Joe

0.4 won't bother them. Fish prefer a lower pH - 5-6.5 I've found works really well (unless your've got fish that prefer a higher pH like Malawi Cichlids).

Oh come on don't be lazy! A 3liter juice bottle, some sugar, water, yeast, a bit of tomato sauce, a check valve and a length of airline! If you don't want to pay the $20 or so extra dollars to order a Pollen Glass diffuser, then just ram the airline into the filter outlet or cut/drill a hole into it if it's a hose of some sort. Then shove the airline into the hole. The mixture lasts for up to 3 weeks!

I think I'll just go for the 70cm one - it will look better, I don't mind using just 2 T5s in conduction with the metal halide, it will be easier, and it will cost less that the 110cm one .

Just had a thought. As I don't want the overhang, and you reackon that 1 150watt MH isn't enough for a 90x45x45cm tank, then would the 250watt unit be better?

But I want to use the T5s. The overhang would be a bit annoying as the T5s run the whole length of the hood and they would overhang too, so it would look funny having the light reflecting on the carpet and the side of the stand. Is there some sort of metal halide lightinghood (maybe some other brand) that is about 80-90cm long and has 2 metal halide lights and 2 T5s that would be suitible for my tank?

Navarre it right. For fertiliser, you can use JBL Aquabasis Plus, because apparently it's super-good and it doesn't cost a fortune. Then there's latarite, and belive me that stuff will make you broke! But it's really rich in iron though, so a little bit wouldn't hurt. Same thing with the price of Seachem substates too, but they're quite good. Dalton't Aquatic Mix it good too, but make sure that you cover it with LOTS of substrate otherwise it will cloud the water and it will be next to impossible it get rid of that problem once you have it. If you do use the Dalton's, never stir your substrate or vaccume it with a gravel cleaner. If you are having plants, I highly recommend CO2 injection. It made a HUGE difference in my tank. The best way to do it is by using CO2 Nano Pollen Glass diffusers. They're better than ladders ect. Also they are good for DIY systems.

But that is too long for my tank. Also, I'm getting confused now, because you are saying that 1 isn't enough, but: Then there's 2x Power-Glos that I can fit in the hood. Sorry if I'm sounding a bit rude or anything, but I'm new to all this high-tech lighting stuff and it's really confusing me.

It comes with 2x Arcadia T5 Marine Blue Lamps. Would it be possible to swap these for Hagen Power-Glo? Also, is the halide lamp that it comes with a Marine Lamp?

There is just one halide lamp in the hood. There are 2 T5 fittings as well.

Oh right. Must of misread something. But I'm sure that at the top of the page with all the information that it said something about them not having silicone... My imagination!

ADA 90x45x45cm Cube Garden Clear, OptiWhite Glass, 8mm thick. I want like a nature-type tank. Read the top part of this page about the lighting information: http://www.adana.com.my/products/lightingsystem.htm I've been looking at some Arcadia Metal Halide lights. http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... e_lighting I like the 70cm Single Slimline Pendant. There are two types - 150watt and 250watt. Which one is best? Plus they have two T5 fittings. Which T5 lights are best? http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... t_tubes/t5 I like the High-Lite tubes, and the Arcadia Freshwater tubes. Are these both good? The Hagen Glo tubes are like 18,000K, and from what I've read this is only good for tanks with tonnes of plants like stem plants and red plants, so I'm not sure about them, although a lot of people recommend them. I want Bolbitis, Java fern varieties, a few grasses and some moss in my tank. Like this one: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... -45-a.html

I was looking at the ADA site again, and drooling over their cool products! I was looking at the tanks, and found out something cool - they don't have silicone joining the glass together. It's just fused in some way, but the corners/edges aren't round. Can you get that sort of stuff in NZ? If not, how much would it cost to order? That's what I was thinking of doing. I'm looking at the 90x45x45cm tank. It's the ADA Cube Garden Clear: http://www.adana.com.my/products/aquarium_tank.htm

Ok. So for metal halide, you need an open-top tank, an I right? I've decided then that metal halide will probably be best for me then, as T5 is expensive to replace. How do I deal to the problem of dust/scum in an open-top tank? Would an overflow be good?

They're so cute!

By the way it's FIORDLAND not Fjordland !

That is a really good point. Do metal halide lights use quite a lot of power? Are the hoods and fixtures more expensive than T5 to start of with? I might have to change my mind about T5 then... I was thinking of hanging it (actually I better not, because I might be sent to prison :lol: ) I have. They have them for sale at the local pet shop. I just prefer Arcadia. It looks nicer. It would be good though if there was a lightinghood that work as good as the Glos and looked as nice as the Arcadia.

Yes that's why I like it.

Ok. I'll think about that. I want 4 T5 tubes though, so I really don't fancy getting 2 Glo Units. 2 Glo units would be quite bulky and take up a lot of space. Another reason that I like the Arcadia and ADA lightinghoods is that they fit 4 tubes, and they aren't bulky. If I wait until next Christmas and save up my money I might be able to get Arcadia or ADA...

Decided 50cm was too high after I had lots of trouble scoping out gravel in my current tank on Saturday! Something shorter would be better for me then, as my arms are short and puny!

I'm not thinking of getting the light right now. I was thinking I could save up my money and get it at Christmas. So I am just trying to find out what would be best for my tank. So far, I really like Arcadia and ADA.

They look like little blobs!

Don't worry, you haven't lost any Hengelis. There are four in your tank and there has been so for quite a while, before the fish were infected with whitespot. I'm so gutted that your tank has whitespot, because it is really lovely and the fish are stunning. It is really ashame about the Rhom Barbs dying because they are such a lovely fish and that school of 10 that you had just looked stunning.

Ouch! I just asssumed that it would be around $100. Gosh. So would it be better to buy from Hollywood fish farm?

:lol: You mean as awesome as I like! How do I make a hood?

I know, but in most small tanks like this people tend to put small schooling fish like rasboras or small tetras. The only species of fish that I could think of for this tank that wouldn't jump would be an apisto or otocinclus, but that would just look boring. I'm a big fan of shoaling fish. They add movement and are usually very colourful.