iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I created a substrate for my tank about 15 months ago and generally I am very happy with it. although most of my plants have died I am left with one that grows very easily. Does anyone have any comments on my substrate? I have just bought a new Aqua Grande 120 which is a 4 foot tank ( 285 litre ) and am thinking of using the same substrate. I do not get the tank for about another month so plently of time to decide how to proceed. Your thoughts would be appreciated... New Tank can be seen here. http://www.aquaone.co.uk/prod_details.php?id_no=52056BK Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 that looks good to me!!! whats your lighting like at the moment?? and what plant survived and what types died?? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 yep looks wicked to me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 that looks good to me!!! whats your lighting like at the moment?? and what plant survived and what types died?? thanks My current tank is an AquaOne 880 - see http://www.aquaone.co.uk/prod_details.php?id_no=52093sv The lights are currently the original bulbs @ 15 months old. The specs are detailed at : 2x30w PL + 1x20w Flourescent I really do not know what that means. The plant that grows really well is the last photo on the left side from the following image, the rest died. Thanks for your comments chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Thats what I am using in my tanks. The only thing different is that my gravel is smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Thats what I am using in my tanks. The only thing different is that my gravel is smaller. Great to know someone else is doing it as well. My thought is to increase the depth of the gravel or sand. On occasion I have found that my gravel cleaner has broken though into the lowest Aquotic Mix which is a clay type of material and not good to be mixed with water. Has this happened to you? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Only slightly, I have young fish and small fry in my tanks so I go very gently on my siphoning - use a small gravel vacuum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Bulbs are usually recommended to be replaced every year so i have read and seems to be a good guideline. Also lights should be on about 8-10 hours a day but everyone differs with there different lifestyles. Most those plants seem pretty hardy IME so i'm not sure what has gone wrong?? How long was it before they died? and did you get them from your LFS?? gud luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 the key to nice healthy plants is not only light, they need co2 and nutrients aswell. usualy you get co2 from fish waste, and nutrients from fish waste, and water changes, and dosing something like flourish, although if you are serious with plants you can get co2 injection and better, more specific ferts.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 The specs are detailed at : 2x30w PL + 1x20w Flourescent You won’t grow much with that light. I stated of with 2x54w & 2x39w t5s on a 4ft tank and changed to 150w metal halide. After a week the growth was amazing. Just shows that good lighting makes a big difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I created a substrate for my tank about 15 months ago and generally I am very happy with it. although most of my plants have died I am left with one that grows very easily. i am confused, what is the substrate that u've created? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 All of your plants other that the Ambulia have been grown emersed. Emersed plants generally need good light to convert from emersed to submersed growth and your lights are on the mild side and a bit old. Flouro tubes become less eficient with age and need replacing about every 6-12 months depending on how long they are on. The tubes get dark near the ends when old. Daylight tubes are the ones most people are using. They are generally a lot cheaper from a wholesaler than the pet shop. I got a couple of 4 footers last week for $10.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 i am confused, what is the substrate that u've created? The picture on the first topic shows my substrate composition. I did not actually make it - I put the 3 levels together. chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 All of your plants other that the Ambulia have been grown emersed. Emersed plants generally need good light to convert from emersed to submersed growth and your lights are on the mild side and a bit old. Flouro tubes become less eficient with age and need replacing about every 6-12 months depending on how long they are on. The tubes get dark near the ends when old. Daylight tubes are the ones most people are using. They are generally a lot cheaper from a wholesaler than the pet shop. I got a couple of 4 footers last week for $10.00 I will look into that option - Since the aqua one 880 is a corner tank I am limited in what I can do with lighting since it is part of the lid of the tank. Here is a photo of the lights in the 880 - sorry not the best shot. The new tank has 3x36w over the 4 foot span. How are the daylight bulbs rated in watts? Do they give a non coloured light? Cheers chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantman Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 this is generally the problem with pre fabricated tank. they have limited space in the hood. you will either modified your hood and add in more lights or lose the hood and go with the standard light holder in the market. some time, this may not be pleasant to look at. to modified, you may need a drill, tube holder, tube, wire, ballast and end cap. you need to buy the right stuff. are you good in electricity? another easier way wil be to check your ballast whether it support higher wattage (currently you have 30watt X 2 and 20 watt X1). if your ballasts only support 30s and 20s, than may be just change the ballast so that it will support higher wattage tube. i have seen pl going for 55watts and fl going for 54 watts. three of this tube will be enough for you 300 litre tank. best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Since you are a local and on the right side of the Bombay Hills I have sent you a PM about where to get cheap flouros. It is not PC to make this public or we could all be excommunicated. That is assuming that they are not an unusual tube only available from the pet shop at great cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 another easier way wil be to check your ballast whether it support higher wattage (currently you have 30watt X 2 and 20 watt X1). if your ballasts only support 30s and 20s, than may be just change the ballast so that it will support higher wattage tube. i have seen pl going for 55watts and fl going for 54 watts. three of this tube will be enough for you 300 litre tank. best of luck. Thanks for your comments, what is PL and FL by the way? chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantman Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 PL tube are generally called Philip light as Philip is the first to launch such a tube. it has a U-shape tube and has 4 pins on one end. FL is a Fluorescent tube commonly found in the market. if you can establish 3X50watts tube, you will be ok. ideally 200 watts will be better but not more than 300 watts of light. the spectrum you should look for is 6,500 kelvin. i just saw a 4 footer tube with 6,500kelvin in Bunnings. not sure if you have Bunninngs in Christ Church. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 PL tube are generally called Philip light as Philip is the first to launch such a tube. it has a U-shape tube and has 4 pins on one end. FL is a Fluorescent tube commonly found in the market. if you can establish 3X50watts tube, you will be ok. ideally 200 watts will be better but not more than 300 watts of light. the spectrum you should look for is 6,500 kelvin. i just saw a 4 footer tube with 6,500kelvin in Bunnings. not sure if you have Bunninngs in Christ Church. Cheers I think I have seen them but my bulbs are straight. The two longest bulbs are these; a 15000K 30w and the other 10000K 30w. chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantman Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 HI Chris you mention "PL" in your second thread. so i though you have PL light. if you got FL light, could you check your ballast (rectangular cubicle shape) and see it is says 36 watts or 55 watts or whatever. if it is higher wattage, you can just but the right bulb and it will be fine. if not, you might have to change the ballast to get higher wattage. Cheers Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 HI Chris you mention "PL" in your second thread. so i though you have PL light. if you got FL light, could you check your ballast (rectangular cubicle shape) and see it is says 36 watts or 55 watts or whatever. if it is higher wattage, you can just but the right bulb and it will be fine. if not, you might have to change the ballast to get higher wattage. The PL was part of the spec on the manufactures site. http://www.aquaone.co.uk/prod_details.php?id_no=52093sv The ballast unit must be right inside the lid as it is not visible without dismantalling the unit. Cheers chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantman Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 may be it was another model that uses PL light. so you have FL light and no PL light. yes, you will need to dismantle the unit to peep into the ballast. you might as well if you want to upgrade your lighting system. if your ballast do not support higher wattage, you will have to dismantle your ballast and bring it down to the lighting shop and look for one that has same dimension and right hole for fitting into your plastic hood. if you do not want to dismantle the ballast, have a good measurement of your ballast and describe it to your light dealer. Ballast come in all different dimension of a rectangular cube. as your dealer if he has one that support 55 wattage and above. i have a ballast that can support 2X55wattage in one ballast. so check with your light suppliers and see what they said. this is the easier way to upgrade your lighting system, otherwise, you will need to start drilling holes or use a strong epoxy adhesive to hold your ballast. there are also two kind of ballast: Magnetic Ballast: gets very hot and flicks a few time before the light is turn on. compare to Electric Ballast: does not get hot and turns on immediately. i favor EB over MB because EB can extend the life spam of the bulbs and does not shock the fishes. EB does not have starter as well. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maran Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Is there any nitrates in the aquatic mix? Just was wondering how much harm it may do to fish with it if it leaks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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