Amedion: Dude, if you want a planted tank I suggest you stop adding salt into your tank, and also remove the crushed coral. Both these items will definitely lead to "Kiam chai" syndrome. Meaning you planning on having salted vegetable tank is it? Plus you have Cichlids in there, they'll just uproot your plants. On top of that, your Hang On Back (HOB) filter doesn't really work for a 2 feet tank. Ideally, HOB works for tank sizes 1.5 feet and below.

Amedion:

For your current Equipment/setup, can only grow some hardy plants like moss/fern/anubias. I think your pH should be slightly higher than 7. and STOP ADDING SALT if you want to add plants.

The type of fishes in your tank are call "African ciclids" which prefer pH 7 and above. They are what i call "Fresh water fish with Salt water fishes' color"

How old is this current setup? less than a week? I suggest you cycle yr tank or any fish you add will jsut keep dying.

Anyway, if you're interested in cichlids, I've some of these to let go :

That petshop guy suggest me to add salt.. If I don't add those salt.. The fish can die?

Hell, I don't even know what's the name of my fish.. My gf choose while I busy checking out other items..

Ic, so if HOB doesn't work for my tank.. What do you suggest? I tried my Dolphin P-808 powerhead but it create typhoon.. My fish will KO ..

So, those type of fish can live with plants without salt?
I read it somewhere.. Add a little bit.. Acceptable for plant but it's healthier if no salt at all.. Some fish prefer a little salt.. Since I don't have any plants yet.. I just throw in salts.. I might get those hard-to-die-type plants that can just hang on the wood.. I forget name.. Java moss and what? My bulb is 15w.. If not mistaken.. My tank is around 10~12gallons after deducts the wood and crushed coral.. Sufficient ya?

My current setup is just one day old.. One snow white fish already died.. And I read it somewhere again.. It says a new tank don't have beneficial bacteria.. So, the waste creates more ammonia n become toxic to them.. BUt it's just one day old.. .. So, I throw in a Crystal Rock taken from some old tank that filled with water.. Now I don't know what will happen next..

Oh yeah.. If possible.. I don't want to go freshwater.. I prefer saltwater.. If you can guide me then it's better..

This post has been edited by Amedion: May 19 2008, 09:33 AM

you hv coral sand. which is a BIG NONO in planted tank. better make up ur mine what u want to keep 1st. don't spend extra money oh.

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Added on May 19, 2008, 10:30 pmcichlids tank are no plants tank.. its only sand n rock. cichlids need alkaline, plants need acidic.

This post has been edited by nezumitaro: May 19 2008, 10:30 PM

Amedion,

I suggest you dont do anything, dont buy anything, dont add anything till you've read enough on the internet. Can google for lots of information on how to cycle a tank. try "Tank cycling".

The current fishes in your tank, feed minimum once for 2-3 days. next few day, what you will see is very cloudy water Go read more and you shall know what to do. Very LONG grandmother story if we were to type here.

I see .. I already put in a plant ..

Wait till the next time I free.. I will swap coral > substrate..

Yeah.. I read a lot of grandmother and grandfather story from the net before purchasing.. Now wanna experience it ..
Tank cycling.. I use crystal rock taken from old tank .. Put it in my new aquarium and let it run for a day.. Then only I add fish & plant ..

Now my tank got one plant that sticks on wood, 9 fishes & 1 blue lobster.. One of my snow white gone.. The lobster took it into the stomach?

Now I'm dry already.. Wait for 1 week and see what gonna happen..



This post has been edited by Amedion: May 20 2008, 12:55 PM

Amedion: Most probably in the lobster's stomach. What type of fish do u have? i see only Yellow labs, cant make out what are the rest. Take note, cichlids can be pretty aggressive

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Added on May 20, 2008, 1:31 pmby the way, i dont understand what you mean by "crystal rock". Just 1 day is insufficient for beneficial bacteria to be established in your tank, on your filter medias, and all surfaces in your tank.

This post has been edited by presario316: May 20 2008, 01:31 PM

But why do the fish lie on the gravel?

Argh.. I will cook the lobster later when I know what flavor to use..

Anyway, this is the family :-



Btw, my tank is 1.9x feet length X 0.9x feet width X 1.2x feet depth if not mistaken .. How much gallon is that? Around 14~15, rite...? So, let say I deducts other decoration thing.. Around 12 gallon.. Heard that a tank must cycle 4 times per hour.. Means 48 gallon / 181 liters? The box of my HOB states it is capable of pushing 250L/H .. Is it enough cause I already add another air pump that push 250L/H too..

This post has been edited by Amedion: May 20 2008, 05:33 PM

can you give cm for ur tank ah?

Forget about the size .. I think mine is 15 gallon tank ..

Can anyone please let me know where can get live rock or inexpensive flourescent light that is suitable for plant?

This post has been edited by Amedion: May 20 2008, 06:47 PM

I'm sorry for repeating the question but why does Amedion's fish lie on the gravel? @>@ I feel very curious.

I think they're still new to my aquarium.. After a day or two, they explore everywhere except lobster's place..


Anyway, this is my tank's size :-



I fill the water till 12inches only & the converter show its 13.xx gallon.. Should I fill it up till 13inches?

Now only I know the fish ( African Cichlids ) that my gf choose can grow to the size of 4" ~ 6 " .. My tank is way too small ..

This post has been edited by Amedion: May 21 2008, 11:07 AM

Amedion: Yeah, your tank waaaay tooooo small for the eventual size of your fishes. Most of the commentors so far, presario, nezumitaro and I have long been trying to advice new hobbyists on how to improve and spend less money. The internet is a powerful encyclopedia, if you know how to use it properly. Please read and look for information most relevant to your tank conditions. Don't la follow the advice from hobbyists from colder environments blindly, take it all with a pinch of salt (pun very much intended).

Finally the page loaded with all the colorful picture. Wah Amedion, you terror la!!! Angelfish, cichlid and lobster in a 2 foot tank!!! You can also go google for blue lobster recipe dy. Lobster gonna feed on both your fish species when they sleep coz I think lobsters are nocturnal (ie feeds best at night and in low light, well the saltwater ones does). Your cichlids gonna harass the living daylights of your angelfish by biting on their tail finnage, and you'll be forever doing water changes due to death within your tank.

Try looking at my list of fish shops (http://lfslist.blogspot.com), but the recommended cichlid pro I know is Joe from Slippery Little Suckers, you can find out more if you go to their website http://www.slipperylittlesuckers.com.my Give them a call at their contact number if you get lost trying to get there. Another place you can try (but don't bring your girlfriend or you might end up buying more tanks to house HER choice) would be Xian Leng next to the Wet World at Shah Alam lake.

Jamien: the fish all crowd at the bottom got 2 reasons, one reason the wanna see what the corals look like (NOT!); actually like presario said, they checking out/exploring, the other reason being they sucking up the nutrients from the salt (coz they know salt good for their health). These sucking up nutrients not only can be seen with cichlids but especially so with goldfishes and koi too. It helps keep away scaly diseases like ich and white spots (sorry so long never keep fish can't tell the difference anymore).

Presario: End of the month harvesting time again, you interested ar? And Giles fatty bom bom coming back next Tuesday, wanna go yum char?

This post has been edited by geediver: May 21 2008, 02:57 PM

Well, it's all my gf's choice .. She wants coral but that is way to expensive for me ..

So, now I am at the wrong-way-but-still-can-survive-tank .. Mine is Malawi Cichlids Setup ( Rock & Sand with little plant ) ..

Will add Java moss and tie it on the Driftwood.. That's the last thing I will do ..

Then I will wait for a month and see what happen .. Then only decide what to do ..

Don't add moss, in the salty environment, the moss will just DIE!!!!! and contribute more dead material to your tank! End up everything dead!

I believe it's water conditioner ..

Very well then .. Don't add anything..

I noticed some brown algae like things growing on my tank glass. My planted tank is a week old only. Is something wrong?

what soil you are using. ADA soil tank will not run away from algea or bba hehe.. manually remove it, and do WC more often:)

Info:

If you want to test the water in your tank, THE CHEAPSKATE way -
1. Take a small bottle of tank water, tap water, whatever water that you'll eventually put into your tank. Approximately 100ml will do.
2. Bring it to your nearest LFS, check first if they sell water tester kits.
3. Ask nicely / beg / pay them to test your water for you.

eheheh...