Luke's Planted Tank Journal

[RYO]

To be honest i cant see any of my substrate. You can just hover the vac around and make little vortexes to pick up any excess crud. If you have plenty of plants mind it dont matter much just more feed

 

[Luke_e]

Hehe, thanks RYO.
The next update i make will probably accurate dimensions, which i need to deduct some lengths due to the hood curving in slightly at the ends (will be more obvious when i take more pictures of the hood).
And if i can persuade my mom to lend me some money to order everything needed.

 

[Themuleous]

Buy two arcadia 15inch T8 tubes, one of each:

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046151.asp

Arcadia 15in. Freshwater Lamp 14w £8.99
Arcadia 15in. Original Tropical Lamp 14w £5.89

If it were me get both freshwater tubes, or if you want different ones, check the pinned lighting article for which other one would be suitable. Might as weel ahve good plant tubes in there, rather than 'wasting' a tube with an 'original' tube.

Then u need 2 reflectors:
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z045149.asp
Arcadia 18in. Fluorescent Reflector £4.99 each

(i cant find any 15 inch ones, but these will be fine just cut them down.

The lamp clips are also included with the reflector!!

To get the right reflector for the size of the tube the just check the wattage, if you have 15w tubes get a 15w reflector, as shown in the table on that page and on the box of the reflectors

Does anyone have an ideas on substrate specifically for plants. Then i believe gravel is placed ontop? One thing i'm worried about it, before when i had gravel, when i did a gravel vac i stuck the vac all the way into the gravel, but if it has a plant substrate underneath, it would pic all that up whch would be bad..

If the substrate is covered by plants and you understock the tank, you shouldn't need to vac the gravel as the plant roots will break down the waste, any that is at the surface and/or on the plants hoover up, as people have said.

If the lighting is a real squeeze you might want to to try these-
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z497157.asp
A single tube should be ok as there was an issue with heat on older units.

People have had real trouble with these, if I were going to use these I would definately get them from a shop and not online so I could take them back easly if things went wrong. That said I understand these have been redesigned so the over heating problem shouldn't be an issue anymore, but if it were me I would probably still avoid them, but thats just me.

Just so you know I have 8WPG over my nano and grow HC (Hemianthus callitricoides) will no problems, jsut be mindful of potential overheathing issues.

Sam

 

[Luke_e]

Thanks Themuleos.
I'll take some more pics tomorrow and i'll show how the hood is. Then, if i can pursade my mom i'll buy the lighting starter kits, although if i can find them at an LFS (which isnt really local) i'll get them there so i dont get p&p charges. If she wont let me any money, its going to be 2 weeks on friday before i can order anything more.
Current equipment i have is as follows:
Tank - 22l/6gallon
Subtrate - sand, but probably going to go with a fine gravel with laterite underneath. (dont have the laterite yet
Heater/Filter
C02 kit (posted, should be hear by friday)

Equip needed:
I'm thinking of having a long medium height peice of bogwood, thicker at one end and getting narrower to the other end to creat an uneven effect, not sure yet i'll see what i can find.
Lights (everything)

(not sure if there isny anything else i've over looked, i'm sure i'll find out).

 

[Themuleous]

Sounds about everything, apart from plants that is thats a whole new ball game!

 

[Luke_e]

lol, yea that would be an important thing .
I'll only start thinking about those once i've got all my equip.

So, if i was to get this light kit:
http/www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/interpet-...gear-o-167.html
And i was getting 15w bulbs, would i get the 15w Convertagear. Sounds obvious but just wanting to make sure.

Actually, i've just noticed on this website:
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046151.asp
That the 15" are actually 14w, not 15w. Would this mean i have to get a 14 convertagear kit? As there isnt one on the aquariumshop website.

I cant really go longer than 15" for the bulbs as i need room for the fixtures on either end.

EDIT: Where as the kits on here are 15w, but it says use on 18in tubes.

EDIT: I'm confusing myself here.. Not sure which bulbs fit which starter kits, not sure which starter kits will power how many bulbs, not sure which starter kits power which wattage of bulbs...AHHHH

 

[Themuleous]

So, if i was to get this light kit:
http/www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/interpet-...gear-o-167.html
And i was getting 15w bulbs, would i get the 15w Convertagear. Sounds obvious but just wanting to make sure.

Actually, i've just noticed on this website:
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046151.asp
That the 15" are actually 14w, not 15w. Would this mean i have to get a 14 convertagear kit? As there isnt one on the aquariumshop website.

I would check in a shop, but I use a 20w starter with 18w bulbs, so a 15w start will probably be fine for the 14w 15" tube you need.

 

[Luke_e]

I think i might check in shop, easier if things need to be returned.. plus i suppose if i bought the bulbs i could take them to shop(s) and try them there..
Does this starter, regardless of the wattage fit any tube length?
http/www.theaquariumshop.co.uk/interpet-...gear-o-167.html
So as you use a 20w with an 18w bulb, does this mean i could use a 15w starter with 15" 14w bulb?
EDIT: I'll email them actually as it doesnt state.
EDIT: Although i think the above is actually a single unit.
EDIT: Yea it seems like its a single unit, from looking at the picture on this link: http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/lighting-2...l-units-29.html

So ideally what i am looking for is a 15w double starter unit, or 14w seen as the tubes are 14w.

Well this is what i need:
http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/lighting-2...l-units-26.html

But a double one. Thats 14", 15w

If i cant find a double one, i might have to do with a single one. That would give me 2.5wpg if i have one 15w tube.

 

[Luke_e]

2.5wpg seems fairly good. If i had two 14w bulbs it would give me 4.66wpg, but as i cant find a double 15w starter kit suitable for 2 14" tubes. So i'll probably get
1) Arcadia 15in. Freshwater Lamp 14w £8.99
2) Arcadia 14-15w Control Unit (http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/lighting-28/control-units-184/arcadia-lighting-control-units-26.html)

But even looking now, the tubes are 15", but the kit is for a 14" 15w, where as the tubes are 15" and 14w...

This is so confusing, dont have a clue which i need.
Hang on a sec, 14 - 15w, might mean its suitable for wattages either 14 or 15. So the 14 might not be the length, so it may be suitable!!

Can someone tell me what i need exactly, Craynerd helped but i've now confused myself lol.

 

[craynerd]

QUOTE(craynerd @ Apr 19 2006, 04:47 PM) QUOTE(craynerd @ Apr 19 2006, 04:47 PM)

Buy two arcadia 15inch T8 tubes, one of each:

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046151.asp

Arcadia 15in. Freshwater Lamp 14w £8.99
Arcadia 15in. Original Tropical Lamp 14w £5.89

Sam Said:

If it were me get both freshwater tubes, or if you want different ones, check the pinned lighting article for which other one would be suitable. Might as weel ahve good plant tubes in there, rather than 'wasting' a tube with an 'original' tube.

The original ain`t no waste! I have heard on a few occasions on here that the original is very good balance with the freshwater for plants.

Besides, the freshwater tube give of a crap red glow, good for plants but looks horrible on their own! I would certainly look in combining tubes. When i first upgraded to 2 lights i got two freshwater and immediately changed!

I have 2 originals and 1 freshwater 18ich 15W tubes in my tank!



For freshwater tropical tanks, where plant growth and colourful fish are the main objectives, we recommend the use of the Arcadia Original Tropical and Arcadia Freshwater lamp together

This combination not only accentuates the reds and blues with the correct peaks for photosynthesis for plant growth, but also highlights the greens of plants and brings both good visibility and excellent colour rendition.

I have also heard that the freshwater tube is good with the interpet beauty tube!

Anyways..good luck. Sams knows a lot more than me...

Chris

 

[Themuleous]

Yes that starter unit will do 14w and 15w bulbs, so get that one. I've yet to find a twin starter that will do less that 20w, so if you want two light tubes you're going to have to by two starter untis, one for each

Sam

QUOTE(craynerd @ Apr 19 2006, 04:47 PM) QUOTE(craynerd @ Apr 19 2006, 04:47 PM)

Buy two arcadia 15inch T8 tubes, one of each:

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z046151.asp

Arcadia 15in. Freshwater Lamp 14w £8.99
Arcadia 15in. Original Tropical Lamp 14w £5.89

Sam Said:

If it were me get both freshwater tubes, or if you want different ones, check the pinned lighting article for which other one would be suitable. Might as weel ahve good plant tubes in there, rather than 'wasting' a tube with an 'original' tube.

The original ain`t no waste! I have heard on a few occasions on here that the original is in some ways better than the freshwater tube, which is advertised as, " for plants" !!

Besides, the freshwater tube give of a crap red glow, good for plants but looks horrible on their own! I would certainly look in combining tubes. When i first upgraded to 2 lights i got two freshwater and immediately changed!

I have 2 originals and 1 freshwater 18ich 15W tubes in my tank!



For freshwater tropical tanks, where plant growth and colourful fish are the main objectives, we recommend the use of the Arcadia Original Tropical and Arcadia Freshwater lamp together

This combination not only accentuates the reds and blues with the correct peaks for photosynthesis for plant growth, but also highlights the greens of plants and brings both good visibility and excellent colour rendition.

I have also heard that the freshwater tube is good with the interpet beauty tube!

Anyways..good luck. Sams knows a lot more than me...

Chris

Haha that told me! Cheers Chris! I guess its down to a question of personal taste then! I have two freshwater tubes over my nano and really like the white colour it gives off. The tubes aren't expensive guess you could always replace one if you dont like the colours its giving off.

Think this might have just confused Luke_e even more!

Sam

 

[craynerd]

Sam, i have edited my original post because it read wrong! The original is a good complementing tube to the freshwater for plant growth....not that the original itself is better for plants.

Sorry
Chris

 

[Luke_e]

I'll probably end up going with one light for the moment then, as if one fits, and i know i can fit another one in, i'll do that (once i get evem more money lol)
14-15w Control Unit For tubes length: 15-18in <-- perfect for on tube. So i think i'll end up going with one of the freshwater lamps to start with if i just have one bulb, and i'll get an original lamp if i get two bulbs with another starter kit.

Would 2.5wpg still be a good amout of light with c02 to give me a nice amount of plant growt?

 

[craynerd]

I give up...maybe i have it the wrong way around, but still the fact remains that the two together complement well.


Andywg said something a few weeks back in TFF chat and it got me thinking. All this talk about wpg is pretty pointless since does it not all boil down to the colour temperature as priority and then wattage / intensity at that colour temp? For example if i had 5wpg but all in the blue spectrum i would surely have less growth than someone at 2wpg but with a more balanced colour temperature.

Therefore instead of talking about wpg should we not start to incorperate the colour temperature and wave spectrum of which the light gives.

I mean has anyone come up with a forumula for optimum growth that incorperates these two factors. Like i said, it would be interesting to see who would get more growth, someone at 1wpg but with a colour temp suiting plants or someone with high wpg but say with the same colour temp (i.e using a few tubes!)


Chris

 

[Luke_e]

Seems like a can of worms has been opened lol..

All i'm wanting is better than avg plant growth. So with an upgraded light, an c02 hopefully i will achieve this. To start with, i would probably have to get one of the tubes, probably the freshwater. I could then see if another tube would fit and buy the original lamp after i get some more money.
If i was brave enough, i could attempt a diy hood, but it would be a weird shape, 5 sides, but i'd give it a go. This would mean i could have more room for an extra light, not longer but if the original hood wouldnt allow two kits with tubes, i could make the hood to fit.