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In need of advice for new tank.

R

RickB

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2016
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398
Location
UK
Hi everyone.

I have been given the go ahead to get a bigger tank next week and am looking in the 180 liter range.

I want to go low tech with the tank, maybe go low tech jungle.

I have been looking at both the roma 200 and rio 180, but both seem to be slightly the wrong side of the scale with the lights, the roma has 7.5w led while the rio has 2 x 23w led's.

Can anyone recommend a good tank of that size that comes with equipment and stand etc for similar prices bearing in mind I want to go low tech.

edit: honestly looking for something simple so I can throw low light plants in there add the odd ferts and relax but due to budget and time I need a complete unit.

Edit 2: just looked at this while browsing https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/product/seashell-elite-36-x-15-x-20-aquarium-hood-cabinet/65332

If I am going to go low tech does the x10 flow rule apply? and what would be ideal low tech lighting for a tank like that?, only really vallis and crypts I will grow.
 
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I like the look of that.

And I found it with 33% off!

I think the light is ok too, only 30w.

My only reservation right now is the curved front corners.
 
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There is a great deal on the evolution of Aqua at maidenhead aquatics at the minute for £679
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/product/evolution-aqua-freshwater-900

This includes light cabinet.

Green machine also has some special offers on ADA tanks as sadly there going bust.
https://www.thegreenmachineonline.com/shop/ada-cube-garden-90-h-90x45x60cm-10mm-8-hooks-incl/

Have a look at the tanks in person as there is a big difference in build quality, I started with a Rio 180 and have just upgraded to a Redsea.

I bought a solid oak sideboard for a stand second hand and reinforced it heavily.
 
Barbara Turner said:
There is a great deal on the evolution of Aqua at maidenhead aquatics at the minute for £679
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/product/evolution-aqua-freshwater-900

This includes light cabinet.

Green machine also has some special offers on ADA tanks as sadly there going bust.
https://www.thegreenmachineonline.com/shop/ada-cube-garden-90-h-90x45x60cm-10mm-8-hooks-incl/

Have a look at the tanks in person as there is a big difference in build quality, I started with a Rio 180 and have just upgraded to a Redsea.

I bought a solid oak sideboard for a stand second hand and reinforced it heavily.
Click to expand...

Those tanks are nice but by the time I have factored in all the extra's and substrate, hardscape and plants it would destroy my budget which is around £600 max all in.
 
Ok , some thinking to do.

Can I ask for a little bit more advice please?

would a plant growth bottom layer covered in a mixture of sand and gravel be ok for substrate with just vallis and various crypts?
 
richard brown said:
Ok , some thinking to do.

Can I ask for a little bit more advice please?

would a plant growth bottom layer covered in a mixture of sand and gravel be ok for substrate with just vallis and various crypts?
Click to expand...
Yes as long as you use a suitable fert regime. Using say ADA AS no ferts needed for some time or till the ferts run out in the AS esp if going low tech
 
Substrate would be fine for various plants - you can always increase water column fertilizers as needed

Jurijs mit JS has been adding Tropica Nutrition Capsules to his substrate (bottom) layer - check his Facebook page for method (he opens the capsules & sprinkles the powder, ADA style)

I've always been impressed with Juwel quality/price 🙂


I'm less keen on the dimensions of the Aqua-One tanks (water volume delivered via tank height - most fish like to swim horizontal not vertical 😉) - the company receives some mixed reviews


Eheim offer the Vivaline 180 LED in similar price range (£412 complete aquatics)
Glass tank is 100 x 40 x 45 (H) & 17watt LED (I'd contact Eheim for details on the lighting)
 
alto said:
Substrate would be fine for various plants - you can always increase water column fertilizers as needed

Jurijs mit JS has been adding Tropica Nutrition Capsules to his substrate (bottom) layer - check his Facebook page for method (he opens the capsules & sprinkles the powder, ADA style)

I've always been impressed with Juwel quality/price 🙂


I'm less keen on the dimensions of the Aqua-One tanks (water volume delivered via tank height - most fish like to swim horizontal not vertical 😉) - the company receives some mixed reviews


Eheim offer the Vivaline 180 LED in similar price range (£412 complete aquatics)
Glass tank is 100 x 40 x 45 (H) & 17watt LED (I'd contact Eheim for details on the lighting)
Click to expand...

I get what you are saying alto but I think the missus really wants oak, I was looking at the fluval tanks and she did not like the colors.
 
NACD offers any finish imaginable

I rather like the grey oak that Eheim does on the Vivaline
 
Been thinking alto and that vivaline is probably the best in terms of tank size etc, the 17w led should be ok too considering its only 3w lower than the oak style light but nowhere near as deep.

Now to convince my better half to agree...
 
Zeus. said:
Be careful comparing LED power use to there output as they are not all as efficient in their energy conversion to light. PAR data best lumens okish but watts :thumbdown:
Click to expand...

Ok so would 2 19w 2130 lumens led tubes be too much for low tech with a tank height of 55cm, no par data available, that is the juwel vision 180 tank the missus has said she likes.
 
Tropicas lumen guide would be your best bet. OK it's not PAR but better than watts. Pick you level of plants and see what suits.
Always nice if you can dim your lights, then at least you can run them at the level that suits. After all who drives there car at max speeds😉
 
so it is basically dividing the lumen by liters?

Ok so the juwel vision example works out at 22 lumen per liter if I am right..

Top end of the easy scale per the tropica website.

Very tempting...
 
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