ohmiko Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 I need heeeeelpppppp. I want to set a new tank for caridinas. (prob mischlings or all blue bolt or tibee) I am not sure what to get for substrate, light, and sponge filter. For substrate, I am thinking Fluval Stratum?? For lighting, I pretty much just bought LED clip on for 2 tanks and I dont even know if thats good but my plants are growing. as for sponge filters, I never had one before but I would love to try it out Recommendations? Thank u xoxo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 I don't use active substrate for my mischlinge, but if you want TBs, I've heard mixed things about fluval stratum, so I'll let someone with experience answer that. I use Mr Aqua Aquarium Soil as well asADA Amazonia, both good. As far as lighting, a clip LED works if it's growing your plants! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sponge filters are awesome. Shrimp don't create much waste so a sponge filter is a great option. HMF is always a good choice too; more surface area for bacteria to colonize. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 A lot depends on if you want amonia or not, and if you want to grow plants in it or not. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimp Life Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 I have used Fluval Stratum and ADA Amazonia. They both work well. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 3 hours ago, ohmiko said: ohmiko. if you want to drive up to Culver you can save yourself some $ on soil. Cash is king! https://www.discobee.com/collections/sl-aqua/products/sl-aqua-nature-soil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 2 hours ago, Mr. F said: I don't use active substrate for my mischlinge, but if you want TBs, I've heard mixed things about fluval stratum, so I'll let someone with experience answer that. I use Mr Aqua Aquarium Soil as well as ADA Amazonia, both good. As far as lighting, a clip LED works if it's growing your plants! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sponge filters are awesome. Shrimp don't create much waste so a sponge filter is a great option. HMF is always a good choice too; more surface area for bacteria to colonize. You dont? So u dont need any? I have my mischlings in active substrate so I thought that was needed too (disregarding that some caridinas can be raised in higher Ph now ) I like HMF but I am unsure how it works hahaha 2 hours ago, Soothing Shrimp said: A lot depends on if you want amonia or not, and if you want to grow plants in it or not. I do want to grow plants and I dont want substrate that leaks ammonia because I feel like I would mess up and the shrimp would die 1 hour ago, dazalea said: I have used Fluval Stratum and ADA Amazonia. They both work well. yay!! 53 minutes ago, bostoneric said: ohmiko. if you want to drive up to Culver you can save yourself some $ on soil. Cash is king! https://www.discobee.com/collections/sl-aqua/products/sl-aqua-nature-soil Thank you for your recommendation. It has lots of great reviews! techsmith 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimp Life Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Fluval Stratum , you can buy the small bag. It will be enough for a 10 gallon ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 21 minutes ago, dazalea said: Fluval Stratum , you can buy the small bag. It will be enough for a 10 gallon This one? https://www.bigalspets.com/fluval-stratum-4-4-lb.html?utm_source=Google+Products&utm_campaign=Google+Products+Datafeed&utm_medium=Comparison+Shopping&gclid=CjwKEAjwm_K_BRDx5o-sxq6ouXASJAC7TsFL3CEMup1RlF94J4GIlDKoWRTYkxo9No1t1T1iBwmh_xoCxjXw_wcB thx @Mr. F posting about big als :o) Mr. F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Mischlinge are a bit hardier. I keep mine in 6.8 pH, KH 0-1, GH 5-7, TDS 200ish on black inert sand. I don't get pH swings and that tanks puts out more babies than any other tank I have. [emoji1303] Active substrate is most important when you want to stabilize/buffer a very low pH, for TB/tibee. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 2 minutes ago, Mr. F said: Mischlinge are a bit hardier. I keep mine in 6.8 pH, KH 0-1, GH 5-7, TDS 200ish on black inert sand. I don't get pH swings and that tanks puts out more babies than any other tank I have. Active substrate is most important when you want to stabilize/buffer a very low pH, for TB/tibee. Interesting! I just figured having an active substrate would be good in case a decide to throw some blue bolt or whatever TB/tibee in there and let it run wild Post pics of your mischling tank Mr. F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Interesting! I just figured having an active substrate would be good in case a decide to throw some blue bolt or whatever TB/tibee in there and let it run wild [emoji4] Post pics of your mischling tank [emoji3] ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Wow the lighting is so dramatic LOLL So cool tho.... Mr. F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Wow the lighting is so dramatic LOLL So cool tho.... Those moss ledges throw a hell of a shadow. It's also about 4W of light in the form of a couple cheap clip on LEDs. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 1 minute ago, Mr. F said: Those moss ledges throw a hell of a shadow. It's also about 4W of light in the form of a couple cheap clip on LEDs. all the moss i put on ledges never grows nicely I prefer how they look on cholla logs. I just bought fluval statum and a double sponge filter. What else do u think I need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 What about a heater? Light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Are you going to use a standard 10g? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Finnex stingray 20" to ball on a budget https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAFQ6FK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3CD.xb044TVKYTo ball out a little harder, you could go with the Finnex Planted+ 24/7 20" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pFD.xbM09T56SThis is my choice because the automation and customizability. But I get them for $60 at an LFS so it's a bit more reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Do i need a heater? I think my room is warm in the winter/ cool in summer w/ a fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 43 minutes ago, Mr. F said: Are you going to use a standard 10g? i bought the 10g from petco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Do i need a heater? [emoji33] I think my room is warm in the winter/ cool in summer w/ a fan You could get away without. If the room temp stays 65-75ish you should be good. ohmiko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 what about those weird LED light strips? how good are those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twister54 Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 I've just set up some lights using the LED strips. They are pretty bright and was easy to do, although the light has a blue tinge to it that I'm not so keen on. I just attached them to some MDF board which I attached to the bottom of the shelf above the tank. I don't have many plants just some moss so not sure how good they would be with any other plants. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ohmiko, Mr. F and oem 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. F Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 21 hours ago, Twister54 said: the light has a blue tinge to it that I'm not so keen on can you switch a strip out with a full red one or something? your plants would thank you too. Lol. Also, what strips are you using for your DIY setup? I've been curious if strips or the single LED route is the way to go for DIY lighting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmiko Posted October 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 21 hours ago, Twister54 said: I've just set up some lights using the LED strips. They are pretty bright and was easy to do, although the light has a blue tinge to it that I'm not so keen on. I just attached them to some MDF board which I attached to the bottom of the shelf above the tank. I don't have many plants just some moss so not sure how good they would be with any other plants. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk i bought a submersible light rod and it said blue and white and i bought it and its pretty much a light blue :/ I guess it goes well with my blue tank tho hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twister54 Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 The strip has multiple colour settings, so can be red as well and pretty much any shade in between. It's just the white setting doesn't seem very white. I brought them from eBay, there was quite a choice on there it was very similar to this one http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproof-5M-300-LED-3528-RGB-SMD-Strip-Light-12V-44-key-Remote-UK-Adapter-/162148875333?nav=SEARCHI got the waterproofed strips, some of them aren't which I thought might not be so good. I used a 5m length and kind of wove it back and fourth possibly could have got away with a shorter one, but any excess can be cut off anyway. I mostly used this method due to price was a lot cheaper than a proper aquarium light. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Mr. F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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