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Green Water?



I stick with the new light theory.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well duh, the first thing is it is now an open-topped tank (How trendy). I removed the entire eclipse tank frame, light and filter and I have a small hob that was in my garage.

Last edited by tetratech at 08-Dec-2005 14:58

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Well duh, the first thing is it is now an open-topped tank (How trendy)

If it was REALLY trendy you'd have lucky bamboo sticking out the top of it, like some other random member of these boards whose name escapes me...














::ahem:: and so what's the other thing?

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Back in the saddle!

It's a new light, I am telling you since 3 posts

Gotta go home now

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 08-Dec-2005 15:05

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I was walking around Costco the other day and I saw this light and I had the idea of taking off the top since the filter made noice and the light was only 1.1wpg. This light is a 27watt linear florescent that gives off 150watts of light. Now I'm now lighting expert, so what's the watts per gallon on my tank. And by the way it's a full spectrum bulb 6500k. So I went from lowlight to highlight for $19.99 (cost of light) Either way Hello Mr Protist!




Last edited by tetratech at 08-Dec-2005 15:22

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Here's the pic:



tetratech attached this image:


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tetratech,

Your watt per gallon question is actually not that easy to answer. I don’t know which one of the 2 values provided (27W and 150W) is the valid base for evaluating the WPG.

If it is 27W then you have 2.25wpg, medium light
If it is 150W then you have 12.5wpg, an insane intensity

Maybe you can explain further what it means that this light gives off “150W”. Is that on the label and tries to explain the output compared to an incandescent light? In that case the 150W value wouldn’t be a useful measurement.

Either way, you sure have more than doubled your previous light levels. How does one attach a UV filter to a HOB ?

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 09-Dec-2005 04:13

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

If it is 150W then you have 12.5wpg, an insane intensity

Could you imagine the kinds of life forms that would develop :%)

I'll have to do more research on the bulb. It's a:

120V 60Hz 27W 6500K Bulb. The think it's like when you use one of those energy saving bulbs in your house that uses let's day 15w bulb burns as bright as a 60w bulb.



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It's 27 watts.

Open top tanks are the only way to go. I use nothing else.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks Bensaf, I figured it probably wasn't 150 at 12.5 wpg. It looks like four cf bulbs jointed together and at 6500k I think it's pretty good for tank. Are you getting any emersed flowering?

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The Narrow Leaf will grow to about 8-12".

It can be "trained" to stay smaller. Any leaf that gets to long cut it off. The plant will eventually "learn" what size to grow to.

It can also be tied down at an angle so it grows more horizontal. It will grow into a ball of leaves.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I ended up with an extra tank a few days ago because my son said he didn't want his 12g in his room anymore (needs more room for his stuff was the excuse) so I decided to revamp it into a sand bottom lowlight tank. I always wanted a sand bottom setup and I felt this was a good way to test the water (no pun intended). Here's a pic:










tetratech attached this image:


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One more closer look. See the two ramshorn. I think they're in love.



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I like it

Did you find the pool sand difficult to rinse? I just set up my first sand-substrate tank...a 5.5g for a pair of shellies so it doesn't have much in the way of aquascaping.

I think the kuhlis are a good idea. Will you leave some of the guppies in or are they only temporary?

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks Theresa,
Actually I found the pool sand to be quite clean. I rinse it in a bucket and poured out the water several times and it was pretty much clear.

I'll probably eventually give the guppies a new home.

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Nice tetratech,

Now you are creating another tank behind our backs (Bensaf and mine) ?

I know little to nothing about sand substrate. Isn’t it really hard to have any plants that rely on substrate fertilization?

How about adding some Java Fern ( Windelow sp? )?

So far, looking good

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Couldn't let you guys have all the fun with your three lush tanks and Bensaf's desktop computer paradise and put it in your face rescaped 65-70g amano-like wonder

This tank will be sort of an experiental project. Never used sand before. I know you can't make it too deep or you will have alot of anaerobic activity. The slope to the left actually has some rocks underneath to hold it up and give it some air pockets. As far as the plants the anubias isn't planted in the substrate and of course the java moss. I'll probably add some javafern if it fits in. I'd like to get a bunch of sand loving loaches to keep things active. I also raised the intake of the filter so sand doesn't easily get in there.

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I don't think you'll have much problem with the pool filter sand. The really fine grained white sands would cause more problems.

The size and shape of the tank is screaming out for a mound arrangement.

Put the wood (although I'd change that piece for a less solid more branchy piece) sitting on some nice rocks. Age up the wood with Fern (narrow leaf, narrow leaf !!!) and Anubias. Some Moss covered rocks around the bottom. Maybe a crypt or two in the rear corners. Voila , a very very nice, low light, very low maintenence set up. A few small rocks scattered around the base of the mound or in the rear corners, keep the couple of inches of foreground at the front totally clear will give you a very natural river bank effect. Wood, rock with aclear froreground is prety much what you'd see in nature anyway

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks for the comments. I "really" do like that idea with the rock mound. Love to have branchy driftwood, just can not find it anyway around here. I actually had the driftwood laying around from my old 46g. I'll have to try and get some narrow leaf.

Yep. The pool filter sand is really not that much defintely in size than my eco. Varied pieces and looks good.

Last edited by tetratech at 18-Oct-2005 07:58

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Bensaf,
Well after hearing your comments, I went back and looked at the tank and I wasn't too happy so I gave a shot at it with the rocks. Here's a before and after pic. Haven't added any other plants yet, but I think it looks better. The ramshorns were trambling the wisteria so I took it out.




tetratech attached this image:


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Yep, I like it too. The rocks add some interest. You can try scattering a few small pebbles around too.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

tetratech,

I like it too, but here are some comments and questions (list ):

- I cannot see a filter intake. Did you remove it for the picture or is it this high up in the tank? If the latter is true, aren’t you concerned that the bottom might become stagnant?
- I don’t like the few pebbles all the way to the left. Somehow I have the feeling that they will fall down the slope any second, meaning naturally that is what would happen over time in a river.
- It’s a shame you had to take out the Wisteria as its color difference created an instant focal point.
- From a distribution perspective (aquascape), I think the left side is too loaded while the right side is all empty.

I hope you don’t mind my nitpicking, but there is nothing major that I could complain about .

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 19-Oct-2005 04:36

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Very nice!!

I am not brave enough to try anything like this yet. My tank has one fake plant for decoration and few live little ones. I am still at the point where i would rather have more fish than plants though. I will eventually aquascape more, but, I think that will come with a bigger tank.

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"it's the neck, it creaks under the weight of too much heavy thinking."

nitpicking
Nitpick away. I always want comments, etc pro or con.

Filter intake:
Yes there is one to the left, but it's black. With a black backgrond and dark pic you don't see it. I also putting in some kuli loaches and a few dwarf corys to keep the gravel stirred up a bit. I did cut the intake alittle shorter to prevent gravel from going inside.

Peeples to the left:
It was harder than I thought to get a good arrangement of the rocks, I didn't love the left corner either. I don't think this is final yet.

Left side is too loaded:
With the wood pointed jutting out like that I think it would be tough to put anything on the right, unless it's something really short. Any suggestions on low growing plants in lowlight. I know Bensaf suggested Narrow leaf.

rjmcbean, thanks for your comments. I think many of us go through the fish thing and they get into the aquascaping thing.`

Last edited by tetratech at 19-Oct-2005 06:10

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Took both of your comments (Bensaf - scatter some pepples) and LF - Rock in upper left corner) and tried to created a more natural mound. I think it's getting there.

BTW - I like to work with a big pieces for a more dramatic effect. Maybe I should have used fewer but bigger rocks.



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Now the rocks look like they are needed to support the wood .

I would say that you should replace some of the larger rocks with smaller pebbles, in particular the ones that reach the front of the tank. How about placing some of the rocks in the right backhand corner?

What’s up with that little piece of driftwood underneath the big one?

That is quite a large Ramshorn you got there.

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Did some drawing:

How about if you change the angle of the wood in addition to the other things mentioned?

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think we're on the same page, I did originally have the wood higher, but it was unstable. I agree now that I added the rock mound that little piece of wood doesn't do anything anymore. It originally looked like a smaller piece of the main piece coming through from the sand. I'm not in love with the rock pile in the corner I think it takes away from the focus. Thanks for your input.

Last edited by tetratech at 19-Oct-2005 08:40

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To my eyes, tetra, it looks like you have a fine shellie tank in the making

Add some shells to the bottom right and add some crushed coral to the filter.... do it do it do it...

It does look very nice though, kind of minimalist. Reminds me of my shellie tank (below), which I think is why your tank looks so ripe for a few multis or brevis. Heavy on the left side, lots of open space on the right:





NowherMan6 attached this image:

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Back in the saddle!

Smaller crypts like Willisi or Parva will work in the back corners/side.

The top half of the tank is completely empty. Suppose it depends how you end up using the driftwood. But tall crypts like Retrospiralis or Balansae will give height at the back if you want.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Nowhere,

Actually not doing shellies, going for another softwater tank. Driftwood, etc., although the shellies might have been fun.



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Adjusted based on some feedback.
LF. Took out smaller piece of wood underneath main piece and tilted the main wood up with more rock support. I think it's getting closer to what I want.

Bensaf,
What exact narrow leaf species were you talking about. I want to order some good smaller plants to go in between the rocks and corner.




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That is great tetratech,

I just wish you would give us a pic that shows the tank from the same angle than the last one so we can compare better.

Bensaf means Microsorium pteropus (narrow leaf), aka Narrow Leaf Java Fern. I dare to say that without adding the attribute "I think he means" as he said:

Age up the wood with Fern (narrow leaf, narrow leaf !!!)

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 20-Oct-2005 10:50

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I thought that angle showed the corner better, but your right it's tough to compare. I also moved the anubias from the left corner behind the wood to inside it. BTW - Here's another pic, how tall does that narrow leaf get?


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I thought that angle showed the corner better, but your right it's tough to compare. I also moved the anubias from the left corner behind the wood to inside it. Here's another pic, BTW - How tall does that narrow leaf get?


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Yeah, I think it is looking better now. It also seems like you moved the wood a little away from the left side glass, is that right?

Ingo

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I changed the angle and I might have covered it with more sand. Let's see if we can compare better.



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Seems to be some techical issues maybe we crashed the system with our logs.

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Here's a better comparison. Angle's a little different, but you get the idea. I don't think the wood is further away, but when I took the rocks away from the corner your seeing more sand.



tetratech attached this image:


Last edited by tetratech at 20-Oct-2005 11:31[/font]

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Actually I'm looking or something to put in between the rock pile that will remain short.

The plant will eventually "learn" what size to grow to
I'm noticing that is happening with my wisteria in the 72g.
the stems are creeping along the substrate. I guess it's a combination of good light and "training"



Last edited by tetratech at 21-Oct-2005 00:03

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