couple of hours. Repeat after a few days if required.
This is what I read from the local chat room & hope it helps.
henry

[ongart chareonpong]

To SC, I'm not sure if you're still fighting with BBA, if yes then I wanted to add more info I picked up from Thai chat room.
It said BBA's growth was partly due to :
-Lack of attention, meaning keeping water in good conditions-pH, temp etc., bacteria & plants are healthy.
-Too much fertilizer with high Fe, Mn, Mg etc.
But again, sometimes one can also find it in a well balanced tank. That's why they called it 'nightmare'.
Moreover, I think your high intensity light 1.5w/ltr doesn't help one bit. If I were you, I'd immediately cut it back to 0.7w/ltr & keep it on for, say, 5 hrs/day until things are back under control. Why do you have such high wattages ? Is it because you want to grow light hungry plants ? You know they said having such set up was as if you were racing F1 car at Le Man which means one must have total control of every aspect at all time. Do you ?
Enough said.