More Advice From My Aquarium Mentors

[devocole]

Hi all. Thanks again for all the great advice. I've found a wicked deal. 75 gallon with 405 fluval for $250, never used. I'm going to start big with a 3-4 watts per gallon compact fluorescent. I almost bought a JBJ compact fluorescent with 260 watts but i read somewhere the the fans on it sound like an airplane. I've priced out afew more, 48" satellite dual 260 watt ($200), 48" Orbit 260 watt ($240), 48" and Nova Extreme pro 324 watts ($320). Does anyone know about these or have other suggestions? I've also done research on C02 injection and decided that a well organized compressed cylinder system is for me. Although i don't think i want to buy an over priced aquarium brand as it can "easily" be assembled on your own. So thats where i'm at right now. I got the tank, working on lights and CO2. Now i'm going to try and learn about measurement and monitoring of nitrates, phospates, PH, Kh and all that stuff that i have no idea about.
So if anyone can suggest any lighting systems or CO2 systems or advice that would be great.

Thanks again
Devon

 

[SuperColey1]

Hi all. Thanks again for all the great advice. I've found a wicked deal. 75 gallon with 405 fluval for $250, never used. I'm going to start big with a 3-4 watts per gallon compact fluorescent. I almost bought a JBJ compact fluorescent with 260 watts but i read somewhere the the fans on it sound like an airplane. I've priced out afew more, 48" satellite dual 260 watt ($200), 48" Orbit 260 watt ($240), 48" and Nova Extreme pro 324 watts ($320). Does anyone know about these or have other suggestions? I've also done research on C02 injection and decided that a well organized compressed cylinder system is for me. Although i don't think i want to buy an over priced aquarium brand as it can "easily" be assembled on your own. So thats where i'm at right now. I got the tank, working on lights and CO2. Now i'm going to try and learn about measurement and monitoring of nitrates, phospates, PH, Kh and all that stuff that i have no idea about.
So if anyone can suggest any lighting systems or CO2 systems or advice that would be great.

Thanks again
Devon

Big tank to start with and will be hard for a beginner to keep on top of the plants (and planting in the first place) However each to their own and should be OK to learn on any size if you have the patience.

There is no way in the world that you want to have 3-4WPG over this tank especially CF. A tank this size does not conform to the WPG rule nor do CF lights. Larger tanks require less WPG for the same effect as a medium tank whereas Nanos require more. Add to this the fact that CF lights are much better than the lights the WPG rule was started on then you have an inevitable algae disaster on your cards here.

There is no need to ever use 3-4WPG over a medium or large tank no matter what your plant choices are unless your tank is over 2½ft tall!!!. With the right light setup (type of bulbs, positioning etc) high light plants will grow under as little as 1WPG (T5 HO Linear)

If I were you I would aim for 1.5WPG of T5HO lighting as they spread the light a little better than CF.

As for measuring and monitoring Nitrates etc there is no need. Unless you have proper laboratory test (not ones labelled laboratory grade) then the results you get will lead you on a chase for problems that don't exist.

Read the EI thread thoroughly and start out with that system. It is by far the best for a beginner as it leaves huge room for error. Excess nutrient is no problem in the aquarium and the quantities we dose will never hurt the fish but you do water change on EI just so that they don't accumulate over time.


So in summary. Look for a lower wattage setup prefereably with linear tubes which will enable you to spread the light better than CF, and don't worry about testing an monitoring. Just follow the rules of EI and watch your fish/plants to know if you are on the money or not.

Andy

 

[devocole]

Thanks, i didn't know that so little light would be necessary.

 

[SuperColey1]

If the light is right and positioned correctly then less light is required. It is an old school (IMO) way of thinking that 3,4,5,6WPG is needed. Mostly by US sites.

CFs are very good lights but the tend to focus a huge intense amount of light over 1 section of your tank whereas a linea tube means that you can distribute that light much better.

I use 0.9WPG for 10 hours of T5 HO and in the middle 2 hours 0.6WPG of T8. I mostly grow slow growing plants but I do have a lot Blyxia Japonica in there which is 'supposed' to be a high light demanding plant but it grows like wildfire in my tank.

In theory with my tank being 33USG and yours 75USG you should need less WPG but I wouldn't reccommend it. I have spent a while tinkering with fert regimes and lighting and CO2 and circulation to get everything just right which has allowed me to experiment with lower lighting levels and still get great results from higher light plants.

I would suggest you go for a straight 10 hours and look for something that will give you 1.5WPG. If you go for a standard canopy hood it will allow you to change your lighting setup over time and add/decrease/replace once you get to grips with balancing your tank's levels.

Luminaures look good but are not very adaptable. It limits your options really to what the Luminaire can accept lightwise so I would suggest leaving a luminaire until you get to grips with the hobby and then once satisfied you can go for the setup that you will then know suits your requirements.

This is my tank in the 1.5WPG period and you can see it is by no means dark!! On another note the pic in my sig is the same tank with just 0.6WPG of T8 (which I used to use a long time ago!!!) You can see the Blyxia running left to right in the midground. perky and lovely colouring (high light, I dont think so)

Andy

 

[devocole]

Thanks andy. I'm going to take your advice on the T5's. I was in a hydroponics store today and they were pointed out but i was set on compacts for some reason so didn't bother. I think i'm going to aim for about 2 watts per gallon to start with then. I just need to find a T5HO fixture/setup now, any suggestions.
Devon

If the light is right and positioned correctly then less light is required. It is an old school (IMO) way of thinking that 3,4,5,6WPG is needed. Mostly by US sites.

CFs are very good lights but the tend to focus a huge intense amount of light over 1 section of your tank whereas a linea tube means that you can distribute that light much better.

I use 0.9WPG for 10 hours of T5 HO and in the middle 2 hours 0.6WPG of T8. I mostly grow slow growing plants but I do have a lot Blyxia Japonica in there which is 'supposed' to be a high light demanding plant but it grows like wildfire in my tank.

In theory with my tank being 33USG and yours 75USG you should need less WPG but I wouldn't reccommend it. I have spent a while tinkering with fert regimes and lighting and CO2 and circulation to get everything just right which has allowed me to experiment with lower lighting levels and still get great results from higher light plants.

I would suggest you go for a straight 10 hours and look for something that will give you 1.5WPG. If you go for a standard canopy hood it will allow you to change your lighting setup over time and add/decrease/replace once you get to grips with balancing your tank's levels.

Luminaures look good but are not very adaptable. It limits your options really to what the Luminaire can accept lightwise so I would suggest leaving a luminaire until you get to grips with the hobby and then once satisfied you can go for the setup that you will then know suits your requirements.

This is my tank in the 1.5WPG period and you can see it is by no means dark!! On another note the pic in my sig is the same tank with just 0.6WPG of T8 (which I used to use a long time ago!!!) You can see the Blyxia running left to right in the midground. perky and lovely colouring (high light, I dont think so)

Andy

 

[SuperColey1]

Its quite different in the US to the UK. The shops and stores over there tend to lean toward CF Luminaires whereas over here lighting wises there are numerous options.

I would just search out T5HO on google and see what comes up. Should work out cheaoer than a Luminaire and then you can wither buy a canopy to fit them into or have one built for you or as I have done build your own

Andy

 

[devocole]

Tank looks good andy. I don't see myself building though. lol

Its quite different in the US to the UK. The shops and stores over there tend to lean toward CF Luminaires whereas over here lighting wises there are numerous options.

I would just search out T5HO on google and see what comes up. Should work out cheaoer than a Luminaire and then you can wither buy a canopy to fit them into or have one built for you or as I have done build your own

Andy

 

[Faythee]

Andy,

I am just starting out a planted tank myself. What is that pretty purple plant in the left back corner of the tank ?