N-D Aquatics Tank

[festo]

Hi everybody,
Im looking for some advice from the experts on here,
had a quote from nd aquatics for tank and lights
but sounds too technical for me so looking for what combination you would have,
i want a planted tank,nothing too difficult,
here goes
Tank,36"x24"x18
216 ltr £339
Arcadia lights
1xdouble starter
2xreflectors
2xtubes-£74.00

arcadia t5 34"white lamp 39w £19.42
arcadia t5 34" blue actinic lamp 39w "18.49
arcadia t5 34"flourescent reflector £8.35
arcadia aeus524 39 ultra seal t5 single electronic control unit 24-39w £58.70
arcadia aeuds 24-39 ultra seal t5 twin electronic control unit 24 39w £83.63
arcadia led 842mm tropical 19w £81.95
what would your combination be?
thanks.

 

[KittyKat]

An electronic starter (much more efficient than traditional starters) and Philips 865 bulbs to make it 1.1-1.3 wpg (watts per US gallon) in total would be enough for most undemanding plants. If you go for CO[sub]2[/sub] and fertilisation, you may want more light.

 

[festo]

ok
thanks

 

[festo]

An electronic starter (much more efficient than traditional starters) and Philips 865 bulbs to make it 1.1-1.3 wpg (watts per US gallon) in total would be enough for most undemanding plants. If you go for CO[sub]2[/sub] and fertilisation, you may want more light.

sorry but can you explain a bit more please,
which of them would you go for from their list?

 

[markandhisfish]

just get the tank/hood/cabinet from nd . their tanks are fantastic but you will get the other equipment cheaper elsewhere

check out sites like this for the equipment

http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/

and here for lamps

http/www.lampspecs...uorescent-Tubes


light unit £41.99
http/www.warehouse...-t5-p-5591.html

t5 tubes £3.75 each
http/www.lampspecs...865-Daylight_12

reflectors x2 @ £8.20 each
http/www.warehouse...-34-p-4457.html

plus if you order the light unit and reflectors together from warehouse youl get free delivery

 

[festo]

ok Markandfish
thanks for reply
i know you know what your on about
cheers

 

[KittyKat]

light unit £41.99
http/www.warehouse...-t5-p-5591.html

t5 tubes £3.75 each
http/www.lampspecs...865-Daylight_12

^ those are the ones I was on about.

As for how to calculate what you need (for next time)...
216 litres => 56 gallons

wpg = watts / gallons -> watts = wpg * gallons -> 1.2 * 56 = 67 watts

67w total / 39w bulbs = 1.7 bulbs -> 2 bulbs

So, 2* 39W bulbs gives you about 1.4 wpg, which is what you want to aim at.

 

[markandhisfish]

ok Markandfish
thanks for reply
i know you know what your on about
cheers

nd price and quality for their tanks is excellent , but their prices are too high for equipment , the exact same twin electronic ballast from warehouse aquatics is half the price . i ordered my tank etc from nd , but got all my equipment elsewhere . i rate nd very highly , but to charge £83 for a light unit you can get for half of that elsewhere is taking a bit of a liberty if you ask me . its all too easy to get sucked into buying everything as 1 package , but you would be paying over the odds . ive just bought 2 of those arcadia reflectors for my tank , theyre great you can certainly see a difference with them fitted .