Flowerhfanatic's newbie setup

[hii]

thanks blue, i will see how this tank progress, if plants wither i will reset, and restart the tank plants alone cost me alot here


i guess i should throw away those recycled ADA soil too as they have become powdery...

most likely will be contemplating whether to get new ADA soil or just simple lapis with fertilizers.....

No need to throw away old ADA soil, what i see from you pic the soil is still good. If you restart the tank, you will still get the same result. Why bother to waste time and $$.

You can try to do 100% water change and stop the filter. Wash the media inside and do not connect it back. Monitor your water on the 2nd day and see if condition getting better, else do water change again.

My experience tell me no need to change water more than 3x.

[Binks]

Flowerh, it may be an algae bloom. this can happen in new tanks. Initial blooms go away after sometime as the plants take root. Why don't you run the filter and see for a week? Do not make any changes for a while.

Try and keep the set up simple, don't use the skimmer, its really not necessary.Filter and CO2 is enough. You don't have to dose any fertilizers for couple of weeks.

Haven't used a skimmer in a planted tank (I used them only in Reef Aquariums) ever since I started this hobby 15 years ago, and my plants have not suffered for it.

The other reason and most likely would be the ADA soil. I quote from their new Singapore site:
"Aqua Soil Amazonia has been used by many planted aquarium hobbyists around the world as a base substrate for growing aquatic plants. Aqua Soil Amazonia is produced from black soil with rich organic substances, mimicking the rich soil in the Amazons; improving plant growth.
But, in the alkaline base water*, there are reports of water colouring due to possible seepages of organic substance such as humic acid into the water."

Aha! So just do a water change, should be simple. Or run the filter with some activated charcoal in one of the chambers (less reccommended as it takes up needed nutrients for the plants)

[Flowerhfanatic]

thanks blue, hii and binks.. you guys are really helpful, i will leave the setup alone and hopefully when i am back on tuesday, water will be crystal clear... meanwhile, i will just change water...

sure joseph, will update once water is clear..... hopefully....

[ct13]

milky water are mostly cost by bacteria bloom, greenish water algae boom due to high nutrient which plants cannot absorb fast enough.

Just stop all fert, add in active carbon and the water will clear in few days time.

Hope this help.

[David Moses Heng]

thanks blue, i will see how this tank progress, if plants wither i will reset, and restart the tank plants alone cost me alot here


i guess i should throw away those recycled ADA soil too as they have become powdery...

most likely will be contemplating whether to get new ADA soil or just simple lapis with fertilizers.....

Try using potting soil. I realise that crypts grow rather well in potting soil as compared to GEX and/or ADA.

[cheetf]

Try using potting soil. I realise that crypts grow rather well in potting soil as compared to GEX and/or ADA.

Sorry but I think this is not so good a newbie recommendation. Might be more trouble.

[blue33]

Sorry but I think this is not so good a newbie recommendation. Might be more trouble.

Agree! It will lead to more algae boom for newbie if not control well.

[Flowerhfanatic]

Thanks ct13, altum lover, cheetf and blue for your inputs. Guess I have to agree, as a newbie should not drive a Ferrari before he can handle his humble car well first… might lead to more ‘accidents’

[Verminator]

I still think attempting a 3ft planted tank from the off is a challenge! A 1ft cube or 2ft tank would be far more manageable to start with.

Speaking from experience my first tank was a 3ft, and for the last 3 years its repeatedly been a bodge job of all sorts of mishaps. I'm currnently looking into getting a 2ft to try a serious planted tank. Well, serious to a certain extent Still a learning curve.

[blue33]

I still think attempting a 3ft planted tank from the off is a challenge! A 1ft cube or 2ft tank would be far more manageable to start with.

Speaking from experience my first tank was a 3ft, and for the last 3 years its repeatedly been a bodge job of all sorts of mishaps. I'm currnently looking into getting a 2ft to try a serious planted tank. Well, serious to a certain extent Still a learning curve.

Actually small tank is not as easy as the big tank, any result affected is really instantly, 3ft tank is actually the most ideal tank. But small tank you can deal it quick.

[Jervis]

Gonna be 4 days tomorrow... hopefully we don't see pix of any disaster Whatever it is... stay positive

[Flowerhfanatic]

Gonna be 4 days tomorrow... hopefully we don't see pix of any disaster Whatever it is... stay positive

dont think i can meet the deadline haha! water is still cloudy and hopefully able to update next week but i am prepared for the worst. but guess the mistake is i was too eager to plant when the tank, cannister were not fully cycled.. no worries have been positive all these while...

[blue33]

dont think i can meet the deadline haha! water is still cloudy and hopefully able to update next week but i am prepared for the worst. but guess the mistake is i was too eager to plant when the tank, cannister were not fully cycled.. no worries have been positive all these while...

Dont worry! It just take a week or 2 settle down. New setup tank usually has this problem, once it mature, it will grow like nobody business, relax and enjoy the hobby.

[David Moses Heng]

Sorry but I think this is not so good a newbie recommendation. Might be more trouble.

first and foremost I must made known that i am also a newbie. But my first tank with potting soil and some crypts are doing very well. i did not experience any problem with algae and stuff. In fact the tank that I did for montfort is also doing similary well if not better. On the other hand, my encounter with my 3 gex tank is the opposite. They could be many contributing factors as to why my gex tank collapse and I am not saying that Gex/ADA is no good. It is just that I personally find that potting soil suits me better.

No offense everybody

[Binks]

I fully agree with Altum lover on this. 15 years ago my second tank was a 4 footer with potting soil base and washed river sand on top, CO2 injection and no dosing. Plants were extremely healthy and I had trim my crypts every week! Besides other plants like Aponogeton Boivianus, Ammania Senegalis, Ludwigia, a single Amazon sword..... but my Madagascar Lace died withing a month after it was planted! I guess the Lace Plant is not for beginners like me .but the Crypts did the best!

Potting soil, according to Diana Walstadt is for beginners starting low light, low tech aquariums.

[cheetf]

Well, firstly there are many types of potting soil. Unless you give him the exact brand and where to buy it, how can he be sure that it is the right one to use? Can he be sure that there are no additional chemicals inside?

I am not saying that potting soil is good but more that the fact that the less variables there are, the easier it will be for a newbie to trouble shoot.

[blue33]

I fully agree with Altum lover on this. 15 years ago my second tank was a 4 footer with potting soil base and washed river sand on top, CO2 injection and no dosing. Plants were extremely healthy and I had trim my crypts every week! Besides other plants like Aponogeton Boivianus, Ammania Senegalis, Ludwigia, a single Amazon sword..... but my Madagascar Lace died withing a month after it was planted! I guess the Lace Plant is not for beginners like me .but the Crypts did the best!

Potting soil, according to Diana Walstadt is for beginners starting low light, low tech aquariums.

Madagascar Lace needs very good water condition to grow, if water condition is not that good, it will affect them badly.

[David Moses Heng]

Unless you give him the exact brand and where to buy it, how can he be sure that it is the right one to use? Can he be sure that there are no additional chemicals inside?

I am not saying that potting soil is good but more that the fact that the less variables there are, the easier it will be for a newbie to trouble shoot.

to play safe, i always recommend the one carried by cold storage. That's what I am using for myself and all my clients.

[cheetf]

Can you guarantee that there are no unwanted substances in the potting soil that are harmful to any fauna in the tank because it comes from cold storage? After all it is not meant for fish tanks. Just as an example, the chemical content of land based ferts are similar but can you just apply it to your fish tank?

Even though if you say that it cannot be guaranteed for the aquatic soil as well. At least these products are made for fish tanks and as such the manufacturers are on the lookout for unwanted chemicals inside because their reputations (ADA for example) rely on the quality.

[David Moses Heng]

Can you guarantee that there are no unwanted substances in the potting soil that are harmful to any fauna in the tank because it comes from cold storage? After all it is not meant for fish tanks. Just as an example, the chemical content of land based ferts are similar but can you just apply it to your fish tank?

Even though if you say that it cannot be guaranteed for the aquatic soil as well. At least these products are made for fish tanks and as such the manufacturers are on the lookout for unwanted chemicals inside because their reputations (ADA for example) rely on the quality.

First thing first, I don't think I am in any position to guarantee anything. If I want to do that, then chances are you won't get that packet of soil from cold storage. It will be repackage and sold as some other brand at a much higher price.

Second: I agree with you that it is not meant for the fish tank BUT i do know of hobbyist(some are also in this forum) who are having great success with the potting soil.

third: with safety to faunas, I have so far managed to breed Holland Rams in my 2 feet potting soil tank.

Fourth. The reason Why I share this tiny tinsy knowledge here is for learning purpose and If in the course of sharing, I have offend anyone here, My most sincere apologies. I personally feel that the current cost of this beautiful hobby is way too high and there are folks out there who wants to enjoy this hobby but cannot afford. So if there is a more affordable alternative, why not share it so that everybody may get to learn from everybody their potting soil experiences. To me, that's true learning.

No offense!!