Emmas Rio 125l (33us Gallon) Planted Adventure

[xxBarneyxx]

I like it (and I see you have got to grips with your new Camera too ).

I personally would have made it a little less symmetrical to give a clearer point of focus but that is just me and has nothing to do with having a nice looking tank

(I would have moved the plants in the gap in the middle into the group on the left to make it bigger and then had a clear "pathway" leading to the back of the tank about 1/3rd of the way in from the right. Maybe have some HC growing along the edges of it as a boarder)

I can really imagine what it is going to look like when it all grows in and it is going to look brilliant.

Is it possible to move your spray bar slightly to the left and then move the diffuser to the left as well to hide it up? It will not circulate the water quite as evenly but shouldn't make that much of a difference and will cover the tubing and stuff up (at least until the other plants grow in).

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Looks Fantastic emma,

Hope mine can be as nice as yours one day,

Aw thanx, but i still have a long way to go. Want to get my lighting sorted (including moonlights) and start dosing EI. Have changed the layout a little since those pics as ive recieved some plants this morning off a generous member.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

I like it (and I see you have got to grips with your new Camera too ).

I personally would have made it a little less symmetrical to give a clearer point of focus but that is just me and has nothing to do with having a nice looking tank

(I would have moved the plants in the gap in the middle into the group on the left to make it bigger and then had a clear "pathway" leading to the back of the tank about 1/3rd of the way in from the right. Maybe have some HC growing along the edges of it as a boarder)

I can really imagine what it is going to look like when it all grows in and it is going to look brilliant.

Is it possible to move your spray bar slightly to the left and then move the diffuser to the left as well to hide it up? It will not circulate the water quite as evenly but shouldn't make that much of a difference and will cover the tubing and stuff up (at least until the other plants grow in).

Hi Phil (I did get that right?!) thanx for the comments. I am finally getting used to the camera but things are still a little out of focus sometimes!

I see what you mean about the symmetry of it now uve pointed it out. Im still waiting for some plants so i can move it about a bit when they come. HC? Hygrophillia something?

Ive taken out the aqua fern and the fountain plants and have put in some other plants which i dont know the names of yet, as another member sent me them. Im waiting for them to ID them, if not ill post up a pic and see if anyone can tell me what they are.

Cant really move the spray bar as it only has a small gap to pass through at the back of the tank. Will try and hide it with some plants when i receive them.

Regards
Emma

 

[ShoC]

you going to buy the overtank luminare?.
Im using red light atm to view but I would like a moonlight,

I'll hastle you for ideas when I get my Co2 kit etc..

Are you doing the dosage guide or buying pre made?

 

[ebrcknrdg]

you going to buy the overtank luminare?.
Im using red light atm to view but I would like a moonlight,

I'll hastle you for ideas when I get my Co2 kit etc..

Are you doing the dosage guide or buying pre made?

I was going to but its gone for too much. I might get a T5 compact but ive heard bad things about them so who knows. Im going to research about them before i buy. The main problem with having 4 tubes is that i have to balance everything and when i want to get in the tank its a nightmare.

The cold cathode tubes look amazing and you can create a dawn to dusk effect. I have the cathodes and the adaptor ready but just waiting on the brother to come over to wire it up for me. I dont fancy blowing up the house lol.

I dont mind you asking questions, im exactly the same and im sure ive annoyed a few people on here in the process

Ive bought Potassium Nitrate and Potassium Phospate from Aqua essentials. Im going to dose 15ML of KNO3 (Pot nitrate) 3x per week and 8ML KH2PO4 (Pot phosphate) 3x per week. Seachem Flourish will be dosed at 3ML 3 times per week but not on the same day as the others. Ive adapted these for my tank as its 2.2WPG. Will modify if needs be.

 

[ShoC]

Mine shall be roughly the same WPG when i buy my overtank,
but I'm going to opt for the easier solution of buying the premade batch
The T5 compacts apparently get very hot.

Sounds to me your really clued up,
Im going in blind haha

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Mine shall be roughly the same WPG when i buy my overtank,
but I'm going to opt for the easier solution of buying the premade batch
The T5 compacts apparently get very hot.

Sounds to me your really clued up,
Im going in blind haha

Ull be going blind when you buy that overhead luminaire!

The premade batch of EI? Where you buy that then!?

I heard they get hot but i could rig up some sort of fan for inside the hood.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Hi Phil (I did get that right?!) thanx for the comments.

Its Paul but you are only 2 letters out

I'm far from an expert so take my advice with a pinch of salt

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Hi Phil (I did get that right?!) thanx for the comments.

Its Paul but you are only 2 letters out

I'm far from an expert so take my advice with a pinch of salt

Oh dear, im terrible with names sorry!

You may not be an expert but you advice is much appreciated

Emma

 

[George Farmer]

Overtank luminaires tend not to overheat as they're not enclosed. Evaporation is a consideration though.

Emma, I would wait until you are more heavily planted before starting EI. 75% substrate covered is the ball-park. You may know that already though. Good to hear you're losing the non-aquatic plants....

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Overtank luminaires tend not to overheat as they're not enclosed. Evaporation is a consideration though.

Emma, I would wait until you are more heavily planted before starting EI. 75% substrate covered is the ball-park. You may know that already though. Good to hear you're losing the non-aquatic plants....

Hi George,

I gave up on the overhead luminaire idea as the one i had my eye on went for too much. Ive decided im going to try T5s in the hood but to get the same WPG as i have now with my 4 T8s ill need to get an Interpret 36W T5 compact which i believe get very hot. My current temp in my tank is 26 degrees celcius and thats with a fan on in my room all day.

Thanx for that advice George, i didnt realise i had to be so heavily planted.

Emma

 

[George Farmer]

36w PC T5 is only 16" long, so only half the length of the tank. This will leave dark areas so take that into account with plant choice and position.

Also there are no PC reflectors, so you'll have to DIY a T8 or HO T5.

Personally I would have added a 25w T8 that is 30" and with reflector would provide probably a similar light output, but better spread. Also not as hot.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

36w PC T5 is only 16" long, so only half the length of the tank. This will leave dark areas so take that into account with plant choice and position.

Also there are no PC reflectors, so you'll have to DIY a T8 or HO T5.

Personally I would have added a 25w T8 that is 30" and with reflector would provide probably a similar light output, but better spread. Also not as hot.

Right so ive currently got a 20W and an 18W in the middle of my hood and the starter is powering two 18W tubes, so thats 74W all together.

If i get a 25W T8 thats 30" ill only have 63W

But if i get the 55W T5 that will be 93W.

See my predicament?

 

[George Farmer]

55w PC T5 will get too hot in your tank.

63w is enough to grow pretty much anything with good CO2 and EI. Overheating won't be an issue either. This was growth with 2 x 18w T8 and 1 x 25w T8.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

55w PC T5 will get too hot in your tank.

63w is enough to grow pretty much anything with good CO2 and EI. Overheating won't be an issue either. This was growth with 2 x 18w T8 and 1 x 25w T8.

Hm seems a shame dropping from 2.2WPG to 1.9WPG

I know you are experienced and you know what you are talking about so you are right and that pic proves it. Ill try and get my starter fixed if not it will have to be the 25W T8, i cant afford to overheat the tank