First planted aquarium-need help - Page 2 - New to Planted Aquariums

freydo · 11-13-2008, 11:43 AM

neil,

the problem with that setup is that you would be stuck filling/repurchasing the co2 tank, which is pretty small. it woud last maybe a month before you had to refill it, or purchase a new tank.

i would go with this: http://www.aquariumsupermarket.co.uk..._Co2_Equipment

go to the very bottom of the page.

you can use either a diffuser or reactor... i would suggest the reactor as it is more efficient. you do not need a solenoid, unless you want to turn the CO2 off at night. this also extends the length of time between refills of co2. i personally don't use one as my 20lb tank last close to 1 year before i have to refill. and i have not noticed any ill effects to my fish.

you can also check out some of the sponsors here for regulators/needle valves, such as rex grigg.

hope this helps. any other questions, just ask

gravy9: are you agreeing that i'm short of a full sandwich?

gravy9 · 11-13-2008, 04:59 PM

You're full of it, freydo!

You know I was talking about the personality association with the avatars!

cheers,
Ravi

freydo · 11-13-2008, 05:18 PM

ya i know

neilharris · 11-14-2008, 02:08 PM

Cheers again Freydo. Did you mean the Co2 station on that webpage? I keep hearing usig a solenoid is useful due to the drop in need for oxygen neeeded through the night and can cut cost is this true? I've see some amazing Aqua One Triple T5 Aquarium Luminaire but that might be stretching my budget but I'll try my best as seem sufficient. All opinions welcome still researchin the right Co2 kit and set ups. Cheers again.

freydo · 11-14-2008, 02:23 PM

i was referring to the CO2 regulator at the bottom.

IMO a solenoid is good if you inject quite a bit of CO2 into your tank. since plants do not take in CO2 when lights are out, because they are no longer photosynthesizing. so there would be a build up of CO2 in the water, which can be harmful to the fish.

for myself, i do not use a solenoid as i inject "maybe" 1-2 bubbles per second into my co2 reactor, which is quite efficient helping the co2 get absorbed into the water. as such i inject co2 into my tank 24/7 without any noticeable ill effects to my fish. however, this is my situation, it can be different for you.

as for the lights, they can be expensive, but there are alternatives, such as DIY or other brands that provide sufficient and proper lighting for plants.

neilharris · 11-15-2008, 04:36 AM

Cheers again mate. Is that regulator the same as the one on this set
http://www.aqua-medic.de/freshwater/en/2/CO2%20complet/
if so that will do the job won't it? Also heard bout T5 plant lighting which should be a cheaper option than buying a complete new light unit.
Cheers again for all input.

freydo · 11-15-2008, 07:03 AM

hi neil,

i was using that regulator as an example of what to get, as the one in the complete package seemed to only work with those small bottles of co2. which to me would probably last only a month or two. i'm sorry if i'm confusing you.

i've been trying to locate a UK shop for, as that's where i'm assuming you live

i was thinking something like this would be better for your needs:
http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/52000/...691447798.html

for lighting, whether it would be cheaper for you to do DIY or to buy a complete package, depends on your needs and budget. DIY can be just as expensive as buying, as you're buying all the components separately. such as my canopy and lights cost me approximately $520.00. here is one brand that i remember reading a member here used, and it seems to be pretty good:

http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/13044/...979919322.html

hope this helps!

neilharris · 11-18-2008, 03:36 AM

Hi Freydo that helps alot thanks again. I love those Arcadia luminaires its just a shame they are so pricey and i can only assume they will effect my electricity bill. My problem is that I'd love to use that sort of lighting because its looks really nice and it will more than do the job I need it to do but if I( go with lighting like that I may need to save some of my budget from my filter/heating system. So rather than going for the Eheim thermofilter I may need to save some money going with a cheaper Eheim classic and a hydor external heater-any advice?
I recieved my ADA catologue and my 2008 AGA Aquascaping Contest catalogue which are providing me with plenty of ideas although I don't think I'll be buying much ADA stuff cos those prices are scary, I'm sure the quality is amazing but still a little extreme.
Allthough it has got me thinking if I might be better finding a UK rimless glass tank maker and paying about the same for a 60cm tank as my 100cm tank but I'd get the rimless effect and would need cheaper lighting, filters and heating and see if I can make an imitation ADA tank for around £600 - £800. But any thoughts on this are welcome cos im 50/50 about it because it will probably cost the same and I'll lose alot in terms of volume and room for hardscape.
Cheers again

freydo · 11-18-2008, 09:35 AM

hi neil,

it's unfortunate that this hobby can be fairly expensive, more so if you have aspirations to go the ADA route. but there are lots of inexpensive (not cheap) alternatives to achieve the same "look" and "quality".

and yes, you would need to compromise on some items. the first would be the eheim thermofilter, and going with a standard filter and inline heater.

as for the tank, look at local glass shops (not necessarily aquarium shops) to see if they would build one for you. or at least cut the proper pieces for you. they should be 5/8" (or 3/8"... not too sure)thick. personally, i had a local person build my 65 gallon tank for me. if i were to purchase it at the LFS, i would be paying ~$400.00... i paid $183.00. it's not ADA quality, but it's custom to my specifications and i love it.

for lighting, there are probably comparable setups to the arcadia brands locally. but if you can save in certain areas, you can splurge on others.

hope this opens up more ideas for you!

neilharris · 11-20-2008, 04:15 AM

Cheers again mate this leaves me 50/50 on whether to go for my original large aqua one tank or go smaller and get a rimless tank. Oh decisions decisions lol. Im glad I'm taking some time to research this but the deeper I get into this the more tough decisions I'm facing. I'm having a few days hard planning of the tank and budgeting between now and sunday so will keep you informed of my ideas. Cheers for all your help.