No so sure about this, but I've only started this hobby in January, but if you tie riccia to wood, won't that come lose easily? Most that I see are secured to via hairnet.

As for CO2, I use a DIY yeast CO2.

The big white stone is a bit distracting though. Try these links to help you get started:

On basic equipment:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/12/beginn...d-aquarium.html

On layout:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/11/golden...quascaping.html

Good luck!

This post has been edited by SweetPuff: Mar 21 2007, 12:59 PM

For DIY CO2, I just use a 1.5 liter bottle and add 2 teaspoon of sugar and slightly less than 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Will last me about 5-6 days.

I use a 375ml bottle for my 1.5gallon cube on my office desk. Works well for me.

I'll post some pics when I get home.

LOL. Bad typo.

Should be 2 CUPS sugar and 1/2 teaspoon yeast.
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-Yeast-CO2/7/

For water, I just fill it up to the point where it starts to curve in. Right after the plastic label for most fizzy drink bottles. Not sure about others here though.

Here are two of my humble tanks:

5.5 gallon with 2 dwarf puffers and 1 otos and 1 yamato.


12 gallon with a number of fish.


Hideout for fry and corydoras at the back corner.

Wah. So green.

Well, here's a repost of what's sitting on my desk at office:
7.5in cube.

You can use the water siphon that's readily available in most fish shops.

@coldfusionpower
Try this link for some insight on CO2 Diffusion:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/10/method...n-aquarium.html

This could be a useful link for all.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/diagnose.htm

As for michanz's problem. I'm having that as well, for some of my plants.

the GEX soil or even ADA Aquasoil is available in Irene in Seapark and 88 in Sunwaymas.

You can get the basic 2ft aluminium casing for about rm90. But the stock flourescent casing that comes with most casings aren't suitable for planted tanks. So, you'll have to spend a little extra on getting the proper lights.

You might wanna consider getting a fan to keep your temperature down and timer for your lights.

no lah. Just learn as I go along. And I still have a lot more to learn

I think that's part of the fun.


Oh ya, one more thing. If you're considering adding fish, don't buy them till after your tank have cycled, or if you have a matured filter.

Having a filter to circulate water helps plant growth, IMHO.

This post has been edited by SweetPuff: Jul 18 2007, 06:36 PM

Standard two feet tank is about 11 gallon. Having a dual flourescent 15 watt will give you about 2.7 watts per gallon, which is almost medium lighting already.

Good enough to handle most of the common plants.

Do remember, bulbs that comes with the set most of the time gives out either yellowish or pinkish light, which is not suitable for plants.

Having good water circulation helps to combat algae growth.

This post has been edited by SweetPuff: Jul 18 2007, 06:48 PM

err... the grey colour container? Is it Nutrafin Natural CO2? If so, it should not cost rm89. Price is about rm65 or so only.

With a hang on back filter, you won't need an air pump. For planted tank, I suggest you get a filter meant for a bigger tank. But with HOB, you'll have some trouble with plants near the outflow due to the 'waterfall' effect.

I guess for DIY yeast co2, you can't really turn it off. Unless you take the diffusor out.

Make sure your tank can support the lights and HOB. And your tank is plastic? Do note that plastic is easily scratched. Especially if you're doing planted tank with rocks.

Go shop for the container in other LFS. You can try Irene or Yee Fatt.

No need to buy the pre-packaged refills, IMHO. Just buy yeast, baking soda and lots of sugar. Costs only a small fraction of the refill price. Just keep the container.

Alternatively, you can always DIY the container easily, though it won't look pretty.

I heard some ppl say that bubble counter for DIY CO2 is to prevent the brownish gunk from appearing on the diffusor.

I haven't use it yet, but I sure have the gunk on my glass diffusor.

Yep, a larger setup is always easier to maintain, IMHO. Since it's easier to maintain water parameters like pH and temperature, thus making your tank more stable. And mistakes like overdosing of fertilizer is less drastic with a bigger tank.

And with a larger tank you can put in plants with larger leaves like java fern or some of the bigger cryptocorynes.

This tank that I have:


have since been converted to a much simpler planted betta tank, since it was way too much hassle to trim the plants so often, due to the small size of the tank.

Oh ya, for this that tank, I used DIY co2 with a small 325ml 100plus bottle.

Stuff i used was:
GEX Soil
5watt PL


Temperature about 23-20C (due to air-con, but I have timer to turn on a mini-fan after office hours)
--temperature is pretty important to keep most plants healthy, IMHO

Psst! Pretty good tips here for mosses:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/07/growin...tic-mosses.html
http://www.aquamoss.net

Mosses are probably my favourite aquatic plant.

This post has been edited by SweetPuff: Jul 20 2007, 06:17 PM

What's the water temperature of your tank with the moss in it, Michanz?

And what type of moss was it again?

Most likely a ramshorn or pond snail.

Ramshorn lor.
Looks like the shape of a ram's horn, right?

Yeah, trimming the moss might be the right thing to do. Also, I learned that if you lay your mosses too thick, the bottom part will turn brown.