New Tank Setup - Help Please!

[sophos9]

Hi... I've had a small tank for nearly a year now and will be 'upgrading' to a Juwel Vision 180 which I want to plant out. Think it best that I post up what I have in mind then please feel free to jump in and help out

Ok, so my thoughts on a set-up

- Juwel Vision 180 (coming with internal filtration etc...), what would be the benefit of changing to an external filter (Fluval 205)?
- Will I need to upgrade the lighting, it comes with electronic ballast with 2 x 25w lighting (1.22w per gallon) and I would look to add reflectors to make it (2.44w per gallon?)
- Adding moonlights (the one thing I don't have to ask )
- Looking to use Tetratec substrate with laterite (thanks JamieH)
- I really want the lights on a timed cycle, what timing cycle works well (on at 14:00, moonlights on at 20:00, lights off at 22:00, moonlights off at 00:00?)
- Guessing I will need CO2, what kits can you buy? I saw a Hagen one which looked good for like £18...
- The fish are Clown loaches, rummy tetras, BN & clown plecs and neon tetras, looking to add a few more...


I know these are probably newbie questions, I really want to get everything is place for buying all the kit!!!

Thanks loads!

 

[Chri$]

I would certainly consider upgrading your filtration. From what i hear the built in Juwel filters are rubbish. Adding a external means less clutter inside the tank, easier maintainence and the option of adding a external heater. Personally i wouldn't go with a Fluval, check out the Eheim range of external filters.

Whether or not you upgrade your lighting depnds on what plants you are wanting to grow/if you want to add Co2 etc.

To increase your light ouput you would need to add extra lamps - i would aim for 2wpg. Adding reflectors will not double your wpg, they simply enable a lamp to acheive it's stated output, as a lot of the light is lost from the top side of the tube if reflectors are not used.

I would highly reccomend the Hagen Natural plant system - have a look at the pinned topic down in the planted tanks section for more info.

As regards to your photoperiod 5 on, 2 off, 5 on works well for me.

 

[sophos9]

I would certainly consider upgrading your filtration. From what i hear the built in Juwel filters are rubbish. Adding a external means less clutter inside the tank, easier maintainence and the option of adding a external heater. Personally i wouldn't go with a Fluval, check out the Eheim range of external filters.

Whether or not you upgrade your lighting depnds on what plants you are wanting to grow/if you want to add Co2 etc.

To increase your light ouput you would need to add extra lamps - i would aim for 2wpg. Adding reflectors will not double your wpg, they simply enable a lamp to acheive it's stated output, as a lot of the light is lost from the top side of the tube if reflectors are not used.

I would highly reccomend the Hagen Natural plant system - have a look at the pinned topic down in the planted tanks section for more info.

As regards to your photoperiod 5 on, 2 off, 5 on works well for me.

Thanks for the reply. I'm now looking at a Eheim Professional 2224 external, these seem to get good write ups. As for plants, I really want to grow riccia and java moss along with valis etc... What sort of light would these need please.

Is there a way to upgrade the two lights the Juwel ships with? If not how do you add lights? (new ballasts and connect new tubes in?)

 

[sophos9]

Ok, today I have ordered the

- Juwel Vision 180 and cabinet
- Juwel Reflectors
- Juwel Rock Backgrounds
- Eheim Professional 2224 External Filter
- Hagen Co2 Natural Plant System
- Cold Cathode kits for moonlights
- Tetra Plant Complete Substrate

and bought a L260 Queen Arabesque... lovely fish!

So, can anyone help with linking the CO2 system into the Eheim, what tubes should I put in the tank and is there any problems with running both the Juwel and external filter together (redundancy)

Many thanks

 

[JamieH]

Ok, today I have ordered the

- Juwel Vision 180 and cabinet
- Juwel Reflectors
- Juwel Rock Backgrounds
- Eheim Professional 2224 External Filter
- Hagen Co2 Natural Plant System
- Cold Cathode kits for moonlights
- Tetra Plant Complete Substrate

and bought a L260 Queen Arabesque... lovely fish!

So, can anyone help with linking the CO2 system into the Eheim, what tubes should I put in the tank and is there any problems with running both the Juwel and external filter together (redundancy)

Many thanks

the hagen c02 system is a bit small for your tank - you might want to use two...

to pump c02 into your system, the easiest way would be to position the c02 pipe in the filter intake basket.

everything else sounds cool!

 

[sophos9]

to pump c02 into your system, the easiest way would be to position the c02 pipe in the filter intake basket.

Hi Jamie, thanks for the looking!

Is that something I will know how to do once I get the filter?