Newbie seeking advises

[Goththug]

Hi all,

I am pretty new to this hobby and intend to set up a 2 feet low tech tank.
My tank dimensions are 60cm(L) X 30cm(W) X 36cm(H).
I presume it is around 17G?
The lighting i am intending to use will probably be 2WPG which equals to 34W?
As for the filter, i intend to buy either the Eden 501 or Ehiem 2213.
Substrate would either be ADA Aquasoil 2 powder or GEX Red
I will be using a fan to keep the temperature of the tank cool, around 26-28 in my air-conditioned room.
CO2 will be excel at most or none at all.
Fauna is not decided yet.
Flora - Mosses, US Fissidens, Nana, and probably HC (if thats possible)

To summarize,

Lighting - > 34W
Filter -> Edem 501 or Ehiem 2213
Hardscape -> Driftwoods and Rocks
Substrate -> ADA Aquasoil 2 or GEX Red
CO2 -> Excel or none
Fauna -> To be decided
Flora - Mosses, US Fissidens, Nana, HC and more to be decided

Please advise me if the set up is fine? Comments are all welcomed!

Thanks!!!

[roy]

I'm not an expert by any means so please seek further counsel.

Since I've similar set up and approach as you, I might as well inject my 2-cent worth. My tank is slightly longer, a little shorter and

narrower width wise - about 125 litre or 33 US gallon.

I suggest you have an idea of the fauna you wish to keep and build your tank around them.
Your ligthing may be enough if you don't go for plants with high light requirement.
For your choice of plants, some may say you can do without ADA Aquasoil 2, which is what I use as well. I plant similiar plants and I use Aquasoil2 because it is suppose to make water soft and slightly acidic, which would go well with my south american community fishes.
I've the Eden 501 to complement my primary internal filter rated for 400 lph. I like to have failsafe and backup in case my filter failed and fishes are not jeopardised. For your tank, best to go for a filter that cycle your tank water 3 to 4 times an hour so you might want to consider 2 X Eden 501 or an Eheim 2213 might be a safer bet. My math is bad. I reckon the Eden just barely meets your tank filtration requirement. Btw, Yours might be more than 17 gallon.

Do note that I've mixed results with Eden 501 when placed below the tank. I was told it's best to place it on same level as tank or mount it on side of tank. I can't find the mounting bracket for the Eden. So, something to consider depending on your configuration. I had an 2213 and there was no problem when placed below tank.

Good luck!

[Goththug]

I'm not an expert by any means so please seek further counsel.

Since I've similar set up and approach as you, I might as well inject my 2-cent worth. My tank is slightly longer, a little shorter and

narrower width wise - about 125 litre or 33 US gallon.

I suggest you have an idea of the fauna you wish to keep and build your tank around them.
Your ligthing may be enough if you don't go for plants with high light requirement.
For your choice of plants, some may say you can do without ADA Aquasoil 2, which is what I use as well. I plant similiar plants and I use Aquasoil2 because it is suppose to make water soft and slightly acidic, which would go well with my south american community fishes.
I've the Eden 501 to complement my primary internal filter rated for 400 lph. I like to have failsafe and backup in case my filter failed and fishes are not jeopardised. For your tank, best to go for a filter that cycle your tank water 3 to 4 times an hour so you might want to consider 2 X Eden 501 or an Eheim 2213 might be a safer bet. My math is bad. I reckon the Eden just barely meets your tank filtration requirement. Btw, Yours might be more than 17 gallon.

Do note that I've mixed results with Eden 501 when placed below the tank. I was told it's best to place it on same level as tank or mount it on side of tank. I can't find the mounting bracket for the Eden. So, something to consider depending on your configuration. I had an 2213 and there was no problem when placed below tank.

Good luck!

Hi Roy,

Thanks for your comments. After reading through, i think i might be going with the Ehiem 2213 (any ideas how much does this cost and where is the best place i can get it from?).
As for the substrate, i think i might just use ADA Aquasoil 2 to make sure the water is soft and acidic enough.
Fauna wise, i will most probably go with Boraras urophthalmoides, neon cardinals, cherry shrimps and OTOs for now.

Thanks once again for your recommendations and comments.

Any other comments from the others?

Thanks!

[roy]

Sorry, I don't know about best price. You can try Polyart or C328 (Clementi Florist & Aquarium) in the western area.. Both have websites and reasonable based on my experience.

[JizzHut]

maybe u can try getting 2nd from the marketplace =) but gotta wait

[surface1030]

popular places like Y618 and NA if u stay north area

[Shadow]

The closed to your light is 36W, I think.
For filter, go for 2213 eden 501 not power full enough for 2ft tank.
For soil, no need powder type which is much more expensive. Get the normal size and sprinkle a bit of powder type on top for better grip if you want.

[Goththug]

Thanks all for the replies!

The closed to your light is 36W, I think.
For filter, go for 2213 eden 501 not power full enough for 2ft tank.
For soil, no need powder type which is much more expensive. Get the normal size and sprinkle a bit of powder type on top for better grip if you want.

hi bro shadow,
I was wondering if i should get lapis sand instead taking into consideration that i will be using mostly mosses and non-rooting plants. What's your recommendation?

[Shadow]

On your first post, you want to plant HC. I do see people grow HC in lapis sand but my experience using both type of substrate, soil is much easier. However, if you change mind and forget about HC, then lapis sand is OK for mosses and other non rooting plants.

[Goththug]

On your first post, you want to plant HC. I do see people grow HC in lapis sand but my experience using both type of substrate, soil is much easier. However, if you change mind and forget about HC, then lapis sand is OK for mosses and other non rooting plants.

hi shadow,

it nearly slipped my mind that i intended on HC. I think one of the main reasons is that this is going to be a low tech tank, i'm afraid that the HC will not be able to flourish without any carbon supplement considering that there will be other plants in there to compete CO2 with it.

I have chose to go with lapis sand because of budget considerations for a low tech tank. But i'm still open to comments and suggestions. =)

[Shadow]

I never try to grow HC with Excel alone, so I can't comment on that. But I do grow HC with 36W PL light. Other may have better experience.

[Goththug]

I never try to grow HC with Excel alone, so I can't comment on that. But I do grow HC with 36W PL light. Other may have better experience.

I have read on another forum where d.wastland actually planted HC using the DSM, and flooded the tank without adding any CO2. Her findings were that the HC actually took in very low levels of CO2, therefore even without any CO2 supplementation, the HC thrived. That tank had only HC in it and no other plants to compete for CO2, therefore the amount of CO2 in the tank is sufficient for the HC.

I am trying to straighten out my thoughts now and re-think what i really want this low tech tank to look like. Currently i'm leaning more towards the look and feel of an amazon river feel. There are just too many things in my head now, and i think i will re-look at the selection of my floras all over again and probably come up with a sketch.

Anyway, i read your blog and all i can say is, it is truly inspirational! Love your scapes! I wonder how long before i can reach your level!

[Shadow]

Cool, nice info. I guess it is possible if you look at their size. Plant size should be proportional to the amount of nutrient they take.

You already have a theme which is a good start. What you need to do now is search internet on Amazon picture. From there you should be able to get lots of inspiration.

My level actually isn't that high , I'm lacking of art sense

[Goththug]

Cool, nice info. I guess it is possible if you look at their size. Plant size should be proportional to the amount of nutrient they take.

You already have a theme which is a good start. What you need to do now is search internet on Amazon picture. From there you should be able to get lots of inspiration.

My level actually isn't that high , I'm lacking of art sense

Yes, that's what i was about to do next. Like what you call, Uncle Google. =)

Your level is already very high to me, and i thank you for giving me your guidance.
Hopefully i will finalize my choice of plants and sketch out the scape soon!
Thanks a lot!

[Blaze88]

Hey,
Having a familiar moment here, your tank setup is exactly like mine when I set it up a year ago, along with the plants and fauna.

Haha, For your information, I DID manage to grow HC in my tank (Fan blown, No-CO2, Excel Dose) Since your room is AC, you mite even have a better environment. Mine was in by the window =P

However I went back to Malaysia for a month and wasnt around to maintain the tank properly, that was when my HC decided to go mass suicide. They were wiped out.

Here is a pic of it before they died.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...2/dsc01263.jpg
I did use DIY CO2 for awhile but just gave up on it since they seem to be doing fine without it.

Other aspects of my tank:

Size: 60cmX29cmX33cm
Lighting: 2x24Watt
Gravel:ADA Aquasoil II + PowerSand
CO2: DIY with DIY Internal Reactor
Cooling System: None/wind from window
Temp:28-30
PH: Not sure, ph paper says 5-6
Filter: EDEN 501
Fertilizers: Excel and JBL Ferropol

My advice from my experience are,
Eden 501 is just SUFFICIENT for a low fauna 2ft tank, and you require frequent cleaning to maintain the flowrate.
So scrap the idea for Eden 501, Go for the Eheim 2213 if you could afford it,

Otherwise you could get the Shiruba XB303, Im currently using this filter after i killed my eden 501 (bad maintainance) and its working better then i expected =D
Much easier to maintain compared to the eden 501 and is extremely silent, price is only slightly more expensive then the eden 501.
XB303 : http://n30.com.sg/external-filter-pu...03-360l-h.html

Im rescaping my tank currently and will be planting HC in them again.

Here is a link to my previous(or current? same stuff just rescaping) project, maybe you could learn something from it.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ht=#post492412

Feel free to message me to discuss on stuff, i felt kinship due to the similarity of our setup =P

[Goththug]

Hey,
Having a familiar moment here, your tank setup is exactly like mine when I set it up a year ago, along with the plants and fauna.

Haha, For your information, I DID manage to grow HC in my tank (Fan blown, No-CO2, Excel Dose) Since your room is AC, you mite even have a better environment. Mine was in by the window =P

However I went back to Malaysia for a month and wasnt around to maintain the tank properly, that was when my HC decided to go mass suicide. They were wiped out.

Here is a pic of it before they died.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/galle...2/dsc01263.jpg
I did use DIY CO2 for awhile but just gave up on it since they seem to be doing fine without it.

Other aspects of my tank:

Size: 60cmX29cmX33cm
Lighting: 2x24Watt
Gravel:ADA Aquasoil II + PowerSand
CO2: DIY with DIY Internal Reactor
Cooling System: None/wind from window
Temp:28-30
PH: Not sure, ph paper says 5-6
Filter: EDEN 501
Fertilizers: Excel and JBL Ferropol

My advice from my experience are,
Eden 501 is just SUFFICIENT for a low fauna 2ft tank, and you require frequent cleaning to maintain the flowrate.
So scrap the idea for Eden 501, Go for the Eheim 2213 if you could afford it,

Otherwise you could get the Shiruba XB303, Im currently using this filter after i killed my eden 501 (bad maintainance) and its working better then i expected =D
Much easier to maintain compared to the eden 501 and is extremely silent, price is only slightly more expensive then the eden 501.
XB303 : http://n30.com.sg/external-filter-pu...03-360l-h.html

Im rescaping my tank currently and will be planting HC in them again.

Here is a link to my previous(or current? same stuff just rescaping) project, maybe you could learn something from it.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ht=#post492412

Feel free to message me to discuss on stuff, i felt kinship due to the similarity of our setup =P

Thanks bro Blaze88 for sharing your experience! It surely is helpful! Been busy the past few days and did not have time to do much research and planning for my tank.
Hopefully by this week i can come up the arrangement of the hardscape and a rough sketch of how i want to layout my tank with the floras.
I will post some pictures if possible.

Cheers and thanks to all the bros who have given me advise!

[Goththug]

Hi all,

Just an update on the hardscape.
I have tried placing the driftwoods that i have in the following patterns as shown in the thumbnail.
Will be sourcing for dragon stones once i have confirmed the layout of my driftwoods.

Photo Nov 01, 1 13 18 AM.jpg

Photo Nov 01, 1 16 30 AM.jpg

Photo Nov 01, 1 18 22 AM.jpg

What do you guys think?
All comments are welcomed!
Cheers!

[Shadow]

too early to tell but I like the second one, I guess.

[Goththug]

too early to tell but I like the second one, I guess.

hi robert,

yeah, im leaning more towards the second one too. but i might be getting another drftwood to fill up some space on the right too.

[Blaze88]

Hmm, i like the second one it has a nice arch, as for adding more driftwood on the right .. it may get too crowded, but i guess that depends on what kinda scape your looking for