fishandchips

You could always do something like the people in this thread. Looks really good. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/rocky-cave-background-from-polystrene-vt22531.html But could be very labour intensive.

How much heat do you get out of those bulbs? I want to put some in my terrium so i can watch my newts at night but i don't really want to heat the thing up with the bulbs.

I had one leech for about two months. In the end i got rid of it (actually sitting in the garage now). It is a great looking piece of wood. Since it is getting on the bigger side i could not boil it, i had to drill small holes in the back of it just to get it to sink. It still floated, even after been soaked in a wheelie bin for a couple of months! I try and boil all my little pieces as this seems to help them soak up water and leech quicker as well.

There has been heaps of discussion on the subject of true SAE's. Here is a good thread: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/siamese-algae-eater-vt135.html And another http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/black-beard-algae-vt5912.html

Man they all look awesome. Has given me many ideas. Does the concrete leach at all in the water?

Nice looking tank. Good job

Awesome. Does the whole watts per litre work with these bulbs?

Sweet. Off to mitre 10 then. Do you get good plant growth with them?

Hey is there any reason why i shouldn't use cool day light energy savers bulbs over a small 24l planted tank? I can make everything waterproof for mains power. I just saw them at mitre10.

Yeah you can get a c02 difussor. I have one coming in the post at the moment. It will make the big bubbles for the airline hose into tiny bubbles. You can also make a reactor which helps the c02 disolve into water but that is something that i am not to sure about. If you do a quick search on either the site or google you will find heaps.

Here is a very crude and unartistic drawing. Click here

My set up stays around 21C we have a heat pump that runs most of the day at that temp. It is really good because the heat pump does not run at night so that slows the system down heaps so i dont have to worry about it running at night. I will try find a camera to take some pictures of it. If it helps i will explain how i set it up: I have a big 3l juice bottle (Pams) it has a nice flat base on it. In it i mixed 1.5l of water, 2t of yeast and 2 cups of sugar. I have that running into a 1l juice container (Pams) to collect crude if it decides to travel up the tube. I had that connected to another 1l juice container half filled with water to act as a bubble counter but that made to much noise so i now have ditched the bubble counter and the c02 runs straight into the intake for my HOB filter. To make sure that everything is nice and sealed i drilled the holes for the tube 1mm to small then feed the tube through. I then hot glued the lids shut. When i need to replace i will just get another juice container. It took a little trial and error to get it going but i think it helped having a constant temp. I also have the big bottle hard up against my tank so it will be getting heat from that as well. Hope this helps. Will get some pic soon

I thought about killi's but then i releasied that i might not be able to get a nice snug lid for it. All good suggestions. Maybe some glowlights and a betta.

400*300*230

I have had a 24l tank up and running for a week with water from a established tank and bits of a filter from the same established. It now needs fish. I can move fish that get to big to another larger tank at home. If anyone has any ideas speck up. Something different instead of neon tetras but just as bright

I have been running a DIY c02 system made up of a three litre juice container for only a day and a half and already i have got my plants pearling! It is fantastic. If anyone has been waiting to try it but has been unsure I would say give it a go. If you install a good check valve what can go wrong. I am going to see how long this mix lasts me and if i get some good growth I am going to invest in some top quality stuff. Bottle and everything. Plants, plants, plants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The guy i talked to said regulator but not really sure what he means.

I though about going down the same path till i called a local cylindar testing centre. The have 3.5kg retested c02 tanks with regulator for $220. Seems that it would end out cheaper to buy one that you know can be refilled and has a proper test on it.

I am coming up to wanaka in a couple of weeks the 13 of july i think, i can bring you a bag that far if you want. I know how hard it is to track down. there is only one place in dunedin that sells it. PM me if you are interested

I thought i would try the cheaper version first to get the hang of it then move to the bigger and better toys. I have a nice 90l tank cycling at the moment that is full of lovely plants that i know are going to go down hill shortly with out the proper stuff. I have t5 lighting ready to be put in (just have to find the time for some serious modifying). Next step will be co2. When you say "professional" i gather you mean co2 cylinder, values, solenoid switch and stuff like that. How much does a decent setup cost? I don't like buying stuff twice so may as well buy good stuff first up.

I found this great site while trying not to work. Just thought i would share. http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html#2 Hope it helps

WLECOME! If you want to grow some plants get some stuff called Daltons aquatic mix and daltons propogating sand. Work wonders.

Depending on that wattage you want the price will change. When i find out the price of the 24watt ones i want i will let you know. Yeah the T5 (16m) is what you want. Go for the HO (HIgh output ones). Then you just have to choose what kelvin rating you want. Been a student is another reason i got just the ballast as well instead of paying the high price for the whole kit. but if you don't have a hood then go for the whole kit

When it comes to T5 bulbs it is cheaper to source them from a hardware store then from a petshops. Jump on the OSRAM website and find the bulbs that you want then ask them to order them in for you. That is how i am getting my T5's. It is not that i don't weant to suport the lfs but been a student i can't afford the prices of the branded bulbs.

I am doing the same thing that you are tukituki but with a slightly smaller tank. I have ordered some T5 units from http://www.petplanet.co.nz/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=291 2x24w units. They come all pre wired will electric ballest and waterproof fittings and clips for the bulbs. I am getting to sets for my tank. They have ended out around about the same price compared to sourcing all the bits and pieces from electrical wholesalers. So to cut a long story short i get everything i need for slightly more expensive then parts but then the unit is waterproof. Next step lights.