Rob's 4ft (120 x 45 x 50) - Planted Aquascape

Looking good .... hope to get some time the weekend to do some tank maintenance (been months of no maintenance) - should be able to get some plants for you then. What else was on the wish list?

Second look at the tank ... real good indeed.

Later Ferdie

 

Thanks @f-fish ... the star grass is pretty muc all I still need. Don't want to overcrowd the tank.

 

gr8 Job, looks amazing is that valis in the background?

 

@Ammar on the right? Yes that is.

 

@RobSA - What lighting did you go for in the end? I'm looking at the 2x54w option but I'm reading this thread about all your algae issues. I see that the tubes are 1.163m and your tank is 4ft. Did you have to skew the lights to get them to fit?

 

4 x T5s... 2 x growlus, 1 x 10K and 1 x 6K I think.... they just fit with the waterproof endcaps of the ballast.... I usually have to skew them to get them in and out but once in they fit straight (thankfully)

I think the algea problem is due to the lack of cleaning crew.... made the noob mistake of throwing in what seems like CAEs or False SAEs.... which are clearly useless. Going to see if I can get hold of some SAEs to combat the problem.

Also got some star grass and congo fern from @f-fish this week... big thanks!... so will post some more pics in a couple of weeks when they grow in.

 

@RobSA - Thanks a lot for the help . Now I'm even more undecided :unsure:. I thought my choice was settled and I was going for the 2x 2x39w (900mm bulbs). What is the inside length dimension on your canopy. I was going to make mine 1.2m plus 5mm clearance on both ends so 1,210m internal.

Good luck with your search for SAE or Ottos. I haven't had any luck yet!

Look forward to the new pics. This tank is so much like my new tank that I can't wait to get it on Friday/Saturday.

 

@MarcHawke, I should note that I don't attach the bulbs to the canopy but rather balance them on the glasses brasses at the top of the tank (hidden in the photos by the wooden canopy). Which means I can manipulate them fairly easily before applying the hood. However with these things its sometimes best not to over think them (from experience) and to stick with the choice of 2x 2x39w bulbs... I would think those to be sufficient for your lighting needs in the tank and a lot easier to work with.

However on a somewhat related note, what bulbs were you planning to run? When I did my setup initially I took a 2 x growlux, 1 x 10K and 1 x 6k on advise that those composed a good spectrum of light. However, I read in one of the ADA aqua-journals that the lighting they use gives off light mainly in the blue spectrum (also reference by a number of other sources). Hence I tempted to think that going for say a sylvania coralstar would be better then the growlux lights I took originally. However, going for all of one type of light to encourage plant growth is not ideal imo as it will impact how you perceive the flora and fauna in the tank (eg very red if growlux or very blue if coralstar), hence taking two coralstar and then two whiter or yellow lights would probably give a better effect.... again I could be over-thinking this


Thanks, hopefully will have better luck in Jhb. Msg'd one of the sponsors earlier for the SAEs.

 

Ha ha. I tend to overthink most times when it come to DIY and then miss the small things. I haven't looked at individual bulbs yet. In my T8's it's easy because I went for Boyu "Red" and "White" and the combination gives me a nice colour. I've heard of all these other bulbs but haven't done my homework yet. I will start looking once I've sourced all the bits for the DIY build ie ballasts and perspex. Thanks so much for the help. :shakehands:

 

Cool, good luck.

Need to replace my bulbs soon so will look into trying a different combination (I am thinking 2 x coralstar, 1 x 10K and 1 x 6k) and will post any difference in results (probably marginal if anything).

FYI. I use the Sylvania range of lighting which I get from a distributer that sells to the public up here (thelamphouse) and although a bit pricey they work out a lot cheaper then the ones you get from lfs.

 

@RobSA watch out those higher k tu es will promote allottttttt more algae growth

 

@Ryno... noted and expected but would expect the plants to have a similar reaction... I am concerned about the minimal red colouring the rotala at the moment.

Hopefully I can track down the SAEs to keep the algae in check.

 

We have a Lamphouse here but they are on the other side of Cape Town so a bit of a mission and would probably cost me a bit in petrol so it actually may not be viable. Will need to check it out.

 

Plants do beter with lower k rating. Corals and plants dont have anything in common. So those high k rating isnt good for plants.

 

@Ryno.. will have to disagree with you there. Corals and plants are both living organisms which feed of light. With regards to the K value lighting, it is referring to the color temperature of the light emitted and represents what parts of the spectrum the light falls in (eg, red, green). Plants make use of certain parts of the spectrum for photosynthesis... mainly blue and red. Most above water plants tend to benefit from lighting in the red spectrum which is a lower K value. However based on the info in the aqua-journal about ADA using lights which emit in the blue range (much higher K value around 10000). I would assume that aquatic plants benefit more from this lighting, possible due to refraction or some other phenomena. Also based on a quick reading on wikipedia, coral gains most of its nutrients through photosynthesis of algae present within it and which I speculate may be the reason why both coral and aquatic plants prefer the blue light.


Of course adding to the matter is that for planted aquariums one needs to have a balance of light, nutrients and co2. An imbalance in one of these will result in undesirable effects such as algae growth. So if for example you had no co2 injection and no aquatic soil for your plants, it would not make sense to fit a light bank full of many high k valued lights.

 

Glad I got it to you ... hope your fern grows faster than mine does. Yes pics will be required - he he he

Later Ferdie

 

Ye lets hope, it was already pearling on the first day though

 

Update 06-11-2012



Plants are bushing out nicely... star-grass is slowly making its way to the top.

 

Very nice dude! It looks fantastic!

 

Thanks @Sean J, don't think it would have looked half as good without all your help and those fantastic products you bring in!