Supercoley's First Planted Tank Adventure

[Neo8223]

Wow, i have to say, the transformation was incredible. You started off with quite a bland tank (no offence) which was sort of lifeless and now, you have a beautiful blend of plants and decorations (and not forgetting to mention the sand!) working in harmony together. I like the colour variations in the tank too! Everything looks excellent. Keep up the good work.

Now, if only i could get my hands on a pitbull plec from my LFS

 

[SuperColey1]

Just a progress (or regress) report before I take photos tomorrow.

Since I swapped the Freshwater Lamp back to the front and the Tropical to the back, the tank looks a bit darker at the back again. I am buying another Freshwater at the weekend or maybe next (dependant on money, as I've already spent a lot this month.)

I think the Blyxia at the front has had enough and wants to pack in.

The central red plant is looking kinda sickly even though it is the highest light position (The darker red plant on its right is OK)

Of the 3 sword plants (don't know which variety) they take up so much space that I think I might lose 2 of them and find another plant to put in their place.

The Cypryus Helferi at the back is starting to go a little brown at the tips. I have made sure that the bottom of the plant is not buried and only the roots, but it is now under the tropical lamp, so hopefully the new freshwater one will rectify this.

On a brighter note, the unknown plant on the back left (ID'd as Jungle Val but I don't think so) is a huge success, as is the polysperma, baby tears, swords, Bacopa Myacci and monnieri.

The biggest winner is the Elodia Densa which from 8 inch cuttings grew to 20 inches in 10 days, and I have cut them where they 'should' meet the surface and replanted these cuttings on the right.

Also I have some Riccia Fluitans and Java Fern coming to compliment my bogwood cave.

The glass that I intentionally didn't clean for a week is being meticulously 'worked' on by the 3 new pitbulls so hopefully that should provide them with enough food for a week or two before I treat them to some supplements.

Pics tomorrow of the growing 'mess' and mixture of success and failures (I am learning as I go along here)

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Just out of interest do you have reflectors over the light tubes?

Sam

 

[SuperColey1]

Just out of interest do you have reflectors over the light tubes?

Sam

Yes, when I bought the 2 new tubes, i bought reflectors to go over them, problem being with these Fluval tanks, probably like the Jewel as well, is that with the tank being 30inches long they only have 24 inch tubes and also with it being 18 inches tall WPG is always gonna be low.

I'm looking at sourcing a starter controller that has 2 tube fitting attached to it rather than the 1 that is standard, so that I can fit 2 x 8W 5/8" at each end to try and correct the dark ends problem (although the plants at the ends don't seem to be suffering at all. It's the highlight plants in the middle that aren't getting enough.

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Something like the twin glomat starter? I and George have used them, very good that are too, dont get nearly as hot at the Arcadia ones either.

However I've never seen a double one for 8w bulbs. Seems a bit daft spending all that money for only 16w of light? You not wanting to got 'high light' yet then? Whats your WPG?

Sam

 

[SuperColey1]

Something like the twin glomat starter? I and George have used them, very good that are too, dont get nearly as hot at the Arcadia ones either.

However I've never seen a double one for 8w bulbs. Seems a bit daft spending all that money for only 16w of light? You not wanting to got 'high light' yet then? Whats your WPG?

Sam

I have 2 x 18W over a 18 inch deep 125Ltr tank (probably 100ltr water after displacement)

The problem is I want the tidyness of the original hood, without having to make a new one, so I was just going to put 2 smaller lights in the ends front to back to add to the standard ones side to side.

I was looking at this though if it goes cheap, then maybe build a hood around it, or fix it into the original hood somehow.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1

 

[Themuleous]

I have a 2ft one of those, 3x24w, couldn't be happier with it. But I reckon you'd be able to fit extra lighting to your existing hood. Are you able to take photo of the underside of the hood? There is always a way to get more light under the hood. Some people just rest the light on the central glass brace!

Sam

 

[SuperColey1]

I have a 2ft one of those, 3x24w, couldn't be happier with it. But I reckon you'd be able to fit extra lighting to your existing hood. Are you able to take photo of the underside of the hood? There is always a way to get more light under the hood. Some people just rest the light on the central glass brace!

Sam

My hood is the standard Fluval Hood, with one light in the front section, then a huge tray coming down which houses 'a few' wires and the starter unit (This is far too big for what it holds) then a light in between this tray and the back (The very front is a hinged flap, which I use when feeding etc. basic Side view below. There is no ledge to put a glass tray on. Just an open tank and the black plastic hood that slides onto the top.

\
\
------------------------
/ 0 \______/ 0 \

Basic pic I know but gives the jist. If I bought this unit from ebay, I could probably cut the correct size from the current plastic hood, and fix the luminaire unit into the space rather than have it above the tank. I don't want any of the surface to be open.
alternatively. Looking at it and getting my thinking head on, I could get 2 twin starters, cut out the plastic tray and then fix 2 more tubes where the tray was, giving me 4 x 18W (staggering them so that 1 and 3 reach the left of the tank and 2 and 4 reach the right of the tank)

What do you think? Am I making too much work for myself. I'm sure you can see what I mean about the original hood. It just keeps things tidy and keeps the tank safe from any airborne pollutants, like furniture polish etc.

Sam I've been reading through your low light journal seeing as it is a similar size tank (mine is 30L x 15D x 18H). I notice that you had 26W over it. so about the same as mine with 36W (1.24WPG even if it was full to the top, it's filled to 1 inch from top)

Your tank looks a lot brighter than mine! Is that just because you have a good camera, or am I doing something wrong light wise?

Very interested in any plants that you think I could add to mine that don't mind low light. (see list I currently have on page 1)

Like yours I am heavily overstocked without any 'respiratory' problems I have roughly 35 inches in there, maybe more.

My problem is that I bought a collection of plants, which I think is the best value when youre a noobie, rather than wasting money on indiviual plants only to have them die. There seem to be a few that want high light and are deteriating quite rapidly, so I want to replace these. I want some red or reddish plants that will stay red and still grow under my low light, any ideas?

 

[SuperColey1]

OK Update as promised.

The Jungle is getting thicker, although the Rotala Macrandra is on the decline so I think this will come out soon, as will the Blyxia Japonica. The mollies have been feeding on them like mad, and that hasn't helped.

On a better note, I got some Riccia from Julia and when it came I found to my delight it was Dwarf Riccia, which you can see is now on the top of my bogwood cave. Chuffed to bits, I'll decide how to spread it when it thickens even more, but thought it would be best to get it in there while I decide. I just hope it will survive under this lighting, because I can't afford to increase just yet, spent too much already and the wife is non too happy. lol

The Cyprus Helferi is getting brown on almost every leaf and I am thinking about getting rid and replacing it with a tall Vallis or something similar that will do OK without bright light.

Anyways on to the pics.

This is for Themulous who asked what my hood looked like inside. You can see the DIY cold cathode kit in the centre

Here is an arty shot, although rubbish camera and rubbish pic. lol

Next we have a picture from the front of the tank, shows the growth and decline quite well.

This is the Dwarf Riccia from Julia on top of the cave, with the baby tears and Rotala Macrandra either side.

And finally, the fish from Del Monte, they say YEEESSSS

More to follow in the next few days, just watching the tank non stop at the mo, as I am in love with the colour green. lol

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Right, I see your problem with the hood, I guess you might be able to add some T5 tubes as they are thinner, but to be honest this might be more expensive than getting a complete new hood. Without seeing it 'in the flesh' its tricky but Im sure you've thought about it quite a bit, so dont think there is much more I can say.

As for my low light, its a complete disgrace, has failed most spectacularly! It isn't that bright in really life, so must be the camera, I have just added two more 18w and removed the 12w to give me 54w and I'm going to re-do it sometime with more plants.

Red plants are tricky without decent light as they typically need more, if you do manage to get more light under the hood you might have better luck.

Thinking on my feet here, is there anyway you could remove just the existing tubes i.e. leave the fixture in place and add two power compacts, you can get twin starters of these and there is a 55w tube that's only 21" long, two would be ideal for a high light tank, probably even a bit of over kill. But that would cost you over 60quid, almost the same as the EQJ trading luminary, choice is yours I guess.

Sorry, dont know if that's much help

Sam

 

[SuperColey1]

Sam

I actually thought last night about cutting the T8s I have and fitting 4 T5 24inches in their place, which obviously wold give more light.

I have my eyes also on a twin compact twin starter with bulbs, but they are white/blue marine bulbs. this is on ebay at the mo, finishes today and currently about £25 inc postage.

The Luminaire last night sold for £50 inc postage, and there is one more tonight and one more tomorrow, so I'll keep my eyes on them.

I think I will end up cutting the middle section out and making the inside of the hood flat and then sticking the tray on the top rather than under the top (To keep the electrics in) then I can get a twin starter and fit 4 x 18W inside.

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Sounds like you've got a few options, I must admit getting the light right can be very tricky but very worth it, so keep at it! If only they'd start making tanks that were easy to add more light too!

Sam

 

[SuperColey1]

Good news all round today.

Got the Dwarf Riccia onto the cave although took several attempts, its really covered a lot of it. Theres also a lot floating around the edges of the tank which I will take off daily. The glolights love the riccia

Took another pic of my tank from an arty angle (copying JimBoos angle from ratemyfishtank .lol) A little better but still a rubbish camera. You can see one of the pitbulls right at the bottom looking like a greeny grey stone.lol

Finally with my birthday coming up, the wife says she will buy me the luminaire from ECJ (end of Feb). Now the question is this:

Do I get the 80cm to be as long as my tank with 3 x 24W, or do I get the 100cm to over hang each end by 10cm and adjust the brackets BUT with 3 x 39W.

Therefore 80cm making 2.5WPG or 100cm making 4WPG +/- a little for the overhang (bearing in mind I'm not going to do EI and I only have 1 Nutrafin kit for CO2)

I think the 80 will give enough. what do you think

 

[SuperColey1]

NEAR DISASTER.

Woke up at 9am this morning (late for me)

Walked into the spare room (which I call the study, as it is where the PC is and the tank next to it) and turned the cold cathode moonlights on as I always do (Full lights 12pm-12am)

Looked into the tank as I always do, and to my horror saw one of the cold cathodes had broken free of it's 'moorings' and fallen into the water, completely submerged end to end, but stilll working for 1 inch closest to the wires.

Therefore, I can only asume that the lights (same brand as SmithRC) are completely water safe, as I thought that they would've sparked and electricuted all the fish rather than slowly stop working as the cold cathode got more and more wet.

Anyway this light is now useless so cut the wires, disconnected it from the powerpack/transformer (Not eleccy minded) and siliconed the remaining one back into place (Now waiting for the Silicon to go off, with no hood on the tank.

(This is really frightening, because as I sit here I keep hearing a splash, which I can only assume is the Danios doing their impression on flying fish. lol)

Will have to buy a new tube to fit into the transformer and SILICON into place this time

Scary moment, but alls well, touch wood

Captain Mainwearing moment on seeing that Mr Cole has used the supplied pritt pads to 'secure' 2 cold cathodes into the hood
and not thinking that the glue might get weaker from the amount of condensation on a tropical tank

"YOU STUPID BOY" Gotta love Dads Army. lol

 

[Themuleous]

That was lucky!