Reply With QuoteNo-one can answer a single question or help in any way
I have now moved back to Singapore after a while away and thinking of how I would like to get back in to aquascaping this time. I am thinking of going more down the riparium or palaudarium route and have my plants growing out from my tank. This project will be low tech and budget as I am now going to be a student again so have a limited budget, with all the partying I am socially compelled to do.
I am thinking of purchasing an approximate 30x30x30 (cm) acrylic cube tank (25 Litres) second hand and placing it on the corner of my desk (near a window with a light coloured picture nearby to reflect indirect light). I will suspend a single red mangrove tree on a support above the sand/gravel substrate (I like a 20% medium gravel 80% fine sand mix) in the centre of the tank.
The tank will be rotated every 2 weeks (to prevent the mangrove from growing crooked) and the tree raised with the water levels every time the roots reach the substrate until sufficient root length and width is met (approximately 1.5 months). The water will be freshwater, I am unsure on this point as I don't want to purchase a salinity meter but I know mangroves will normally need to be acclimatised to adapt to freshwater (depends on my supplier anyone know of one?). Once the root structure of the tree has grown I will glue some small clumps of Christmas tree moss and maybe some crypts sparingly to the roots and add a little green below the water line.
Fauna: This tank will be unfiltered so fauna will have to be carefully chosen for low bioload and minimal disturbance to aquatic plants. I am thinking a colony of A grade CRS (Crystal reds) or CBS (Crystal blacks)with some kuhli loaches. If I get a 40-50L then perhaps temporarily home a small; clown, bristlenose or zebra plec but that is unlikely to occur.
Flow:
I am very tempted to actually cut two holes in either side of the tank and provide a very small adjustable external pump (65gl/hr pump limited at a low flow setting) to give water movement around the roots and through the tank. Inlet and outlet would be covered by mesh and womens tights to prevent the stock being sucked through.
So questions:
1. Red mangroves anyone know somewhere that can supply them?
2. Kuhli loaches which shops regularly stock them?
3. Small acrylic tank anyone got one laying around they are willing to let go for cheap? I can supply you with shrimp from my colony if you want
3. Tank modifications where's best to get it done and what do you think of the idea of modifying the tank to provide flow? I don't have a rotary tool or a drill with a hole saw so will need to pop into a workshop to get it done.
4. Can you guys keep your eyes peeled for a low flow small pump next time you go equipment browsing and pm or comment on this thread on where it is located?
No-one can answer a single question or help in any way
No idea where you can buy mangrove plants, but you could collect mangrove seedlings from around the coast of Singapore, im sorry I cannot answer where you can collect with confidence. You may seek your tank from the marketplace section.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and he will drink beer while getting sunburnt.
Pasir Ris Park have mangrove swamp but not sure if it will suitable for aquarium use though.
You can find kuhli loaches easily at LFS such as Polyart, C328 etc. In these LFS, you can also find small low flow pump.
Yeah I have trawled a few shops but none of them seem to have any FW mangrove trees. The problem with the ones around the coast is that I will then have to acclimatise them back to FW and mangroves aren't the easiest to access even with the nature trails.
What is the island that is part of Singapore but just off the coast and has loads of nature trails that people go cycling on. Have to take a small boat/ferry to get there which takes around 15 minutes.
You mean Pulau Ubin? I haven't been there for ages..
Yeop Palau Ubins the one it was in the back of my mind as either ubin or hantu. Haven't been to ubin in 4-5 years myself, guess I will have to get a group of friends and sneak off to go grab some mangrove pods
Anyone know the collection laws in Singapore for taking aquatic plants? I know in the US you can't take the trees but you can freely take the pods is it a similar ruling Singapore?
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