My Newbie Dymax iQ5

[qngwn]

Hey all,

Finally decided to use an iQ5 due to space and aestectic issues.
Decided to try out the iwagumi layout, so that i wont need to spend so much time maintaining it in the long run

Tank Setup

Equipment
Dymax iQ5
800g GEX Green Packet Soil
Random Rocks
Dymax ZON LED, 2.06W (Still looking for a better LED Lightset)

Plants
Elatine Triandra

1)
photo 1.jpg
2)
photo 2.jpg

Played around with the scape and finally decided on the following

photo 3.jpg


Now posting it, i guess that i should have been more patient with scaping, and let the bros here to comment so as to make it nicer. However, being impatient, i went on to plant the APP into the soil.

photo 4.jpg

The soil is not exactly very thick, but i think just enough for the grass to grow. i used only 800g for the iQ5. do you all think it will be enough?

I do not plan to grow any tall plants or what, just normal foreground creepers..


First time doing a iwagumi, so no experience on whether it will turn out nice or not with plants. I hope that it is not too late to rescape it if there are any good coments to improve the scape!

Please comment! any advice appreciated!

(sorry about my poor photography skills, any advice on improving tank photography with a camera phone will be much appreciated too )

[Darylyap]

good. the app looks abit different from the ones i saw in other posts. is it in emmersed form?

[qngwn]

Yes it is currently being grown in emmersed form..

Do you think 2cm of substrate is enough to grow them? Currently
I'm only having 2cm of soil..

[Darylyap]

in my opinion, 2 cm is a tad little... but then again wrt the aspect ratio of iq5 (being a small tank), i think i would have done the same like you.

where did you buy the app from? am hoping to get immersed form rather than emmersed (if possible).

[qngwn]

photo.jpg

Did a rescape, and topped up another 800g of Gex green pack.

now it's 2 cm at the front, with a slope towards the end, possibly around 6cm.

Please help to comment on the scape! thanks!


Daryl: i got it from Sea View. i think it was grown immersed when i bought it. am planning to do a dry start thats why growing emmersed.
Should be enough i hope?

[felix_fx2]

The front rock like not same tone as the above 2.

I can't tell where is substrate in the back.

[qngwn]

yup it's not the same colour, as i'm kinda short of rocks and budget ><

ah great good point, thanks felix, i'll go make it a slope all the way to the back (:

thanks for the comment!

[qngwn]

redo the soil again.
doing this for the 4th time! hopefully it's going to be the last time but oh wells. i'm going to do everything i can to make this effort worthwhile.

Below are some of my pictures of the tank. Up and cycling right now.

photo 2.jpg

It's 28.8C at 0100. imagine the temp in the day.
To think one of my friends asked to grow HC, knowing that one of the other forumers did it in 28C.
photo 1.jpg

[felix_fx2]

Your app looks very good, compared to the ones I saw last in seaview.
Now is already hot season, it can get worse. So long as not beyond 32D should not pose a problem for app to grow.

Btw, my hc still still grows at 28. But not very bright green. Light plays a major factor. I've got a tank outside the home filled with hc and glosso, it was in direct sunlight so it got real hot. Till my fauna all got fried. Despite that temps of 30-32d, hc and glosso still doing well.

[Darylyap]

i like the way you conceal the front rock which flexi mentioned not the same as the other 2 rocks.

your light is the default one that comes with iq5 rite? (the 26 led, got white & blue one)
this light enough for ET?

[Darylyap]

sorry, i mean felix, not flexi.

[felix_fx2]

I get the name change alot.
Auto correct is nasty

[Darylyap]

qngwn, i hijack yuor thread to do testing on posting images via imageshack

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/img0487hb.jpg/

not sure if can work or not... testing...

[Darylyap]

linker can work, but i was half hoping the image can pop up here...

[Darylyap]

no fish prawn also can... hee...

[jialuvqr]

nice IQ5! but becareful when you handle the tank, mine got scratches here and there.

[Darylyap]

no choice one... plastic tanks are prone to light scratches, unlike glass... (no matter how gentle u clean).

[qngwn]

Your app looks very good, compared to the ones I saw last in seaview.
Now is already hot season, it can get worse. So long as not beyond 32D should not pose a problem for app to grow.

Btw, my hc still still grows at 28. But not very bright green. Light plays a major factor. I've got a tank outside the home filled with hc and glosso, it was in direct sunlight so it got real hot. Till my fauna all got fried. Despite that temps of 30-32d, hc and glosso still doing well.

i justed returned home, to my horror. 31C. think my APPs are melting soon..

[qngwn]

i like the way you conceal the front rock which flexi mentioned not the same as the other 2 rocks.

your light is the default one that comes with iq5 rite? (the 26 led, got white & blue one)
this light enough for ET?

Haha thanks, wanted to create a step cliff, dont know if it will work or not. yes i'm using the stock LED, i doubt it's gonna make my plants grow. it's only 2.06watts. anyone has recommendations for the wattage for an iQ5?

nice IQ5! but becareful when you handle the tank, mine got scratches here and there.

haha yes of course. plastic tanks are easily scratched and hard to clean.. i'm trying hard to avoid GSA so i dont need to scrub my tank..

no choice one... plastic tanks are prone to light scratches, unlike glass... (no matter how gentle u clean).

yes, and they are not as clear also. dont know why they even exist haha. want to get a glass one, but due to space and aestetic cosntraints, had to get a small tank with IOS..

[qngwn]

Seems like the APP is not growing.. Need to go get some better light. But not sure to get LED or PL leh. Any recommendations?