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My 2000L tank build


David R

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I've just finished the "temporary" set up of the new lighting, the Current units have a metal adjustable "foot" at each end designed to sit the light on the edge of the tank, but as I'm putting a 3' and 4' unit together to make a 7' length over an 8' tank it required a bit of modification. I also wanted to attach them to some aluminium C-channel so they could be lifted up above the top of the tank to allow better spread over the 1200mm width. Here's a side on shot showing how slim the units are, and the wire foot on each end;

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To join the two units together I removed the support out of one, then cut the bends off another so it could be inserted into the adjacent unit. Fairly straightforward, but unfortunately not rigid enough to support the whole length as I had hoped for, so it will need to be attached to the C-channel in the centre too. No biggie.

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I've experimented around and found that raising them 150mm off the top of the tank gives good spread without losing too much over the side. I have also angled the front unit ever so slightly to help prevent the light spilling over the front of the tank.

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I'm thrilled with how they look and the colours of the fish, and the quality of the lights too. Can't recommend them enough, worth every cent over the cheaper units I looked at, and even more so when the programmable timers come out. I'm going to get out the DSLR and try take some decent pics of the fish tonight!

More info on the lights here; http://www.current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-freshwater-led-plus

Now I have to decide if I join the C-channels together to make a rectangular frame and suspend that either from the ceiling or a couple of supports above the tank, or if I build an open topped wooden fascia around the top (and bottom) of the tank to house and support the lights. Suggestions???

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We're home tomorrow if you want to drop the bins off and check it out in person!

I got a bit busy this evening and remembered I was going to take photos just after putting my home made pizza in the oven before sitting down to watch a chick-flick with my wife (she helped with the lights this afternoon so there's gotta be a bit of give and take!). Still managed to snap a few half-decent photos despite struggling to remember how to use the camera, and forgetting to clean the glass...

FTS

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Aro

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I noticed the left side of his jaw looks a little bung (for lack of a better word), perhaps damaged from jumping and hitting the glass when younger. Hopefully it becomes less noticeable as it grows, the right side still looks good tho!

Altifrons

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L128

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Had to zoom right in on him, surprised at how well that pic turned out given that he was about 3' away from the camera, as you can see here;

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Biggest L190

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And I put the camera on a tripod (balanced on the couch, thus the slightly crooked angle!) and flicked thru a couple of the different presets with the lights. I can't recall which is which, but you get the idea.

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And for comparison the old 4' T8 fluros (2x 4' 2x 3');

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It's been a while since I've put any effort into taking pics of the fish and I definitely need to brush up on my skills. I am very happy with the lights though, and the pics don't do them justice (of course). The pics above just show the pre-set modes, the difference is far greater in person, and you can adjust the intensity of the red, green, blue, violet and white lights to come up with just about any colour you want, and also the right level of intensity.

Given the amount of ambient light in the room (I was really struggling with reflection on the glass) I'm thinking for the sake of taking pics building a hood around the top of the tank will be the best option to help contain the light. It's going to have to wait though, I've already blown the budget on this one and we've got a wedding in the US in March to attend, so until then all non-essential fish-related spending is on hold.

of course more fish come under the 'essential' category IMO!! :lol:

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Got a chance to see this in the flesh today, holy smokes this thing is huge! the pics don't do it justice there is so much room in there and I wanna congratulate u david this is a beautiful tank and you have done an outstanding job, even the sump is a monster! Look forward to some more updates and will def be back for another look.

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redracer, can't recommend the lights enough. They're bringing out a programmable timer for them too.

I've just been watching the tank with the moonlights on, very cool.

Bent up some little brackets to replace the cable ties. Not terribly pretty but you won't see any of it when I've finished the fascia.

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Sixteen days since cleaning the Poret and it has nearly clogged enough to get water flowing over the first sheet. It's probably got a few days left but I'll clean the first two sheets tomorrow.

Nice, I think the final touch should be a little carved polystyrene kayaker to play in the weir. The cartwheels that he/she would do would be awesome.

Thanks again for the pothos plants. Roots are starting to increase and a new leave has opened up. I loved the idea so much that I have re-purposed an indoor house plant of a similar variety.

The leaves are little more heart shaped but the structure of the plant is the same. The photo shows how I have criss-crossed the runners back and forth across the area below the clear roof sheets.

So far so good, there are new roots forming on the existing roots even though the plants reputedly don't like wet feet.

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Thanks again

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I did a bit of a re-arrange of the wood pile on the left side of the tank this morning, as the other wood I had been soaking finally sunk. I only added two pieces but they were both fairly large and it allowed me to pile it up a bit higher.

700mm is plenty deep enough, reaching the old wood was a struggle!

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The finished pile, just a lousy snap with my phone, I'll take some better pics tonight.

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After removing the old pile of wood I was able to get a good look at the L14 goldys for the first time since adding them to the tank. Despite never seeing them out to feed they look fat and healthy, good colours and seem to have grown a little.

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I'm going to stop feeding the plecs at night and instead try feeding them first thing in the morning before the tank lights come on, there is enough ambient light in the room to see the fish without it being too bright. A couple of the royals usually come out for the morning feed anyway, so hopefully the others will follow suit if I stop feeding them at night.

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  • 4 weeks later...

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