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[leokhanh]

here is my third tank in AQ
dimension: 130x55x60
lighting: 4x36w flourescent
filter: overflow filter
CO2: 2 bubbles/sec
substrate: hand made
plants: echinodorus tenellus, hygrophila polysperma, cabomba caroliniana, rotala macranda green, rotala macranda red, alternanthera reineckii, ammania gracilis, ludwigia inclinata var verticillata "cuba", vesicularia dubyana, taxiphllum sp, vesicularia reticulata, nympheae sp, microsorum pteropus "java fern", anubias minima
fish: paracheirodon axelrodi, pterophyllum scalare "blue"




thanks for your comments

[illumnae]

amazing tank. i love your flora and fauna

[leechaorui]

You tank is brilliant. Maybe you can be the consultant on acquarium set up for fellow bros in this forum.

[wks]

Hi leokhanh, care to share how you prepare your "hand-made substrate" and the kind of materials used?
Most of us in Singapore use commercial substrate system like ADA or GEX. It would be interesting to learn something new from you.

[Trevor]

Hand-made substrate? Hmmmm please share

[zQ.]

Made by another commercial substrate but for submersed tank right ?
But that's just a guess anyway haha

[leokhanh]

thanks for all your comments
VN is an agricultural country so we have many choices to create a substrate
this substrate has a simple formula
of course clay is the main ingredient
i mixed clay with potting soil, vermicompost, microorganic fertilizer, gravel and a little water. Then covering the substrate with 3-5cm gravel.
easy-medium plants can develope very well with this substrate
but some difficult plants such as tonina will die if not intervening
is it difficult for you to plant tonina?

[Binks]

Excellent tank! What is the average temperature? do you use a chiller?

[Jervis]

is it difficult for you to plant tonina?

I have some Toninas in my tank (2 pots) and they aren't growing as robust as the rest... some of the leaves at the bottom portion (about 1.5" from sandbed) turned yellow/brown. In my opinion not an easy plant.

I think your substrate must've done wonders to your tank... I find it rather amazing to achieve such a lush scape, especially the red stems with just 4 fluorescent tubes.

More pix please

[leokhanh]

@Binks: the average temp is about 28-30oC, i only use a computer fan
@Jervis: try dosing with micro nutrients daily, hope it saves your Toninas

especially the red stems with just 4 fluorescent tubes.

i think one of the reason is because of this special gravel

the colour looks like malaya, doesn't it ? it's quite natural
i took this gravel from a stream near my house
it contains many nutrients, especially iron
some pics:

[Verminator]

Simply stunning. I love the red tiger lotus right in the centre. Do you trim it regularly to keep it so small and compact? Others i've seen race to the surface.

[Spartan]

Wow! That's a beauty of a tank you've created there buddy
I really like the moss on the driftwood

[bryan]

So those are the blue scalare in full glory?! Very nice. Wasn't impressed with the ones at the LFS as they were discolored from stress. Now I'm regretting not getting some.

[leokhanh]

@Verminator: about 5-7 leaves per month
@Spartan: thanks
@Bryan: yeah, they're in good conditions
when they're stressed, the black stripe turns to grey but the skin still blue
they're rare about 2-3 years ago, but now we can buy them easily in Vn and the price is quite cheap

[illumnae]

I love the blue angels, after starting on altums, i'm beginning to appreciate the beauty of all forms of angelfish. previously i was fixated more on discus.

[blue33]

Previously people fail on Toninas, after ADA soil launch most of the people successfully grow Toninas as they prefer lower PH. Another way of using substrate is volcanic rocks in bottom, as they are very rich in nutrients.

[zQ.]

Only have to spend 20vnd (~1.6SGD) for one piece of blue angel,and for altum you must spend 200vnd for one,so what will you guy choose ?

[wks]

I'm simply awestruck by the blue angels! Can we find this strain of angelfish in Singapore?

[leokhanh]

after participating in a domestic contest, i changed the layout

pogostemon helferi died after 1 month .
now, i haven't grown downoi successfully yet. Can you show me your experiences?
2 months later

i felt the background is so empty so i decided to grow rotala colorata

Rotala was thick so i cut some

i sent this pic to ada contest then it is ranked 388th

[torque6]

very nice tank leo. well done. Pics shot with EOS ?