Tina's Twin Bommies

[TigerIssey]

T5 tube replacement, I am sure I have read is every 6 months. Can someone confirm this for me??

Rabutt, would I need computer control, not really bothered about dimming, will still use timers for actinics etc.

What would interest me is a shopping list of parts. That way I could look at what I need and what electronics I needed to do, then decide if I am up to it. I was good at electronics, but its been a while since I left school, having said that a BSc Honours degree in a science subject should mean I can sort out the putting together of it.

Thanks very much for the computerised offer bit. Would like it to be as simple as possible though, that goes for the whole tank setup to be honest. The simpler it is, the less can go wrong.

Loverly red manderin. They really had that two weeks and didn't sell it?

Anyhow, LED's. For a basic string of five, you need 5 LED's (obviously I'm using 3W Luxeon Star III's), a Constant Current Driver (in my case 970mA, but it depends on the LED you are using), a 24V Power supply, and a heat sink to attach either the whole lot or one for each LED and the CCD seporately to. That is the compulsary stuff. You may opt for lenses if they are a long way of the water surface to avoid spill, I'm using 25 degree lenses, at a distance of about 7" from teh water surface and get good spread with about 5" between each LED. Actually, the spread would still be fine at 4", I get a lot of spill and secretly wish I'd used tighter lenses... That's the basic set-up anyway, bar a Timer Switch. that should give you something to start researching from. In the comming days, I'll be posting a thread on my rig in the FW/marine DIY forum, so keep an eye out if you plan on going that route. If you decide to start your own, post a thread and I can help guide you through any sticking points

All the best
Rabbut

PS, on a marine I would replace T5's every 6 months. This said, I'd be doing that with PC's too

Thank you so much.

Will start having a look for the parts I need. Is there anywhere you recommend for purchasing, preferably online.

Will keep a watch out for the thread.

The change in bulbs works out alot more expensive on linear than PC's. The electric gets lost in our bill anyway, too many outdoor floods in the sticks.

I cannot believe she was in the shop for 2 weeks either, I am presuming she hid alot. I was looking at the tanks a final time before paying for my RO when up she pops, must be fate.

 

[rabbut]

Well, Ebay is where I went for the drivers, lenses, LED heat-sinks and LED's, Coolcomponents for the computer, Maplins for the PSU, driver heat sinks and Transistors for the dimming interface. All those places do on-line retail

 

[TigerIssey]

Mandarin Courting ​

Children Beware​

I thought to start with there was a fight going on. They were not, soon after they broke apart and sat on a rock together.

The male is following the female like a love sick teenager

I did not expect this type of behaviour this quick. By all accounts I am lucky they have paired. I am not sure whether this was a dummy run or whether eggs were released, I was too busy getting the video for you all.

I really am so happy




Hope you enjoy this little insight into Mandarin Dragonet courting behaviour. I will of course keep watching and hope to get more with the lights on. Seems they like the lights off though

 

[TigerIssey]

The tank under actinics




Will get a daytime video done for you when the tank is cleaned and a water change done.

 

[Morri]

With regards to LED`s I am trying to save a few more pounds by ordereing http/www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25367 3 at a time if I rember correctly under £15 is import tax exempt with free worldwide delivery this will work out roughly £3 each at current exchange rates I have ordered my first 3 last night so I will have a better idea when they arrive

 

[ben1987]

tbh if i was a young manadarin there would be no stpping me...can hardly blame the lad can ya? shes gorgeous!

 

[Trod]

Amazing T, absolutely amazing Thank you.

 

[Buddyboy67]

What can I say about that red female mandarin than hasn't been said here already...beautiful and well worth any travelling or waiting.....

 

[TigerIssey]

They did not release eggs, they needed to go to the surface to do that.

As soon as I turned the moonlights off, the male shot to the surface fins stretched out bobbing up and down. When the female didn't join him, he swam over to the other side of the tank to her. Fins out displaying beautifully.

I did a bit of reading last night it seems you can induce them to spawn once they are spawning, if you flick the white light on and off.

I thought it was amazing how she was held onto his pectoral protuberance at the side of his mouth, then they seeemed to move about, will be keeping on an eye on them for sure.

What can I say about that red female mandarin than hasn't been said here already...beautiful and well worth any travelling or waiting.....

Did not even need to travel Buddy, she was local would you believe.

We have decided we are not going to add a dwarf angel. We think there may be problems adding fish after in the 6ft. Going to wait for an angel till we are all set up. Stocking will stay like this now till the 6ft is set up. I am happy with that.

 

[seffieuk]

sob, sob, I can't get the video to play............

Seffie x

 

[TigerIssey]

Seffie first make sure you are clicking the centre of the video, secondly that you are not clicking the black bar (this will just enlarge the frame).

It may be download speeds that are a problem. Going to pm you the direct link to photobucket album. If still does not work, pay a visit to Trod.

 

[seffieuk]

Seffie first make sure you are clicking the centre of the video, secondly that you are not clicking the black bar (this will just enlarge the frame).

It may be download speeds that are a problem. Going to pm you the direct link to photobucket album. If still does not work, pay a visit to Trod.

Thanks - it seems that when it has alredy been viewed by someone my laptop doesn't want it to be viewed again!!

Seffie x



ps the link you sent me worked perfectly, maybe it is something to do with the address (heck knows!)

 

[TigerIssey]

Today for most of the day, Cleopatra has searched the Left Bommie for food and Caesar the Right Bommie. I am thinking they come together at night again. Seems to be what I have read they will do.

Caesar




Cleopatra




If anyone has problems viewing, let me know and I will post the link to the album.

I have been thinking about starting a separate log for the Mandarin behaviour and was thinking it may be useful to anyone wanting to keep them. Show some pics and videos etc, and i they breed show that too. What do you think??

 

[garry_boyd3]

This is a Family site... so be careful with the name after your earlier thread

I think its a cracking idea considering they can be difficult to keep.

 

[youngfisher]

YF