Sam's Nano Journal

[~T~]

Thanks man that makes me feel a bit better as I read online they were pretty hardy and I was like WTF why are mine just dropping dead.None jumped though and my single guy is in an open top tank(which im now para about as I have had endlers jump).I couldnt believe when my lfs got them in for me and at 6 for £4 too.

 

[zig]

Naw no nanos for me Sam, just gonna use a Juwel reckord 60 24x12x12 for the moment, although I contacted craynerd re: the tank that he has for sale, I would be prepared to buy this off him but it depends if he is willing to post to the ROI, wait and see on that one.

For the money you can't go wrong with the light units from ebay IMO, basically its the same one as yours and included daylight tubes, I'm sure I will be V happy for the price I paid, the equivalent arcadia would have set me back nearly €250 inc postage online, a price I would not pay, nearly 4 times what I'm paying for the other unit!

Don't forget that you have to have a decent amount of PO4 in order for the nitrate to be used at all, still trying to figure out how Im going to run the CO2 myself in the small tank, will be a few weeks before I set the tank up waiting for the new ADA order over at Aquaessentials, I want to use Aquasoil with this setup.

 

[Themuleous]

Oh right, I'm planning on using the lights on my rena 60 at some stage so was thinking I would this system on that as well and also when I convert the tank to marine way in the future! But it pays to plan ahead

Yeh your right about the PO4, will see how it does at the lower rate. I have thought about an external reactor for the CO2 but what with the UV there is already a hell of a lot of water outside the tank, which isn't where it should be! Major water incident when I moved the tank, water everywhere!

Sam

 

[zig]

Hi Sam

My light unit arrived today, well yesterday but my neighbour had it, I wasn't here when it arrived, full marks for delivery anyway arrived very quick.

Unfortunately the leg stands on mine were broken, they were not broken during delivery, more likely were broken already before they were added to the box for shipping, no biggie really, I had intended to hang the luminaire anyway, I agree with you though the stands are not great quality anyway, I will email them and get them to send me replacements, the light unit itself I am very happy with, I like it, the hanging cables are very good quality, easy to move up and down etc, overall I think its a cool unit for the money I paid, so I have it hanging up now and it looks pretty good, definitely a major improvement over the existing lighting for this tank.

I did a bit of searching around on the web to try and find out about the tubes that came with the unit, anyway I found the website of the makers of the tubes see what you make of this yourself, its quite possible the tubes are 6400k @ 2800lumens.

This is the relevant page showing the spec for the 24w T5s

CH lighting

 

[Themuleous]

Shame about the legs. I've ended up hanging mine from the ceiling, looks cooler that way anyway

Nice find on the tubes, and triphosphour, which is a bonus.

Sam

 

[RadaR]

Sorry Sam, remind me again what lighting you are using?

 

[Themuleous]

No probs - its this one

 

[George Farmer]

What do you think to the reflectors?

 

[Themuleous]

The reflectors themselves are very good, like a mirror reflective, however they're square shaped so no doubt the light gets bounced around inside before getting out, which will reduce efficiency. More reflective than the Arcadia ones but less efficient if you see what I mean.

That's if you were asking me?

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

They could go over my new 60cm tank....must fight MTS, must fight MTS.

 

[RadaR]

They could go over my new 60cm tank....must fight MTS, must fight MTS.

Resistance is futile Dave. It will consume you Join us, join us. lol sorry, ill stop now

 

[George Farmer]

The re-strike was my main issue. Check out the gull-wing relfectors on these - http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...s-t5-lights.asp

I was asking whoever was listening.....

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh seen those before, decent wrap round with them, get almost half way around by the looks of things.

Sam

 

[zig]

No George the reflectors are nothing like that but there again neither is the price I guess, the reflector is a single piece to cover all 3 lights something like this \______/ that's upside down but you get my drift, basically just imagine the 3 lights side by side under the one reflector, all I can say is that when the 3 lights are on they are bright, I will be surprised if I run all 3 for long periods of time over a 15 gallon, more likely to run 2 at a time with a short blip with all 3. To run all 3 lights you need to switch it on manually, you have a choice to run 1 light, 2 lights or all 3 lights together, but you must decide beforehand for your timer to switch them on, you will need to be around to use any variations like noon bursts etc.

But good value especially when you bid on then rather than choose the buy it now option.

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh exactly Zig, I only run two over my nano. FYI that finches article (amano lighting link in my sig) says for 40lt you need 67w, so when I convert my middle 40lt tank I'll probably run all three if I do EI that is.

It is a bit of shame about dont being able to have the lights on separate timers, but as you say for the money they are a bargain. Do you mind if I ask what you got it for? Mine was 58 then 15 p+p so less than the buy it now price.

I keep saying it, buy it seems very much that you get what you pay for in fishkeeping, that goes for plants, fish equipment, but there was no way I was going to be able to get an Arcadia, would I have like one, hell yeh I would but you to have to keep this hobby within your money limits somewhere along the lines!

Sam