lol again with the "kor"! there's no need for that. if you're willing to learn i'm always willing to help,

1. can, bacter ball (ADA i assume) is more of a bacteria mix.. I can even put it in my tank straight if I want to.. lol.

2. Should be fine to top up that way I guess, I did top up with tap water straight, so far so good.

3. can, that's what I do anyways.

Drew

@fongzai, i said I'm here to help, not to be a price market referral LOL.

And I won't know what else you need untill you tell me what you want to do and whats wrong lol.....~~~

If you want me to list.
YOu need a.
proper lighting system
Proper c02 system
most important is proper filtration system and
Proper chemistry in your tank.

1ft and 1 ball is good enough.

p/s on the price, so many products in the market, you want me to list down Everything? please. lol.

Drew

your lighting seems okay . I'd upgrade the c02 to pressurized though..

About the bacter ball, google it. It actually is a brown ball. throw it into your filter or tank, it'll turn into mush after a few hours.

What I emant about water chemistry is that you should have very low or no ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. and temperature below 28C...

Drew

@fongzai,

The ball and the power is the same thing, and Don't clean your filter so often.. you literally kill the beneficial bacteria.. Clean also clean with old tank water.. not tap water..

Drew

I would go for a 2213 just a suggestion.

Drew

@ching, nah, it's just my bad habit of over filtration..

Anyhows, @fong,

Even if it is dirty, don't clean too often.. beneficial bacteria won't have enough time to grow.. And you clean with tap water or old tank water?

Drew

yeap, you will see those bubbles..

And please clean your filter with old tank water next time.

Drew

@fongzai, to what I can see from your pictures, your current set-up looks a lot like a low tech set-up to me already lol...

Drew

THey are known as Ghost shrimp. Kinda pointless to keep in a planted tank

Drew

@fongzai.

Having ADA soil doesnt mean = high tech.. It's basically what plants you keep and how you keep it...

What you're looking for maybe it's a Low maintenance tank..

Also, I said that coz you mentioned you want to start a new low tech set-up? IMHO, improve on your current one first. Multiple tank syndrome is common.. and maintaining more than 2 tanks can be a pain at times.

Drew

pinchboyz san mentioned, can put in once a month

Though personally i put in once per 2 months..

Drew

that's the idea, we need to have a constant level of bacteria action going on in the filter.

Drew

@fongzai, No they wont die.

Think of it this way, you see those plants in the rivers. also got high water flow what.. still alive.

Drew

tie it down o the rocks or wood with either sewing thread, ( or fishing line which IMO is stronger)

Drew

1 puffer and many shrimps is like a buffet for the puffer in a 6g. lol.

Here's my question, what kind of plants to you intend to keep.

Drew

that's gonna be one heck of a happy puffer IMHO lol...

Plants like glosso need sufficient light and conditions ( c02 as well ) to thrive. Moss on the other hand is much more forgiving.

Drew

you can introduce the substrate and plants before you even fill the tank up with water . You're on the money here.. Let the tank cycle etc etc. Seems like you did your research lol.

Drew

plant as much as you can.. but of course, if no c02 and all, no point also, those hi light fast growers will melt sooner or later...

Having a lot of plants does not determine your amount of fish. it's the tank size.

Drew

Effectively?

Spot treatment. After WC... off all filter/flows.. then use a syringe or turkey baster to take that concentrated excel.. Aim and fire

If there's too much BBA around.. do it over several sessions rather than the whole thing .. it's risky due to excel overdose.

Drew

Cheap Thing not good, Good thing not Cheap lol!

@cata, no need.

Drew