jinsei888

So here I am shopping around the webs again...now for possible new lighting options.

Here's where all you forum members come in. I've been playing around with the idea of replacing my Hagen Dual-T5HO 36" lights with a double metal halide HQI setup. I've been considering 2x70W fixtures hung over-head. I also have pressurized CO2 coming along the way in the next few days per GLA's spectacular aid (thanks Orlando).

I've been surfing the threads on MH a lot recently and there is just way too much yes-no-maybe speculation on the right-wrong things to purchase for the correct-incorrect watts-per-gallon and etc. My tank is a 40G, 36" long and I really want to know all of your opinions on my best MH route.

Simply put, I don't know how much light and what brand would be best for me in terms of MH lighting. I've also got that damn glass structure on the top of the tank (old-school aquarium that uses that glass center piece for strength and structure), so I want to stay away from a SINGLE 150W MH in the center...thus I'm considering the left and right 70W.

Chime in! I want to know what's on your mind!

theblondskeleton

Have faith on the HC! I started my crop in a 2.5 gallon with 2 pots. Trial and error taught me a lot, and all of the HC in my 90G is from that little 2.5. After getting the light and CO2, it's just patience and keeping things stable. Once it gets going, you can hardly stop it. Your growth so far looks really good, and when it fills in it will look incredible.

Tex Gal

Your tank is really looking good! Everything is filling in nicely. Glad your shrimp are doing so well! I bet they love the moss! I love your zebra otto. Wish there was a place around to get some. He looks so nice!

jinsei888

First. Kudos and much help deciding on the CO2 setup is thanks to Orlando@GLA!



Pressurized CO2 is finally here thanks to Orlando from Green Leaf Aquarium. I did the 10 lb tank swap out over at Airgas in SF and set the bubble counter at around 1-1.5 bps to ease the inhabitants into the CO2 slowly through the next few days. Still waiting on a preferable drop checker and more glassware to come into stock from various vendors.

Less chatter, on to a few quick pictures.

FTS


CO2


GLA Diffuser


Alternanthera reineckii ''roseafolia'' replacing the L. repens!

jinsei888

RCS photos, because they're breeding like crazy.

Kamon

Very nice tank, jinsei.

Where did you order your HC from and how exactly did you plant it into the substrate?

bratyboy2

looking great!

jinsei888

Just picked up a small pot of HC from a LFS here in San Francisco. I separated the HC strands and punched them in 2-3 stem mini-bunches and proceeded to push them into the playsand with my finger, each bunch about 2-3 inches apart. This process was done in my scape, fully submerged, at the time. I just kept up with fertilizers and ran 1.8WPG of T5HO lighting; no pressurized CO2 at the time. I sat back and watched it, somehow, grow...

Kamon

Thanks for the information. The planting process sounds time-consuming.

jinsei888

2-month Update!

New:
+ 7 Blue Tiger Shrimp added thanks to Donna (greenisgood)
- Removed Hygrophilia Corymbosa and in-the-process of removing Vallisneria nana plants
+ Will be adding Java Fern 'Trident' in the cavities between the two-tier layer of Java moss.

Progress:
+ A. Reinekii "Roseafolia" split and launching 5 new shoots!
+ HC is growing like wildfire in my Home Depot playsand
+ Switched over to Pfertz N, P, M, and Iron tablets (instead of Seachem products)
+ Changed dosing regimen to Tom Barr's EI method.
+ Algae is failing hard as the plants are flourishing!

Pictures:

FTS


"Tree" close-up


HC Progress


Blue Tiger Shrimp


Neon Tetra


Enjoy!