Advice please

Discussion in 'Beginner Discussions' started by JDV, Jul 12, 2018.

  1. JDV

    JDV

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    Hi all



    Need advice please? I am starting my first Planted tank. 60cm with Seachem flourite black.

    I have two questions both of which has been asked before but I think I did too much homework and are now confused.


    Setup.

    1. Standard 60cm tank with standard black plastic canopy.
    2. Low tech tank nothing funny

    Questions

    1. Initially I was thinking of putting in 2 10w LED floodlights (Don’t know if they will fit by look of things they might - big might) I started reading up LED lights and then it started getting very complicated very quickly. Can any body please recommend lights I can use.
    2. Can any body point be to place in Cape Town where I can buy driftwood.
    3. How do I prevent the drift wood from turning the water Yellow?

    Thanks all
     
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  3. pierreschoonraad

    pierreschoonraad

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    Simplifies answers to your questions.

    1. LED spotlights will be fine. Just check the kelvin rating. Your looking for a cool white or 6500k light.
    2. Not from Capetown but maby @Hendre or @Boulderbeesty can help.
    3. You can't prevent it from relesing tanins in the water except if you can get wood that has been used in an aquarium before.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
     
  4. Pezulu

    Pezulu

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    My take on your questions...

    1. If you are going to add LED floodlights, ensure that the black plastic canopy is strong enough to carry their weight.
    2. Also not from Cape Town. @Hendre or @BoelderBeestie might be able to assist.
    3. Seachem Purigen will remove the discolouration caused by tannins from the tank. Many fish prefer the darker water though.
      An added bonus is that the Purigen can be recharged a number of times when it discolours and becomes less effective.
     
  5. stephen

    stephen

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    Hi you can get drift wood from Pet World at N1 city,Perky Pets diepeiver,aquatic warehouse in southfield,Sams aquarium in Bergfliet
     
  6. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    thanks all for the awesome advice
     
  7. BoelderBeestie

    BoelderBeestie

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    Aquatic vision is lekker cheap on the wood. China town at Sable square has a light shop that sells all the different leds. I recently made a few for my discus tanks. I use a 12DC adaptor to run the leds and stuck them inside network trunking for the housing. They can also dim by setting the volts on the adaptor. I haven't tried them on any plants yet so don't know if they will grow anything, they are not growing any algae so that's alright. @Hendre knows what model lights to use.
     
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  8. BoelderBeestie

    BoelderBeestie

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    To get the tannis under control. If you have a pool chuck it in there for a month or in any container to help it leach out a little first. After the initial leach purigen keeps the water crystal clear like Pezulu pointed out.
     
  9. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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  10. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

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    Welcome aboard! That is a serious amount of light you're sticking on there. Personally I'd go for a bit les on a 60l.

    Gu10s are what I use, 2x 6W here:1531394938501926997329.jpg 1531394970728375964957.jpg

    It gives great coverage but I think 4x 3W would be better next time. They're giving lovely results so far.

    Hope this helps :)
     
  11. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    lol, yes, I'm going to put only the one in for now and see how it goes. luv your thank looks awesome
     
  12. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

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    Good plan, and thanks :)
     
  13. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    Hi Guys

    2 more questions

    1. I have a 300w Eheim Jagger heater I would like to use. it fits in my 60cm tank. I know its
    major over size will it be a issue?

    2. I also have previously used ceramic rings can I reuse them and can I simply just put them back in the canister filter or do I need to do something to clean them?
     
  14. Pezulu

    Pezulu

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    1. Your Eheim Jager 300W is a bit big for the tank, but there is no reason you can't use it.
      Ideally you need about 1W/L, so you are using 5x the heater that is required.
      All that means is that your heater will be on a lot less than a 50W trying to heat the same water volume. as it will heat up the water column much faster, and to keep the temperature will stay on shorter periods.
    2. You can reuse ceramic rings, as long as there isn't old gunk coating them.
      If there is, soak them in warm water, then wash them thoroughly. I find that putting them in a veggie bag (orange/gem squash/onion type) and simulating a washing machine gets rid of the dirt.
      As long as you don't simulate the washing machine sounds as well, everything should be alright. If you do, hopefully nobody sees you.
     
  15. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    Thanks for the quick reply. I have a lot of old equipment from my marine days and community tanks and would like to
    reuse them. Don't make sense buying new if I can reuse.
     
  16. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    Hi All

    Quick question, where in CPT can I find nice small rock pieces for my 2ft tank?
    Were looking for small piece of driftwood but can only get big pieces

    thanks
     
  17. nate

    nate

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    Try namib wood in durbanville for rock and wood

    Sent from my VKY-L29 using Tapatalk
     
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  18. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    awesome thanks will give them a try
     
  19. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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  20. TheGrissom

    TheGrissom

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    I am sure it will. Stockings will also work, you just need to tie the ends off. Just dont use fishnet stockings or your fish may get the wrong ideas about you
     
  21. OP
    JDV

    JDV

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    Bwaa lol. ok cool. can't find filter bags in CPT and the one I can find they asking R200 for, suspect is made of gold or something
     

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