Whiskey's Experimental tank thread!

[Mindsgoneawol]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Thanks Mindsgoneawol!

I like canister filters, but sure, my 10G tank that I just tore down used a HOB Aquaclear mini and it works great,.. only they tend to offgas a bit more CO2 but with the DIY CO2 setup that's actually a good thing.

My 10G tank used 2*15W NO T8's,.. you can buy a little hood like this for somethihing like $40 and it worked great for me,.. actually I even had to put it up higher to prevent too much light causing algae, but my 10G was not CO2 injected.

It strikes me that I never posted a pic of the 180G I tore down here,.. so here it is.



HTH,
Whiskey

thanks for sharing the pic of the 180.. thats a beautiful tank..

one of the reasons i am looking at that filter is its just basically a skilter 250 without the skimmer. it primes itself so when the power goes out it won't burn up. ( have had 2 hob's do that on me already) also it uses filter pads. no carbon.

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

thanks for sharing the pic of the 180.. thats a beautiful tank..

one of the reasons i am looking at that filter is its just basically a skilter 250 without the skimmer. it primes itself so when the power goes out it won't burn up. ( have had 2 hob's do that on me already) also it uses filter pads. no carbon.

i'm a bit slow .. NO T8's .. whats that stand for? lol..

Thanks Mindsgoneawol

Groan,.. I can't find what I'm looking for,.. but basically I use something like this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113349
With 2 15W bulbs and the length of your tank,.. this one in the link only comes in 24" length and your tank is shorter than that. If you really want to do a high tech tank with daily dosing of ferts and PH controlled CO2 injection however you will want to use more light than this.

I do use carbon in my planted tanks if I can,.. but I run low tech tanks anymore,.. back when I was dosing tons of ferts I didn't use it.

I think the HOB filter should be fine for you,.. They will only deprime if you let the water level in the main tank get blow just above the top of the motor housing in the filter though BTW. Same consept as a HOB overflow works there.

Whiskey

[Mindsgoneawol]

ah . i see what your talking about with the lights. (googling now to find something to use)

i don't know why the filters keep loosing their prime. oh well.. found a good filter .. i don't let the water lvl to get low.. low water level drives me crazy lol..

i don't like carbon filters much.. messy.. i think i may get a filter bag and pick up a bottle of carbon. then add that way. less messy for me. i would rather not dose or add anything if possible. i prefer nature over adding crap that doesn't need to be there.. the co2 is just to start it out and if needed later.. i have been reading and re reading this thread to make sure i do this right. i believe in simplicity. healthier for the critters in my opinion..

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

ah . i see what your talking about with the lights. (googling now to find something to use)

i don't know why the filters keep loosing their prime. oh well.. found a good filter .. i don't let the water lvl to get low.. low water level drives me crazy lol..

i don't like carbon filters much.. messy.. i think i may get a filter bag and pick up a bottle of carbon. then add that way. less messy for me. i would rather not dose or add anything if possible. i prefer nature over adding crap that doesn't need to be there.. the co2 is just to start it out and if needed later.. i have been reading and re reading this thread to make sure i do this right. i believe in simplicity. healthier for the critters in my opinion..

Low water level drives me crazy too,. It makes me batty if I can see the water line below the plastic trim,.. I could never have a trimless tank for that reason.

You should try and find a book by Diana Walsted in your local lybrary,.. "Ecology of the planted aquariam",.. It's a very good book on maintaining a very low tech, low matenence planted tank,.. I learned a tun from it.

When you do find a light post it up here

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Oh,.. BTW,.. I busted out a spair 1*55W PC ballast I had in the back and got that replaced last night too,.. so were back to operational. This ballast is a Workhorse and I've had good luck with that brand in the past, so hopefully I won't have any more trouble.

Whiskey

[Sprayin70]

I use a workhorse 5 on my single 48" VHO Act. It works great! Good luck with that planted tank man. One day I hope to follow in your foot steps. LOL

[Smalltank3]

Wow, nice tank, and that 180 gallon was very good
My best tank is probably my 5g with the Dwarf Puffers. I've had in my 10g 6 neons and they were great until one got NTD(Neon Tetra Disease) and passed it on to the rest of the school. Good luck with the tank!

Smalltank

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Sprayin70

I use a workhorse 5 on my single 48" VHO Act. It works great! Good luck with that planted tank man. One day I hope to follow in your foot steps. LOL

Thanks Sprayin70! Ya i've done really well with workhorse ballasts in the past too,.. the other one I lost was not a workhorse but an old Jebo ballast. It worked perfect for about 2 years though, so I guess I can't complain much.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Smalltank3

Wow, nice tank, and that 180 gallon was very good
My best tank is probably my 5g with the Dwarf Puffers. I've had in my 10g 6 neons and they were great until one got NTD(Neon Tetra Disease) and passed it on to the rest of the school. Good luck with the tank!

Smalltank

Thanks Smalltank! Do you have any pictures of your tanks?

What are you refering to when you say "Neon Tetra Disease"? I don't think i've heard of that before.

Whiskey

[Mindsgoneawol]

how bout this light kit http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

[YLChik]

welllllll

pics please
update?

we know your loving the 180 build BUT inquiring minds wanna know what's up!

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

how bout this light kit http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

Sorry, I didn't see your post If I don't respond feel free to PM me,.. it's likely I didn't notice with all the projects I find myself in the middle of right now.

If your looking to do a high tech tank then 2*40W would probably be okay,.. but for a low tech 10G I think it's way too much.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by YLChik

welllllll

pics please
update?

we know your loving the 180 build BUT inquiring minds wanna know what's up!

Lol,.. Sorry Amy, I keep leaving the Camera at my friends house where the 180 build is going on

The tank is filling in nicely, I'll try and remember to get some pics when I come home tonight, but it will be really late, and I may forget.

Shoot me a PM in a few hours and remind me if you remember

Whiskey

[Sprayin70]

Lets see some updated pics!

[Mindsgoneawol]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Sorry, I didn't see your post If I don't respond feel free to PM me,.. it's likely I didn't notice with all the projects I find myself in the middle of right now.

If your looking to do a high tech tank then 2*40W would probably be okay,.. but for a low tech 10G I think it's way too much.

Whiskey

its all good. i have been trying to keep busy lately too. between kids going back to school and work i loose track of what i am doing. i have several projects i have started and keep forgetting about them lol.. oh i hate the night shift.

any way i was trying different searches on google. i did find this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345

i just reread part of the thread . forgot all about the book. will have to remember this weekend to look for it.

i really need to get started on the planted tank too .. the wife wants it done.. lol.. her algae eater is lonely. ( think i am going to get a bigger tank)