The black sand sold in lfs. Some are actually carbon based like active carbon. That why some claim will absorb impurities and improve water condition.
This may have a issue later as cheap active carbon will release back toxic it hold back to water once it reach it capacity. Need more feedback to determine whether this black sand is ok or not.

i see

for the bacteria, i felt like buying the bacteria together with the soil as they allow combine shipping
you use this bacteria also? >

the Benibachi Bacter Base Organic Subtrate is not a must-have, right?



This post has been edited by ivan92: Dec 14 2013, 08:37 PM

first of all, this tank is just for Malaya and fire yellow right? not intended for crs in the future(gonna hook a chiller later).

Benibachi bacter base is very useful, it is a very high quality pumice rock(same grade if not higher then ADA powersand pumice rock),
like powersand it already come mixed with bacteria powder.
Most of my tank that house sensitive and higher value shrimp have bacter base below the substrate.
Infact my just setup Sulawesi tank have 2.5L of benibachi bacter base below the substrate.

AS a reference , for a benibachi crs tank setup, the following items is used in order of:

** Under gravel filter > Bacter base > Benibachi bee max > Benibachi Mineral Powder > Benibachi Fulvic Soil -> Tank filled with water -> Dose Benibachi Active water to kick start the bacteria.

A little update on my Sulawesi tank, got 2 hours free time today to setup the tank.

Setup sequence and stuff used :
2ft Tank bottom > Benibachi Bacter Base > Benibachi Bee Max & Mineral Powder > around 2.5cm thick of Benibachi Fulvic soil > Soil Top lay 2kg of Benibachi Mineral rock & one big Alkaline type lava rock.
After filled with water ,run sponge filter and dose 30ml Benibachi Active Water to kick-start the bacteria for tank cycle.
Now the waiting game begin.



This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 15 2013, 02:54 AM

ya, just malaya and fire yellow
dont think will get CRS, unless i can print money for all their equipment
plus they are not hardy like malaya/red cherry


but before putting fire yellow, will put existing malaya and red cherry x rili in it as i going to redo their tank
under gravel filter wont affect the substrate?

i plan to put B100 > thin layer of fulvic soil > bacter base > fulvic soil > some lava rock to create sloop > fulvic soil, should be ok right?


feeding dish will reduce the chance of soil getting dirty/hidden waste?

looks nice

This post has been edited by ivan92: Dec 16 2013, 02:20 AM

You can just put B100 under the bacter base, no need the thin layer of fulvic soil.
Under gravel filter idea is to use the whole tank bottom as bacteria colony base.

i see, then i will need to have an air-pump that is strong enough to push the under gravel filter
2 single output 4L/min is better than 1 dual output 4L/min?
plan to use the air-pump to power sponge filter for shrimp tank and betta tank as well

so if i put under gravel filter, it will be like B100 > bacter base > under gravel filter > fulvic soil?

For air pump, you can opt for dual output with individual airflow control, hailea brand have that so do eheim.

Wrong, you should never put anything below the under gravel filter as all the B100 powder will be suck out and dump into your tank from the UGF outlet.

Sequence should be like this UGF(under gravel filter) -> Bacter base -> B100 -> Bee Max(if nay) -> Mineral Powder(if any) -> Fulvic Soil.

Look at the amount of mineral rocks! LOL. pH tested ?

2kg mineral rock in there. As soil is new ph still low. That why need that big alkaline lava rock to help buffer up ph.
Benibachi ph up is out of stock. Will use that later.
This tank need at least 3mth to ready for sulawesi.

2kg mineral rock in there. As soil is new ph still low. That why need that big alkaline lava rock to help buffer up ph.
Benibachi ph up is out of stock. Will use that later.
This tank need at least 3mth to ready for sulawesi.

Interesting... 3 months for the tank to cycle, that's gonna be after CNY

Tank cycle is like 2-3week , can be hurried up if i want but not necessary cos i'm trying to build up the hair algae colony in it.
Tzuen , know any LFS selling that Sera sponge filter i use in the my tank?, the shop i getting from is out of stock, NA , East Aqua and 88 petsmart all don't have or ever sell that before cos of the price.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 16 2013, 06:01 PM

Morning bro.

is it a must for you to get Sera brand? Cause ive just check with Fish Deport, they carry Sera brand but not the sponge filter. They only have Bio form filter with sponge and dophins SF15.



By the way, have you check with Shrimp Friends Malaysian ?

This post has been edited by tzuen: Dec 17 2013, 10:58 AM

i choose sera cos of it compact efficient size and the grey sponge color, mr.park didn't sell sera sponge,
guess sponge usage is not that popular and sera brand price of rm36 for 60L capacity sponge not competitive enough,
but like ADA stuff, you pay for quality.
Every morning i take a peek at the small hair algae patch, it like not growing , phew... algae also not easy to cultivate,
need other elements for it to boom. already dose 2 x fert , light on 24 hrs.

O.. Did ADA have sponge filtration system as well? Using Pro Z led lights to cultivate the algae, you thin it works? What about T5 lights with 14W each bulb and on for 24 hours

Nope, don't think ADA have sponge filter , if have will be called Jet Sponge
I use Pro Z led before on another 2ft, full of hair algae but that is a established tank full of nutrients for them,
but 30 Malaya in wipe them within 48 hrs and totally clear of every single hair 'bulu' in 72 hrs. I can't find any
hair algae from that tank, have to get from my friends tank but his tank have planaria and seed shrimp.
That need to quarantine his hair algae for 2 days with no planaria dosed but left with half or less hair algae seed after that.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 17 2013, 12:55 PM

Hair algae? My tank's got plenty of those

Btw, how long is the gestation period for cherries?

You are in taiwan. Cant import from you.
Cherry the most 20-30days.

i saw a hailea pump
dual output, but flow rate not sure how much, will check it out

so the bacter base will be covered by B100, does it need to be wet to get B100 to attach on it?


i have a similar 1.5ft tank for my betta, plan to get another one as new tank
this type of tank can fit UGF perfectly, as its front edge is rounded? i mean like 1.5ft tank with 1.5ft UGF
or i should opt for normal tank