My planted tank II

**Phang** · 16th Oct 2002, 12:20

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On 10/15/2002 8:05:52 PM

Hi benny,

Nice to meet you too. Hope you have settled your tank problem and started enjoying the hobby.

Regarding the temperature, I left at 25 degrees only for about 2 weeks to experiment whether the lower temperature will boost the growth of the xmoss which has been growing very, very slowly. IMO, not much difference between 25 and 26 degrees. Moreover, the 2 weeks duration might be too short to notice any significance in growth.
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Hey Benny,

Post pics of your tank lah...
Then we all also can see....
[

]

I think Moss really develop much better and in fuller form under cooler waters... If you are using X'mas moss... atemperature range in from 25-27 C would be ideal...

**DEA** · 16th Oct 2002, 13:22

hey, what estimative index? issit like aggaration?

no, seriously, what issit?

**elmike** · 16th Oct 2002, 13:47

Hi kingpin

Excellent setup! Very professionally done! Just a few questions to get some ideas for my planned tank...

1. Is your wooden branch centre-piece stucked onto the base of the tank or is it just resting on the gravel, which means it'll shift about when you vacuum the gravel bed??

2. What's the tank dimensions??

3. How many power points do you have that's dedicated to a tank of this size??

4. What kind of filter/ and how many are you using?

cheers!
mike

**vinz** · 16th Oct 2002, 13:53

DEA, search Google for &quot;Estimative Index&quot;. Just read it last night... I'm still digesting it cos it wasn't really clear.

**vinz** · 16th Oct 2002, 13:55

DEA, search Google for &quot;Estimative Index&quot;. Just read it last night... I'm still digesting it cos it wasn't really clear.

**kingpin** · 16th Oct 2002, 17:06

Thanks Mike,

1. Is your wooden branch centre-piece stucked onto the base of the tank or is it just resting on the gravel, which means it'll shift about when you vacuum the gravel bed??

It is slightly embedded in the gravel. The branch is actually one big piece, but I sawed the thing into 2 smaller pieces and tied them together. For the look of the original branch, you can check on my previous tank picture in the tank gallery.

2. What's the tank dimensions??

5x2x2 feet.

3. How many power points do you have that's dedicated to a tank of this size??

1 extension with 4 power points. Not really enough. You will need those with 5 to 6 power points. But it depends on the equipment you have.

4. What kind of filter/ and how many are you using?

1x2028 and 1x2233. 2028 is very powerful. I have to split into 2 outlets so as not to create a tidal wave in the tank. One to provide circulation and the other to the CO2 reactor. You can roughly see the connection in the first picture. Didnt want to reduce the flowrate, felt like I am not using it to the optimum. The 2233 is connected to a chiller.

**vinz** · 16th Oct 2002, 18:04

KingPin, you should consider an external CO2 reactor... installed inline before the split from the 2028. Better CO2 distribution and less equipment in the tank. Doing that for my 6 footer.

**kingpin** · 16th Oct 2002, 20:34

Vincent,

You got a pic of your external reactor? You used the UP brand interal reactor and covert to an external one, like what one of the members did?

**BFG** · 16th Oct 2002, 22:44

Kingpin, Nature selling it's external reactor. It's actually a water filter but without the filter, the ones where u see it on drinking fountain. Me using 1 too!

**kingpin** · 17th Oct 2002, 00:41

Thanks BFG,

I saw the reactor in Nature some time ago. If the flowrate is very strong, will the CO2 get washed out from the reactor before it dissolves? This happened to my internal reactor. Flowrate too strong, CO2 reactor like a diffuser. That was why I split the outlet into 2, so that I dun have to reduce the flowrate and the CO2 remains the reactor.

BTW, which filter are you using?

**vinz** · 17th Oct 2002, 01:59

Kingpin,

I'm using the one from Nature. No, the CO2 does not get washed out. I'm using it on a Eheim 2250... same flow rate (1000L/Hr) as your 2028, if I remember correctly.

**mok** · 17th Oct 2002, 10:19

how much is Chan selling the external reactor for?

**elmike** · 17th Oct 2002, 10:33

kingpin

Thnks for the answers. I take it that when you said one extension cord with 4 power points, you are still tapping current from the same one single main switch and this will not cause overloading? Don't the tank gadgets/ equipment consume a lot of electricity?? Btw, would you know the wattage of Eihem 2028 filter.

I'm asking coz I'll be doing some reno to my new home and I'm wondering how many dedicated power points/ main switches I should be installing for the tank. I'm planning on getting a 5&quot; (length) x 1.5&quot; (depth) x 2&quot; (ht). Would 2028 alone, supplemented by an air/ oxygen pump be good enough? I don't intend to go into CO2 fertilisation and plan to keep base fertilisers on the low/ bare min side.
Appreciate your advice.

mike

**kingpin** · 17th Oct 2002, 12:22

Mike,

1)I take it that when you said one extension cord with 4 power points, you are still tapping current from the same one single main switch and this will not cause overloading?

Yes, I have a chiller, 4x70W MH + 2x36W PL, 2028, 2233, UV, Solenoid all connected to 4 powerpoints from 1 extension cord. Moreover, there are about 2/3 adapters plugged to the 5 points to further expand the capacity. So far, no problem. The cables very messy [].

[img]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Wei%20Cheng/My%20Documents/Diamond%20Web/Aquarium/Equipment/100-0003_IMG.JPG[/img]

2)Don't the tank gadgets/ equipment consume a lot of electricity?? Btw, would you know the wattage of Eheim 2028 filter.

You will have to check out Eheim website for the filter wattage. Not sure of my total wattage. But I know it is about $60-$80 more per month.

3)Would 2028 alone, supplemented by an air/ oxygen pump be good enough? I don't intend to go into CO2 fertilisation and plan to keep base fertilisers on the low/ bare min side.

2028 is enough for a 5 footer. However, if you dun intend to introduce CO2, there are many beautiful plants out there that you will not be to enjoy, such as those red and foreground plants. They need strong lighting and high CO2 levels. IMO, if you are able to get a big tank, try to introduce CO2. You will not regret it. It makes it all worthwhile to see your plants in healthy condition and your fishes happily playing hide-and-seek among the plants []. Plants that require no to little CO2 fertilization are limited in variety. Eg. Moss.

Wei Cheng

**Harlow** · 18th Oct 2002, 20:35

Harlow,

Nice set up. Amazing...

How do you get moss on your driftwood?[

]

**kingpin** · 18th Oct 2002, 22:29

Hello Harlow,

I tied the moss with fishing line. You can use cotton thread too.

**elmike** · 19th Oct 2002, 10:00

Hi kingpin

Thanks for your pt-to-pt response!

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&quot;Moreover, there are about 2/3 adapters plugged to the 5 points to further expand the capacity. So far, no problem. The cables very messy&quot;
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I read that there are such a gadgets as &quot;cable tidy&quot; and &quot;circuit breakers&quot; that can be used to address these problems, but I'm not sure if it's available here at our lfs and if anyone in this forum has them. I would be interested in knowing more abt the circuit breaker...if it's just an ordinary circuit breaker and if this will constitute a superfluous item, since we already have the fuse and main swithboard circuit breaker as safeguards (against electrocution!). What are your views on this??

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However, if you dun intend to introduce CO2, there are many beautiful plants out there that you will not be to enjoy, such as those red and foreground plants. They need strong lighting and high CO2 levels. IMO, if you are able to get a big tank, try to introduce CO2. You will not regret it. It makes it all worthwhile to see your plants in healthy condition and your fishes happily playing hide-and-seek among the plants . Plants that require no to little CO2 fertilization are limited in variety. Eg. Moss.
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At this pt, I'd would still be more comfortable doing without CO2 diffuser, which I understand remains a controversial issue. There are acclaimed authors who would still consider CO2 fertilisation to be primarily a fad that one can do without. Of course, this is not to say that perfectionist aquarists like yourself can't attain that certain extra effect with a not inconsiderable investment of money and time.

This having said, I'd still keep an open mind... and if can't obtain satisfactory plt growth (my expectation has to be lower than yours!), I'll then serious consider getting a CO2 diffuser. Am I correct to presume this can be added on to the tank anytime without early planning??

This I know: I'd defintely want to grow Nymphaea rubra (red sp.) as the center piece and would get ANYTHING to grow this plt! I LOVE THIS PLT, MAN [

]

Cheers!
mike

**kingpin** · 21st Oct 2002, 15:40

Mike,

Didnt think much about the overloading of the power point. Hope the main circuit breaker trips when there is a short circuit [

].

When I first started my planted tank, I didnt have CO2 injection and base fertilizer. Just gravel and 36W lights for my 2ft. The plants I have are java fern and Anubias barteri var. nana on driftwood. Very low maintenance and the plants grow very slowly. IME, CO2 injection is a must for more demanding species of plants. If you are on a tight budget, can always DIY first. I think majority of the forumers inject their tanks with CO2, either by high pressure cylinders or sugar with yeast.

**elmike** · 22nd Oct 2002, 09:33

noted...thanks, kingpin.

cheers!
mike

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