pony-tail Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I have recently ordered a 60cm Fluval Aqualife & Plant Led luminaire .( will be here in 10 days) The plan is to build a low cost cheap to run plant tank . The tank in question is a 760 x 380 x 500 high. The filter a humble Eheim 2213 . I have no plan for CO2 I have not as yet got a clue as to what I am going to do with substrate . For a quad t5 CO2 plant tank I would normally do - Laterite potting mix+fertalizers(if used) then River sand . Just not sure what to do with a lot less light and no CO2. I want to do a clump of spiral Val (kind of a thicket) in about 1/3 of the tank with ground cover and a couple of ( Anubias or java fern not sure yet on a small 30 to 40 m log) With Iriatherina werneri as the occupants . All subject to change due to availability. Tank , Cabinet and Eheim - I already have (have to pull it out and clean it up .) It has been serving to hatch Praecox eggs on mops out in the Carport and is a little neglected . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 This is what I use in my Non CO2 tank https://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=4014 and I cannot complain, that stuff is magic! See here for pics http://www.qldaf.com/forums/photography-video-lounge-23/45cm-cube-94773/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Here is a pic of the tank and stand in it's current somewhat grubby condition . I belive I bought the stand ( came with a tank ) - quite a few years ago off "raycam" at Redcliffe . Anyway I had a custom (deeper) tank made for a previous plant tank running 2 Hagen glo 2 tube lights with 4 t5ho tubes (Giesmann) So going to see what I can do with limited light and no co2 . and hopefully not turn out a flop and fall flat on my face . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 (edited) Just to give you an idea: [ATTACH=CONFIG]41994[/ATTACH] limited light - no co2 If I might ask, how much is the light going to cost you? Edited November 13, 2013 by bluebelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I should also mention that I don't use any Fert's either, just natural light and LED light............ [MENTION=6434]bluebelle[/MENTION]....... do you use Flourish or anything like that in your tank?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Just to give you an idea:[ATTACH=CONFIG]41994[/ATTACH] limited light - no co2 If I might ask, how much is the light going to cost you? what lighting are you using ? and What are you using as substrate . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Substrate is straight gravel only; lights are 1x 30watt T8 sunlight, 1x18watt T8 tropical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I should also mention that I don't use any Fert's either, just natural light and LED light............ [MENTION=6434]bluebelle[/MENTION]....... do you use Flourish or anything like that in your tank?? root tablets, dry ferts; seachem works out rather expensive for multiple tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 root tablets, dry ferts; seachem works out rather expensive for multiple tanks. Almost as good as CO2................! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Tried CO2 once, ended up with a huge outbreak of BBA! It died off after I stopped the gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I am not even considering CO2 for this build . There will not be anywhere near enough light to warrant it . plus I want to keep the ongoing costs down to an absolute minimum . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Have you looked into using common Potting Mix yet? There are a few threads on here of people who have dome just that with full step by step procedures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Here you go [MENTION=1094]pony-tail[/MENTION] http://www.qldaf.com/forums/aquarium-projects-diy-journals-11/dirted-tank-pic-heavy-93668/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Have you looked into using common Potting Mix yet? There are a few threads on here of people who have dome just that with full step by step procedures. Yes I have - This is not my first plant tank , but is my first lowlight , no CO2 plant tank . For low light - I believe that a pottingmix / dirt base for the substrate may be excessive for the growth I will get . and if the organics are not consumed they produce Methane and Ammonia compounds as they decompose in an anoxic environment - They will make horrible black smelly stuff under my sand or gravel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Too easy........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollys Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Shall watch with interest :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Pony-tail, did you set up the led light? I'd be interested to see a pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Still waiting for AOA to actually get it for me . It is supposed to arrive on 22/11 or therabouts. Going to try to get some of the plants I need at auction tonight . Are you going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebelle Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Not able to travel that far, would be a 100km round trip. If you want plants or drift wood, I'm just about giving the stuff away lately. Let me know if you're interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Got some photos of my log , bought it at the QFAS auction on Saturday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) I may have to rethink one of the plants I intended using - after quite a bit of web surfing , it appears that HM the foreground plant that I had chosen , will not thrive under a light level that low . Sorry HM = hemianthus micranthemoides Supposed to look like the picture - But If grown in low light looks like a small straggly version of elodea .A bit of a dissapointment ( probably more to come ) I still havenot found a substrate that looks how I want it to . Wanting a reddish brown medium sand , darker preferred rather than lighter , sort of like river sand . I kind of have a plan in my head of what I want - kind of uncomplicated but elegant . I personally find a lot of plant tanks very busy - like an English garden . too artificial . I am sure Mr Takashi Amano would dissagree but tastes differ. Edited November 18, 2013 by pony-tail additional info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Yep the fluval LED look good but really dont have that much punch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Yep the fluval LED look good but really dont have that much punch. Hi donny I am the person that ordered the 2 foot fluval light in at AOA through Ben ( Red lancer - old guy) You do not Know whent the light is going to be in ? According to what Ben said is due on about the 22nd . And about what is being said on the web some are singing it's praises and others it's mediocraty - no one is saying it is bad , but often ,that it is significantly overpriced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Theres no argueing that some people are getting good results with it, because they are. But theres sooooooooo many LED light options on the market, and this is fluvals first real step into it. I have no doubt they will continue to get better and better. As to the price, fluval does build equipment well these days, so you can certainly expect it to outlast most the cheaper ones on the market. As well as the fact growing plants is not always about high bright you can make a light...... but more about giving plants the spectrum they need for photosynthesis. And they has been some sound lower wattage LED selection. Not at work at the moment, but Ben will certainly have a better idea on the delivery date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted November 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Just thought I would grab you while you were onlne . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
