1000+ questions :)

[DigitalPunk]

Ohh Man! We better get a TON of pictures from you next week as the build moves from your head to the tank! Have you nailed down your layout yet or are you waiting to see the tank in person before you commit to any one thing?

[Lija]

No i havent yet and the tank is not ready too, things are moving slowly, which is good, given i have literally an hour a day of free time. Plants are prepped ( i hope), tried light. Soil is mixed!

Anyhow next question, the led light i posted pic earlier and you guys approved. I turned it on on one of my 18x18x24 and it looks pretty dim. I wonder if is it because i just used to different light or i should exchange it to smth else.
Advise needed pleeeaaaassse

[DigitalPunk]

Lija, I think the light you have is like 6 or 7watts? ou may need something more like 13 or 26wats to get good penetration all the way to the substrate.

How long is the tank delayed by?

[mshine1217]

Oh, whatever works. I would have grabbed the tequila myself lol

Now you're talking about my kind of poison ;-))

[Lija]

Lija, I think the light you have is like 6 or 7watts? ou may need something more like 13 or 26wats to get good penetration all the way to the substrate.

How long is the tank delayed by?

it was supposed to be ready last friday, but that's ok, i was way too busy lately.

Light yes i think it is 6,4 or similar, it is led for 24" tank. Bigger size is for 30" that now i think i should have gotten, but it is about 10 smth.

How visually you can tell looking at the tank that light is ok? When you look and you think it should be bright enough? Go with gut feeling type of thing?

[DigitalPunk]

Lija,

You want it to be fairly bright down at the soil. It sounds like you have the Same LED system I do. It works and things grown, but t seems a bit Dim (I have mine on an 18x18x24). I am going to give LED another go on my next tank, but the last 2 tanks I bought T5HO lighting and the plants are going crazy. I have already had to trim the Mantella tank once in less than 2 months! Though that could also be because I have started to spray fertilizer on the plants every 3 weeks.

[Lija]

Got it thanks! Ill try go exchange it first for bigger led, just to try, cos i like the LED idea, the next size up was 30". If that's too dim too, ill go with the one you suggested
or may be i leave that one for nasuta tank. Are you saying plants are gonna grow under these lights? I have right now regular light saving lamp and uvb, by replacing that lamp with LED and leaving UVB, it will be still dim, but that is how nasuta like it.


Update on the tank - plants are all replanted and it seemed survived my abuse with bleach and washing them, well i dont see any dead ones....not yet anyway!

[deranged chipmunk]

Here's the skinny on lights Lija. No matter what style light you use (led, florescent, cfl) as long as the bulbs are in the 6500k temp, your plants will grow. Fluorescents have the advantage of a much greater spread of light, while led's are more focused. They are making better, wide angled optics, but those are only on the primo units. For a 36" high tank, led is the way to go, since the focused beams of light will penetrate to the substrate better than any others. Don't worry about wattage. Yes, higher watts normally equate to more light, but when talking LEDs, it's about how many lenses you get. Example: the led I recommend for 18" wide tanks is made by beam works. It has 3 rows of lenses vs 2 rows with comparable units. More lenses=more spread.

My only complaint is I would want an led with some 3000k (red) lenses in it for my flowering plants. At least in the tanks where I keep flowering plants.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Yeah that light will encourage plant growth.

[Lija]

Ok, you guys gotta slow down here, i dont speak lenses lol.

If i need different light, when i go to the store what do i need to look for exactly? Petsmart has same led, but 30" instead of my 24" - no idea about specifications- yes or no?

please gimme me smth i can go to the store and give to the sales people to show me. i dont know about light/length/whatever, just very general idea

[deranged chipmunk]

Let me look over their site when I get home from work.

Btw lens=bulb


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

Darn it if I didn't look at every led on their website and not one, zero, zilch, nada had lighting specs. Wtf?? I would probably go with the aqueon freshwater series? Without knowing what color temp it's throwing out, it's impossible to recommend one of theirs.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

That is exactly that - whites and tree and frog!

Ok look LED Aquarium Lighting Freshwater Bright what do you think? They ship to canada ( shipping is close to the cost of the thing itself) or i can go look into speciality aquatic store here for smth similar.

or anything other then that light, on that website.

i think i should look for 3 tubes ( lens and 30" for 34" tank - yes?

[DigitalPunk]

Have you looked on Amazon? Assuming Amazon is available in CA :/

[deranged chipmunk]

Never assume anything is available in Canada, except for molson, moose and grizzly bears


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

Exactly Bill

however can someone to answer my question Please!

It is my very deep understanding pet stores in Calgary including specialized, completely useless. The few led in stock are around 200$ and based on what i think i need wont work for me. Petsmart has the bigger one, but it has only 2 rows of led and not by much brighter then mine.

So the please help me choose what i should order from the guys i posted link above. Even with shipping it is not bad in comparison

[deranged chipmunk]

Check to see if aquatraders.com ships to canada.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

Booyah!!! http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Aquar...t-p/56576p.htm


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

It takes 136W a bit much i must say

what about smth like that LED Aquarium Lighting Freshwater Bright

or that http://www.aquatraders.com/ProductDe...uctCode=56365P

[deranged chipmunk]

Go with the first one. Beams work


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela