"Grae" wrote in message
u...
Hi Mate, we have a shop over here called "lamp replacement" and if you go
there they sell all types of bulbs, at almost wholesale price, try looking
for something like that over there.They are not a electrical wholesaler(
tried them limited bulbs)

There is a place on Paramatta Road which I always see on my way to work on
Sunday nights that sells nothing but lamps - it's even called 'L/amps'. They
would have the Sylvania range as well I am guessing, but iit's turned out I
should walk the walk and not let my fingers do the walking. I have the
technical theory abosorbed, now I need to see it all for real, so I may take
a good look at their range and have a talk to them after Christmas is over.

I won't have the funds for the correct lighting for another month or so - so
there is quite a time before final choices must be made.

I am going to cycle the new tank (fishless) with tri-phosphors that I
already have, and there comes another high cost - test kits for pH, Nitrate,
Nitrite and Ammonia - I am not too worried at this stage about kH and gH.

I am also planting my plants in the new tank in small clay pots (latterite?
I doubt it) you get at K-Mart for 0.99c, using a home brewed substrate
consisting of clay (kitty litter), top-soil, coarse sand and gravel, with a
piece of lilly fertiliser tab in each pot (except for the Val, which will
have iron more than anything), and then later Co2 - after I get them
shooting and growing a bit under the new lights. We'll have to see how it
pans out over the coming year - so much to do - but I am thankful I can set
the new tank up properly right from the start this time.

I do know that if the plants become too much bother, the artificial route
becomes attractive, but then I am contemplating having a chemical battle on
my hands, down the track, as real plants seem (to me at least) do so much
for an Aquarium with regard to filtering out waste, oxygen, water chemistry
and biotrope ballancing, it'd be a real shame not to have them.

I am hoping the Nardoo will grow in a tank and not just outside in the pond,
as a lot of my fish don't like bright overhead light - especially the black
and blue neon tetras and I have concerns about the smaller ones coming to
the surface to feed etc....

I am also sure the Gouramis and Paradise Fish will prefer some surface
plants if they decide to do their bubble nesting etc...but that's really a
concern for the "breeding tank", not this tank I am talking about. I'm sure
the Aussie Rainbows would like Aussie plants

Any way, I am also fascinated by the NEC HG-X Quad Phosphor tubes I've seen
but I can't for the life of me find any spectral data on them. They claim
10% more output at 36W than a T8 Tri-phosphor, but as we are finding out
it's not all about watts per litre - it's about watts per litre/ CRI/
Degrees K and specialty spectrums

Have a good Feastive Season and stay safe.

Oz