bobo

Hey dude, lost my cell/numbers, so PMed yah CHeers

So I picked up two 2x40w Aqua One lighting systems today; both seem to be in reasonably good nick. Since I don't know how old the tubes are or what kelvin they emit (they are GLO powerGLOs, some have the kelvin written on, other don't), I went down to Mitre10 to buy some replacement bulbs; all their bulbs were 36W '865s'. I thought the 865s would be fine, but will 36W bulbs work ok in 40W fittings? Or do I have to buy aquarium bulbs? Tomorrow I plan to buy most of the rest of the equipments: 1) Does the filter matter? I assume I can get away with a pretty crappy filter? 2) I think I might go for flourish excel, instead of the CO2 tab system. Seem like a good idea? 3) Will grab a heater. 4) Going to buy the flourite - 3 bags I think (ouch) - going to have a pure flourite base. 5) I was going to buy PMDD for my fertilizer. Does that pretty much cover everything I need for a planted tank? Thanks again for all the help! Cheers

Thanks for all the replies guys I'll have the lights on it, and flourite in it by next weekend and will have some more photos. I'll then start thinking about plants and stocking... Appreciate it!

Hehe... I figured out the multiple quote thing (me so clever)... Cheers Some nice fish there. I think the hardest choice will be what 'school' of fish to get. On a side note: It is sad, but I'm not sure my BN is going to make the switch - I'm pretty sure he has devastated my Amazon Sword leaves (over some time). I'll take you up on that offer Morcs; I'll get the tank mostly up and the will take advantage of your generosity ;p Definitely keen on an Angel, but also Rams, and fighters, and those Corys are cool, and she likes guppies... so these will be the decisions that will plague my life.... Not so keen on Neons, although they do look great. The tank should be easily accessible. Cheers Hehe... I'm willing to listen to any ideas re: auascaping... since I don't have the best of eyes. I could always do flourish excel if it would do the 'CO2' job better, but it seemed pretty expensive in the long run. Cheers I certainly have a lot of research to do in regards to how to plant a tank - I do like the thick leaved plants, and wanted to create a focal ppoint using them, but I might be too limited by size constraints. You know you want to plant it ;p Cheers

So, Thank you very much for all the information given to me in other threads - I have taken it on board. Since we have bought another tank I have started this thread where I can pester for your collective wisdom. I am going to photo the progress. I am planning on a densely planted aqaurium. The tank will be going on a book shelf, so has slightly unusual dimensions: 116l x26d x 40h (appox 120l). The tank: Does this gear sound good: -I have 4x40W T8 Lighting - if that's too much I can switch a bulb off? -I want to get a subtrate of 6cm (average) Flourite - nothing else. DOes the depth sound good? It is expensive... -I want to get one of those CO2 systems where you use the satchels; I'm not sure what they are called. Anyone had any experience with these? This is instead of flourish excel. Bad/Good idea? -I am going to use PMDD. Planting I haven't looked into yet, but I want to densely plant certain species together, and obviously they have to suit the narrow nature of the tank. Fish types are up to my better half; but she likes Angelfish (one maybe), Blue Rams, Female Fighters, and Fancy Guppies. So I am going to look into the compatability of those fish and see what I can put together as a combo. Any other fish ideas? That's where I am now: I have one tank and two light units on the way (thank you trademe). Any advice/thoughts to give me? I appreciate all your help! Cheers BoBo

Was looking at those Aqua One T8 units - so I assume they are 'normal'. Cheers Phoenix

I've actually decided to get it custom made due to the fact I want to fit it to some specific dimensions. Does it matter if the 4ft lighting I bug overhangs at each end by a couple of cm? I can't imagine it does - just checking. This is to start a planted aquarium - 80w of light sound good for c120litres? 116cm long by 26cm deep by 40cm high. Or should I shoot for 120w of light? Cheers for all the help BoBo

<----------- dumb. Cheers Neon

Thanks for the replies. Where do you get a brace/bracing material from? Cheers edit: I might be under a misapprehension here (again...)- I thought bracing was something you stuck around the fish tank, i.e. like the black base that goes around my current one. However, can it be pieces of glass running across the top of the aquarium; i.e. at each end and the middle? In which case the tank may already have it.

Sorry... Not sure about the thickness of the glass - I'm looking to buy one of the tanks they have out the back of the bird barn (in the pond seection). I can go measure the thickness. What would you say is safe? Off to bed now, so won't respond until tomorrow. Thanks for the reply Sam

hey guys, I'm looking to buy a 120x30x30 tank; will it need some form of bracing? Or can I fill it up? Cheers BoBo

Not good

I don't know anything about it... merely quoting the fish shop, but I guess the argument is that once you place the water in the tank that it becomes dispersed through the whole tank, so you have to treat the whole tank (obviously if you are using buckets, that's a different story). I'm only guessing, and I have no real idea about chemistry. Obviously experienced people here are only treating the 25%, and their fish aren't dying left and right.

Yeah - Bik - they did say you only need to do the entire tank if you are putting it straight in. They also said I should add it to the tank before I add the water.

Just to add another spanner to the works - LFS just told me I should treat the entire tank when I do a water change - not just a proportion based on the amount of water changed...

Cheers guys

If that harms the fish, wouldn't we all have dead fish, since we all just use Stress Coat to remove the Chlorine? How do remove the mono chlorine? Cheers

Awesomee - I think I have been doing it all sweet then - just been adding enough for the water change, directly to the tank though\. I think I was just overthinking things. Thank you all for your help/the discussion.

I can see how that would work - at the moment I dump it straight into the tank - which is why I ask - the water chlorined water would be dispersed throughout the whole system. Soon I will be using an aquavac system, which takes the water straight from the tap to the tank. So do I need to treat the whole tank even though only 70l would have chlorine, or just enough for 70l, even though it is thorugh the whole tank? Does that even make sense lol CHeers for the response

Hey guys, I realise I may have been removing the chlorine incorrectly. Say I do a 70L H2O Change on a 330L tank, how do I add the Stress Coat to remove the chlorine? Do I: Step 1: Remove 70L from tank. Step 2: Add 70L tap water to tank. Step 3: Then add enough Stress Coat to the tank to treat the whole 330L or just enough to treat the 70L water change (even though that water would be dispersed throughout the tank)? I hope that's clear. Thank you very much for your help! Tim

Hehe the beach rocks Except I got the fright of my life when a couple of millipedes suddenly ran out of the wood while I cleaning it... (chucked that bit of wood) Cheers

So, here we have the tank and the fishie, and thanks for all your help guys, especially you Morc, for having a look at our filter, much appreciated:

We have set it up, but we haven't turned it on... and weare nervous something could go wrong. If it isn't too much hassle, depending where you live... it would be appreciated. I have PMed you Cheers