tflow@Journay of first 2ft planted/crs tank

**tflow** · 6th Dec 2009, 13:32

Hi,

Just sharing a recent 2ft setup (first high-tech planted tank). Suggestions are comments are welcome.

Specification:
Tank : MizuCube-60P (60x30x38cm)
Filtration : Eheim-Pro 2222
Lighting : 4x24W Aquazonic T5HO
Substrate : ADA Amazonia Type II (Normal+Powder), 5-Powder Base, Power Sand Special S, Forest Xingu Sand
Chiller : Hailea 100-A (HP: 1/20)
CO2 : 2L (ard 1-2 bps)

1. Water leakage test (Lucky that i did this, as a minor leakage was observed at the bottom left corner, when i filled up to 85-90%. Used sealant to fix it)
Attachment 15908

2. Setup of partition layout using card board
Attachment 15909

3. Added Power Sand Special
Attachment 15910

4. Added the base-powder
Attachment 15911

5. Filled up with AquaSoil + Xingu forest sand
Attachment 15912

**tflow** · 6th Dec 2009, 13:38

6. Start planting
- Japanese Hairgrass
- Byxn Japonica
- Spiky moss (tied to main driftwood on left)
- Some background plants (sorry but dont really know its name

)
Attachment 15913 Attachment 15914 Attachment 15915

7. Filled up with water (aged tap water w/o conditioner)
Attachment 15916

8. Added a temporary 2ft T5HO (from my previous marine tank)
Attachment 15917

**tflow** · 6th Dec 2009, 13:50

9. Heroes behind the scene (Filter + CO2 + External reactor + Fan (temp))
Attachment 15918 Attachment 15919 Attachment 15920

10. Added Seachem PH reader + ANS drop-checker
Attachment 15922

Question: The drop-checker colour doesn't change at all over times, and some foamy white staff normally appears at the bottom of it. End up i "decom" it after 3weeks. Any advice on its proper usage (eg: other reagent to use? how other does the reagent need to be replace?)

11. Front-view after the setup
Attachment 15921

**tflow** · 6th Dec 2009, 13:57

12. A side view & 45deg view (Added US fissiden + a red background plant)
Attachment 15923 Attachment 15924

**ciaossu** · 6th Dec 2009, 15:08

wow nice setup. keep us updated

**lvp4ever** · 6th Dec 2009, 16:35

Salute you for your effort, man...

**Shadow** · 6th Dec 2009, 17:17

For drop checker, you need to mix the solution with kH = 4 solution. Though some brand do come up with all in one solution, i.e. no need to mix with kH = 4

**tflow** · 6th Dec 2009, 21:06

ciaossu, lvp4ever: thanks for the appreciation

shadow: any idea whether the ANS solution contain KH=4? If not where can i get it? Also how often does the solution need to be changed? Thanks in advance for the advice.

Just realised i have hit the upper limit of my attachment (around 1MB)

so cant post other photos. Anyway here the condition of the tank after 1 month (quite satisfied with the fanua growth, especially the jap hairgrass):
Attachment 15946

Things done during the 1 month:
1. Added Hailea Chiller 100-A (set as 26deg, but my external thermometer shows 24deg, office hour normally dont kick-in due to air-con)
2. Replaced the temporary T5HO which i previously use for my marine. Changed it to AquaZonic T5HO 4x24W (3xwhite tube <12K>, 1xpink <10K>)
3. Added mini nana (near my Seriyu stones on the right of the tank)
4. Added 5xYamato, 6xOtto to help with algae.
5. Added 15xCRS (S,SS which i got from Bro Silane.

)

Maintenance tasks
1. Minor water change (every 1-2days, about 5%)
2. Water change every week (around 15%)
3. Dosing of Seachem Excel, Flourish, Potassium
4. Manual removal of algae (especially hair algae is booming like mad

)
5. Occasional trimming of hairgrass & spiky moss.

Cheers

**Shadow** · 6th Dec 2009, 23:52

I don't think ANS solution premixed with KH=4. The only brand I know that use it is Dennerle and CAL. But you should be able to buy the solution from this 2 brands. Alternatively, if you happen to have KH test kit, make your own KH=4 solution. You just need distiled water and baking soda.

how often to change? not sure. I normaly take it out from the tank, leave it for an hour and the color should change to blue. If not then I change the solution.

ACtually you need drop checker only during the initial stage after setting up the CO2. You do not need it once you got the right bubble count.

**Lala~** · 14th Dec 2009, 16:26

Quite a nice scape, And the water is very clear.

**rent_broker** · 14th Dec 2009, 17:45

Great effort there. Nice and neat setup.

**tflow** · 14th Dec 2009, 22:09

Shadow: Thanks for the advise in the KH4 solution.

Lala~ : Thanks. Yup the water is very clear, until algae boom recently. Busy fighting off the hair algae, and those green spot algae on the glass surface.

rent_broker: Glad that you like the scape.

Will take some more photos this weekend and provide a update (hopefully show some result in the algae war

)

**tflow** · 20th Dec 2009, 22:14

Hi, some updates on the tank:

Crystal Red Shrimps (CRS)
Attachment 16128
Attachment 16129
Attachment 16130

Full Tank Shot @ 22-Dec (ard 7-8weeks)
Attachment 16131