no need to pre-wet it, since you are using the ugf system then put a thin layer of soil like 1cm thick on top of bacter base then dust the B100 then cover by the rest of the soil.

ugf -> bacter base -> thin layer of soil -> B100 -> rest of the soil.

It depend on which brand of UGF you getting, i'm using Aquadene brand of UGF, very good quality, around rm20 for 2ft size, it can break into 4 pcs half feet size plate.


I personally don't like rounded edge tank, if i have to get one, when displaying will use the curved side as behind tank.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 18 2013, 12:30 AM

i see, i was wondering how to not get the B100 dropped into the bottom

thanks

Usually, people don't clean the under gravel filter, right?

the only way to clean it , is by inserting a tube through the UGF outlet and suck out debris.
But when you need to clean an UGF , it is more or less due time to change the soil.

How is the bottom gravel works? Using air pump? For 2 feet tank, If using air pump, does the air pump power enough to clean up the bottom waste?

ok

hurm
my second attempt to have shrimp in my tank fail today
all shrimp die after 1 hour in the tank
i already acclimate the shrimp for 2 hour
the tank already cycle for 2 month

i think something wrong with my tap water....

Tank has been cycle for 2 months > temp sync for 2 hours > shrimp die in 1 hour.

That's really really wrong. what shrimps that you keeping?

There is just lot of possibilities of shrimps died.
Pls post a picture of your tank setup.
Did you check if the tank finish cycle? by testing ammonia and nitrite ?
Have any new plants in tank less then 2 week ? (the plants may have pesticide/fert residue that contain copper which very fatal to shrimps).

this is my tank pic



here some info about the tank

hob filter
black sand @ gravel
cfl light
air pump
mineral stone in hob filter
tank size 45cm X 25 cm X 25 cm

flora - Sagittaria subulata , Flame moss, Java moss all already in the tank from it start

i didn't check the ammonia and nitrite and the ph around 6.4
the fish inside the tank is new

From the picture there is 2 dead fire red.
The fish look quite big to be consider safe in a tank with dwarf shrimps especially if got shrimplets later.
Big fish will stress out shrimps especially without hiding spot like in your tank.

Without kits to check out ammonia and nitrite , it is hard to conclude the tank is indeed cycled or not, un-cycled tank
will sure kill shrimps no matter what shrimp you put in. if on budget, try get one tester , the No2 - Nitrite test kit.
Since your tank already around 3 week, if the tank not cycled , it will be in stage 2 cycle where nitrite will be detected,
if Nitrite is zero, then do a large 80% water change, this will remove excess No3- Nitrate that converted from nitrite by your beneficial bacteria in your filter. After this you only need to do 10-15% water change every week.
Get some mineral stone or powder for your tank.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 20 2013, 01:45 PM

Tzuen , the UGF concept is to utilize the vast substrate bottom as base for beneficial bacteria to colonies and provide
filtration for bio-waste like a normal hob/canister filter.
UGF is normally air pump driven or you can use powerhead to draw water out from the UGF outlet back to the tank.
yes, air pump is enough power for a 2ft, in fact currently i have two 2ft tank and one 1ft tank using UGF powered by air pump.

UGF is not suitable for big fish or tank with too much solid waste as waste will accumulate too much and fast under the ugf. and not every soil is suitable for use with UGF , ADA soil is not suitable as they will breakdown fast using one.

UGF in shimp tank especially with shrimp soil like benibachi soil will help bring out fulvic from the soil for the benefit of
shrimp esp crs.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 20 2013, 02:21 PM

thank Mr Arrow for the advice
actually the fish i put after all the shrimp die
maybe i need to test the water parameter after this
actually there are mineral stone in the filter
next time i will try again

your tank look good for shrimp, just give some time for the moss and plants to grow and green algae to grow on the glass, this s the sign the tank is maturing. What kind of mineral rock you need to put into filter ?

One of the endler guppy in my tank MIA, can't find, possible "gone case" jor, anything that I can do before it cause ammonia spike or nitrate spike?

just one small fish won't cause much pollution, if you have shrimps, they probably feed on the corpse.
Check the floor/table around your tank, the guppy may jumped out.

No sight of it around the tank, hope the shrimps feed on it but not the planaria... hehe

Planaria wont appear suddenly unless you have them beforehand in your tank. Unlike bacteria planaria need a host to bring them in your tank. Etc plants, fish, shrimps & moss.

This post has been edited by arrow: Dec 22 2013, 05:16 PM

Aiks..All my recently bought Fire Red all KO...Introduce others shrimp to the tank ok only. Somehow Fire Red die one by one.

Forgotten to mention, it is a 3 mth mature tank. Only Fire Red Dying. Cherry and Malaya are fine.

This post has been edited by vincent75: Dec 22 2013, 03:32 PM

Fire red is selectively breed form of cherry shrimp, that make them more fragile then cherry, ppl have 50/50 change of keeping them alive , you have higher chance with a very mature tank or tank with lot of algae.
They need constant food especially meat based food but not to the extent of overfeeding, feed them 2 time per day,
but make sure they finish each time within 1 to 2 hrs, else reduce feeding, if have algae can feed less.