4ft cabinet build and setup

@Singhms yeah a key part is actually starting with a good quality true aquatic plants ...

As for the led's I do not say I have any real answers but over the years have tried many none LFS's LED lights ...



Some working better than others - I have not tried the sunlit T8's but will when I have a free 4ft or two.

The only cheap 240 volt China Mall LED tube that I have gone back to get more of because the results was really good ..

Is




But try what you find ... some work better than others - you can tell in 3 - 4 weeks if this will work for you.

BTW flolite did not work that well but at R70 for a 5ft tube - just add another ;-)


Later Ferdie

 

@f-fish thanks for the info. So the main component is the lighting? or lighting alone should give a decent result vs. the whole CO2 setup I see some guys doing...

 

Heavy topic for so early in the morning ... and I think this will be relevant to the OP's post and his build.

My view it starts with light, you can keep the easiest plants in a dark room with the best substrate and good CO2 and nothing will happen. Have light sorted and the substrate and CO2 does help with growth and for some plant it is even a requirement. Today and for the past few months I have had all my tanks on zero CO2 (can feed 7 tanks with regulated CO2 ) but I am happy with what I am getting at growth during the warmer months. Now in winter ( theory I have been playing with, I reduce surface movement and add CO2 to get the same growth at lower temperatures - but this is all anecdotal)

Later Ferdie

 

So no CO2? Not even liquid carbon or excel?
Thus light is no 1 and CO2 is to push everything into overdrive?
I have 3 t8 gloves over my 240l. Growth is not explosive but steady.
I add liquid carbon some liquid ferts and have some root tabs / better substrate mixed into the gravel.
Think another factor is I have 3 air stones running 24/7 and fish load is about 50% currently.
From my reading the liquid carbon acts as an algaecide and helps growth.
No high jack intended. Interesting to get advice as I would love to get better lights for the tank.


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now you telling everybody a secret ;-) The CO2 things rumor has started with Takashi Amano ... not gospel but worth investigation if that is your thing http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/8...7236-soda-water-planted-tank.html#post1390317, I have also by observation of plant happy scapers seen how people rush things to grow for competition and yes no doubt upping CO2 or disinfectant helps in upping the rest as in growth rate etc - this thread has unfortunately been heavily moderated .... https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/so-who-uses-excel-gluteraldehyde.5411/page-4#post-135448 but you get the idea.

But I do like George's comment

... if you are not planning on chasing the magic dragon and you have time or tanks on hand then ggl wisdom exists to show that just normal aeration can be enough for medium growth - the theory here is that with aeration you are able to maintain a stable level of CO2 and that at lights on the CO2 does not get depleted after a few hours ... but it is also not boosted above X level. Again - some plants will not grow without extra CO2...

Now if aeration sounds all wrong and you still looking for a reason to not add CO2 then look at http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/wiki/Walstad_method


But yes bad lights means low / now growth or crazy algae no matter what you do.

Later Ferdie


PS no two tanks are the same .. work with it!

 

Thanks fish...tough read but got the gist and enough details
Personally I selected excel for my bba issues (co2 inballance) and spot treatment works well.
Used / use scape liquid carbon for similar reason. Will see once the bba is contained and perhaps wean my tank off these.
Back to lights... I have 3 30 watt th8 globes. Have tried to find replacement led but the sizes are either too short or too long (t8 are 895mm)
Like those round led lights and at the price seem to be a good option


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yeah 600mm and 1.2M are easy to find in Tubes, but you can DIY LED 12 volt strips if that is your what you like to do between 3 and 5 AM.

Later Ferdie

 

Thanks for the information guys, it will come in handy!

I have read the info @f-fish posted earlier and I have spoken to a lady in a local light store. She recommended I get LED strips that are ip65 rated. The ones I will be getting give 780 lumens per meter and I will be getting 3 meters (also two meters blue light). She recommends cool white, although I see they are between 3500K and 4100K, will this work?

I will be using the pfp (palm fibre peat) method for the fertilizer, under black gravel. I experimented and put pond plastic between the pfp and the gravel, will see how it works. I wonder if anyone has tried this before?

I also have driftwood floating in the tank, will arrange it as soon as the wood has absorbed enough water.

On a side note, does anyone know where I can get about 50 neons at a reasonable price? I will be going to Pretoria on Thursday and would like to buy plants and fish. For some reason I have this feeling we aren't allowed to post names of fish stores as per the forum rules, but pm's are welcome. (Please)

Any ideas on plants anyone? (There will be high light ad CO2.)

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hmm - no note ideal, does depend on the actual lights.

She has to recommend that ... not like the DIY is risk free. You might want to do a bit more research - unless she has a tank and can show you what the results will be.

Maybe look at what https://improvedlivingpe.eshop.co.za/ has also.

Sure ... was a well used method for year thanks to Dirk. See https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/...-a-substrate-for-growing-aquatic-plants.3950/


Thursday might be short notice ... lets see if any of the sponsors still read the forum and pick-up a sale.

Later Ferdie

 

I got the pfp idea from that thread years ago. Just decided to try the pond plastic and see if it works a bit better.

Another light supplier also recommended LED's (He showed me his lights in an aquarium), I bought the lights and I am just waiting for the varnish to dry on the hood then I will install.

Here are a few pictures:

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Nice ... post some details on the lights ... always keen to see what is what.

Love the wood work, loads of space for more lights in that hood. What is the plan glass cover for the tank or not ?

Later Ferdie

 

I don't think I'm going to put a glass lid on there.

I'm done with the lighting and the build, see the pictures below.

Now I'm only waiting for the 50 neons I ordered and the plants. The lfs says it should all be here tomorrow.

Next project will be a DIY sump, but only in a month or two.

Does anyone know where I can find java moss and glosso, the lfs can't get any?

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Very cool ...

On those lights I find the double sided tape does not always hold - so hope you did a small screw into the wood also.

If you are going to go planted then a few more red strings will do wonders 4 or 5 to a single blue is about right since red is harder to penetrate the water and reach the leaves.

Must say I really like this thread and the progress you have made on it.

Later Ferdie

 

Will be following this I'm in the process of getting my new 4 foot up and running and I'm still undecided on the lighting.

 

Please supply details of the led's used.. Something I could perhaps look into

Awesome progress so far

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Hi guys,

Sorry for the long gap between posts, had problems with my account.

@Ren, I will look for the exact details for you, they are made by samsung. My girlfriend also got LED lights from samsung, hers look better than mine, so I will post that too.

@f-fish, I did screw them in, I don't trust the double-sided tape. I will add more light in the next two or three weeks, and also a bit more red.

Here are some photos with plants:



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Looks stunning @JnB ... well done...that was a lot of work!!

 

Very nice ... yeah red is hard to add - very little gets to the substrate level - do you have to really overcompensate on top.


Later Ferdie