zQ.

Yes ! I' let you know when i find it.

AaronT

You can use metal electrical conduit and buy the appropriate sized pipe bender to make a really slick light hanger. You'll want to paint it black or silver. It can all be done for about $40.00 at the hardware store.

teacherthomas

Living in Taiwan it doesn't seem as easy as that. I can not find high quality elcetrical conduit and can not find the bending tool. The shops I have talked to asked me to go to a metal worker. However he wanted more that 150 dollars to do this, and the style he said he had to make was not suitable.

Still looking, hopefully the tank will be finished soon, and then just have to hook things up. The light I am still trying to get the best for the cheapest price.

davidsu0630

Hi! I am new to this forum.
Teacherthomas,are you living in Taiwan? As I am a Taiwaness,I am very appreciated seeing your post with quite a lot of photos here.Your tank stand
looks good.but since the specially made stand for 61cm tank in Taiwan(I am in Tainan)is not very expensive.You really don't have to make it yourself.
My tank size is 61x39x(H)45cm 8MM glass frameless. Already it is quite strong,for using 10mm glass is way too much and just waste of money.
and then I am very interested at The Flo Pipes.Did you buy it from e-bay?
hopefully I can get a pair in Taiwan.
can't wait to see the whole set of your new tank finished.
(MyEnglish is't very good,wish you all understand me)

teacherthomas

Hi David. Yes, I am living in Taiwan. In Hsinchu city.
Yes, I agree with you, the tank stands in Taiwan are not expensive, especially in the south of Taiwan. I built the stand myself simply because I wanted to do it. It gave me something to do (A hobby) and I feel mine is better quality then the stands I would by here (and cheaper too).

I agree with you, the 10mm glass is a little excessive, but the tank maker suggested it for safety and the long life of the tank so I agreed with him. I figure, better safe then sorry. The Tank to be made was just 2000nt, so the price wasn't that bad for a frame less, supportless 10mm tank. I could have had it made in 8mm, but I would have regretted it if anything went wrong. This gives me more "comfort" room incase hi kids hit is, or bump it, etc.

I bought the Flo Pipes using my Paypal account driectly through the seller. I emailed him and asked him the price and ordered them. The price is 45US a set or 120US for three sets. I bought two sets at the time as a friend here in Hsinchu was also interested. Shipping was included and they were mailed out of Singapore and arrived in 4 days.

I understand you fully so no problems. Please send me pictures of your tank, I would love to see it.
What lighting do you use on your tank as it is approx the same size (T5, T8, PL) and how much wattage?

My tank should be available to pick up tomorrow and hopefully I will get time to start setting up soon.

Thomas

teacherthomas

Well I need to buy lights for my tank as everything else is ready and waiting, problem is I can't decide.

Don't want to spend the money to buy the lighting and then end up needing to upgrade. Have done that before with my 90cm tank and it is hard to sell used equipment.

Which lights do I chose
1. T8 (2 X 20watts) and get two of them for 80 watts as they have great refelctors (Honeycone style) and balasts I would assume the light would be very high and i wouldn't need that much [url]



2. T5 (4 X 14) and get two of them for a total of 112watts possible though probably only use 5 or 6 tubes but would be there for future and it is T5 so better light with less heat



3. T5 (4 X 24) and get one of them for 96 watts

though all the lighting would be on one light fixtures with one power cord so I would not be able to use a timer to do a mid day light burst but would have to do it myself manually

Main problem I see with T5 is that most lights I find to fit it are 10,000 K or 7500K and options are limited but t8 light bulb/tube options are more.

What is the main advantage of the T5?
LFS suggested I use PL and 2 X 36 watts, but I heard PL generate more heat and break down faser.

Do you agree that the reflectr has a lot to due with the quality and amount of light that gets into the tank?

Option one, uses a geman made honeycone Reflector which should provide 0 deadspots, and option 2 has a standard flat reflector. Does this make a difference? Woudl 80 watts in T8 with honeycone reflector be better then 112 watts with standard reflector in T5?

HQi is out due to temperature and unwillingness to buy a chilller which will just make my house hotter!! and my fish cooler.

davidsu0630

I will send you the photos of my tank along with my equipments as soon as the photos be taken.if you can show me how to post photos to the forum.Iwill do it as well.
As for the co2 reactors you post on the first page.i would go for MIX MAX PRO.(and this is what I am using now)because i had bad experience on the 2nd one(the co2 diffused by means of passing thrugh a thin metal layer.once the layer is stuck.the reactor is not working anymore.it only last within a year.)
the above is what I can think of now. good night

davidsu0630

I can get to see no.1 and no.2. I am now using no.3 JBJ t5 x 4.This set the relactor design is not really good and the temperature is high.The options for t5 light tube are phillips & osram 24w 4000k or 6500k.(they are both quality & pricing good.)I can not be quite sure what no.1 is.if it is Shiberwright(good quality) or Fishlive.(it's less expensive)I strongly suggest this option.they do't produce high heat and both got perfect reflactor.
as for option 2,nor suitable for planted tank.

teacherthomas

Mix Max I like and use (have 3 of them here - they have updated the model recently as well to fix some of the problems), the other is by the same company. Had it for 3 years now, and no problems. I ahve been using it on my other smaller tanks and on the bigger one before the mix max with no problems. Though I know many people who bougt other brands (Not Ista) and have had problems as well.

teacherthomas

DavidSu - Why is option 2 not suitable for planted tank?