Zoom's 38l Nano

Hi Zoom.
I think you saw my planted nano breeding tank. For this I use a desktop lamp with a standard 9W bulb. For some reason the plants grow really well for a setup with no CO2. I even got a red lily to grow new leafs and stay red after it almost completely died.

This is a 30L tank so it should be more than enough for a 12L.

Also setup another Nano tonight and are going to buy another lamp like it tomorrow. Will need to check the bulb though to see exactly what they are.

Game has a little and cool desktop lamp that uses a bulb that almost look like a MH bulb but I do not think it is. Anyway for its size it gives 20W. The bulb itself is no bigger than a R1 piece.

As for tops I had glass tops cut for my nano tanks. Will post some pics tomorrow of the new setup and maybe it will give you some idees.

 

I spent over an hour going through the globes at the builder's today. All they had was the 3000 and 4000K globes. Pathetic bunch they were. And when you asked them if they had any 6400K globes, they just stared at me as if I was asking for some super sized globe for a spaceshuttle.

Went across the road to Light Spot... asked a guy for a Phillips Genie 6400K. He promptly asked me 8 or 12 Watt? He knew exactly what I was asking for. Very impressive! Should get it this week sometime.

 

Oh okay well at least you have been sorted! (If you ever need a replacement the box looks like this http://www.eveready.co.za/range_new.asp?RangeID=10 Only difference it says cool daylight) I had the same experience in looking for globes... I guess to most people a globe is a globe

 

I'm going to comment on Freaksa's question regarding the CO2,but this is for eveyone following Zoom's tank.
When you grow your carpeting plants or any aquatic plants, emmerged,out of water,the plant will take advantage of the CO2 in the air,just like a normal terestial plant or tree.
There is no need to waste time and effort on injecting CO2 into "thin air".
On the lighting,Boyu has just introduced a desktop/clip on LED for nano tanks.Hopefully we'll see it soon in S.A.:idea:

 

I think some of the marine guys have been using it for some time now. I think Matt who had a little pico tank had some of these. His thread should still be around.

 

Vis, I know what you talking about. The prblem is that that particular light gives off the wrong lighting for photosynthesis, and I beleive will land up with Algae.

I've also considered putting a glass top on the top... BUT if you read that article you suggested on lighting from the American Aquarium; Aquatic Information, they say that if you put a glass on top to prevent the moisture loss, you also stop the "wanted" spectrum of light from penetrating. SO it's a catch 22.

LED is one of the best at the moment because it has been designed to offer the best lighting requirements. They are just VERY overpriced at the moment. I agree the plants will take up the CO2... but you need to remember to "refresh" the air, because a closed tank will become stagnant too. I open mine and blow into it a few times a day just to change the air.



Go to this website: http://www.adana.com.sg/productsPage/ada_lighting.html

and scroll down o the solar mini light... you wll see what type of lamp I am looking for. Do yourself a favour, and go through all ther products, they have some really awesome looking cabinets, tanks, and they equipment it absolutely STUNNING. Have a look at thei canister filters too! Their piping is all glass! Their CO2 diffusers are works of art. They take keeping an aquarium to a completely new level!!! Not sure of it's availability in SA though!

 

Imo the only thing worth getting from ADA is the AQua soil,and I think Dolphin can get it.The rest is over priced and just a bit "windgat".

 

Zoom,if you want,I can post a link to show how you can make those glass pipes out of acrylic pipe.A very cool DIY.

 

Interesting you say that Rudi... I've heard contrasting stories on the Aqua soil. Personally... I think there stuff is absolutely STUNNING... modern, up to date, and is taking the lead in some of the design. I'm not saying I'm going to g othat route.. because personaly, a glass overflor pipe is just too impractical... but can you imagine a 6ft planted tank set up like the way they have everything set up in a big office? It's not really hotel stuff, but more corporate orientated. I haven't seen such beautiful stuff before for a tank. That's MY OPINION... so `

 

Update 19 May 2010

Here are some pics of the current set up.

I suspect I may have to fill the tank with ater pretty soon... the tips of the hairgrass is turning brown... and I am worried that it might be dying. Will monitor it until the weekend, and should I have to, I will fill it up. i think my lighting is more than strong enough to grow under water.

 

Some of the hairgrass I planted do the same thing and then start growing new leaves from the bottom. Seems they do not take the replanting that good. They even did it in my tanks.
It is kind of a reset function for them.

 

Ah. Thanks Vis. Was a bit worried. So I still sit and wait in eager anticipation for the harigrass to fill out! Hmmmm.....

 

That makes two of us... I already know its not fun! I look at it everyday to try find a new sprout of grass I recon it will be about a month

Enjoy

 

Did the same thing and then decided to pull it out and found that the roots just settled very nicely, it then sorts out the leafs.

 

Update 23 May 2010

Here are 2 pics of the tank.

My 25Watt heater arrived last week, and I've pulled out my small filter. The filter runs at maximum of 200l/p/h, so I've set it on the lowest setting it can go and will monitor it. Filter has filter sponge at the intake, and about 10 ceramic rings above it.

I decided to fill the tank for 2 reasons....

Filling the tank means I can take advantage of liquid fertz in the column. I am using the professor's fertz. I was having to top up the water every evening, as the water was dropping that fast in the emmersed method.
I also was getting worried because the leaves of the hairgrass was starting to go brown, and I'm hoping that by adding the water, I can control this from happening.

Please excuse the brown tinge to the water. The water came from my (now decommissioned) guppy fry grow out tank, and was fairly dirty water. I decided to go this route as it will allow me to have some nitrogen in the tank, which is not being provided through the fertilizers. The water might also be brown from the chemicult.

 

Thanks for the update...

Have you seen any new growth as of yet?

 

Nope. Nothing that I can see. But I believe the roots set in first.

 

Please let me know if you want me to remove my next post as its just a bit of personal experience i have had so far with my tank.

I can suggest one thing that seems to work pretty well... I have planted some hairgrass outside in a nano potplant with palm peat fibre. Then i found a old margarine tub and cut a round hole so my potplant fitted perfectly in it, quite tight.. I filled up the marge tub with water (so the plant has 500ml of water and a pinch of chemicult) and already 5days later i have gotten new shoots by just leaving them in the sun (all the old shoots have gone brown and fallen over) but if you need to make more hairgrass in a shorter time i think this would be the way to do it. It works way better than icecream tub and gradwrap. . .

U planning to give us an update anytime soon? hehe im INTEREST!!

 

Maybe this weekend Freaksa

 

Looking forward to seeing an update ^^,

How is the grass doing?

I like what you've done with the scape. Reminds me of a hobbits home for some reason.