This tank was set up in mid April 2008. It is a 2.5 ft tank covered with glass sheets (broken down to 2 sections, the front section is a smaller piece for ease of lifting up to tend to the
cryptocorynes inside). Just a single 18W FL is switched on for about 6hrs a day to reduce the heat build-up in the tank. A thermometer and hygrometer is attached in the tank to monitor the internal conditions regularly, the average conditions are 27 - 28 degrees Celsius and 85% - 90% relative humidity.
Pieces of plastic egg crates are used to create a raised platform on which the pots of
cryptocorynes sit. Some fishes (wild
bettas and
gouramis as well as
boraras) are kept therein to prevent mosquitoes breeding (if any). The water in the main tank has a pH of around 4.5 by submersing a bag of peat moss (I used '
Horti Moss' which can easily be purchased from
NTUC supermarket) inside for a number of days. The water level is generally about 2cm below the substrate top level. Black water extract is also added to condition the water.
2 separate plastic
tubs are also placed on the raised platform to allow me to experiment with plants requiring less acidic water conditions and yet housed in the same tank to maintain the humidity level required. The pH of the water in these
tubs are close to neutral, between 6.8 to 7.2.
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