anyone have some dirt planted tank experience?.i think I'm gonna get a 3ft or maybe 4ft in couple of month..need more info before jumping in..currently doing reading on the net, but most of it were not local exp..it would help if exp comes from local as which soil, how to prep the soil and etc..

there is shrimp topic..here

why dont you just bump there and ask if someone dont mind sharing some with you..maybe you got cheaper with better quality or even get some for free..just try your luck..

bump incase someone missed it..haha..

yep..tanah as in nursery bought type..

really?.i need to search again..didn't stumble on it last time i search..might be wrong keyword or something..

actually planning on doing 3ft or 4ft project..but i cannot afford those pricey soil to fill enough of the tank..might need to do some slope or more rocks or wood or something else..so i need to channel the fund accordingly and as cheap as possible..right now still in budget planning stage so cost is my concern..

thx for the info though..

naaa..i think power type is a big no for me even in small scale scape..at this time it still "not worth" for me..

yep, the price difference is what im after..im pretty sure i can tolerate about how messy it would be since what im after is the cost saving and not the cleaner way..but not sure about my wife..

but i did saw video on youtube, he use layer of (if im not mistaken) sand>potting soil>gravel>aquasoil>powder on top..atleast i save him some money on the potting soil rather than using full aquasoil..

did search in MAC, but the forum is like full of spam now..and is there any search button for me to use?.it seem i can't find any..

yeah, i agree about how messy it would be..some say need to water the soil outside>put in tank>cover with gravel..some just put soil in tank>cover with gravel>put water (this one is messier since the soil is full of air bubble in between)



quick question, how much aquasoil do i need to cover average (average slope and thinkess) scape of 3ft and 4ft?.

nice site man!..thanks..

4'x1.5'x2" = 3bag x 9L (RM110x3)
3'x1.5'x2" = 2.5bag x 9L (RM110x2.5)

well..i might just endup with sand/gravel substrate..or else this project might take some time to start

welcome to this "notsocheap" hobby bro!
im no sifu btw..but i got 1 full planted tank, 1 lowtech (crs), and 1 blackwater (crs).

1.not sure about where to get cheaper as the price only varies for around rm10-15 different between places..might as well tell your location so that others might have cheaper price near your place..

2.im keeping cherry shrimp..just for fun..only using pc fan for 1 tank and no fan whatsoever for another tank..still breeding on both tank..just makesure not to hot..your tank placement inside the house will also help in keeping it cool..

3.i don't use any of those..but still satisfied with current setup..it depend on your budget actually..you have more, you can get more..but keep in mind more/pricey will not confirm anything..somehow it just for your satisfactory and a lil bit of result..

This post has been edited by usmanjailani: Dec 9 2016, 05:53 PM

that's more on inert soil..can't grow much on it..if you rajin, you can use fert and root tab and other suppliments just to help the plant grow..i use waterfall sand for 1 tank though..

potting soil have plenty of nutrients..a good & cheap alternative for aquasoil..but it could have TOO MUCH nutrient, and very messy..

Personally i did my planted tank with dual sand like you mention..whole aquasoil and a "river" of river sand in the middle..keep in mind, you should build some stone wall to separated both, otherwise the aquasoil will move ontop of the sand..now i dont see any traces of the "river" whatsoever..
and i dont think i would do that again since it will be messy to separate soild & sand when you going to rescape later..


not really recommended near any direct sunlight..it would promote algae growth..i put mine in the middle of living room..
recommendation on substrate?.what is your tank size..if you have small tank, and big budget, you can buy all the extra stuff you mention in the 1st place and amazonia soil..some shop did sell it in small portion/packet (could save some money on it)..if you on tight budget, go for amazonia only and no extra stuff..from there, learn all the way till you get another tank..and another tank untill your house become small aquaria..

well..ADA amazonia was recommended because it works really well..to be honest with you, my 2.5ft planted tank was my first, so with little budget i have, i just bought used (2years) 2.5x9L amazonia from other hobbyist for a price of 1x9L, and with that used soil only (without fert, 5element, ADA powersand) the plant still grow happily..the shop might be right but might as well just want to sell you stuff..just be prepared with some knowledge before buying stuff..

just in case nobody have extra to give away, just want to inform you some shop do sell it in small pack (palm sized)..last time i bought one for rm10 and that was 1year ago in JB..

CO2 is required for plant as they need it for photosynthesis process..another source the need during the process is light and water. SOS..and that just generally speaking without going into details.

so to make thing much easier for simple understanding, if the were no lighting but co2 still on, the photosynthesis process cannot occur unless all sources required is not there..i think there will be no problem if the water is overdose (result of 24/7 co2) with co2 but if you have any fauna, it's fatal to them..and also you just like wasting the co2 in the tank since the plant only need it when there is light.

if you using manual regulator for co2, 24/7 with low bps still safe for the fish from what people says..
if you using solenoid regulator, better to invest on a timer..coz u will optimally using co2, and safe for fauna..

you can on co2 1hour earlier than lighting just to make it easier for plant to kickstart the process..


-2cent

i dont use any of the 2 you mention..i use eheim classic 600..but 2nd hand of course (rm200) ..couldn't be better..if you dont mind using used item, u might get something worth for long term..

u might want to consider EJET..there actually plenty of affordable canister brand..maybe others can recommend other brand they are using..u might want to put your budget for filtration system so you can get better recommendation..

not normal..might be leaking somewhere.

not sure about the splitter since i have no exp on that..u using solenoid or just manual?.

about your filter, u might want to reposition the diffuser..

example to refer..




you might want to survey from the FB pages as well..there is more active audience there compare to here..

This post has been edited by usmanjailani: Jan 6 2017, 11:41 AM

inline diffuser mostly located inline with the output line from the filter and not in the inlet line of the filter..
im using inline currently..but diy..

the flow basically inlet pipe>filter>outlet line>internal diffuser> continue outlet line> spraybar or lilypipe or anything into the tank..

"Cerges Reactor"
from internet..


no guide or pic(sorry bout that)..i just enjoy building things..it takes around 1month+ to study about what to do n dont..and i still unsatisfied with mine since i dont have pressure release valve, but it still work properly..otherwise it would be perfect..(at least for me)

well..there is plenty way to do it..haha..but everything have pro and con..and from mine, it is the size..its huge mannn..haha..and for you, it is not too pleasant to see a pump in a planted tank, but at least your tank got better flow n circulation..


correct..otherwise, any pump will sound like yours since it should be operated with water and not air swishing in its rotor..

the term to look at is manual system..since using manual system could bring inconsistency in co2 intake by the tank..u might on co2 on 4pm today, but maybe something can comes up tomorow and u only manage to on the co2 on 8pm..but by using solenoid on timer, there will be consistent amount and time so the fish can adapt with the changing hopefully..

This post has been edited by usmanjailani: Jan 6 2017, 02:24 PM

i dont think that lighting is enough for planted tanks..if it just fish tank, then i would looks great with controllable color..i think u could use LED bulb or floodlight is even better..im using 2x MR.DIY 13w LED bulb for my tank just as additional lighting source..it works great for the budget..floodlight is much better since it has better angle lighting coverage but its prob quite heavy and bulky compare to the LED bulb..


actually, if you put some fan or even better a chiller, i dont think there much problem..