My New Tank

[Ruskull]

Hello, Sorry no big update just a question.

I've been planning my hood and my stand, which I will be building next week, so look forward to it!!
But I just want to know if I can use the blue marine light (which they have on saltwater tanks) on my freshwater? It looks really cool! I would use a normal white light too.

I can help on this one.

The bluish light bulbs are actinic and intended for Saltwater Marine tanks to help grow corals, etc. Actinic blubs are not bad for freshwater tanks but they tend to make plants look very yellow. Again, it doesn't negatively affect the plants, just the way they look.

I bought a Coralife Aqualight for my 36 gallon that included 1 Daylight bulb & 1 Actinic but due to the yellow appearance of the plants I changed the actinic blub out for a Colormax (pinkish) bulb that suppoosedly helps with plant photosynthesis. Better for the plants & better for the overall look of your plants when viewed under the light & photographed. I still keep the actinic bulb as a backup if one of the others should fail. Hope that helps..............

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Thank you, very helpful!

I just really like it because it brings out the blue in water, and I love the way it reflects from the sand...
I saw a reef tank in a store yesterday, and wow, it got me totally hooked on the bulbs!

As far as the photosynthesis, I'm not really concerned because I will be using a CO2, which should help as well...

Thank you again!

 

[OldMan47]

Tom, the bluish lighting used on salt water should be considered as no light at all on fresh water. We only really need light on a freshwater tank to support plants and those lights are so far outside the useful range for freshwater plants that they do not even count. If you like the look and don't need lighting for plants, go for it.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I know that it is indeed only used on saltwater tanks for the growing of the corals (i guess ).

I was thinking of having 4 bulbs, 2 fluorescent, one blue bulb and one pink. I just really want the color of the water to be brought out more.
The pink bulb could help the photosynthesis to occur, but I am not sure about it, since I am going to use CO2... Maybe I'll just have 3 bulbs, one blue and 2 white.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

A little update:

I got some light modules to use as lighting. I got this large on for £20. It's about 125cm long, and can hold 1 light. I was thinking that this could hold one fluorescent bulb.

Then I got these two, brand new, for £22 apiece. One is going to hold a fluorescent and one the bluish bulb.

Sorry for bad pictures

 

[Tizer]

are those last two aquarium safe? doesn't look it to me.

neither does the first one on a second look

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I wont be using the lamps, I will take it apart and only use the holders, and embed the other equipment
I am a technician, so I know this stuff. The only thing visible will be the bulbs

 

[Tizer]

Technicians don't necessarily understand how condensation works

Why not get a couple of cheap T5 Starters £32 each and the Tubes are around £10, which are also buy 2 get one free. All I see is £60 spent on tatty stuff you have to mess around with which isn't going to be built aquarium safe or have a 2 year guarantee.

Questioning because i'm curious what you got planned.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

It's perfectly okay to question, that's how we learn overall

I am goint to build a 2 part hood. In the very top of the hood, all of cables will be hidden and saved from the condensation water. This compartment is going to be separated with a tree board (treated with water repellent paint) and only 1 chord coming out of it. On the separator board I will drill some holes for the connectors (The 3cm white parts where the bulb is put in on each sides), and then attach them. The bulbs will then be put in the connectors.

I have also bought 6 3x3 cm plastic boxes. I am going to drill a hole into them (The hole is going to be as thick as the diameter of the bulbs) and then put them over the connectors and screw and silicone them in place. This way, condensation won't touch the connectors, only leaving the bulbs free, which is now 100% aquarium safe.

I'll include a diagram tomorrow.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Here is my DIY stand, not yet finished...

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Hi everyone!!
A small update:

I finished my stand, do any of you want to see some pictures of it?

I ordered this filter of Amazon, which should be coming the next week.

I am going to buy some white sand next week, and paint my tank black with this paint.
Do any of you have any tip on what color sand I should buy? If you have let me know please

 

[SamLovesCorys]

here it is, compared to size 42 crocs... sorry, couldn't compare to anything else

Loving the tank! Not the crocs!

 

[delta]

Hi everyone!!
A small update:

I finished my stand, do any of you want to see some pictures of it?

I ordered this filter of Amazon, which should be coming the next week.

I am going to buy some white sand next week, and paint my tank black with this paint.
Do any of you have any tip on what color sand I should buy? If you have let me know please

Hi there, I would love to see pics of your finished stand as my hubby and I are about to embark on building our own stand. Any tips would be welcome too.

When you say white sand, do you mean 'white' white or just pale sand? I quite like the look of a pale sand myself.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Hi thank you for the reply, pictures coming in 10 minutes.
I like the pale sand too, but in my opinion it makes the aquarium quite a bit darker. I like the way how the white sand reflects the light from above.

I'll post a video going over the whole tank... I hope that's better.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Here it is.... Sorry, I just realized there was something wrong with the sound. The quality is pretty bad, I can try to take better pictures later.
About the stand:
It has 3 cross braces, 2 at the back and one in the middle so it increases stability.
It has 2 cutouts, 1 for the pipes from the filter and 1 for the power outlet that is going to be insider the stand.