sfk's first ever tank

[sfk7]

Hi all sifus and newbies alike,

this is my very first attempt at aquascaping and keeping small fishes.

So would like to share some pics and hopefully those in the know can advise me on what i've done right and what's wrong.

Tank: approx 600mmx300x300 of water ( 2' tank )
Lighting : 1x55W PL
Lighting Hours: approx 5hours interval

Substrate : Magic Soil
Gravel : River gravel

CO2: 1 Tablet per day
Liquid fertilisers : JBL Ferropol
Fertilization regime : Weekly half capful
Water treatment : Nutrafin Aqua cleanser

Type of Filter : Atman submerged

Water surface movement : Gentle - Caused by fan
Circulation : Gentle

Tank Temperature : Abt 26 - 27? Not measured but feels cooler than surrounding

Bioload : 50 neon tetras 4 ottos
HG, HC, US fissiden, Taiwan, mini pellia and some unknown plants

After 1 day


After 1.5 weeks


All these is possible only because my wife bought me the equipment as present and advices from 'weirong' and 'cherries lover'.

Is 50 neon tetras too much as i intend to rear shrimps too in the future when the plants are more mature?

What about my light / fert/ co2? Any signs to look out for that indicates those are imbalanced?

Please comment and any advices?

Thank you!

[Jervis]

More pix please! How long has your tank been running? And what a wonderful wife you got

[xaine]

This scaping is pretty much suitable if you were to introduce shrimps later. There is quite alot of places for them to creep and hide.
But 50 neons are a little intimidating, since you are not introducing shrimps now, they are good to have for your cycling activities.
Once the plants have grown to what you require, fertilisation should cease as it will harm the shrimps to come.

[exotic_idiot]

All these is possible only because my wife bought me the equipment as present and advices from 'weirong' and 'cherries lover'.

Hi sfk7, nice tank you have. And you really lucky to have a wife who support your hobby.

[Weirong]

Don't waste your time and money with the CO2 tablets. Either go low tech (no CO2) or go for CO2 (pressurised or DIY).

Plant heavily (you still lack plants) and skip on the ferts if you are not going for a CO2 setup.

From your sms last night, algae is already on its way.

[Jervis]

Bro are you using tap water?

[sfk7]

Thanks, think i'll give DIY CO2 a try cos the hair algae is getting abit out of hand on the fissidens

Jervis, using a day old tap water treated with the nutrafin aqua cleanser

[sfk7]

Have since given away 30 neon tetras so only left 20 in the tank with 4 otos.

Bought some more plants from NA to combat the algae problem but not intending to plant them. Just left pots and all in the tank.

Introduced one yamato to the tank but it has not taken to the new surroundings well. Always on its sides or clinging onto plants. Sad..

Gotta do WC soon and get a PH tester as advised by 'cherries lover'.

Lowered lighting duration to 8 hours a day. Contemplating DIY CO2 but just scared that it'll make things worse. Haiz. headache

[Jervis]

I saw a rather affordable CO2 complete set at a certain Balestier LFS... probably a safer choice if you are not confident in DIY. Where did you get your Yamato? I can't find it today

[sfk7]

At balestier bro, the one that don't have as much plants on sale but with much more hardware.

Tink i'll try the DIY CO2 first to kick start everything 'cos initial thought is to go low tech.

Hair algae problem is still not solved. Headache

[WaterH2O]

I also have hair algae in my 2 month plus old 3 feet tank but it is likr a bit here and there not taking over the tank. What is your situation?
I have brought 4 yamato and maybe more later to control an outbreak. I agree with Weirong the tablets does not work very well before it is not as constant as a CO2 tank. Learnt this when I put some plants in my 20 litres small tank. All my moses turn brown and then become detrius.

[sfk7]

Hair algae has infested all my moss, on driftwood n mesh. Bought 5 yamatoes but have since picked out 3 dead. Only 1 is seen actively around now.

DIY Co2 has started for a week since. Stem plants growing strong. Moss showing new lighter green shoots.

Last night started to use Excel, applied directly to the areas using a syringe with recommended dosage. Today found 2 patches of the hair algae turning white. Hope that is a good sign.

Will continue dosage tonight as per bottle although some other websites recommend 2x or 3x the dosage but i'm too worried for my fauna n flora.

Too heartache to show pics. Will show when i have conquered this algae problem.

Cheers all

[Mikex]

TInk Think algae took over simply cos because there is high light but no or irregular CO2 injection thus plant unable to utilise the nutrients.
And also like wat u what you mentioned,too little plants aso also thus excess nutrients..

If u you use DIY Co2,it might be a risk to ur your shrimps..
Shrimp are susceptible to PH changes..If u you use DIY Co2,the PH might flunctuates cos of the irregularities of the Co2 injection...Please help correct me if i am wrong..

Ur Your dosing of excel will help short term but long-term wise it is best if u you relook at ur your parameter..
also try to change 20-30% of water every 2days to see if the algae can be controlled..and nt not forgetting to wash ur your filter media..

[sfk7]

Thanks for your suggestions

Have since stopped the fertilisers and have been doing 30% WC every 3 days. CO2 is in the hope for the hairgrass to grow faster and so increase plant mass in the tank

Hope wen the plants are more mature the tank will become less maintenance.

55W for 57L tank is an overkill? Can someone help?

[dream]

57L is equivalent to 15 US Gallon. Generally for low tech setup, lighting is around 1.5 W/Gallon. For your case, it is 3.6 W/Gallon. Way too much light in my opinon.

[Mikex]

Ya..mostly they calculated based on gallons..
Think roughly 2-3wpg will be more than sufficient..

[sfk7]

Yes, planning on decreasing the wattage.

Over the weekend will give Mr Chan a visit to see how can I change the 55W PL tube to a 36W PL

Thanks to all again

[Jervis]

Yes, planning on decreasing the wattage.

Over the weekend will give Mr Chan a visit to see how can I change the 55W PL tube to a 36W PL

Thanks to all again

I beleive the 36W PL is shorter therefore not be able to give you the coverage... unless you wanna consider having 3 x 11W inside ur casing (spread evenly)... but lots of parts to buy

Actually what's the major concern with your current 55W? Promoting too much algae?

[Mikex]

i believe u you can try plant more plants and injecting Co2 at a more regular rate or reduce ur your photosnythesis timing..got to trial and error on the timing setting..

[sfk7]

An update on my tank thus far.

Changed light from 55W to 36W

Left 20 of the neon tetras, have since given 30 away to a bro

Added a pair of endlers or guppy not really sure, got it from NA

3 weeks



4 weeks



The black oyama was just placed behind the tank, haven't got the time to paste it yet.

DIY CO2 really worked wonders for the plants especially my taiwan moss as it has almost filled 5 SS meshes which originally was from only 1 mesh.

Still battling hard against hair algae though and water parameters are not suitable for shrimps yet as 5 yamatoes couldn't even last a week in my tank.

Trying to lower the PH of my tank using peat moss and looking for biohome plus for my filter.

Can anyone recommend a suitable eheim filter for my tank? 2x1x1

Thanks