evil_elmo Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 my opinion is that 1x150MH + 2x24w T5 isnt enough for a high tech planted tank like the ADA ones you see online....the 110cm unit with 2x150w + 2x39w is what a recommend. (you dont have to turn on the T5's they have there own power switch) the light would over hang 10cm each side which you wont notice since the light is hung above the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 you dont have to turn on the T5's they have there own power switch But I want to use the T5s. The overhang would be a bit annoying as the T5s run the whole length of the hood and they would overhang too, so it would look funny having the light reflecting on the carpet and the side of the stand. Is there some sort of metal halide lightinghood (maybe some other brand) that is about 80-90cm long and has 2 metal halide lights and 2 T5s that would be suitible for my tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Just had a thought. As I don't want the overhang, and you reackon that 1 150watt MH isn't enough for a 90x45x45cm tank, then would the 250watt unit be better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 But I want to use the T5s. The overhang would be a bit annoying as the T5s run the whole length of the hood and they would overhang too, so it would look funny having the light reflecting on the carpet and the side of the stand. Is there some sort of metal halide lightinghood (maybe some other brand) that is about 80-90cm long and has 2 metal halide lights and 2 T5s that would be suitible for my tank? Just had a thought. As I don't want the overhang, and you reackon that 1 150watt MH isn't enough for a 90x45x45cm tank, then would the 250watt unit be better? i dont know any unit that is 80-90cm with that configuration...Arcadia is the only one i know that is 110cm everyone else is about 120cm you wont need the T5 with 2x150w MH lol most MH has a light footprint of about 2ft depending on the reflector. A 250w MH isnt going to give you much more light spread but more penetrating power for deeper tanks doing a high tech plant tank isnt easy in nz since we lack equipment and supplies.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 I think I'll just go for the 70cm one - it will look better, I don't mind using just 2 T5s in conduction with the metal halide, it will be easier, and it will cost less that the 110cm one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 sorted! cant wait for your build thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Yes it will be exciting! But you'll be waiting a wee while, because I'm only 12 so won't be able to buy stuff just like that . I'll have to save up, which might take a while. I'll get the basics first: 1x 90x45x45cm Rimless OptiWhite Aquarium, 8mm thick glass (with minimal silicone to join it) 1x Arcadia Single 150watt Slimline Pendant 1x Suitible Aquarium Stand (I want something like the ADA Grand Solar Stand, so I have a bar running over the top of the aquarium to hang my lighting on) 2x Hagen T5Ho Life-Glo or Power-Glo (or a combo of both) 1x Metal Halide Bulb Intended Flora: Cyperus Helferi Bolbitis heudelotii Narrow-leaf Java Fern Christmas Moss Hairgrass Java Moss Various Anubias sp. Maybe Crypt. petchii Intended Fauna: 15x Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi 5x Hyphessobrycon heliacus Possibly Emerald Dwarf Danios and/or Psuedomolugil gertrudae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 there is numerous diy article for making diy ADA stands with the light bar some use pve conduit . grant may be able to help you out with getting this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 you're intending on using a 150W halide AND those hagen tubes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 you're intending on using a 150W halide AND those hagen tubes? Yep. Evil_elmo said that 1 metal halide wasn't enough, but to get the next model up from the 70cm unit would cost way too much, plus also what it it was too strong? Then I'd have spent a fortune on a super-expensive lightinghood that I couldn't use! After all, the setup is based on Luis Moniz's ADA setup, except I'm using a nicer-looking light. So I thought that the Life-Glo Tubes would be good as well, because he uses 2 T5's in conjunction with his metal halide, and the Arcadia unit can fit 2 T5 lights. Also, they are only 55cm tubes. By the way, the Life-Glos are quite cheap and VERY affordable, so I might as well buy a couple. Read this, and it explains all about the benifits of T5 and metal halides used in conjuntion. Read the "Take a look around in Nature" bit: http://www.adana.com.my/products/lightingsystem.htm Here's Luis Moniz's ADA setup: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... -45-a.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 and what are you willing to spend on all of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Joe, are you sure this is what you want to pursue? 1 year ago I was sinking all the money I had into fish but now, I'm looking at other things, such as cars. Spending well over $1000 on a single aquarium is a lot for someone your age, even for most people really. Why not do it all cheaper? Standard tank, DIY stand, DIY lights, DIY CO2, etc. That way, if you need to move it on it's not going to be a huge dent in your pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Phoenix44, it will take a while to save up for this, but I sort of sacrificed most of my pigeons to my dad and he pays me $10 a week for looking after them, so imagin what I'll have at the end of 1 1/2 years - $$$$$$$$$$$! I love that stuff! Surely I'll enough to by an Arcadia lightinghood by then. Plus FNZAS members get discounts or something at certain stores. SamH, your going to freak out when you hear this from me, but cars are lame! I think they're sooooo ugly! I'd rather spend money on a beautiful high-tech aquarium. My pets are all I care about. I don't do any sport either, because I find it really boring, I have a super-high chance of ending up in hospital on a regular basis, and I'd rather watch a relaxing aquarium instead of wasting time fighting over a ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 SamH, your going to freak out when you hear this from me, but cars are lame! I think they're sooooo ugly! I'd rather spend money on a beautiful high-tech aquarium. My pets are all I care about. I don't do any sport either, because I find it really boring, I have a super-high chance of ending up in hospital on a regular basis, and I'd rather watch a relaxing aquarium instead of wasting time fighting over a ball.I do not play sports either and yes my pets are a huge part of my life, Skylla is part of the family. When I was 12 cars were just a way of getting from point A to point B. All I'm saying is that your wants and needs may change, just think about that before a big investment such as this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 When I was about 9, I wanted a pair of Turquoisine Grass Parakeets. I kept asking my parents, because I had an aviary (and I still have it to this day!), and they said maybe. When it was Christmas, they asked me what I wanted. Of course, I wanted the birds. They said "Not at the moment". So I didn't really get much for Christmas that year, because all I wanted was the parakeets. When it was my birthday, which was September the following year, I told them again that I wanted the parakeets. Since that's all I wanted, that's what they got me, and that's all I got for my birthday. Even though they're cheap ($40 a pair), I didn't ask for anything else, because I was happy. And by the way, they were not a 2 minute wonder, I really enjoyed them and I still keep Turquoisines. What I'm trying to say is that once I've got my mind set on something and have done the research for it, that's all I want. And I wait and wait until I get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Luís Moniz's setup his tank well with that light, all his plants are directly under the MH and at a very high level...i reckon he would have trouble growing a carpet plant like HC or glosso wow you're only 12! good luck saving up cause a high tech setup is going to cost thousands!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Thanks. The only thing that's really going to cost heaps is the light. I still don't mind having DIY CO2, because it works well. I am going to get paid $10 a week for looking after my pigeons (which are now dad's really, that's why I'm getting paid). So there's 52 weeks in a year, which = $520 a year. Mum said that occasions like my birthday and Christmas I will get money to put towards this. Plus I have aviary birds, so come summertime when my Turquoisines are breeding I can sell them for $20 each (which is the standard price around Blenheim, and is quite cheap for Turks). Then I've got doves, which I sell for $10 each, and Chinese Painted Quail - $5 each. So I do have ways around making money. Speaking of selling things, would anyone like to buy some Flag Cichlids (Laetacara curviceps). They's $5 each, and these particular ones have amazing parental skills. When you breed them, just leave the parents with the fry. They don't attack their fry, even as the fry get towards selling size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 i dont want to put you off or anything and i love your enthusiasm BUT DIY co2 wont work on a tank that size and with a light that powerful you will just be growing algae due to the unbalance of co2/light high light = high co2, high ferts low light = low c02 (DIY) low ferts if one is out when it just turns to poos doing a 90p high tech setup at a guess will cost at least 2k and thats doing it on the cheap with DIY stand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 If you have that much light, you need to have more CO2 and I don't think DIY CO2 would cut it. Well it could if you had many of them running together. Good on you for having an end goal in mind and you know you have to save to get there too which is great. It will take you a little less time to save for the tank if you earn interest on your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 How about I get the hood, and just run the 2 55cm T5s and only run the metal halide when I'm able to afford and purchase a preassurised CO2 unit? Would that work? When I eventually get preassurised CO2 I want to get the ADA stuff, except for their bottles - 1) they look ugly and 2) they are very small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 Evil_elmo, what do you think of this? It's only 100cm long, so I'd just have 5cm overhang (or I could try and convice my parents to let me have my new tank made 10cm bigger!) http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... .php?id=56 What are the 4x 18watt blue PL lamps? I've never heard of them. Could I fit T5 Life-Glo tubes in the fittings for the PL lamps if I decided to get this hood instead of the other one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 How about I get the hood, and just run the 2 55cm T5s and only run the metal halide when I'm able to afford and purchase a preassurised CO2 unit? Would that work? When I eventually get preassurised CO2 I want to get the ADA stuff, except for their bottles - 1) they look ugly and 2) they are very small. you just have to play around with it once you get it setup Evil_elmo, what do you think of this? It's only 100cm long, so I'd just have 5cm overhang (or I could try and convice my parents to let me have my new tank made 10cm bigger!) http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... .php?id=56 What are the 4x 18watt blue PL lamps? I've never heard of them. Could I fit T5 Life-Glo tubes in the fittings for the PL lamps if I decided to get this hood instead of the other one? PL = PC, same tube just a different name no point buying a unit that you have to modify and i've seen local reefers with the aquaone MH and i personally find the unit ugly looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 pl lights work good but you wont want those blue tubes in there and the bulbs well there is not the range that you can get with t5s i do however have a 10k/grow lux 36w pl tube you can have for free further down the track if need be (has been used less than a month) you can get great results with t5s and diy co2 why not do that to start with and as your funds grow start buying the things you need for mh and bottled co2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 I've already got 15,000K and 18,000K T8 tubes which should hopefully be enough to keep me going until I can get the MH hood. Also, I would like to get a T5 hood, but they are like $400-500 for 1 T5HO Hagen Glo unit, which is probably nearly half of what the MH unit will cost me! I'm currently using DIY CO2 which is really great in conjuntion with these lights, and I'm using one of those awesome Nano Pollen Glass Diffusers that I got from phoenix44! Man I love those diffusers. I agree with Evil_elmo about the Aqua One units looking ugly, and I was only going to get it if I can have T5 tubes in it too. So thanks for the offer about the PL tube, but I will get the Arcadia unit with the Metal Halide and T5HO combo. i reckon he would have trouble growing a carpet plant like HC or glosso Could I grow Hydrocotyle verticilata and Lilaeopsis sp. on the substrate with the Arcadia light? I was thinking that these would be the plants I'd use if I ever got tired of white sand as substrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepsound Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 Also, what are the best T5 tubes? The ones so far that I really like are the Arcadia tubes and the Hagen Glo series. Hi, Have you ever tried OSRAM Lumilux T5 39 w (available in 6500 K or 8000 K / HE or HO ) ? The best ones according to me : very good spectrum AND low price. Here, we get one for 10 € (about 17 NZ$) Dunno for NZ but you can surely get them. OSRAM's a big company. Here's a tank using OSRAM lumilux lighting : Expensive hi-tech is not the only answer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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