5.5foot tank I might buy soon

6500k tubes are good for plants, but you said you not going to have plants. But they will be much better than the 4000k, trust me.

The Sylvania Aquastar tubes that I have are 10000k and make a great display light, super bright but they do promote algae growth if you have them on for too long.

I would go with anything between 6500k & 10000k.

 

Think the 6500k will be fine where did you get yours and what type of ballast do you use is it a plain open ballast or closed type and how is it mounted in your tank do you have any photos maybe

 

Mine are t8's, if you get T5's even better. I had mine in my 4ft, but I have since sold this tank. I still need to set the lighting up for my 6ft tank. I got my tubes at a lighting place called Lamphouse (they have a branch in JHB, google for their website). You will be able to get the t5 6500k tubes there as well. I used normal T8 aquarium ballasts, the grey ones that the LPS sell. I had a canopy on the 4ft, so all i did was to use the suction cups (same ones that keep the heater in place) and just popped the tubes in there and stuck them on the top of the tank brace. Dont have any pics of it unfortunately.

 

Okay cool then so I can just buy the normal T5 ballasts from the lfs and then get the t5 tubes from builders warehouse or Lamphouse. I dont like the units you buy at builders they are very bulky will decide what I use soon.

 

Yes you can do that, but I think the LFS will be quite expensive with their ballasts. Definately go get the tubes from Lamphouse, they know what they are about.

 

Yes the t5 ballasts are heavy expensive just got a price R270 each at one lfs. They are crazy tired of being ripped of by some lfs. Think I will go with the t5 ballast from lighting warehouse @ R230 for the ballast unit and 30 - R60 for tubes.

 

Yeah.. I would get it from the lighting place aswell, just ask for 6500k tubes instead of 4000k and then it's all sorted.

 

I have a 10mm 30cm brace in the middle of my tank will it be safe to put it on there as I will be going the glass sliders route in my canopy.

Will I be able to rest the whole thing on the tubes?

 

I wouldnt rest anything on the tubes.

 

Then I would probably go the complete wood setup with a separate section where I can open the front section of the hood. I will then mount the unit onto the wood.

 

This would be the better option. Remember the glass of these tubes are very thin, I wouldnt put weight on it and would keep try and keep the ballasts and wires as dry as possibly.

When I did a DIY canopy on my 3ft I mounted the lights on the canopy, check it out here

 

I got my very first Eheim Jager 300w heater yesterday, lets hope it gives me a good 5 years.

Also got 500ml of Seachem Matrix for the new internal filters and some seachem Prime.

Don't Think I will be adding Seachem Stability to the new tank. As my two existing filters have been running for 3 months already.

I will also be adding all my existing gravel to the new tank.

Might even throw in some of my existing tank water I get from doing water changes.

Although they say it is not really necessary.

Just hope I get my stand this week.

 

Good luck man. The Jager heater won't look too wild in that size tank luckily. He he. Still on my wish list though.

 

Yeah I never thought I would eventually own the "EHEIM JAGER" yeah that tank is deep enough for it at 780 deep.

Hope I get my stand this weekend this guy is really working on my nerves know.

Please all have your thumbs crossed that I get my stand by the weekend:blink1:

 

@hviviers75 - All good things come to those that wait or so my tank builder tells me :blink1:. He says my tank should be ready by this coming Friday but it's like having cake and not being allowed to eat it! Pretty darn sucky...:evil:

 

Yes that is true dude but who really want to only wait and wait. It does suck big time:evil:!!!

 

Waiting is worse than algae :laugh:

 

Yeah that is true like the quote dude:laugh:

 

Dude... I think I'll disagree with that statement. :blink: At this point in time anyway... Give me two weeks and I'll agree 100% :bebored:

 

LOL Is that how long it will take for you new tank?