Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Help aquascaping my new 40G Breeder

6K views 23 replies 5 participants last post by  SomeDudeAtHome 
#1 ·
So I've set up my new 40G breeder, done some planting but there's one plant I'd like to include but can't figure out where to put. I'd like to put in Green Cabomba. I was thinking somewhere in the back cornerish area but the swords are there. What's everyone's opinion? This is what it looks like now. Back left is Amazon sword, next to that is 2 ruffled swords and a melon sword, then on the back right is some wide leaf sag. Front is pygmy chain sword and microsword. Also a couple anubias nana and moss balls. Any help is appreciated. Also would like some ideas on midground plants for space filling that would have some nice color to them.



 
See less See more
2
#2 ·
hmm I'm thinking maybe the front left corner. For midground I have been realy happy with my various forms of Crypt. In lower light they grow taller and more slender. I have a lutea that is growing like a weed and partially hiding the stems of my mammoth Melon Sword nicely right now.
 
#6 ·
I'm not sure about the wattage. Byron, Quantum, and I just had a very lengthy discussion regarding lights (it's hidden in one of my plant ID posts lol) I'm running the Aqueon 8000k bulb and the plants are doing just fine, look at the spectrum on the back. While 6500k is what I'll switch to when my current tube is due for replacement. You might be able to save the cash and put it somewhere else.
 
#7 ·
On the light: If this is T8 with a single tube, you will not get anywhere close to 60w. Which is just as well, as that would be quite bright. But I would upgrade to a full spectrum/daylight tube, with around 6500K. If this is just a single tube fixture, I would suggest a Life-Glo (Hagen) or Ultra Sun (ZooMed). The Coralife 50/50 I have not personally used so can't say definitely, but from what I've seen of it I think it should work too. With any of these, you will notice a much brighter tank. But that is not too much, with floating plants.

On the Cabomba, you might have trouble under this light. Cabomba is a fast growing stem plant and thus requires brighter light. It has been a while since I last tried it, back in the 1980's that was, and I have been meaning to get some to see if it will survive in my moderate light.

Byron.
 
#8 ·
Thanks guys you've been really helpful. I'll check for those lights at my LFS and see what they have. This is a single tube fixture and I managed to find the wattage and the current bulb is 17w. I hope the Cabomba does well because I really enjoy the look of it.

Byron, with the Cabomba and swords both enjoying light on the brighter side would I be better off look at a hardware store for a brighter tube with the 6500K rating or is full spectrum more important?
 
#10 ·
Thanks guys you've been really helpful. I'll check for those lights at my LFS and see what they have. This is a single tube fixture and I managed to find the wattage and the current bulb is 17w. I hope the Cabomba does well because I really enjoy the look of it.

Byron, with the Cabomba and swords both enjoying light on the brighter side would I be better off look at a hardware store for a brighter tube with the 6500K rating or is full spectrum more important?
Fluorescent tubes come in a basic wattage for the tube length. So the length that fits your fixture will be that wattage only. However, the phosphors used in the tube affect the colour (spectrum) and intensity (dare I say it, lumens;-)) and these can vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, or depending upon the type of tube (how it is made, the phosphors inside).

As an example, because I am most familiar with them, 48-inch tubes. T8 used to be 40w. Then some manufacturers came out with 32w tubes that emitted basically the same light. Energy-efficient, the buzzword today. This is one example. But the other is the phosphors. In the Hagen "Glo" series the Life-Glo is the best. It emits twice the intensity of the Aqua-Glo, yet both are 40w. Then there is the Power-Glo, also 40w, but even more intensity, just a tad above Life-Glo. But of these, only the Life-Glo has the balanced spectrum that renders colours accurately.

I don't think you can do better than the Life-Glo. I use this on all my single-tube tanks. The Power-Glo might be worth trying, if you don't mind the purplish hue it casts; it is a tad brighter, and plants do well under it. I had one years ago. For a bit less cost, there is ZooMed's UltraSun; I know these are very close to the Hagen tubes, and I do have a couple but not the UltraSun which is the best spectrum alone. No one here carries these any longer, so I can't compare them for you. But I can't see it being much different.

Byron.
 
#11 ·
17 watts means 24" T8, you may want to try and get a 36" fixture with the 25 watt 36" T8, that would provide better coverage so the sides aren't so dark
I would love to buy a better light fixture but unfortunately just can't afford it right now. Once I have everything set up how I like though that will probably be the first thing I save for.


Fluorescent tubes come in a basic wattage for the tube length. So the length that fits your fixture will be that wattage only. However, the phosphors used in the tube affect the colour (spectrum) and intensity (dare I say it, lumens;-)) and these can vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, or depending upon the type of tube (how it is made, the phosphors inside).

As an example, because I am most familiar with them, 48-inch tubes. T8 used to be 40w. Then some manufacturers came out with 32w tubes that emitted basically the same light. Energy-efficient, the buzzword today. This is one example. But the other is the phosphors. In the Hagen "Glo" series the Life-Glo is the best. It emits twice the intensity of the Aqua-Glo, yet both are 40w. Then there is the Power-Glo, also 40w, but even more intensity, just a tad above Life-Glo. But of these, only the Life-Glo has the balanced spectrum that renders colours accurately.

I don't think you can do better than the Life-Glo. I use this on all my single-tube tanks. The Power-Glo might be worth trying, if you don't mind the purplish hue it casts; it is a tad brighter, and plants do well under it. I had one years ago. For a bit less cost, there is ZooMed's UltraSun; I know these are very close to the Hagen tubes, and I do have a couple but not the UltraSun which is the best spectrum alone. No one here carries these any longer, so I can't compare them for you. But I can't see it being much different.

Byron.
Great thanks for the explanation Byron. I didn't know tubes came in only one wattage. This is my first experience with them so it's all new to me. I will look for either the Life-Glo or UntraSun tomorrow when I go out.
 
#13 ·
I would love to buy a better light fixture but unfortunately just can't afford it right now. Once I have everything set up how I like though that will probably be the first thing I save for.
I know where you're coming from here, but with the 24" bulb over a 36"x18" tank there is a lot of area without much light.
On a temporary basis until you get the full length fixture/bulb you could add something like this:




Remove the clamp, add a 8-10 watt 6500K sprial CFL and put it next to the current fixture.

It's not pretty, but it would get light to all parts of the tank.

Also, for midground plants, one of my favorites is the 'compacta' variety of the amzon sword. It usually stays about 8" high and has a really nice shape, especially when allowed to grow without being crowded by too many other plants around it. I've also been wanting to try the 'Kleiner Prinz', another smaller sword, I think it gets to about 12" high, but I don't have first hand experience with this one yet.
 
#15 ·
I would not go to some "temporary" setup, but rather suggest changing from the current to something permanent. Reason being that you want to improve the light permanently, and the intermediate fix might actually be "better" than the end fix, if you follow. All these bulbs and tubes produce slightly different light.

If your end situation is going to be the new tube in the existing fixture, move directly to that. On the other hand, if you are OK with having the other fixtures permanently, say so and we can look into those as the permanent solution.

Byron.
 
#16 ·
Just going by the photos it looks like there is very little light getting to the rear corners. It may just be that the photos make it look darker that it is in real life so you may be alright, it just seems like very little light to me.

The two ten gallon lights with 4 CFLs, I think would be a good solution that would save the expense of a new fixture. I would be interested in the others' opinions on the amount of light since they have more experience with this type of set-up than I, but four low-watt CFLs over this size tank doesn't seem excessive. I've seen as low as 9 watt CFLs available in the 6500K color temp so you have some options regarding the amount of light.
 
#17 ·
I agree, I think 4 CFLs can easily suffice, it is another option. And 10w bulbs should be enough. It depends on whether SomeDudeAtHome wants the fluorescent fixture he now has over the tank, which should work with the new tube; or instead the two incandescant fixtures with the four CFL bulbs, GE Daylight 6500K or comparable. My earlier point which may not have come across as intended, was that either of these should be decided and implemented to move in one stage to something better.

Byron.
 
#18 ·
Thanks to both of you you've been very helpful. I think I will go with the 2 10g lights since I think I'll be able to get a little better coverage that way. I don't know if they make them but if I was able to get 2 8000K bulbs and 2 6500K bulbs for the fixtures would that be better than just the 6500K?
 
#19 ·
Thanks to both of you you've been very helpful. I think I will go with the 2 10g lights since I think I'll be able to get a little better coverage that way. I don't know if they make them but if I was able to get 2 8000K bulbs and 2 6500K bulbs for the fixtures would that be better than just the 6500K?
I've never messed with mixed CFLs, mainly because of a visual problem. When you have fluorescent tubes full length, you can have two different spectrum tubes and the light from both is distributed evenly across the length and width of the tank, providing the same hue throughout. But with the CFL bulbs, each will light the water directly beneath it. And once you mix bulb spectrum, you are going to end up with some type of pseudo-psychedelic mish-mash.:eek:mg::blueshake::blink:. I wouldn't.:demented:

Four Daylight 6500K bulbs, 10w, will work fine. You could use 13w perhaps, even if just one over the highest-light plant? I'd want to be there to see the tank before actually recommending this. Even 10w will probably be better. Over my 20g two of these is ideal light.
 
#20 ·
The whole different colors looking odd thing did cross my mind but I wasn't sure if that's how it would actually work. I'll buy some 6500K cfls then and be done with it. BTW Byron if you ever wanna stop by and help me with my tank feel free I'm not too far away from you haha :lol:
 
#21 ·
I will go with the 2 10g lights since I think I'll be able to get a little better coverage
I think this is what I would do as well. I've never used the CFLs, but this seemed to be a good solution. I guess the only thing is that the fixtures may need to be staggered or angled to fit (I think they are 20" long). This wouldn't bother me as much as not having the entire tank lit though, and it could probably be fixed with a mitre saw, some epoxy, and some time at the work bench.
 
#23 ·
I was just going to say you could always cut it. Then again I'm on a power tool, chop things up, kick right now. My new tool set for Christmas almost drives the wife as nuts as the aquarium lol.

I also think the 4 x CFL is your best bet.
 
#24 ·
Kangy, the whole Byron coming my way thing was a joke haha :brow:

I did test fit the fixtures yesterday and noticed they'd be a bit staggered but I'm fine with that. I don't think I'm going to cut them incase I need them for whatever reason in the future. I'll try and get some bulbs today for them and post up some pictures on the results.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top