ckmullin

Seraen, greatly over thinking however the other side of the coin I commend in learning, keep it up! kudos. my 2c: - listen to the previous advice about wal-mart and grab a cfl lamp - source out a Sunblaster CFL ( http://sunblasterlighting.com/13-26-55-watt.php) These bulbs are meant for growing plants that have the right spectrum which you're talking about. They are in the 6000k range which the spectrum range we want. I use the T5HO technology mostly and all of my bulbs are sunblaster's and have no complaints...T5HO or CFL they produce a quality plant bulb. Any garden center or hydroponic shop should have this brand. added: Stay away from led's at the price point your thinking...they are just crap. For a planted tank, it's important to keep 'balance'. I'm a strong advocate of using a nutrient substrate and some sort of ferts even in the most basic level of a micro. Was that Flourite substrate? If not Flourite or a nutrient substrate you might have issues with what appears to be HC plant species at first look. On a brand new tank without some sort of nutrient within the system; nutrient substrate/root tabs/water dosing plants in general can have a very hard go. HC loves light...so again on a dim tank this might not go well or grow very 'leggy'. Do you have a HOB filter? If so, fold over some not ink printed paper towel over the filter insert and replace. The very fine suspended particulate in the water will be quickly trapped. Do that a couple times and all of that will not just settle to the bottom but be removed from the system.

Hello and welcome to AA.

Psylant, I might hit you up to see that light fixture. Iceturf, I don't have one but I might have access. Not sure yet there are a few eggs all up in the air at the moment. It won't give the spectrum. This would be perfect but quite expensive. http://www.apogeeinstruments.co.uk/aquarium-par-meters/

Hello and welcome to AA. Throw some plants in the tank and the fish will thank you for it!

Welcome to AA. I'd be happy to offer tips regarding planted tanks.

I'm curious if there is anyone in Calgary who has the 48" version of these guys. I might be doing a quick par test and looking to see if someone can lend out a fixture, 2 is best. If you have and willing, let me know. Tanks for the view

Hello and welcome to AA.

curious, what the issue was with the current past downtime?

Hello and welcome to AA. One thing missing from that list...a great planted tank!

Hello and welcome to AA. I don't do much fish however if you have planted tank questions give me a shout.

Isn't Finnex illegal for sale within Canada?

Shimmer is snail oil for plants as well as the moon light effect, don't buy into those consumer eye candy effects. Standard T5HO trumps led especially led's at that price point! From a light you need 6000 range K and light penetration to the substrate. From what I hear of that fixture...people recommend not to use it for live plants!

cool WC?

Use it...just make sure it's above the water level and leave it for something like 5 days in the air

I would suggest not to. The only option is to lower the water level, fix, let cure and fill again.

some smaller scale river rock to me the current setup seems out of place

Tanks Iceturf.

Never does it stop!

Hello and welcome to AA. I don't do much fish but happy to help in regards to the planted tank side of things.

Hope it flowers soon, it would be a stunning photo.

A bit late, sorry.

A better shot to show the plant. Stems are roughly 3-4 " in height.

I'm sure you will but just make sure the thing is totally dry...don't jump the gun on getting that wet in the tank. Also, is there light in that area you want to put the box or is it dark?

what regulator?

Looks like ramshorn to me. You will get people that post on here that all snails are evil however try not to look at snails in that light. Snails within a planted tank are very important as we need to mimic a natural environment within a few pieces of glass next to your TV. Rams, MTS and pond snails I consider all fine for planted tanks. In a caveat I will add if you over feed a tank you are feeding the snails more than fish. Snails will reach an equilibrium with the available food...more food more snails if you get my drift. So what I'm saying is that people with stories about snail nuclear explosions 99% of the time the tank is overfed. These three snails will happily dine on dead and decaying plant matter which will only benefit us. btw, looks like some nice hygro plant species!