My 1st Planted 31g Tank Journal

[Numbskull]

Hi all,

i had been keeping shrimps for the past 2 years and recently had to give up my hobby as my interest is leaning more to planted tank now. See how many bros here had such nice scape, hands are getting itchy. Sold off quite a few items before hand to fund my new tank + red packets this year. As such managed to get a new tank from Weeyang bro (N30) + cabinet. Pass my old tank 2x1x1.5ft tank (N30 tank as well) to one of my friend. This is going to be my first journal so do give me some guidance

Due to space constraints in my room, the diamension of my tank is a bit weird.

Tank specs - 55cm(L) x 60cm (W) x 40cm (H) 8mm thickness. As you can see, I left with no/little space from my cabinet to the wall on the left. Right of my cabinet touches my desktop table.

tank.GIF

a pic of what is inside my cabinet. co2 tank + filter and accessories

cab.GIF

above top view.

tank1.GIF

thickness of tank 8mm. Why i prefer custom made tank is the silicon and the glass is way much better (of course still can't compared to ADA tank, but will not lose out).

tank2.GIF


Much of the equipments are from old setup.

Aquazonic 4x24w T5HO
Eheim 2226
5L co2 tank

Planning to go on simple Iwagumi Setup. Lawn will be using HC. Still thinking what would be my background plants. Googling for pictures give me some ideas, Red rotala/hydrocotyle verticillata/Echinodorus tenellus (dwarf version). And i saw from some forums that Echinodorus tenellus tends to turn pinkish/red given the right conditions and high lights. Any bro can give me better suggestions for my background plants?


Tomorow will be going to source for rocks (either Kurokinryu/Black larva rock). Heard that GC brought in lots of Black Larva Rock 2 weeks ago. Might be checking that out. And i broke my GUSH inlet/outlet lily pipe this afternoon when transferring to my cabinet .


Do bare with me as i would like to go slow on my tank. Do not want to make mistakes where i would need to tear it down and rescape the whole tank again.

[uorme99]

Congrats! Looking forward to see your setup

[mincedmeat]

IMHO, I had always thought that Iwagumi setups are pretty simplistic in nature and there really isn't much contrast of colours, but more so of depth and height being used to get the right focal point. I might be wrong here though, but taking it slow is a good thing. My only gripe with this set up is that you have got no space to move around the tank. Give yourself some space on the width of the tank for you to make adjustments, and as well as admire your scape from a different angle. Then again, space isn't exactly what Singapore is known for.

Can't wait to see what you have installed for the tank!

[Shadow]

Welcome to the Aquascaping side of the hobby

If you haven't done so, read more about iwagumi, main rock, supporting rocks, etc before you get your own rocks.

[Peanut8787]

What soil do you intend to use, base substrate etc? How would you like to plant your hc, dsm or flood?

A very simply reminder, always use the same kinda rock for the whole scape. Ie; dragon rock then all shall be dragon rock, do not mix them it will look awful.

[Numbskull]

Congrats! Looking forward to see your setup

Thanks!! I cant wait to get started as well!!

IMHO, I had always thought that Iwagumi setups are pretty simplistic in nature and there really isn't much contrast of colours, but more so of depth and height being used to get the right focal point. I might be wrong here though, but taking it slow is a good thing. My only gripe with this set up is that you have got no space to move around the tank. Give yourself some space on the width of the tank for you to make adjustments, and as well as admire your scape from a different angle. Then again, space isn't exactly what Singapore is known for.

Can't wait to see what you have installed for the tank!

Yup. I agree with you, but i would like to test out some mid height background plants. Maybe i shouldn't call it an Iwagumi setup. A rockscape maybe??

Definitely would like to have more space (maybe a 3ft tank would be nice) but could not get approval . Thats the reason i passed on my previous tank and went for more width to play around.

Welcome to the Aquascaping side of the hobby

If you haven't done so, read more about iwagumi, main rock, supporting rocks, etc before you get your own rocks.

Thanks Shadow bro!! Mostly like i woould throw away the "golden ratio" rules, but definitely there would be a main rock followed by supporting rocks and some baby rocks. I had browsed through other forums alot. And its your thread and Alvin bro thread which got me hooked!! btw, i need some guidance from you, pm you for some advise.

What soil do you intend to use, base substrate etc? How would you like to plant your hc, dsm or flood?

A very simply reminder, always use the same kinda rock for the whole scape. Ie; dragon rock then all shall be dragon rock, do not mix them it will look awful.

Hi Peanut Bro. Will be going ADA Ama II with Power Sand S as by substrate. I have no luck with DSM. Tried twice when i was keeping shrimps and both tries, my HC died on me and melted within 3 days. No runners spotted for 1-2 weeks. Give up and my 3rd try, its a hit and run thing. Planted in and flood the tank immediately (shrimp tank). within 5 days, i can see runners around. So i guess this time i will use submersed form. Yeah definitely no mixing of rocks for me. But i guess i will stick to Kurokinryu since easier to spot the rocks at LFS.

[Numbskull]

Today went down to Green Chapter (wet from the rain). a bit disappointed as i was hoping i could find nice and big Black Larva rocks. Happens all the larva rocks are around 5x5cm, but when i went to behind the counter spotted quite a lot of huge rocks on floor (a whole stretch of them). Quite a few of them with attitude, but main thing is they have no stock on GUSH inlet pipe and lily pipe. Thus, decided not to purchase the rock first and headed down to Y618 to purchase my light tubes.

Understand from another thread on asking about red and blue spectrum from light tubes. 6.5k gives out red spectrums(?) which promotes growth and anything more than 8k invites algae. Previously my T5HOx4 are 10k and my tank is always invaded with green slime algae coming up from my substrate. Despite numerous attempts and tearing down and restart the tank, they always come back. Y618 uncle also agree that 6.5k is the best for planted tank. Bought 3 tubes (the last 3 tubes left) and tested all are running fine.


Odyssea T5HO 24w 6.5k

light.GIF


You can compared the brightness between 10k(1st tube from the top) and 6.5k(2nd tube). 6.5k is more natural like daylight brightness. (Might not be clear but i can really see the difference)

light1.GIF

Hopefully any algae issues will be present in this upcoming tank.

[limz_777]

a good start , y618 have ans brand lily pipe if you are not particular about brands

[Numbskull]

a good start , y618 have ans brand lily pipe if you are not particular about brands

Didnt notice about that when i drop by yesterday. Will check it out again.

[cherabin]

I read that you mentioned 'Echinodorus tenellus (dwarf version)' in your first post. Is there really such a variant?

[Numbskull]

I read that you mentioned 'Echinodorus tenellus (dwarf version)' in your first post. Is there really such a variant?

Hi Cherabin. Yes i believed so. Spotted at y618 and from mizuworld there is such plant.

[Numbskull]

Just a small update. Went down GC a few days ago and flipped all the big rocks around and finally spotted a rock to be my main rock with 2 supporting rocks from Mizuworld. Figured out a few positions of the rock and i guess this would be the final placement. Will be getting another 2 smaller rocks to fill up the middle section and left front section. So basically my right side would be bare. Will be trying to make an impression that the rocks are from coming from top left spreading down to bottom left and mid/upper right.

New Image.GIF

The left rock needs to support and tilt my main rock as the main rock is slanting down if its put flat on its base, thus unable to reveal its beautiful side.

If anyone can give me some better position of the rock, i do welcome criticism and advise.

[felix_fx2]

better you gauge with substrate filled. more angles you can actually turn the rock around... a rock is rigid you can only turn it where it lets you stand on the egg crates.
Having substrate is more flexible, learnt that when i joined a event by AQ.

IMHO, you also need more rocks like me.. i humbly invite you for rock flipping session with me tomorrow@GC

trying to do a flipped version of the attached?

[Numbskull]

better you gauge with substrate filled. more angles you can actually turn the rock around... a rock is rigid you can only turn it where it lets you stand on the egg crates.
Having substrate is more flexible, learnt that when i joined a event by AQ.

IMHO, you also need more rocks like me.. i humbly invite you for rock flipping session with me tomorrow@GC

trying to do a flipped version of the attached?

Thanks for your opinion. And yes like u mentioned u had already have an idea which part of the rock will be covered by the subtrate and from the photo the most outstanding shape of the rock is facing me.

I would love to join you if i'm not working tomorrow.

If i'm going to do a rockscape like the one in the picture, i'm gonna go broke soon! And i can guess where your idea of your scape is coming from

[felix_fx2]

Thanks for your opinion. And yes like u mentioned u had already have an idea which part of the rock will be covered by the subtrate and from the photo the most outstanding shape of the rock is facing me.

I would love to join you if i'm not working tomorrow.

If i'm going to do a rockscape like the one in the picture, i'm gonna go broke soon! And i can guess where your idea of your scape is coming from

Why you working will I be flipping rocks alone?

A fellow member thou new, said something to me worth mentioning. Search high and low for nice rocks takes a long time. Buying average looking bunch from a batch will assure you their likely to be of same tone. That was in responds to my "not same color rocks lol" and it's rather true.

Yup I was trying to mimic some natural scene. But I failed badly haha. Still making a rock pile at home to do the next one and pocket is complaining.

[Numbskull]

Why you working will I be flipping rocks alone?

A fellow member thou new, said something to me worth mentioning. Search high and low for nice rocks takes a long time. Buying average looking bunch from a batch will assure you their likely to be of same tone. That was in responds to my "not same color rocks lol" and it's rather true.

Yup I was trying to mimic some natural scene. But I failed badly haha. Still making a rock pile at home to do the next one and pocket is complaining.

Sorry bro. Guess you had a good time flipping the rocks at GC on Sat???

I went down GC (took a half day leave from work, hands getting itchy snydrome) and stuck there for 1 hour flipping rocks and talking to Ronnie. In the end, chose some smaller rocks and current layout will be something like this.



The smaller rocks in the front will be put on top of substrate so they can be seen.

Talk to Ronnie about his rock tank and i find his rotala very nice. Rams and neon tetra compliment the scape.

[Numbskull]

Just managed to filled up the tank.


ADA Power Sand Special S x1, Power Sand S x1 and ADA Amazonia 9L x1.


Base of Substrate with Power Sand Special S and Power Sand S. Sprinkle some amount of ADA Super Clear, ADA Bacter 100 and ADA Tourmaline BC. Left over half a bottle of Mosura Old Sea Mud Powder from previous Shrimp setup and used up all as well.



Front view of tank after Aqua soil had pour in.




Soil not thick enough. Slope at the back is not what i had expected. Will drop by Y618 and buy another half packet as well as order the plant as well.

[felix_fx2]

Hi numbskull,

Should buy a full packet. I rather have excess then head out to buy another half pack.

[Numbskull]

Hi numbskull,

Should buy a full packet. I rather have excess then head out to buy another half pack.

Hm maybe your right. Any idea should I top with Amazonia powder or just the normal one?

[subxero]

I find that Amazonia powder is better for planting foreground plants such as glosso or HC. The substrate fills in nicely after you retract your tweezers after planting.