Planted tank first attempt using DSM

First planting attempt using DSM.
Soil is more than 90% ADA and some mix of dirt.
On top a layer of small gravel... gravel will be top up once the hair cover the ground and stabilized.
Doing Siesta 5-4-5 lighting.

Install UV for sump tank.

Introduce UV filtration to the 6 feet comm tank since there are many hairlike furs on the side glass of the sump, definitely due to the lighting in the sump for the plants.
Most likely also need to introduce more plants to the rest of the compartments if the UV does not solve the problem completely.

Aglae under control

Using the sand and relocation of the tank from direct sunlight, plus the additional plant helps to eradicate algae problem.

5-4-5 siesta regimen

Changed my sump prototype and ious prototype lighting to 5-4-5 siesta regimen.
Will monitor for algae growth.

Comm Tank Updates - Feb'13

Comm Tank Updates - Feb'13
Switched to pink/blue T5 as i find the whitelight T5 too bright for my eye.
Lost a NGT recently and the 'cage' on the right used to house red arowana are also no more, so i lower the cage to allow the blood parrots to rest inside.

Updates on planned planted tank

My 2 feet planned planted tank is now ready for substrate,plants and water....
The Aqua Up Z Series LED is really bright and elegant...
Behind the LED is the silent cooling fan to reduce the temperature of the water.

HMF for feeder tank

After using the HMF method on my feeder tank for about 3 weeks, now the water is always clear for at least a week and hardly any feeder fish is found dead or floating... Of course there are still feeders that got eaten up and their heads on the ground.. but only a few...
I still change water weekly on this feeder tank and clear the bottom so that the black spronge do not need cleaning so soon. At least save me the trouble to clear the filter wool now as there is no need for it anymore.