Hi
I wonder if any Aussies out there can help me source cf for my planted tank?
I want the high light output .Thanks
Grae

whitegm at optusnet dot com dot au

"Grae" wrote in message
...
Hi
I wonder if any Aussies out there can help me source cf for my planted
tank?
I want the high light output .Thanks
Grae

I am researching this very thing myself, seeing I am about to set up a new
122cm(4ft)/200L(50G) very shortly.
I get the tank itself on Jan 05 /05 and because I am "between jobs" I have
to research a lot and find the best prices:

Optimally I would like a planted tank containing a variety of Tetra (Black
Neon, Hockey Stick, Serpae, Head and Tail Light, Congo and perhaps
Cardinals), 6 Giant Danio, 6 Boezmani Rainbows, 4 Flame Gourami and 3
Paradise Fish.

My experience so far:

I was going to build a tank hood for the new tank out of dressed pine I
managed to obtain from an old packing case for a sign, but the cost of the
tools I need are too much for someone of my means - I have settled on a
Thorn 2 tube 36W "hood" (Ref: TBAR236), which was recommended to me by my
local Electrical supply guy. It's going to cost A$38.50 all up and it comes
with two T12/8 tubes, which I presume are standard 3400K tubes.

Bunnings near me carries a few specialty tubes and I've settled on the NEC
HG Aquarium type (A$23.96) and a Philips Aquarelle (A$18.94). I've settled
on this combination for cost, plant health, lumen output and appearance
reasons - The Philips tube, according to my spectral information on it is a
little lacking in the red end of the spectrum, as it seems to be peaking
more in the orange/yellow. The NEC has definite pronounced spikes in the
red, so my logic says that combining them will give me the lumens (they are
both tri-phosphor I believe) and a fair degree of longevity over this
period.

If the Neons don't light up as I expect them to do I am going to add a
computer type blue cold cathode to the hood later (about A$20 from my local
computer store). This fish thing is also determined by the incidence angle
of the light, so some experimentation will be in order. I noticed my Black
Neons and Hockeys absolutely fluorescing like mad yesterday when a shaft of
afternoon summer sun made it into the tank - it's incidence angle was very
low (the sun was setting) but they looked magic!.

The two 36W tubes will be on one timer (A$5.98 from Bunnings), and the
Cathode will be on another so I can stagger the on/off times and hopefully
not stress the fish. I plan to run the fluoro part 12 hours per day, and the
cathode as needed.

As for the hood; it's already got a matte white reflector surface inside but
I intend to make this as reflective as possible, and in the process alter
the side angles using styrofoam inserts, so the majority of the light hits
the water surface at 90 degrees or as close to it as possible. I am using
some 3D ray-tracing software to trace the rays from the tubes, so I should
get somewhat close to optimal.

I have discovered a cheap mylar reflector too that's better than aluminium
foil: it's the right time of year for it too! There is a type of Christmas
wrapping paper sold in the $2 shops around here that has a pattern on one
side and a mirror mylar back side - I plan to line the inside of the hood
with this material using a photographic roller to get it smooth. My main
worry with this is that the hood's ventilation may be affected (heat
shortens the life of and dims output of fluoro tubes). I have a couple of
spare computer fans lying around so I am going to modify the hood to mount
these if heat becomes a problem.

All in all, I reckon I'll get a good looking tank, that grows plants (I'm
going the DIY CO2 route later as well), is pleasing to view and cheap-ish to
run. By my calculations the whole tank should cost about $50.00 per year in
electricity to run, which is a small price to pay for the enjoyment it
theoretically will bring me.

Oz

Hey Ozdude
Are you in perth? Contact me if you are as i have a good place for cheap
tubes.Plus i have some plants i could share .use my yahoo address , i tried
ur hotmail one but it bounced.....
Graeme
"Ozdude" wrote in message
...

"Grae" wrote in message
...
Hi
I wonder if any Aussies out there can help me source cf for my planted
tank?
I want the high light output .Thanks
Grae

I am researching this very thing myself, seeing I am about to set up a new
122cm(4ft)/200L(50G) very shortly.
I get the tank itself on Jan 05 /05 and because I am "between jobs" I have
to research a lot and find the best prices:

Optimally I would like a planted tank containing a variety of Tetra (Black
Neon, Hockey Stick, Serpae, Head and Tail Light, Congo and perhaps
Cardinals), 6 Giant Danio, 6 Boezmani Rainbows, 4 Flame Gourami and 3
Paradise Fish.

My experience so far:

I was going to build a tank hood for the new tank out of dressed pine I
managed to obtain from an old packing case for a sign, but the cost of the
tools I need are too much for someone of my means - I have settled on a
Thorn 2 tube 36W "hood" (Ref: TBAR236), which was recommended to me by my
local Electrical supply guy. It's going to cost A$38.50 all up and it
comes
with two T12/8 tubes, which I presume are standard 3400K tubes.

Bunnings near me carries a few specialty tubes and I've settled on the NEC
HG Aquarium type (A$23.96) and a Philips Aquarelle (A$18.94). I've settled
on this combination for cost, plant health, lumen output and appearance
reasons - The Philips tube, according to my spectral information on it is
a
little lacking in the red end of the spectrum, as it seems to be peaking
more in the orange/yellow. The NEC has definite pronounced spikes in the
red, so my logic says that combining them will give me the lumens (they
are
both tri-phosphor I believe) and a fair degree of longevity over this
period.

If the Neons don't light up as I expect them to do I am going to add a
computer type blue cold cathode to the hood later (about A$20 from my
local
computer store). This fish thing is also determined by the incidence angle
of the light, so some experimentation will be in order. I noticed my Black
Neons and Hockeys absolutely fluorescing like mad yesterday when a shaft
of
afternoon summer sun made it into the tank - it's incidence angle was very
low (the sun was setting) but they looked magic!.

The two 36W tubes will be on one timer (A$5.98 from Bunnings), and the
Cathode will be on another so I can stagger the on/off times and hopefully
not stress the fish. I plan to run the fluoro part 12 hours per day, and
the
cathode as needed.

As for the hood; it's already got a matte white reflector surface inside
but
I intend to make this as reflective as possible, and in the process alter
the side angles using styrofoam inserts, so the majority of the light hits
the water surface at 90 degrees or as close to it as possible. I am using
some 3D ray-tracing software to trace the rays from the tubes, so I should
get somewhat close to optimal.

I have discovered a cheap mylar reflector too that's better than aluminium
foil: it's the right time of year for it too! There is a type of Christmas
wrapping paper sold in the $2 shops around here that has a pattern on one
side and a mirror mylar back side - I plan to line the inside of the hood
with this material using a photographic roller to get it smooth. My main
worry with this is that the hood's ventilation may be affected (heat
shortens the life of and dims output of fluoro tubes). I have a couple of
spare computer fans lying around so I am going to modify the hood to mount
these if heat becomes a problem.

All in all, I reckon I'll get a good looking tank, that grows plants (I'm
going the DIY CO2 route later as well), is pleasing to view and cheap-ish
to
run. By my calculations the whole tank should cost about $50.00 per year
in
electricity to run, which is a small price to pay for the enjoyment it
theoretically will bring me.

Oz

"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

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 12:37:33 +1100, Ozdude wrote:

As for the hood; it's already got a matte white reflector surface inside but
I intend to make this as reflective as possible, and in the process alter
the side angles using styrofoam inserts, so the majority of the light hits
the water surface at 90 degrees or as close to it as possible. I am using
some 3D ray-tracing software to trace the rays from the tubes, so I should
get somewhat close to optimal.

Love to see the design you come up with, maybe write a how to and share
your experiences with us

I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can only improve on a
reflective surface (over a mat white) by a small percentage? I may be
wrong?

grop

"grop" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 12:37:33 +1100, Ozdude wrote:

As for the hood; it's already got a matte white reflector surface inside
but
I intend to make this as reflective as possible, and in the process alter
the side angles using styrofoam inserts, so the majority of the light
hits
the water surface at 90 degrees or as close to it as possible. I am using
some 3D ray-tracing software to trace the rays from the tubes, so I
should
get somewhat close to optimal.

Love to see the design you come up with, maybe write a how to and share
your experiences with us

I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can only improve on a
reflective surface (over a mat white) by a small percentage? I may be
wrong?

No you are right. There is every possibility that matt white will be
sufficient, but if I can get max % refelection, even if it's say, 3 or 4%
over white then everybody's happy and to top it off it will make an
interesting commentary if I put a details web page together.

Optimally it'd be a matter of just buying the fitting, changing the lamps
and positioning it over the tank and pluging it in, but as I am doing
nothing put projecting at this time it's one of those "run with the
bulls..." type things

One thing's for sure though - the outer surface is going to be retrofitted
and painted because bent metal in basic grey isn't going to cut it from a
room aesthetics point of view

Have a good Christmas and a progressive New Year (at least)

Oz