SamH Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Project AA Contents +From the start +Lights +CO2 --Cylinder, adaptor and regulator --Cylinder holder, diffuser, bubble counter and check valve +Substrate +Stage 1 planting +Stage 2 planting +Week 4 +Chapter 2- Jungles Edge From the start. About a week ago I started looking on TradeMe for a guppy. Then for a bristlenose. Then for a new tank. Before I knew it, I was looking at all of the international planted tanks and I caught the dreaded MTS again. I had been stalking this particular tank on TradeMe, sick of mismatched custom tanks in the past, an all in one tank, stand and hood looked pretty good. Despite the interest in the tank, I was the only one to bid and picked it up, along with a spare hood, two internal filters, a heater and various other pumps and pipes. After a crazy game of car tetris to fit it into the i30, I got this bad boy home and sorted out the parts. The tank is Masterpet or Blueplanet AA something, it's an unknown brand so I'm a bit lost but it looks good and has all the parts. The tank measures The plan for this tank is to replace the single 2ft T8 tube with a double 2ft T5HO light, get a Sunsun canister for it with lily pipes and hook up a sodastream CO2 rig. I'm really liking the fact that it comes with two hoods, gives me a bit more freedom when it comes to modifying one to suit my needs in case it all goes horribly wrong. In terms of stocking the tank, plants are the number one priority, will decide on fish later. I hope to have this tank up and running by the end of the month (dependant on school and work). Any constructive criticism, feedback and advice is welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sup42 Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Nice Tank ! Looking forward to seeing how it the project goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Thanks. The glass needs cleaning but I'll do that when I get a chance, the weather has been awful lately. Does anyone know how to remove the last of that stick on thermometer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 meths or turps, I used one but cant remember what one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 meths or turps, I used one but cant remember what one Thanks blueether, might give that a go tonight. Also acetone or nail polish remover is said to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 acetone should work :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 The thermometer came off cleanly with a bit of meths and a good scrub. Took off the hood, cleaned it up and started to remove the guts to make room for the T5HO installation, will post photos once I install the new lights. Ordered a CO2 regulator with solenoid, bubble counter, CO2 tubing and lily pipes from fish-street, cost almost as much as the tank did :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Just bought a Hydor ETH 200 inline heater. Only $40 more (incl. shipping) than the Jager I was going to buy anyway. One less piece of equipment in the tank :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Hit me up if you need any plants I got heaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativelover Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 Hit me up if you need any plants I got heaps lol, kinda hi-jacking but I need heaps of plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Just picked up a sodastream cylinder for a cool $20 8) Waiting for my regulator and adaptor to arrive now :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I'm going to buy the lights tomorrow, can someone tell me how 1x Power Glo and 1x Life Glo would look and work on plants? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Maybe not life glo but the powerglo would be great. The life glow will kinda take the zing away.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Maybe not life glo but the powerglo would be great. The life glow will kinda take the zing away.. What two tubes would you use? I want a balance between a nice crisp look and good plant growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Powerglos are all I use. Well plant pros as well but they are far too expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Your colours and growth look good, I think I'll go with two power glos then 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Just picked up a Hagen 2x 24w T5HO ballast, two power glo tubes, two reflectors and a digital thermometer during my free period at school from HFF Mt Roskill 8) Will post photos once the installation is done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 A purple and green or white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I spent a good 45mins melting off excess plastic on the light hood just to find out I need four small nuts and bolts to attach the reflectors to the hood :nilly: Progress halted until I buy some nuts and bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Bought the final piece of equipment for the project, Sunsun HW-302 canister. Now having to wait for all my gear to arrive, drives me crazy :nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Fill it with water in the mean while and put a stone in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Fill it with water in the mean while and put a stone in there. :slfg: It's tempting! I've been cleaning it and staring at it, researching possible layouts and making sure I haven't forgotten anything. It's a good feeling knowing that I've got all the best equipment (even if it is all in the mail) to do the job I want to do. Not cutting any corners with this and it shows in my bank account :nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Nice looking Tank :thup: I'm interested in how you use a Soda Stream Canister for your CO2, what attachments do you need to do this?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks Lyndyloo! I'm interested in how you use a Soda Stream Canister for your CO2, what attachments do you need to do this?? I haven't personally set one up before but from what I've been told and what I've read online, here's how the setup goes. Sodastream CO2 cylinder > Sodastream adaptor > CO2 regulator > Airline > Diffuser An adaptor can be bought from most home brew shops, cylinder off TradeMe, regulator off TradeMe, internationally online or at a LFS, diffuser off TradeMe or online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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