Rozski

I realise its not what you are asking, but I made a moss wall for the back of my tank. Worked really well (too well actually! The moss grows out too far in my wee tank) Got a plastic cross stitch backing type thing from spotlight, lay some moss on it, and covered it with netting. Stitched netting to plastic backing, and also fitted in a few suction cups to attach it to the back of the tank. Voila, nice and natural moss wall Don't actually have a good photo though sorry

Hey Zev, my gourami graciously accepts your compliments lol, he was the only one in the store, and he looked healthy with all his fins etc, so took him. If you look closely at the pair photo, you can spot the ulcer he has on his left hand side, he got it a few days after I bought him. Seems to not bother him and be healing though. And I wish you'd posted a day earlier! I've just come up from Palmy to the bay for a couple of weeks, and I probably could have been easily swayed to sell you the pair. I was thinking of getting a bigger better tank, but after doing the budget, I've decided not to. Either have to sell them, or just go up another 10 litres or so to give the fish (and my huge java fern) some more room. He doesn't destroy the other fish or anything, but the chasing is stressing them and the killies are always in hiding. Never seen the danios so sad either (might be old age though) plus no-one comes out for food Will see whats alive when I get back :roll: My bf is under strict instruction to feed my fish every few days and keep an eye on the inhabitants. Not feeding the fry really yet anyway. Thanks though, will keep you updated 8)

Grrr, petplanet website is down again. Just wanted to ask though, they sell the DIY kit made for 2 x 34 watt bulbs, but only sell 38 watt bulbs? How the heck is that supposed to work? :roll:

Yeah, I must be seriously spacing, I know 2 endcaps per bulb, but I had the idea stuck in my head of the single bulbs that double back on themselves, so only have 1 "plug" end *duh* Thanks for the ballast link! and all the help from everyone Especially the DIY setup, never even saw that on petplanet or realised what it was Why is it not good for the ballast to be in under the hood with the bulbs? I expect it gets too hot?

Hard to save when there is no income until christmas holidays I have money saved from last Xmas and have decided to splurge on a setup and have some fun with a small planted tank. Thanks for your help and suggestions though, they're much appreciated. Currently discussing lighting over in technical, looks like the bf will be building a hood as well to go with the stand :lol:

ewww internal filters! lol. I was going to go for a canister filter, hence the higher cost. I like natural tanks, with as little plumbing seen inside as possible And planning on getting one of those Aqua one heaters. Had my eye on a stainless steel one (have a 50W stainless steel one at the moment and love it), but the guy still wanted $45 for it...

Hmmm, I like the idea of making a hood (bf is offering to build a stand, may as well make a matching hood) and fitting in those DIY kits so I can put T5 tubes in there. If I got the one which has 2 x 38 watts, that would be right for a 70 litre tank? How do 4 endcaps fit onto 2 bulbs... So all you need is hood, plus DIY ballast and end caps and then 2 bulbs? And reflectors? (tinfoil? haha) Making more sense now, even though I still don't know what a ballast is lmao

Seems very complicated :-? Are you saying you buy a kitset hood thats the right size, and fit the MH equipment into it? Or alternatively, T5s ? Will be able to do more reading tomorrow after my last exam, sorry if I sound dumb at the moment :oops:

oops, missed that ianab :oops: Dunno how you get it all that cheap unless you sit and wait a couple of months for second hands, which yes, I could do. Frustrating though, I get all eager and want to start doing stuff, not wait for the next second hand one to come around :lol: Sweet deal on the tank evil 8)

It was more Hans $250 job that had me wondering how it was done so cheap And yes, am wanting good lighting. Bf will be building stand. You didn't put heaters into that addup But yeah, I realised it wasn't that great, hence me doing it myself and having fun researching all the technicalities, prices etc Thanks though!

ah. So that essentially moves me onto the Glo T5 hoods and lights? Which are almost $200 new... So about those metal halides... :lol: Can anyone show me what those ones on trademe look like once setup?

I realise they come with the T8s, but was wondering if you can take them out and fit some T5s in... Spose when I am free from exams tomorrow I could actually go to Wet Pets and ask. What does the ballast do? A ballast is usually a weight balancer, how is that useful for lights? With paying $80 for a double tube ocean fee with T8s, paying $30 for a metal halide fitting and $60 for a bulb isnt that much difference...

Excuse my ignorance, but why does a light need a ballast? And how much electicity are talking here lol Would love to be able to grow ricca in there, and more plants than just the java fern, java moss and ambulia, even if they are growing far to fast in my current wee tank Anyone know the answer for my first question, whether I can put T5s into the Ocean Free hoods? Thanks everyone for the help so far too

Haha, she came back and they just did it again. Lots of eggs floating around This is far more interesting than studying perinatal lamb mortatlities...

Fry are still alive so far Randy bugger has spent all day building another bubble nest. Tank is on my desk and I am studying and I glanced over and hes spawning with the female! I even saw the eggs fly out :lol:

What are they exactly in that auction? Just a bulb holder? Theres what looks like a lamp, plus a black box? So confused Do you have to hang them over the tank from the ceiling or wall? And lol, at 1 Watt per litre, I'd have more than enough with a 150watt bulb wouldn't I :lol:

I thought metal halides cost the earth? Only ones I have ever seen have been very expensive, but I suppose I haven't looked so close because of that How many bulbs do you use? And I have no idea what to look for or where to get them either :roll:

OK, so in the planning stages of setting up a 70 litre-ish tank. Haven't got tank yet, maybe be slightly bigger or smaller, but roughly that. I love planted tanks, so know good lighting is a must and have been browsing around. I like the lights that have the brackets so they stand a few inches above the tank, but that limits me to only about 3 types that I've seen; - the cheapest ones on trademe just callled "Aquarium Light" - the Ocean Free lights, would get a double tube 60cm one - the Glo T5 light hoods. The first ones are a bit cheap looking, while the Glo T5s are so expensive. Can I put T5 tubes into the Ocean Free light hoods? Or is there something better I could do? What is so special about the Glo T5s? Do their tubes run the entire lengths of the hood, as I know they don't in the others I've seen Sorry for all the questions, I am such a newbie, and am trying to research :oops:

None on trademe that I can see. We have two pet stores here, the usual overpriced chain store, and Wet Pets (haven't checked there yet, but their Jebo CF thats online is $150)

And where do I find myself one of those?

Yeah I have kinda done that too, said "to hell with the cost". I don't know how you people are setting up big big tanks so cheap (unless you already have a lot of the gear? I don't because I am only a beginner) Had another squiz at that setup, and its cheap and tacky anyway. BUT I am still going to set myself up another tank, maybe 70 odd litres Will be spending more than that other setup, but meh, it will be nice stuff. I don't know how you all started out, but I am just going with working my way upwards in size The bf has also said he'd build me a stand for it. The joys of having an engineer as a bf :lol:

Just to check, they aren't noisy or anything? The Aqua ones I mean, compared to any of the other brands. After reading one of the canister filter threads further down this forum people seemed to like the Jebos, but they are more expensive. I was surprised! I thought Jebo were the real cheapies. Was also surprised to see people complaining about Fluval flow rates

That was the cheapest canister filter so far, except it was the Aqua One CF700 I was eyeing up

hahaha why did he threaten to move out? Scared the octopus was going to crawl out the tank in the night and cling to his face or something? no wait, that was a friend of mine...

Taking a night off from study and enjoying researching different types of filtration lol OK, so I am upgrading to a 65-70 odd litre tank (yeah yeah, I got told to wait until I can go bigger, but I can't increase in size that much or too fast, so this is good and exciting for me for now). Have been reading on here all night through this technical forum on all the filter threads and opinion varies so widely. I am tossing up between a hang on the back filter (like the Aqua Clear I have now, no problems) or going for a canister filter. Problems with the HOB are the fiddlyness with fish tank lids around it. Could be solved by cutting a piece of plexiglass to fit around it I suppose. Problems with canister filters...which one should I get?!?! Reading these threads people say Eheim, but then Jebos are awesome, but then this and that and the other. Seems to vary thread by thread :lol: Balancing out all the opinions, seems the only thing different are the prices... (excluding Eheim, which are apparently so much better, but so much more costly, not much point for a tank this size I guess) Opinions and advice welcome thank you