New tank idea

[Crossocheilus]

Hello UKAPS!

I have had a 176L low tech tank from MA Oxford which has been alright but definitely no aquascaping masterpiece. Having looked on this website and others i am beginning to formulate a plan for a 90 or 120cm TGM Rimless Braceless Optiwhite glass tank. The plan:

TGM 120x45x45cm tank and cabinet
2kg FE Co2
CO2 Art Dual Stage CO2 Reg and Solenoid
DIY CO2 reactor
Colombo Flora Base Black
All Pond Solutions 4x T5 120cm Thin Lighting System
EI dosing
and a (DIY) Sump

I will post separate threads about exact questions but would like some overall feedback and advice on the plan.
I was thinking of doing an aquascape loosely based on James Findley's Tributary.

Thanks

 

[kirk]

Hi, looks good, the only thing I noticed is the amount of light youll have I'm guesstimating about 196watts of t5. Do you plan on hanging them.? I have 48watts of t5 over two ft from substrate over 80x40x40 and it keeps me busy every time I lower it I'm rasing it again and that's without reflectors.🙂

 

[Crossocheilus]

A good point, i was planning on hanging it so will be able to vary height and so the intensity, btw i would like to grow HC Cuba, Hairgrass and some red plants so probably need quite a bit of light (?) but definitely don't want algae. Another point to consider is that i apparently (probably inaccurate test kit) have 50ppm of nitrates in tap water. Now i know Tom Barr and others have emphasised that excess nutrients (apart from ammonia) do not cause algae but i (might) have V. High nitrates which could cause algae??

 

[kirk]

If you don't mind I'll pop a pic up to show it's possible? as you probably know anything posted by ceg is a valuable read. He convinced me to back off with the wattage.

 

[kirk]

hair grass. just had the tape on it and the light is 24" from the highest substrate and 27 at the lower end. it's a bit scruffy as I re did the tank last night. Once the plants have their boots in I'll slowly drop the lighting to no more than 20inches as Past that I've had algae problems. You just need to push that co2 down to the substrate which is the hardest thing I'm still battling with. Cheers kirk.

 

[Crossocheilus]

So would you recommend just 2 54w T5s as enough to grow most plants, with sufficient CO2 and ferts?

 

[kirk]

More than enough, don't forget you can get some good led units too now, So I'd look into that too.

 

[Crossocheilus]

I have seen some great diy led builds in the US but it doesn't seem we have such easily available resources in the UK can you name any companies selling leds, heatsinks etc for diy in uk?

 

[kirk]

Have a tap into the search there's been a few builds I think. I've also considered it but I do like the colours of my Jbl t5's.( There's a great thread , good pics on various cheaper t5 tubes it's very good.