What Tubes Should I Replace My Juwels With

[aaronc]

Hi All

I have a new Rio125 with the standard 18w Juwel tubes which I want to replace with some more decent tubes.

I am looking to plant the tank quite heavily so a good tube for plants would be good.

Any advice appreciated

Aaron

 

[SuperColey1]

I have a 125Ltr and can be quite disappointing only being able to get 18W in the Orig hood.

I would suggest 1 x Arcadia Freshwater and 1 x Arcadia Original Tropical.

This gives you a good mix for planting. They say low light planting but I am getting on OK with these 2 plus reflectors that clip on to the tubes. (Bought seperately)

Also the original tropical lamp is excellent and accenuating the fishes colours.

If your fish tend to stay at the front of the tank put the tropical tube at the front and vice versa.

Cost me :
Orig Trop £7.99
Freshwater £11.49
Reflectors £5.49 each

Total for 100% improvement on the dodgy AquaGlo and SunGlo I had before:
£30.46. and was worth every penny

 

[aaronc]

Cool I will look at them. I picked up the reflectors at the weekend and they do help, just not enough

Aaron

 

[George Farmer]

Also consider Interpet Daylight Plus and Interpet Triplus in combination. Even better than the Arcadia combo IME.

Reflectors are a must for a planted tank IMHO.

May I suggest stocking four or so Botia striata (zebra loach) over three clown loach? Zebra loach's adult size are more appropriate for 125 l. / 33 US gal.

 

[SuperColey1]

Also consider Interpet Daylight Plus and Interpet Triplus in combination. Even better than the Arcadia combo IME.

Reflectors are a must for a planted tank IMHO.

May I suggest stocking four or so Botia striata (zebra loach) over three clown loach? Zebra loach's adult size are more appropriate for 125 l. / 33 US gal.

George

Where's the cheapest place to find the Interpet tubes?. Also what makes them better? is it the spectrum or are they just brighter. more reliable etc.

As usual begging for insider knowledge. lol.

Andy

 

[George Farmer]

Both Interpet tubes produce a higher intensity, at a broader spectral range. This is better for plant growth and colour rendition. I've tried combinations of nearly all commonly available T8 fluoresents - Arcadia, Dennerle, GE, Hagen, Interpet, Philips, Sylvannia, ZooMed....

I buy most of my planted goods from Aqua Essentials. Perhaps not the cheapest but the customer service is excellent and I like to support a planted specialist outlet, they're the only place in the UK that I can buy all that I require. In fact I've just ordered some ADA Aqua Soil and other stuff.

 

[aaronc]

Hi George

Will give those a go. Good article in PFK by the way, just got it this morning and had a read. I really like the clown loach but I do suspect they will be just too big for the tank in the long run Will ask LFS about the Botia striata.

Thanks
Aaron

 

[big mick]

Also consider Interpet Daylight Plus and Interpet Triplus in combination. Even better than the Arcadia combo IME.

Reflectors are a must for a planted tank IMHO.

May I suggest stocking four or so Botia striata (zebra loach) over three clown loach? Zebra loach's adult size are more appropriate for 125 l. / 33 US gal.

This might sound like a daft question but whick one to you put at the back and which at the front? (I know they are both kinda in the middle but Im taking this advice to use with my Rio 300.

 

[George Farmer]

A good question.

I would just try both positions and see what suits your taste. They'll be negligable difference in growth.

You could bear in mind that the Daylight is best for green rendition, Triplus for red/blue. Depending on what plants/fish are where, could influence your choice i.e. if red plant are at rear, put the Triplus at the back. You get the idea.

 

[Dave Spencer]

I use a 54W T5 Daylight and 54W T5 Triplus from Interpet in my 120l Juwel and am very pleased with them. Being a beginner, I have nothing to compare them with but my tank is a riot of greens and the Cardinals I added this weekend look fantastic.

As a word of warning; if you decide to go for the T5 size you will probably have to buy Arcadia reflectors. Make sure the rubber end caps are not underneath the reflectors, they must be poking out the end. If they are under the reflector they will get excessively hot and the rubber will become brittle and the lamps will fuse in to the fitting. There was a thread on the planted forum a while back where people had a lot of problems and were slating them. Stick to this advice and you should be OK.

 

[aaronc]

Hi Guys

Sorry to ressurect an old post but I am after some advice.

Today I brought two new tubes from my LFS. I went for an Interpet Tri Plus tropical (and a Hagen Aqua Glo

I already had the Juwel daylight and the Juwel Warm Light tubes that came with the tank.

I have replaced the Juwel tubes with the new tubes and the tank looks very purple. Is this ideal, maybe I need one of the new tubes and one of the juwels, but which combination would be best for fish colour and plant growth

Thanks
Aaron