Singapore Web DesignerKokou — Day 1 & 2 » AEN—Designer & Consultant

It has been more than 3 years since I gave up on my favorite hobby of freshwater aquascaping, an art of simply using plants, stones, rocks, driftwood, living creatures like fishes, shrimps to create a natural, thriving aquarium. The principles of aquascaping, also known as “nature aquariums” in Japan include aesthetics, Zen, water chemistry and composition. I was an avid hobbyist, i even kept a blog and wrote articles on growing freshwater plants. Unfortunately I had to give up due to National Service.

3 years passed. Now I’m going back into this hobby. I’m naming my new tank “枯高 (Kokou)”, meaning austere. Basic, weathered bare essentials that are aged and unsensuous. Evokes sternness, forbidence, maturity and weight. One of the seven Zen principles of aesthetics. By using various materials such as driftwood, rocks, moss and plants, i plant to express the image on an aging forest supporting a thriving fauna of earthly inhabitants.

Day 1 items

From Rizal of AquaSynthesis

• Pressurized CO₂ 5l Cylinder + Twin Gauge Regulator : $210

From Nature Aquarium @ Balestier

• 3m of JBJ CO₂-proof tubing (black)
• ISTA Max Mix CO₂ Reactor
• 4ft, 4 x 54W T5 Light Fixture with Osram 7000K tubes (will change to T5HO tubes) : $140
• 4 x 9l packs of ADA Aquasoil Amazonia : $140
• 8l ADA Powersand Special : $95
• Atman CF1000 External Canister Filter w/ free filter media : $85
• 120cm x 45cm x 45cm Glass Tank (12mm glass, black silicon) : $10

Day 2 items

From Aqua Star @ Yishun

• JBJ Brass Bubble Counter: $18
• AP pH test kit $9
• AP kH test kit : $9
• AP NO₃ test kit : $12
• AP PO₄ test kit : $15
• Siphon hose : $2
• Small thermometer : $2
• Metal check valve : $7

From Aries

• Small tweezers for planting Glossostigma

The Plan

I have tested the pH of my water supply to be 6.8, slight acidic. As Aquasoil is acidic it will alter the pH of the tank water and make CO₂ readings base on pH inaccurate. Therefore I will completley fill the tank with Aquasoil for the 1st week with filtration running until the water is clear. Then I will see how much does Aquasoil alter the pH and then factor in the values in future calculations. The kH will be raised with Calcium Carbonate solution. CaCO₃ tables can be found in Pharmacy sold as Caltrate.

Once the pH data is gathered, I will start planting. This also means CO₂ injection. Starting with 1bps while the plant is acclimatising, I will increase until the optimum rate. Once I have reach the optimal CO₂ levels at a pH not lower than 6.5, I will then increase light levels by switching to T5HO tubes. Amount will remain the same at 3WPG.

There should be little or no fertilisation at this point. Plant growth will depend solely on Powersand special which contains Bacter 100 will can provide the nitrates in the roots. Plant growth should be average at this point. By observing presents of algae and plant health, I will then dose LUSHGro Hydro (Potassium Nitrate) and LUSHGro Aqua (Trace). I probably will not need iron supplements as it is already present in LUSHGro Hydro and ADA substrates. Likewise for Zinc.

The tank is arriving in 10 - 14 days time. I will spend this week and a half in preparation. Stay tuned for the next part!