Ghazanfar Ghori
Moderator
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 6:00 am Post subject:
First let me wipe the drool off my chin....
Now the questions:
With all that connected to your filter outflow, have you noticed
any loss of flow? One of the good things with the Ehiem professional II
series is the flow rate indicator. Love that!
You're not using a spray bar right? How's the circulation without it?
What are you planning to plant in the foreground?
Are you getting tannins leaching from the corkbark yet?
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Ghazanfar Ghori
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JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 8:38 am Post subject:
Big concern was losing flow because of the UV, reactor and all the bends. The indicator on the eheim is still at the top indicating full flow.
The tankis geting good circulation. Aiming the flow more towards the top (along with a fan) has eliminated surface scum.
Just in case, I also ordered a 350gph mad grive off ebay for $30. I can hook it inline if needed but at this point I may just put it inthe tank for added circulation with a micron prefilter on it to keep the water polished and moving.
The circulation right now is agood flow, but not forceful. It causes a swilrling motion in surface, but the fish are not nidered by it. They avoid the main stream, but swim around on their own throughout the tank.
The cork has not been leaching noticably, but did during the soaking. I knew it was going to float but I did presoak it for two weeks to try and get the tannins out.
I am currently running a carbon pad in the filter but still have a little yellow to the water under 6400k lights.
I am reaserving the foreground (all 3 sq ft ) for microsword and gloss. I do have a lot of riccia, but have not decided how much I'll use. I want to cover several areas, but I do not want to cover the entire foreground.
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James Hoftiezer
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IUknown
Happy Gardener-frequent member
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 1:42 pm Post subject:
You just got me interested in the night light. I love that picture. What temperature should I look for, dark blue? Is it the 10000K/Dark Blue Combo? Great work!
JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 2:30 pm Post subject:
It does look pretty sweet doesn't it
The picture is just the blue bulb in a standard 13w kit.
AH sells the bulb as:
13 6.9" Medium Blue 11137 $7.99
Do not confuse it with a 10k bulb or combo bulb. Those will still have the 10k white light. At night I think it is just the right amount of light. Once I have larger, silvery fish its gonna be better, but I wouldn't go with a larger bulb.
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James Hoftiezer
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Dojo
Happy Gardener-frequent member
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 3:06 pm Post subject:
I used AH's 2x13 retrofit kit for my red lights over my 130gal
Don't be ALARMED by the intense RED. It's not THAT red nore THAT bright. And the red light actually, after being on 10 minutes, fades into a more low 'warm' light. I saw James blue light and it's intrigued me I might switch them out with blue just to see how it looks. I was hoping the red wouldnt be so bright but it still is a little to much for a 'night viewing light'. I still love it all the same though! The clown loaches loose every bit of fear when I turn on the red lights!
~D
JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2002 5:09 pm Post subject:
I considered the red and and the blue.
I had seen red lights on reptile cages but I think the blue gives an aquarium a moonlight look which is more natural.
I see the red lights and it reminds more of Mars and the sun than of Earth and the water.
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James Hoftiezer
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JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2002 6:30 am Post subject:
Update -
On another thread (Product Review) there is a great closeout deal on an Eheim 2228 filter ($99 ). They confirmed the order but we'll have to see if its actually in.
Its the same as a 2028 except it doesn't have the prime feature and using smaller hose.
Here's what I'm thinking:
Give each its own intake from the bulkhead using some 3/4" PVC and adapters. Make the 2228 the biological filter and make the 2028 the polishing filter. Leave the UV on the end of the 2028.
If I need to I can rejoin the lines using larger hose and use the power of both filter to push through the CO2 reactor. I'll overkill on the filtration which I don't think is a bad thing. It will make the extra pumphead unneeded.
Any problems? Anything I'm missing?
-The pump was $40and I really think I was going to need it.
-I really didn't want to put the pump inside the tank.
-I was going to need prefilters and such on the pump taking up a lot of space and costing more money.
-I was going to need place to put a carbonate media to raise the kh.
-I've been trying come up with a way to increase the fine media for polishing the water.
This way I return the pump, double my filter capacity and double the number of media baskets. It will cost about $45 more than the pump.
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James Hoftiezer
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JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2002 4:36 am Post subject:
New update:
I got the second filter in and replumbed the tank. Now I have two Eheim 2x28 filters online with a rated flow of 275gph each on a 100g tank. Combined it will be 5x filter capacity. One is set up with bilogical material, the other has the mechanical media.
First I lowered the water level and plugged the input/ouput fitting.
Since the bulkheads are double threaded I was able to just uncrew the old pieces and screw in standpipes with qty(2) 3/4" fittings each. Each pump now has its own in/out circuit. They go from 5/8 hoses to 3/4" PVC to 1" PVC. Each size change should create pressure drops so that backpressure does not build in any section (i.e. the filters don't fight each other).
Inside tha tank, I changed the water jet from qty(1) 3/4" by adding qty(3) 1/4" jets. These jets area just hose barbs screwed into the 1" PVC. They allow me to adjust the flow of the water jets. Two of the 1/4" outlets are planted in the substrate under a row of hydo. The third is towards the back. If flow becomes and issue I will likely change this to a 3/4" outlet.
With one filter going I get a good stream across the front of the tank. With both filters going it is so strong it tosses the fish around. Once the water clears and I get ready to go with both on a regualr basis I will make the change on the back jet.
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otherguy
Happy Gardener-frequent member
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 10:07 pm Post subject:
Just curious I was reading that you painted your pvc to blend in better, did you use just regular old spray paint??????
Thanks,
Otherguy
JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2002 4:16 am Post subject:
I used rustolem primer, then finish. All outdoor grade.
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walpurgis999
Happy Gardener-frequent member
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2002 5:11 am Post subject:
The "red light" debate has cropped up in several forums over the years (this is not the only forum I have been a part of)--but this is the best I too use a red light over my 55g tank for night time viewing, and the whole "cool" effect is not why a red light is used. When I first setup my light, it was not red but white and the tank looked "cool" at night. However, I noticed that the fish were drawn to the light because it was like moonlight and thus normal light. However, when I installed a red light (actually strips that made the white light red) the tank still looked "cool" but the fish were not drawn to it. I do not know if your fish are drawn to the light, but if they are I suggest buying a red cover for the light. I like your stand.
JamesHoftiezer
Moderator
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2002 9:09 am Post subject:
So far all I have for fish is an algae crew of ottos and SAE. They behave normally with the blue light. They are a little more active at night, but have never exhibited any tendancy to move to the light.
The stand will officially hold a volkswagen bug. I love using the workbench legs. The sides are just bolted on. When it comes time to move I can disassemble the whole thing.
I am thinking about putting a liner in the bottom of the stand. I end up spillin water everyonce in a while when doing the filters. Idea for now is wither to line it with heavy mil plastic or using a clothes washer base.
P.S> I have upgaded the fan to 100cfm which is louder but tolerable and am using a semi-open hood. CO2 is up on a milwaukee controller. Reactor is going great. Pics of all to follow.
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James Hoftiezer
Please see my journals;
Tank Journal - 100g newbie
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