Cheers.

AnDrew

Again? this tank's first rescape bro.. still fine tuning myself for 3feeters..

Drew

Solenoids ftw.

Before getting started, let's get the "cheapest" mind set out haha. Cos I assure you, it's not just gonna be rm 20 or rm 100

Drew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 17 2010, 08:23 PM

Fish excrement as fertilizer.. wow it's been a while since I heard someone saying that.. and it's been a while since I said this..

All that does is provide ammonia to the waterline, true it provides fertilizers, but not all, In planted tanks we need the essential NPK N= nitrogen P, phosphate, K, pottasium

Drew

Aiyaiyai, fongzai misunderstand me ka.? I told him he can.. but it's not sufficient.

Drew

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Added on March 20, 2010, 12:54 pmAlso, any fertilizer is usable, as long as you can provide your tank the needed trace elements, pottasium, phosphate, iron, nitrogen(THIS IS NITRATE, usually not enough from fish poop in a healthy tank ) , etc etc, then settle liao. Don't need ADA Brighty K , Step 1 or stuff, I use them cause it makes my life easier, I know how much of each I am putting.

Drew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 20 2010, 12:54 PM

Let's see anyone else try an unferted tank and get results as spanking as he does lol...

But then again, never say never try never know. And you might be right, our tap water might have some trace already. though 'some' is very subjective.

@fongzai
Really ka? I would have believed otherwise.

Drew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 20 2010, 01:17 PM

No such thing about planted tanks NOT NEEDING c02. Sure you can keep the plants alive , (not all plants) , but let's compare my plant A to your non c02-ed plant A

Drew

freestyler, time to eat back your own words hehehe...well, some of it.

Yes it's one of the methods of reducing the chances of a bad algae outbreak in any iwagumi tank.. to throw in cheapo stems to absorb it all before introducing slow growing carpet plants..

I didn't believe this method at first too, I planted an iwagumi straight thinking many water changes for the new ADA soil would reduce the chances, in 1,5 months, whole tank koyak, the HC couldn't take all the nutrients quickly enough.. Such a thing didnt happen in my other tank, also with new soil but with stem plants.

-- further addition --
Yes I agree that no planted tank has totally no algae, or algae free. there's no such thing. But we're here to minimize it aren't we

here's my theory la, I give 2 tanks, the best of everything, optimum lights , c02, ferts, one tank filled with stems, one just HC, which one would get an attack first? ( NO WC, an experiment lets say)


:::
Algae attacks come from an imbalance of either ferts, c02 and light.. too much light and no fert or c02 = algae, too much c02 and not enough light or fert would kill fishes lol, well, you get my point. Just optimize your plant growth and the nuisance of hair algae and such should stay pretty far away. provide enough of the 3 and you should be well on your way.

Just my 2cents, feel free to correct me. I believe nobody here is 'wasting their time' thats all
( Why waste time tie moss strand by strand? so my bush wont be as ugly as yours la! hahaa - quote, someone i know )

Drew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 24 2010, 04:56 PM

i throw them both in, who said anything about planting those cheapos? just toss them in, for about 2 weeks, trash them. If you feel the need, try following this personal WC formula for brand new aquasoil ( best used for Amazonia 1)

Day 1 : WIWO untill clear, plant HC/HG, put some stems behind.. put, not plant.
Day 2 : 50% WC
Day 4 : 30% WC
Day 7 :50% WC
Day 10 :30%
Day 14 : 30%WC
Day 18 : 20%
Day 21 : your usual per week WC routine starts here with 20~35% water change
WC when you see some problems arising, but before doing that, do consult here

Method, not developed by me, but trusted by me

Drew

4-5 would do ler..

erk.. hope i have the patience lol.

i recomend, any soil. dont seem to be a problem with my hairgrass.

overpowered, too much.

look for 2~6x your tank size , i personally recomend 5~8x though

Drew

see, pressurized is the way to go, rather than DIY. great results at reasonable pricing!!

Drew

go study la! haha

fan? reduce temperature la ==

Whats all this yik yak about.

Whoever here said his tank is 3 celcius, please go and check your plants and fish a.s.a.p. All of them would be dead by now..

Don't believe me? I had my a/c go haywire, on 24/7 at 16C, my tank water 12Celcius, all my fish froze to death, the plants all froze, u see the leaf all change colour..

@fongzai, I use fan, my tank 24Celcius before lo.. how? hehehehe. ( that was 3 years back though)

And for everyone else, there's GOOGLE>

Cheers,
AnDrew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 26 2010, 10:27 PM

@fongzai,

Never been to US before.
Then don't say it's impossible.

THink also la, winter season already my tank less than 20celcius liao lor =.=
no im not joking:P

AnDrew

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Added on March 27, 2010, 10:29 ambest BBA remover, spot treatment with excel.

Drew

This post has been edited by chuppy2: Mar 27 2010, 10:29 AM

Nikon's video functions are so so only, So you cant blame him

Drew