Paul's 6X2X2

[BackToTheFishes]

The Dee is my closest big river,and had localised pollution issues in the past so I can't risk that.There are a few little rivers/streams near,I may go for a drive around with some tupperware to get some samples to have a look at.

 

[Defiance]

Hiya,

To the OP ..................

The external filters are good, they are pretty much a copy of the tetratec ones

I set my mothers rio 240 up with the UV filter version (2000 EF Plus) in early february, going fine to this day, in fact i have one of the same cycled in a small 100L tank

My 6x2x2 should be in situ wednesday, so will add my cycled 2000ef with another of the same

Had no problems with either my mothers or mine, like many externals i'd suggest you buy more ceramics and bio balls

Honestly i cannot fault the design/materials and would highly recommend these filters (as i have done in another post)

Hope that helps somewhat on the filter-front

Cheers

Tony

 

[lljdma06]

How are things going with this tank? Did you find a substrate?

 

[BackToTheFishes]

Been a long time I know,but,the snakes are FINALLY going in the next couple of weeks,so almost time to get the tank wet! YAY!

 

[BackToTheFishes]

I have read in PFK about a guy who use "garden soil" topped with fine gravel.Anyone? Is it just soil dug up from the garden?Or composts like you get from B&Q?

 

[SuperColey1]

Sorry Paul this ain't gonna be pretty so don't take it the wrong way:

My tank is 6x2x2 as the title says.

Big tank. Wants big filtration which is pricey. I wouldn't gamble on buying budget filtration here.

CO2 will be 2 x homemade pop bottles fed directly into filter intake

Waste of time. You will need 20 bottles for the tank and then it will still not perform too well. One thing I may be missing but won't the filter just suck the mixture through into the filter? Either get 1 and probably 2 pressurised or forget CO2 altogether

Lighting will be 2 x 400w-GROW-LIGHT-KIT-BALLAST-SHADE-AND-BULB

You're kidding right? 800W over a 180 gallon tank? Why grow lights? Just get 3 x full length T8s or T5 standard tubes (forget T5HO) with reflectors and ballasts etc. You are not going to need any more than that and it will save you a fortune on electricity.

Fiddling with the height to get it right? Unless you live in a converted warehouse with high ceilings then please forget this one.

The external filters are good, they are pretty much a copy of the tetratec ones

Is this a good or bad thing!!! If its a copy of a Tetratec then I would assume its even worse!!! As said before DO NOT skimp on big tanks filtration. The budget ones still cost a fair bit and that means more money to waste. FX5 or Eheim IMO on your tank.

Compost from B&Q, or dig soil out from the garden, spread it thin on some polythene and leave in the sun for a week or 2. Then cap with gravel.

Personally I'd be either visiting a beach at midnight with a fair few buckets or geting some playsand. Maybe (and I haven't read this anywhere so I will let you research if it has been done) you could get some black food colouring and stain the sand. Then leave it all to rinse for a fair while?


The hobby in terms of understanding has moved on in giant steps over the past 5 years or so, to the point where the people who rave on about high light needs have very quickly been caught up by the people who actually understand plants a little better. Look at it as those who just followed compared to nowadays where there are many that want to learn and question.

Light and the term 'highlight'is something that is about to be shattered in a big way and a lot of those who defend their beloved 'lighthouse' setups are going to be a little tetchy once it happens. Saying that I have been using the term 'about' for a while and we haven't reached that yet.

Needless to say if you go onto the forum(s) where people learn and question rather than the ones that just distribute the old myths of the hobby then you will see that far from people having highlight and thinking they need it they are actually cursing the day they bought it and end up raising them 2ft above the tank trying to reduce it and gain spread.

These days it is not about the quantity. It is about how well spread it is, coverage etc. Now this change in thinking has been building for a while buit the advent of LED just confirmed it to many and cleared up some of the quandries.

So as I have been saying for absolutely ages already WATCH THIS SPACE

So 800W Nope, Grow lights, I'm chuckling. 3 standard W flouro tubes the full length of the tank is more than enough.

AC

 

[SuperColey1]

Thought I'd add this before the TT lovers and APS TT copy fans start berating me.

This is an extract of a recent post I made on my own journal:

Something I will whisper as I have always laughed and joked about the EOC (Eheim owners club) and how defensive they are over their beloved brand. Hmmmmmmmmm--- :shh: :text-imnewhere: I joined them.

I got sick of the Tetratec. It was noisy even with its second impeller in (was 3 years old when I ditched it) It was hard to clean, clogged quickly, flow slowed considerably due to clogging quickly, looked ugly, was big and made a vibration through my cabinet from its hard rubber feet.

Of course I thought that it was normal until I got an Eheim pro II 2224 inc media for £75 delivered and brand new. When I hooked that up I knew all of the above was not normal and so for all the berating of the EOC :text-imsorry: You were all correct and I most definately was in the wrong.

I must also add that as I have no concerns r.e. cycling etc I just washed the new media, put it in and started up the filter. No swapping of media. I didn't see any problems in the tank. No bacterial blooms, no flicking, no gasping.

Why did I go for the 2224? Not for the price or I would've gotten a classic. It was because it was the same flow rating of 700lph as the Tetratec and also because it was the same diameter hose so I wouldn't have to change Lily pipes.

I love it. This really is virtually silent and with it's soft rubber feet the vibration through the cabinet is gone. I can only hear the filter working if I put my head close to it but move away or close the cabinet door and nothing.

plus points:
The powerhead comes off with no force. Just unclip and take off. The Tetratec was a brute force effort to take off and put on.
Has never leaked whereas the Tetratec could take a few attempts at replacing the powerhead before it didn't leak.
Flow is better when cleaned and stays better until I want to clean.
Looks better and is smaller.
The powerhead and hose connection assembly is much easier to disconnect. clean and the clip around the hose rather than the scew on 'compressors' are much better.

minus points:
hoses are rubbish. Made of too soft rubber. I put them on and instant kinks. Put the Tetra ones back on and they are fine.
The media is top draw at doing its job but means I have to clean it seperately rather than throw the lot from the filter into the bucket. those little balls and little hopps in the same bucket means I am there for 30 minutes seperating so I clean them seperately instead.lol

Why is not having a prime button not a minus? Because on the Tetratec the prime button was as stiff as **** and even when you got it pushed down you felt water come out from it. Always hurt my shoulder muscles trying to contort myself into a position to get enough force. So the prime button was pretty pointless for me Easier to connect the Eheim up, suck the lily for a second and then walk away.

So yes I used to slate the Eheim owners and tell them they were snobbish and that TTs were just as good. I was wrong and they were right. You gets what you pay for in many many cases

AC

 

[BackToTheFishes]

Sorry Paul this ain't gonna be pretty so don't take it the wrong way:

No need for sorry mate.I wrote and planned that while I was still reading up.Thanks for all the help.









I'm going into a corner to cry now lol

 

[Biulu]

I do not agree with supercoley about the tetratec. I have the marineland (which is the American brand name for Tetratec) and am very happy with it. It is silent and mine doesn't vibrate at all inside my cabinet. The only minus is it is hard work to get the filter working after having cleaned it. I have to do a lot of hard work with the primer to get the filter going, although I have found out that if I fill the filter with water it is much easier.

 

[BackToTheFishes]

http/www.123aquatics.co.uk/showproduct.aspx?Url=jblprofloraco2setm602-1082&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

This mentions a timed switch.Is that a specific piece of kit?Or just a plug-in like you'd get from argos?

 

[Biulu]

http/www.123aquatics.co.uk/showproduct.aspx?Url=jblprofloraco2setm602-1082&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

This mentions a timed switch.Is that a specific piece of kit?Or just a plug-in like you'd get from argos?

Just a plug-in. I also use them to regulate my lights.

 

[BackToTheFishes]

http/www.123aquatics.co.uk/showproduct.aspx?Url=jblprofloraco2setm602-1082&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

This mentions a timed switch.Is that a specific piece of kit?Or just a plug-in like you'd get from argos?

Just a plug-in. I also use them to regulate my lights.

cool thanks
Now,this is going to seem a nasty way to ask a polite question.
Please dont answer if you are going to start "I dont know,but I think blah blah blah" lol
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310249723296&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Can standard t5 tubes be used with this?
I cant find any defenite answer on this Some say yes,others say no,will overheat and burn out

 

[Verminator89]

Don't know if it bears any significance but it says

"HAGEN GLO T5 HO TWIN LIGHT STARTER 2 X 54W marine plant"

Unless you can change the bulbs, which i believe is what your asking about. So hmmmm

 

[BackToTheFishes]

Don't know if it bears any significance but it says

"HAGEN GLO T5 HO TWIN LIGHT STARTER 2 X 54W marine plant"

Unless you can change the bulbs, which i believe is what your asking about. So hmmmm

Yeah thats confusing me,I dont know if they missed a "/" out and meant marine AND plants
I've seen some on here talk about using ho tubes on planted tanks

 

[SuperColey1]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310249723296&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Can standard t5 tubes be used with this?

I don't know but I think....just kidding.

No you can't use standard T5 tubes in that. You have to use T5HO. tubes. T5 standard (NO) tubes will work on the unit but will be seriously overpowered and therefore be running at the limit. That will mean they may burn out quite wuickly. very quickly if there is a power surge.

Forget the Marine part. As far as I can tell it is just the starter unit with no bulbs. Either the model has 'marine' as part of its name or it is being sold by someone who doesn't have much idea

There are tubes for marine colouration but a starter is universal. You buy that unit and then put in a couple of tubes 4000K to 10000K (combination to your liking) and then turn it on. For Marine they would just put actinic in the same unit.

I personally favour the 5500K range. 2x5500K or combine a 4000/4500K with a 6500K/8000K

AC