Nice!! Very inspiring. Feel like setting up something like this from scratch. The only problem is that its quite a dollar investment - chiller, lights, and so on...

Interesting. But how do you keep your tank cool?

Without chiller, my tank runs between 31C to 32C. Since I use chiller, I set it at 24C. Keeping the tank cool is my biggest challenge.

Nice scape. I don't like to use fan because of evaporation, and as you said, it only drop I think max 2 degrees. Then have to top up often. Prefer a more passive solution like those peltier cooling system, but as far as I know, they are not available in Malaysia or not easy to setup.

Nice scape btw. What carpet is that? And how long since setup?

I''m looking for mini fissidens and mini pelia. Anyone have some to spare? I can buy..

IMHO, 31C is too hot. 29C is already at the top end.

From seed to that in 12 days!!! is amazing growth... even for dry start.

Depending on your inhabitants. Raise your water temp until 32C for ten days. It will rid of the Ich. It worked for me.

Cut as low as possible. It splits in two there, so you will have a thick bush.

Before I forget, anybody wants Bucephalandra? I'm giving away free.
Because I need to trim my plant soon. Sayang to throw away since its an expensive plant and also not very common.

Contact me via PM is anybody interested. Self pickup in PJ.

This post has been edited by davido: Mar 18 2016, 06:41 PM


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Thank you. Offer has been taken up. Offer is now closed, but maybe next time I will need to trim again.
No more PMs please.

I think you have no idea what you're talking about. If you think its fake, do some research or just watch this video here that teaches you how to make rotala bushy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0y5h5COwB8

See more

I throw away lots of Christmas Moss every week. Can pass to you - no problem...

I mean it doesn't make sense. If the java moss is on the driftwood, then how can you can brush it?
Unless you're confident about the source, snail eggs and parasites cannot be seen by the naked eye.

But you can sanitize the entire wood + moss. As I usually do with new plants.

1. Mix one part bleach into 19 parts water (19 parts water to 1 part bleach). The normal Chlorox will do.
2. Fill one bucket of normal tap water and put double the dosage of Anti-Chlorine.
3. Soak the entire wood + moss into the bleach mix and let it rest for one minute. For moss, I reckon 90 seconds shouldn't be a problem. For tougher plants, you can soak until 3 minutes.
4. Remove it and soak it into the bucket with double dosed anti-chlorine. This will neutralize the bleach.
5. Finally rinse the plant with lots of dechlorinated water.

There are variations to the above, but you can google how to disinfect plants - but that is the extract of it and how I do it.

Yes sure, please PM for appointment. Pickup in PJ, on weekends after 2pm.

Err, not according to my experience. I bleached my moss, and its still growing like weeds..

My Buce flowering..


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Hi icelink, I believe that is sp Iris. The one I gave away I think is Brownie Brown or Ghost. Btw, it you look at the stem you got, the top part is actually a budding flower.

Btw, I'm giving away MC culture. Just trimmed. Any takers, please PM me (or whatsapp if you have my number). Self collection anytime today or after 2pm tomorrow.

Must collect latest by tomorrow. In PJ area.

[Update: Offer has been taken up. No more PMs please.


This post has been edited by davido: Apr 2 2016, 07:24 PM


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My hairgrass no need to trim. If you want dense growth, then trim. Once it reaches your desired density, no need to trim anymore. It does not grow long.

I'm not sure whether MC can grow in low tech tank. Need to check its parameters.
The buce I got from aquacult - the lelong store. The same place I got the Tigers from. The buce is surprisingly expensive. A one inch runner already RM30.

Did you buy from aquacult too?
I drove all the way to Penang to visit his store. Yes, it was certainly healthy. The aquacult one have a certain quality that I trust. His plants are sold submersed, so it have already acclimatize to underwater growth. And he gave the assurance that any plants or fishes I get from him are disease free and can be added straight to the tank without risk of introducing disease. He has many interesting shrimps and collection of buce.

Yesterday just gave away my MC. Let me know earlier so I can reserve for you, but the next trimming is 3-4 weeks later.

Please share your water parameters if possible. GH/KH, PH, substrate, etc.

This post has been edited by davido: Apr 3 2016, 09:24 AM

Hi ck,
Algae bloom for a new tank is normal. If not mistaken, it starts with diatoms (brown dusty algae). This is usually around day 10. One week later, you'll start to see green hair algae. From my experience, BBA and BGA will set in later, but typically after 1 or 2 months, while continue to struggle with Green hair.

And any tank that goes for a month without maintenance, will look a mess. My glass will become all green and plants overgrown like jungle if I don't maintain my tank for a month. So your tank's condition is not surprising (actually expected, especially for a new setup).

At your situation now, this is what I will do if I take over your tank. 50% WC twice a week. Re-plant the carpet plants and all other plants that melted. Start dosing ferts, everyday.

Your tank is not cycled yet - because you still have Ammonia. Your Nitrite is zero, but once your Ammonia is zero, your Nitrite will spike. When your Nitrite is zero, then your Nitrate will spike. This gives you an idea of how far your cycling is. This is from my experience yeah. For algae control, if its bad, I will add in 2 SAE, a few Ottos, maybe 6 Yamatos. I think folks here gonna kill me for saying this, but the fishes will probably survive eventhough the tank is not fully cycled. If they die, then its ok, SAE is not a very expensive fish. But careful they will uproot the carpet plants. So at this stage I will use wabikusa for the carpet.

But after the cycling is all done and if I have no more need for algae control, I will remove the SAE and give back to LFS. Its too big anyway for a 2 footer. For any plants to add, I would check its requirements first, especially when temp is at 30C.

This post has been edited by davido: Apr 6 2016, 04:42 PM