Opinions Please

[bennett]

i've got a 24g with fish and an attempt at being planted. i've added laterite and have c02 waiting to be implemented. BUT the lighting is pap so i want a new hood to accomodate two light strips, but have no means to DIY one. any thoughts? the dimensions are 30"x12". OR can i just get a higher Wattage lighting strip in there? argh i'm so confused!

also my external fluval appears not be churning out loads and loads of water as it once did (now i bought this set up second hand being told it'd be V V V easy to upkeep). is this a question of simple maintainence OR do i need to get another filter? (if so suggestions are also appreciated)

so basically everyone sort out my tank for me please




no really, please it'd be lovely B)

 

[Durbkat]

Yes you can get a stronger wattage bulb. As for the filter just clean it and the impeller out and that should clear it up if not you'll have to wait for someone else as I don't live in the UK and have no idea what this filter looks like nor do I have one.

 

[bennett]

awesome one person?

 

[Bloo]

Yes you can get a stronger wattage bulb.

no you can't - not of the same length anyway.......
Are you absolutely absolutely sure you can't DIY it or modify it ? Come on, I'm a girl and I did it
Have a look at what I did with my fully enclosed Tropiquarium lid and see if you can't do something similar.

Fluvals are ok, but not the greatest - how old is it ? Perhaps it is time for a new filter - if that's the case I'd go for Eheim 2213

 

[bennett]

i;ll look into the lid. and i was relatively sure that you can't get varied wattage of lighting per length, just wanted to make sure!

as a rough estimate how expensive would a new eheim be? preferably second hand

 

[Bloo]

Brand new fully inclusive from my lfs (4 months or so ago) I paid £48.

Your can save a few bob on a second hand one, but guess you'll need new media - and this can be a few ££'s.

 

[bennett]

oh my life. when we bought the set up 2nd hand between xmas and nye the lady said she'd just done a maintenance binge on the tank. so my fluval 104 had been playing up, so i found the online manual and open that baby up having been told it's a twice a year job!

i've never seen so much brown in my life(needless to say i cleaned it and made a note to buy spares for the filter). i feel trully sorry for the fish and i'm thankful i lowered the stocking by 4 angels going to a new home.

i feel horrible

 

[Bloo]

Crickey some people get away with cleaning their external twice a year - but I don't feel comfortable enough (yet) to push my luck. Even doing mine every two months produces a large amount of gunk. So I'm sure your low flow rate was due to the build-up of gunk.

It's good too to wash the mechanical part of the filter under a strong shower and flush all bits of gunk out - especially in the impeller shaft.