SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I guess the light will be the expensive part of all this... All I can say is don't buy from your local pet or fish store if you want to save $$ FINAL FINAL questions... I add a couple of ml of Stres Zyme and Stress Coat every water change (as directed), should I? Final? Sure sure 8) I stopped adding it ages ago and just let my water sit out for an hour Foot tall. Haven't decided on plants yet, since I haven't decided whether to pillage some streams or... gulp... buy the plants (gasp)! Two tubes standard T8 (1x4000k and 1x 6500 or 10000k) or a couple of 6500k CFL energy savers should do. I can give you some cuttings of my plants in a few weeks for free if you'd like to pick them up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 PMDD + flourish excel + good lighting + good substrate and your away laughing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 if the tube is 1.5ft long it will be 15w or its its 2ft long it will be 20w . its a t8 tube if you are electrically minded you could replace the tube with 4 23w cfl(the energy saver type light bulbs. that would giove you plenty of light if it sounds like too much you can get tube with a remote ballast like this http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.php?mid=12&lan=en i have one im not using if you want its a 15w fitting you would need to find some suitable brackets to attach the tube to ur hood and bam an extra 15 watts of light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I guess the light will be the expensive part of all this... All I can say is don't buy from your local pet or fish store if you want to save $$ A trip to the hardware store then. FINAL FINAL questions... I add a couple of ml of Stres Zyme and Stress Coat every water change (as directed), should I? Final? Sure sure 8) I stopped adding it ages ago and just let my water sit out for an hour So, you leave the water you are going to add in, to air for a while? What does that do? Foot tall. Haven't decided on plants yet, since I haven't decided whether to pillage some streams or... gulp... buy the plants (gasp)! Two tubes standard T8 (1x4000k and 1x 6500 or 10000k) or a couple of 6500k CFL energy savers should do. I can give you some cuttings of my plants in a few weeks for free if you'd like to pick them up? I will find out what that jargon means and I would love some cuttings! It would be much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 PMDD + flourish excel + good lighting + good substrate and your away laughing Cheers dude - I like laughing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 if the tube is 1.5ft long it will be 15w or its its 2ft long it will be 20w . its a t8 tube if you are electrically minded you could replace the tube with 4 23w cfl(the energy saver type light bulbs. that would giove you plenty of light if it sounds like too much you can get tube with a remote ballast like this http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.php?mid=12&lan=en i have one im not using if you want its a 15w fitting you would need to find some suitable brackets to attach the tube to ur hood and bam an extra 15 watts of light Cheers man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I will find out what that jargon means and I would love some cuttings! It would be much appreciated I'm assuming you're talking about the K ratings I gave you? The stand for a cetain colour temperature. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32844&start=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I'm assuming you're talking about the K ratings I gave you? The stand for a cetain colour temperature. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32844&start=0 Sweet, not too complicated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I use two 4000k bulbs and two 6500k bulbs, gives a nice colour and it's good for plants. If I had to choose one I'd go with the 6500k because it gives a cool, sterile effect. 10000k is great for plants but it's a bit pink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Cool. I'll see what 6500 lights are available and then try to figure out how to fix em above the tank (I do have practical, engineering mates...). Cheers. I'll keep you posted (prob through pestering questions more than anything else) hehehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1CK Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I think I want to make a 'dutch style' aquarium, which if I understand it relies more on the plant life You obviously haven't seen my tank then then again the right side is only looking good at the moment The JBL 7+13 ball seem alright, just shove them under the base of the plant (in the gravel) I might be able send you some my cuttings of ambulia and a little bit of left over hydrophilia polysperma, rotola rotundfolia (thanks supasi ) and a few rhizomes of java fern/ baby crypts if you wanted them as well (the rotola and polysperma isn't in the best of conditions ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 You obviously haven't seen my tank then Nope, you haven't showed us. (the rotola and polysperma isn't in the best of conditions ) Mine is though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Light hood mod http://fishkeepers.co.nz/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 You obviously haven't seen my tank then then again the right side is only looking good at the moment The JBL 7+13 ball seem alright, just shove them under the base of the plant (in the gravel) I might be able send you some my cuttings of ambulia and a little bit of left over hydrophilia polysperma, rotola rotundfolia (thanks supasi ) and a few rhizomes of java fern/ baby crypts if you wanted them as well (the rotola and polysperma isn't in the best of conditions ) Hey Nick, I would love some plants! If you have some spare cuttings, let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Light hood mod http://fishkeepers.co.nz/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=52 The bit about houses burning down made me nervous. Anything even vaguely practical is foreign to me, but I wouldn't even get a mate to that, since i don't even have enoguh knowledge to know if they have done the job right or not. I guess I will have to figure out another way to get the lights above the tank. You can't just buy brackets or lids or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Oh yeah, Someone suggested putting Sodium Bicarbonate in the aquarium to produce C02. I assume this wouldn't work, or else everybody would do it right? So I guess I will need to make one of those yeast and sugar bottles, the whole C02 tank thing seems a little hardcore and expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Sodium Bicarbonate increases KH and doesnt have anything to do with CO2 levels as i remember Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 So I guess I will need to make one of those yeast and sugar bottles, the whole C02 tank thing seems a little hardcore and expensive. Baking soda helps stabalize this mix but just ups the pH in the aquarium IME. I have one bottle running on all my planted tanks at the moment, the trick is not to hook them up to anything that creates pressure, ie an airstone or diffuser. I just have them going into the filter basket, outlet or straight into the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Ok. I think I have everything sorted... but... The lighting. I think this is the area I will just pay for convenience, while I understand you can get lightings and somehow fix them into my current lid, that just aint gonna happen with my world reknown electronic skills. So, I'm just going to fork out for one of those systems that I can clip above my fish tank. I assume I can just clip to either side of the tank, on the glass walls, and it will just shine down? Do I need to worry about the watts of the bulbs? (I understand the Kelvin part - get a couple of 6500s or 1 6500 and 1 greater for a different colour of light). Do I need to reach a total level of watts for a 60l tank? Should I be looking at a two tube system? Cheers again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 So I guess I will need to make one of those yeast and sugar bottles, the whole C02 tank thing seems a little hardcore and expensive. Baking soda helps stabalize this mix but just ups the pH in the aquarium IME. I have one bottle running on all my planted tanks at the moment, the trick is not to hook them up to anything that creates pressure, ie an airstone or diffuser. I just have them going into the filter basket, outlet or straight into the water. Cool. I might experiment with the yeast bottles once I have everything up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Sodium Bicarbonate increases KH and doesnt have anything to do with CO2 levels as i remember Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Sodium bicarbonate will produce CO2 in acid conditions but you will have no control over the rate. It will work until it or the acid runs out. Suggest you generate CO2, inject it, or add flourish excell (the easiest option) It is a complete package or it does not work---strong light/ added fertilizer/ CO2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobo Posted October 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Sodium bicarbonate will produce CO2 in acid conditions but you will have no control over the rate. It will work until it or the acid runs out. Suggest you generate CO2, inject it, or add flourish excell (the easiest option) It is a complete package or it does not work---strong light/ added fertilizer/ CO2. Cheers. I think I'll go the flourish excel route; seems the easiest for a noob like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 I couldn't be bothered reading all the replies to you question so I'll just have a go at answering it . Your tank already has good plants (those swords look good). First thing I'd do if get some black gravel. Even if you mix it with your white stuff. Then plant your tallest plants (the swords ) in the 2 back corners and place a few rocks in front of them to make it a bit more natural and then go to your lfs and get some sort of low growing plant (dwarf sag or hair grass) is pretty simple to grow then plant thayt around in the front empty space of your tank and leave a bit of room in the front for you fish to swim in. Then just dose your tank with a bit of flourish exel weekly and you'll, have a natural good looking tank thats simple to look after and looks good. Another thing for planted tanks is your Fish you have in it, I prefer 2 or 3 types of schooling fish and a few focal fish like rams and then have a cory or loach for the bottom. If you want I can post a pic of my community semi planted tank I redone yesterday. The only thing is I have Black Beard Algae on some of my plants that will eventually go with flourish but at the moment looks a bit ugly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Pic please Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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