DIY a L-pole to suspend the light

It is a pretty fast & simple materials to DIY a light pole/bracket for your aquarium light to a suspend type, first of all need to buy some materials from hardware shop:

1.) L1800mm~2100mm shower curtain rod - RM15.90 (approx US$4.95)

2.) L900mm~1200mm shower curtain rod - RM12.90 (approx. US$4.00)

3.) Curtain wire from IKEA - RM19 (approx. US$5.90)

4.) U shape plastic clip & holder 2 sets - RM2.00 (approx. US$0.65)

5.) Metal wire robe clamp 2 nos. - RM1.80 (approx. US$0.55)

6.) PVC T join for plumbing - RM1.50 (approx. US$0.45)

In total spent of RM52.05(US$16.50) to DIY it. How to make it? From the photos below tell more than words.

join 2 metal rod with this PVC T join. (My cousin complained it does a bit ugly look, but no other parts can replace it at the moment.)

U shape plastic clip & holder to firm the bottom part of metal rod.

U shape plastic clip & holder to firm the middle part of metal rod.

Curtain wire set included this metal wall fitting from IKEA, screwed it on the aluminium light case.

Wire robe clamp to tighten the metal wire.

Here is the final product, it isn't ugly look with all these materials easily found in any hardware shop.

Upgraded CO2 diffuser

The old CO2 diffuser really looks huge inside the tank, just upgraded to an external type + DIY bubble counter(will upgrade that soon).

So far the rubber seal at the bottom cover of new CO2 diffuser no water leakage and the mixing process is great with some fine bubble produces.

Overall, quite like the new CO2 diffuser, my tank is clean look without the old huge CO2 diffuser. Since the ugly diffuser gone, now the digital thermometer is an issue to me, looks big in front. Another item need to take away soon.

ADA International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC) 2009 winners' photo

Recently busy about my job, that's why nothing to post for weeks, and also the new tank had some algae growth. Luckily I bought the Seachem Excel to control the algae from growing fast. Planned to do some rescape later when I am free.

For this year 2010 IAPLC, I am not able to join due to the time frame is too near, and my tank still need times to grow the plants & some fine tuning or trimming. But anyway, next year will participate in the contest.

Here are some collection photos of ADA International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC) 2009 winners' ranking from #1~27 that can be found in Saigon Aqua. They are great, they are deserve for the top 27.

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1 Nguyen Tien Dung, VIETNAM
Title: Moment In Time

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2 Chan Shih Hsien, TAIWAN

Title: Magic Forest

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3 Yuji Yoshinaga, JAPAN

Title: Time of Eternity (Yaku Island)

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4 Josh Sim KH, MALAYSIA

Title: Awakening

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5 Wang Chao, CHINA

Title: Looking for Mystery

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5 Chow Wai Sun, HONG KONG

Title: Towering Peaks

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7 News Chuan Lin, TAIWAN

Title: Forest-Breath

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8 Nguyenthi Xuanthuy, VIETNAM

Title: Ups and Downs

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9 Ngo Truong Thinh, VIETNAM

Title: Peaceful

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10 AJ Judy Prajitno Putra, INDONESIA

Title: Fearless: Spirit of the Rainforest

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11 Hsu Yung Lin, TAIWAN

Title: Rain Forest

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12 Yee Kin Cheong, MALAYSIA

Title: Forest Path

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13 Cliff Hui, HONG KONG

Title: Treasure

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14 Wong Kam, HONG KONG

Title: The Phoenix and The Dragon

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15 Tatsuo Harada, JAPAN

Title: Over the Blue

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16 Zentaro Watanabe, JAPAN
Title: A Silent Morning

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17 Eishi Yamamoto, JAPAN

Title: A Breezeway in the Valley

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18 Zhang Jianfeng, MACAU

Title: Roar of Yellow River

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19 Yeo Siak Wee, MALAYSIA

Title: Mystique River

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20 Hidekazu Tsukiji, JAPAN

Title: Wind from the South

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21 Hironori Handa, JAPAN

Title: Cloud

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22 Pasquale Buonpane, ITALY

Title: Oriens et Occasus (East and West)

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23 Szymon Fiedorowicz, POLAND

Title: Swampland

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24 Nguyen Ngoc Tri Nhan, VIET NAM

Title: Whispers of Stones

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25 Artur Frankowski, POLAND

Title: The Lost Canyon

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26 Jullawong Papunta, THAILAND

Title: Rainny Season on My Home

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27 Jamie Lin, TAIWAN

Title: Mysterious Bermuda

20" Tank Journal ( Step III )

i) First of all draw out the water with a pipe to lower water level easy for scape.

ii) Started to transplant from the old tank, it took hours for me to select & trim all algae on the leaves.

iii) Spray on some water to wet the leaves.

iv) After put all the balance of plants.....it is still looks too simple.

v) Temporary solution, DIY CO2, had something in mind to upgrade to an external CO2 tank with a solenoid.

vi) After all stuffs ready, bottle+sugar+lukewarm water+......where the heck of my yeast? Searched all areas in the fridge....couldn't find it, I was really fell from the sky. End up have to drive to the nearest store to buy a new pack of instant dry yeast. Wasted an hour, the water became cold, and need to redo for the lukewarm water....later +yeast+soda..........ready to produce CO2.

vii) The previous bottles had threw away, need to make a new one.

poke a hole in the cap & slot in the pipe connector, then seal the small gap with glue gun.

viii) Turn on the other side of the cap and seal with the glue gun for double protection.

ix) When the glue cold down, its really hold tight.

x) Now is the part between cap & plastic bottle.

xi) Try to flatten the glue in between the cap & plastic bottle with the hot gun.

Tips: How to check the leakage? It is simple, put your ear near to the bottle, blow in some air through the pipe, if can't hear the whizzing sound, means no leakage.

xii) Went out for awhile to get some rocks & a background plant, really hate the LFS...no name tag on the plant. Another nightmare on separating the infected hairgrass & the healthy one.

checked water chemistry, all okies. Wait for another day to let water get crystal clear. And more plants to add in later.

20" Tank Journal ( Step II )

Went to a few LFS to shop for the lights, finally I've got what I wanted, it is a the Aqua Zonic Super Bright double tube 24W T5 lamp with 12000K brightness, and it cost around RM160(50USD).

The new L60cm light fitting in the box.

Put up the light to test for the brightness. It is really a good workmanship, and I am highly recommended this light for a small tank.

This is nightmare, went back to my old house to collect all those full of algae driftwoods, the time I spent on washing it, was really killing my back. Tried to arrange it on the floor before put in the tank.

Still not the final arrangement, need some fine tuning. Meanwhile added some water to 1/3 of the tank.