blainetyson Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I have finished changing gravel, adding plants, and moving fish. This pic is of the lights, one is coralife colormax (9w) and the other is one bought at walmart (13w). As you can see the coralife gives the purple hue to the tank (i used one of each to show the difference). I was wondering which i should use? One of each, or 2 of the coralife, or 2 of the walmart brand? So here is a better shot of the whole tank, used the walmart brands to get the best pic The skeleton has to stay, my oldest (5yrs) picked it out for this tank. But other then that.... Any suggestion would be helpful... Also should i set up a co2 injector for this tank? Does it need it? So far for fish in the tank is... 9 rasbora maculata (I lost one to the filter, that is why there is a sponge around the tube). I was thinking of adding some shrimp and maybe an oto. Any ideas?? Thanks for the help, Chantell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nandopsis Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I'am by no meens a plant expert, but i would look for a bulb with around a 6500k light spectrum. The coral-life is probably atleast a 10,000k and the walmart is probably around 5,000k If you had to choose i would stick with the walmart specials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blainetyson Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Thanks for the reply! Most lights that i could fit in the hood don't mention anything about light spectrum. (This might be better in the planted forum, not sure??) Chantell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nandopsis Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 If it doesn't mention the K rating on the package look for soemthing that says "Daylight". The coralife isn't the best spectrum for plants, as like Jay said its probably 10 000K. I'd stick with the walmart ones as they will work just fine. Next time look for the daylight bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James (Western Canada) Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) Chantell: if you want to try CO2 on a small tank, you could do a 2 litre Coke bottle yeast reactor. Go to THE KRIB http://www.thekrib.com/ or the Aquatic Plants Digest http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/index.php Both of these are excellent resources, but you will have to dig to find what you want to know:) My only concern with CO2 on a tank this size is that as you add CO2, your PH goes down, and it is very easy to overdo it and have your PH crash. The smaller the body of water, the less stable. It is do-able if you are conservative and take your time getting everything sorted out, but beware that a PH crash can take out all your fish in short order. James Edited February 19, 2007 by James (Western Canada) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Seachem Excel works well for a carbon source in smaller tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquanerd Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I wouldn't worry about a PH crash with a DIY CO2 system with the water hardness in Edmonton. As long as your fish aren't gasping for Oxygen, should be fine. I run Pressurized CO2 in a 33gal, I inject to just before the fish get stressed from it. Just my 2cents though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blainetyson Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 I have a diy co2 on my 15g, only problem i have run into was when it run low, algae took advantage. I will look into Seachem Excel, see if that would be better. With the walmart brand lights it is a 2.5 wpg, is there any better lights i could get that would work with this hood? Quick q... I have been using tropica master grow fertilizer, I add about 4ml once a week. Is this enough? or should i be adding more? is there other fertilizers i should be using with this stuff? Thanks, Chantell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaggle Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 The best lights for having a true 6500k rating are the Philips day light bulbs. There are some at wal-mart that say they are 6500k I have not tried them yet. Just remember if it dose not say the k rating it might not have a true daylight rating of 6500k. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 (edited) I've been buying these Sunbeam lights at Dollarama, yup $1.00 each. As far as I can tell they are the same ones the stores carry at 5 times the price. Sue Edited February 20, 2007 by Qattarra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Those screw-in flourescents come in a bunch of different wattages - 24W is the highest I've seen. It all depends on how fast you want your plants to grow. 2-4W per Gal is ideal. What you mentioned with DIY CO2 is common. That's why most people will run 2 on offset weeks, or use pressurized CO2 - Excel is great for smaller tanks up to 20 gal! If you're going to be using more the 2 WPG of light, and adding CO2, then you'll want to dose macronutrients in addition to TMG - check out some of the pinned articles on adding fertilizer. I use the Estimative Index method, and it works great for me... haven't used a test kit in years! I have a diy co2 on my 15g, only problem i have run into was when it run low, algae took advantage. I will look into Seachem Excel, see if that would be better.With the walmart brand lights it is a 2.5 wpg, is there any better lights i could get that would work with this hood? Quick q... I have been using tropica master grow fertilizer, I add about 4ml once a week. Is this enough? or should i be adding more? is there other fertilizers i should be using with this stuff? Thanks, Chantell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blainetyson Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 i found that the 13w mini was the biggest i could fit into this hood, but i will see if i can get bigger. I would like to have 3wpg, but this might be the best i can do without changing hoods. I am going to buy more test kits at the end of the week, right now i have just been using the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. i guess once i do that i will better know how much fertilizer to add. Thanks, Chantell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquanerd Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 I'm with Jason, I use the EI (Estimative Index) also and it works better then I could have hoped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Phillips makes a 25 watt screw in flourescent light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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