Build of my Acrylic 240L Cylinder tank with info and PICs

[Cisco_Ray]

I am planning to put a backround of half the diameter. I am thinking White, Black or ocean blue.

What would you all recommend?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Personally I'd go black. These tower tanks always look cool but are just not practical they're a pain to clean and fish don't tend to thrive in them unfortunately pretty much all fish swim horizontally, backwards and forwards rather than up and down. Now, a load of shrimp in there would be awesome! It already looks like a rocket of sorts, a colony of blue shrimp aliens would complete the look

 

[MaloK]

I'm a little snob, and would probably try to find a nice dark rock printed background.

Your setup would make me choose Neocaridina Davidi (Blue Jelly). They would look like glowing fireflies with your blue light

But still, you have to be aware that studies concluded that strong light of any colour and particularly blue light has a stressing effect on aquatic life. That goes up to disturb reproductive behaviours.

There's not much studies regarding Neos, but relying on what is available with other species, I use it at low level for very short periods.

It's also a concern that can lead to rapid algae problematic.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

My blue light is only 20w but far to bright... I am looking into something not as bright..

 

[MaloK]

If you can get your hands on a dead LED TV.

There's very neat light diffusers used in these. Most of the time they have multiple layers constituted of one or multiple oriented gloss films, fresnel lenses and a white granular semi opaque plastic sheet.

This sheet will turn any spotting LEDs to a nice glow without loosing too much power.

If you want to see a little what it does. Put a thick sheet or two of white paper in front of your light.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

These might work.

 

[MaloK]

Are there dimmable ones, that would be perfect if you could control the output.

In fact if you could have both controllable, that would give you a lot of flexibility.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

Both are not dimmable but I think it is fine. The white light 6500k is only 20w and not to bright and is ideal. I bought a different gu10 at 5w and a narrow view angle at 38 degrees so no bleed. I think this be good. The other blue was crazy. It lit up the whole room..

 

[MaloK]

20 watt flood LED can turn from 1500 to 2500 with around 1800 lumen as standard and are mostly used as replacement for 200 watt incandescent.

500 lumen should be a lot less intense.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

Waiting for the new blue GU10 blue bulb and fixture to arrive so will try it and update the post.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

I plan to use about 6 pieces upright with various moss types. I will have a rock structure at the base and try and place the driftwood pieces in a way that it can be easily removed for tank maintenance and moss trimming.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

 

[Cisco_Ray]

 

[Lateral Line]

I'm a regular rectangular tank chap, always have been. What I wonder is the ease of access to the substrate when, inevitably, you want to plant something or remove something else. I guess you have plans for these eventualities.

 

[Cisco_Ray]

I'm a regular rectangular tank chap, always have been. What I wonder is the ease of access to the substrate when, inevitably, you want to plant something or remove something else. I guess you have plans for these eventualities.

It is difficult and needs some planning. I plan to have a rock structure at the base and ''maybe a few small slow growing plants around the rock structure'' Most of the plants I plan will be various moss types and a few plants wrapped around the large driftwood upright pieces I plan to use. The driftwood upright pieces will be placed so I can easily remove them for trimming..