Joe

What's the point of putting fish in an open-top tank? They'll all jump out! When I first started fish keeping, I had a tiny 2cm gap right along the back of the tank. I lost just about all of my fish.

I just had a thought. Would it be cheaper to buy something that's around $600 from that overseas website and pay about $100 shipping cost instead of buying it triple price from Hollywood Fish Farm? Or would that not really work? (Like, would I have to go through some sort of really complicated buisness or something?) Cool, but what if I go and spend a fortune on ADA and T5's don't fit? Would it be possible to replace the PC ballasts in the ADA hood with T5 ballasts? Would a T5 fit in a PC ballast?

Are they high-output like the T5?

What are PC tubes? I've only heard of T5, T6, T8 and T9 tubes. Are PC better than T5?

What about ADA Grand Solar 2? http://www.adana.com.my/products/lightingsystem.htm You'll have to scroll down the page and look for it. Are they any good? I really want the Arcadia, but you've tried them and said they're not as good as the Glo ones, but the Glo hoods are sooooo ugly! :lol:

I just wondered, are the Hagen Glo T5HO Lightinghoods better than Arcadia? Or is it vice-versa?

Why's that? I thought that Arcadia was practically the best there is.

Yep :lol: I still can't get over this - http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... -45-a.html Browse through the whole thread. It's just amazing. I'm a HUGE fan of Luis Moniz's work! I wanted to try something like this when I rescaped my tank, but didn't take enough care and it turned to custard. I was thinking of another idea, but I still just love this tank. So I am going of having another attemp, but this time being far more careful and taking my time, and I want the right equiptment too. I'm thinking of a tank that's 90x45x50cm! I like the length and width of Luis Moniz's tank, but I reckon that a higher tank would look better - hence 50cm (and it would hold more water too! = more fish!)

Just want to know if it's availible, pricing, where to get it from and how safe it is (like for example toughened glass shatters all over if it only has one or two chips or whatever, and standard glass does not and is more safe). Joe

Where is the cheapest place in NZ to purchase these lightinghoods?

Righty ho. I was looking at the Arcadia Overtank Luminaire T5 Quad Lighting hoods, and I really like the look of them. When I get my new tank made, I'll probably opt for something around 90cm long, so the 90cm Quad would suit my needs. The website that I was looking at was an overseas one, and they were priced at around $600. It was in pounds so I converted it to NZ dollars by the way. Can you get them in NZ for this price? I know Hollywood Fish Farm stocks these lightinghoods, and I was browsing on their website, but they don't show the prices :-? . Also, what are the best T5 tubes? The ones so far that I really like are the Arcadia tubes and the Hagen Glo series. Would I need a dehumidifier if I did get metal hlide? My tank's in my room, and I don't really fancy water dripping on me while I'm asleep :lol:

Well that answers that! I don't really think mum would want extra lights hanging from the ceiling above a fish tank :lol: I hate stickers and glitter :lol: Just wondered, what types of T5 lighting are there? I've heard of T5 HO (high output) and T5 VHO (Very high output). Which is best and what are some examples of the VHO, because I only really know about the HO.

Hmm not sure. I was thinking Arcadia-type lighting... Well, something good quality and also something that looks good too - that's why I was thinking about Arcadia lighting, because it covers both of these.

Hi people, I just want to know which of the two is best, and the pros and cons of each. I'm looking at getting a new tank (selling my old one though) so I need to know which type of lighting to get so I can maybe change the plants of the lid to easily incorporate the lighting. Also I was thinking of an open-top tank, but then what about condensation and fish jumping out? So I was sort of thinking of having a well-fitting glass lid, but then is it safe to then have the lighting up against the glass? Plus do these sorts of lighting become quite hot and need some sort of cooling device thingy? I've only had experience with T8, and I'd like to go more high-tech and better quality. Please help me out! Joe

They look sooooo cute! I've actually been thinking of getting otos for my tank.

I've got 3 cats, and they sometimes walk in front of the fish tank on it's stand (which is quite wide so the cats are able to walk on it) and they never even look at the fish. They just don't bother. I'm extremely confused, because I thought cats LOVE fish. I've had my tank for nearly 3 years and the cats have never once bothered with it.

I think I'll go for the Burnt Sienna, but it is very expensive. But I suppose since the Dalton's has that fine gravel stuff in it, then I might be able to sift it. I'll have a think. But first I have to sell my tank and get one rebuilt to the size that I like, and then I can worry about substrate.

Interesting. I've always heard that the plants prefer fine gravel like the Sienna, so I want your opinion on something - is Dalton's better that Burnt Sienna, or would Sienna be better than Dalton's? I want to make sure that my plants are getting the best substrate possible. I don't know as much about plants as you, and I'm kind of new to plants, because I used to just be interested in the fish. But I'm pleased that I'm into plants now, because I've found that properly planted aquariums are very pleasing, but I've never really had a lot of success with them.

Wow Jennifer that is just fantastic! Simply amazing. How deep is the substrate? Is that dark stuff on top of the Dalton's seperate type of substrate? The warehouse here has HEAPS of 20 liter bags of Dalton's Propagating sand, and I was thinking about getting some for my tank, but it is rather pale and I'm not too sure about it. I like the look of Burnt Sienna from Petstuff101 because its not too fine and its rather dark, but it's quite expensive, plus I'd have to get it shipped to me, which will cost extra money.

It will work, because I saw a member of the Nelson club who had cork bark on the back of his African tank. It was really cool. Also fish won't get stuck behind it if it's siliconed straight onto the glass.

Moss grows on wood. So probably the most easiest thing to do would be to try and get some cork bark, and silicon it to the glass. The moss can then happily grow away on the cork bark. You can get cork bark at Bunnings I think (I was told it was Bunnings or the warehouse or something, but I forgot! So I'm not 100% sure). The best thing about this is that you won't need to make a big bulky mesh screen or anything, and it is much easier, and less hassle too.

Wow. Stunning fish Double Red Agassiziis aren't they?

Thanks. I'm planning to stock it with Red-line Rasboras, some of those Furcata Rainbows, and then my kitty tetras and some Tinwini Danios. I want a pair or two of some sort of Apisto so I have a feature fish. Bottom feeders will probably be Zodiac Loaches and Golden Bristlenoses. I might think about Peckoltia when I have the money.

What do you mean by "unless they're extremely peaceful"? I've had fighters before, but never really enjoyed them (they just don't do much for me), but I've never had problems with aggression between males and females. As long as there's more than one female then that's fine, because the male has trouble harrassing them if there's two or more (he has trouble picking which one to harrass). I even had 3 male fighters in the same tank without problems.

Ok then. But PLEASE promise that you'll set it back up again, witha design just as good or better.