New In Aquascaping

[Alex1979]

Dear all,

I had been keeping shrimps for coming a year and recently had done a few water change as the water had become more and more cloudy.

Now i want to redo my whole tank and wanted to start doing some aquascaping. But i not sure wat to get for the soil and filter etc.

Do you guy know any place or any one can give simple step by step advise to getting all the item and design?

I stay in the east.

[Shadow]

check this out:
http://www.adana.co.jp/_e_howto/

[Alex1979]

Hi Shadow,

Thank for the link,

By the way, you know any shops that sell aquascapping equipment and plants ?

BR

[Shadow]

C328 (Clementi), NA (opposite Thomson medical center), colorful (opposite Thomson medical center) and many others. It just happen that these three are the one that I visit most

[Alex1979]

Dear Shadow,

thank.. Went over to colour today and purchase most item.. going to start make scapping it.

Took one photo of the intial first look trial look.

Pls kindly advise if i doing any thing wrong or thing to improve it.

[Navanod]

I'm also learning as I go along and here's my 2 cents

1. A higher slope will give a better sense of depth and more "3D"
2. Odd number of rocks looks more pleasing and natural to the human eyes so maybe adding a 3rd rock next to the main one can improve the look?

I really liked the uniquely shaped rock you have...like a chalice with green bubbling wine

[Shadow]

you should plant more, it will help you battle the algae if any.

What is your light wattage? tank dimension? CO2 injection? substrate brand?

[Alex1979]

Hi Navanod,

Where should the slope be?

The centre slope or slope from front to back.

Hmm, i will try get a smaller rock another day.

Hi Shadow,

Will be planting more but the shopkeeper at colour told me not to plant any first. let the water settle down first.

I using Aqua Basic plus as base layer then fill it with amazonia II.

I had not bought the light yet but the uncle told me to get a 11watt one.

Tank dimension is cm - 60x30x35.

Have not get CO2 yet.. Kinda expensive to get one.. coming $100 plus for a auto gage one...

I redo abit on my tank again.. added a small path. The two end corner, i'm going to get more plant to cover it. but not sure wat plant to get.

Pls kindly feel free to point out any error.
Sorry for the poor photo.

Btw can i put some cherry shrimp in there?

[Shadow]

Slope from front to back, for example 2 inches at front and 5inches at the back

11W for 2ft tank is way to low, aim for 1.5-2 watt per gallon since you did not inject CO2. That translated to around 24W-36W

You don't actually need Aqua Basic plus

Normally you plant everything before you fully fill your tank. Otherwise every time you want to plant, you will disturb the soil and cloudy the water. another reason is plant will take the ammonia that leach out from soil, that will help preventing/reduce algae grow

[jiajuen900]

Also note that co2 not a must, if you DO NOT intend to inject co2 1.5 to 2 wpg of light

If you DO intend to inject co2 (high tech set up) would be >3 wpg.

Co2 boost plant growth and it is easier to grow plants in especially more demanding plants like
HC and HG

Can see that you are going for path/canyon look. Can add more rock of similiar kind in the back and grow moss on some.

Better to plant heavily from the start

A tip: if you ever feel like changing your filter, a HOB or Canister filter would be much better than internal filter. Also can add ceramic rings or biohome to provide more surface area for bacteria to grow.

[Alex1979]

Hi Shadow,

Thanks. I read from the net that we should plant first but he uncle keep advise me not to plant any at all. So i was quite confused when buying the plants. I guess i had to redo abit to make the slope up.

I will go look for the lighting and plant this weekend.

Hi jiajuen,

Thank.

Canister filter will be too costly. I guess i might go get a HOB filter. Any recommendation for a good HOB Filter?

By the way HG is Hair grass right ? wat is Hc

[Shadow]

HC = Heminatus calitrichoides
It is a creeping plant with tiny leaf.

[Alex1979]

Hello...

Abit of update.

Had bought a chunk of plant from rainbow at serangoon.. Most of it selling at $1 per pot..

Also redo the slope and planted all the plant.

Photo taken not very nice cos dont have any lighting yet.

By the way, had not get the lighting cos every LFS owner tell me different thing about lighting until i blur...

Any idea wat brand of lighting is considering good.

[jiajuen900]

actually.... I would reccomend you do you own research on AQ and on the internet. Usually the old chinese speaking uncle dont really understand the concept (no offence to the auntie and uncle) which lead to them saying different things.

In my opinion reliable advice would be from NA, Y618 and Biotope. (Biotope, i reccomend for more accurate advice, can talk to Victor or Mr Thio).

Any brand will be fine, as long as you get 1.5 - 2 wpg for low tech and >3wpg for high tech. Also try to get a light with the desirable spectrum which would be 6500 - 9600K

[Alex1979]

Hi jiajuen900,

Went over to check the website for biotope and they put the address at AMK but sad to say they had shifted.

In the end went over to Yishun blk 618 to get all the stuff.. The owner is very helpful and give quite good service and advise.

Here a picture of my 2 ft tank and 1ft tank



Hope the plants will grow.

BR
Alex

[jiajuen900]

just to let you know there is a fish shop directory in the forum

[Alex1979]

Hi All,

My plants had manage to grow. Infact a few of them growin so fast i had to trim them... Also added in CRS and cherry shrimp in.. Hope everything grow well.

By the way, any one have any idea how to remove the layer of oil on the surface of the water?

It is harmful?

Attahced latest photo.

[Alex1979]

Latest photo.

[jiajuen900]

great job

But i think it would be nicer if you just had E.tenullus only as a foregrouns plant instead of glosso. It is easier to grow and i feel suites your tank better

[bluebubbles]

Latest photo.

Nice tank. I would have taken away the middle white rocks to create the spacious feelings in the middle path and watch the shrimps moving on plain land flanked by two heavy forest. Watch your plants carefully, those not doing well better take out immediately and read up books on which suitable plants to grow while maintaining the existing concept. Otherwise you will have headache thinking too much. You can plants as much as you want at the background with tall plants but always keep the foreground bare - for eye soothing effect and bird eyes view of fishes or shrimps moving about without being obstructed by too many plants in front. My two-cents worth of opinion.