Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 I have been looking at CF1200 for my AR620T, I realise this might be a little overkill, but should give me some head room at a later stage for adding some more fish. Problem is, I don't want to modify the stock hood too much, as I'd like to be able to keep the tank saleable at a later stage, if I upgrade. I know some of you guys have modified Aqua One tanks to take external canister filters, but i don't know how you guys have done it. Some advice from those who have would be awesome, Pictures of the jobs might be even better. I was thinking of drilling some suitable sized holes in the back of the hood, where the stock filtration normally sits, and then using the standard holes in the hood to feed the pipe through, so if I do sell this tank and get something bigger at a later stage, all I have to do is patch the holes I made in the hood using some plastic and some silicone sealant. I have also been looking at a lighting upgrade, as I don't like the yellow light the stock tubes give off. After getting some 6500k/900 lamps for a different tank, I really like the look of that light in the tank, I don't really want to go hacking up the hood of the tank, nor do i want to remove the hood all together, I have found some replacement tubes from HFF, and don't know which one will give the the correct "Bright White" colour in my tank. I have posted the links in the hope someone can inform me. Google was of no help today. In my tank, I have various plants, Ambulia, and some grass like plants, and some red stem type plants,(common LFS stuff), Fish wise, I have 10 Glow lights, and Harlequins, and some guppies, and a couple of bristle noses, i'm soon to have 2x electric blue gourami's as well. Aqua One PL 18W Marine Blue 14K Aqua One PL 18W Mix Triphosphor & Biolux Aqua One PL 18W Mix Triphosphor 7.1K & Blue 14K Aqua One PL 18W Triphosphor After reading the stickied thread and some more resources on google, I think the third one, is the standard tubes, and I guessed the 14k one would be the brightest one. Which one would give me the brightest light, but also be good for my plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 powerglo. 18000K. they are the brightest and great for plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Are they available as a direct replacement for the stock tubes in the ar620t? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 depends on which tubes you have in the 620/T. if you have the T8's then yes. there is a standard size for it that will fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Nah, they are the power compact tubes. Like the ones in the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 are they the half and half's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 yeah onehalf is red/pink, and the other half is yellow/white/blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 if you go to a lighting wholesaler you should be able to get 6500k pl18w tubes cheaply otherwise go for the triphosphor its a nice white light not so yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Oh these tubes are normal off the shelf tubes. Excellent. Ill go and have a look around tomorrow. Cheers. Now i just need to sort out the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 I have a Fluval 405 canister filter on an AR850 tank. On the left side of the hood there is an area that already had access holes through the bottom. I just cut down the back on two sides and then lightly scored a line under it and when I bent it, it snapped off perfectly to allow the inlet and outlet hoses through and still fit the lid over the top as if it is unmodified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 I have a Fluval 405 canister filter on an AR850 tank. On the left side of the hood there is an area that already had access holes through the bottom. I just cut down the back on two sides and then lightly scored a line under it and when I bent it, it snapped off perfectly to allow the inlet and outlet hoses through and still fit the lid over the top as if it is unmodified. Perfect, I was contemplating something like that, now i have seen pics, i have a better idea of what I have to do. Is your inlet and out let in the same hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Perfect, I was contemplating something like that, now i have seen pics, i have a better idea, is your inlet and out let in the same hole? Yes. I was originally wanting the intake and outflow to be at opposite ends of the tank but I didn't really want to cut up both ends of the hood. As it turns out, I couldn't have done it any better. The filter really is much more than what is needed for the tank so the fast flow of the duckbill sends tha water out to the front of the tank and down to the opposite end and around the back of the tank straight to the intake! Couldn't be happier with it really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 So you use the original water outlet on the right hand side?, and set the spray bar up the same as stock? Some more pics would be awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 So you use the original water outlet on the right hand side?, and set the spray bar up the same as stock? Some more pics would be awesome. No, I don't use the original outlet. I have both the inlet and outlet coming through the holes on the left side. I don't use a spray bar so that I can get good flow around the tank by using the directional flow of the duckbill. The photos below show the inlet tube right next to the duckbill. The strong flow coming from the duckbill sends the water around the tank in a circular motion from the top left of the tank, down the front and around the floor of right side and around the back to the intake. Side view: Front view: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 AHHH. I see, thats awesome thank you so much, I guess I have no excuses, off to HFF this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 You'll love the increased oomph of the new filter. It will make you wonder how you ever got on without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Yeah, I am finding it hard to clean the gravel, I have south island shist(sp) rock, 2 pieces of driftwood, and lots of plants, with fertiliser balls in the gravel, so I cant really do much gravel cleaning, I'm hoping this filter, and its increased "oomph" will help move some of the waste deposited on and in the gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Well, I got the CF1200. Its all installed and running. it is a very nice filter unit, no issues on installation, just had to do some minor adjustments to the hood, the hood is now never going to be able to be used as a filter again, which leads me to thinking if I could modify the old filter housing to take a couple of t5 tubes? I'm going to do some measurements later and see if its possible. If anyone wants some pics of what I have done (canister installation), i can take them and send or post em here. The only other thing worth mention, is that the canister its self does not fit in the stand for the ar620/t. Well, it does, but to get it in, you need to remove the door, so you can get it into the cabinet, once in you can re attach the door, and bobs your uncle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Ok, it seems as if I could use an Aqua One Al-15 Double light hood, Its almost the exact same measurements long and wide as the hole I have, but I'm unsure of the height, so I have emnailed the distributor to see if they can measure the height, so If the height is good, I might purchase one, and see if can retro fit it into it. On another note, here are some pics of the filter upgrade. Canister in the cabinet Top view: This is where the original power head would of of come through, I had to cut the original round hole, to a square hole to accommodate the inlet and the return. Back View: This is where the original witing hole was, I also had to cut this, this hole is approximately twice the size it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Nice work. Very nice work. Bet you are happy with that increased oomph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Very much so, The platys dislike it though it seems, they are all hiding under the rocks. I reckon I can fit an Aqua One AL-15D Light hood in the filter unit of the stock hood. Dimensions according to Website: Model: AL-15D 46.5L x 12.5W x 8.5H cm Dimensions of standard filter housing 45.6Lx13.3Wx9H So i'm 9mm shy of it fitting in, but I reckon I can dismantle the ends of the light unit, or cut down the filter housing, on one side. Looks like another trip to HFF is in order. I wonder if they are sick of me yet? Might have to go to Albany, just to shake things up a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Very much so, The platys dislike it though it seems, they are all hiding under the rocks. Providing a big log, rocks, tall plants, etc may provide them with areas of respite if they wish to get out of the fast flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 is the hood in two pieces i.e the filter can be lifted out of the hood completey? and an al- d light sat in the gap instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennos Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Not really, I could remove half of the hood completely, but I'd rather not, and there isn't a light that would sit on the top of the tank perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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