I've decided to go with Mr. Aqua 18x18x18 rimless tank, David over at Centreville Aquarium is giving me a good price on it. I've never had a rimless tank, kinda excited. Thank will be planted and house RCS if I get babies to live in an experimental 5g I currently have set up, excel for carbon, NO co2. I have a few ?:
1- I usually go with mineralized top soil, but this time thinking of going with ada amazonia 2 (if adgshop EVER gets it in stock). I'm thinking 2 bags should be enough, yes?
2- Background, most rimless tanks I've seen don't have painted backgrounds, how do you hide equipment? (I'm thinking about filtering with a xP1 I have in storage, if not enough, I'll buy an xP2).
3- Lighting - I can't hang a fixture from the ceiling in this room, I could hang a shelf above it and hang a fixture from the shelf. But I was thinking maybe a clip on light. Any suggestions on lighting?
4- Stand - I want a higher than normal stand, thinking of trying Ikea for one. Anyone here have any ideas where to buy one?
Thanks in advance.
Setting up a 25g rimless cube
-
londonloco
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:48 pm
- Real Name: Loni
Sounds like an exciting new project!
1. Yes, 2 bags should work. You may want a small bag of powersand too.
2. Most rimless folks using glassware to obscure the equipment. Try to run everything you can in-line so that the only equipment going into the tank are the filter intake/outtake, and optionally a CO2 line/diffuser. (You can run the CO2 in-line with the filter to eliminate that). Most of the pictures you see are after they've temporarily removed the equipment, just to take the picture. If you don't want glassware, design your scape in a hill/mount formation to one side, and hide as much of the filter behind that as possible.
3. Use a electrical conduit to hang your light from:
More info here on how to build / assemble:
http://gwapa.org/wordpress/2007/07/july-2007-meeting/
4. Be careful of IKEA stands. You don't want any pressed wood -- they'll warp, crack, and fall apart when the inevitable water drips onto them. Perhaps build one? I'm very happy with my 2x4 stand that has a piece of black polyester wrapped around to provide a more slick look. It's pretty easy to build, and just the cost of a few 2x4s, velcro, and fabric. I think the velcro was the most expensive component.
1. Yes, 2 bags should work. You may want a small bag of powersand too.
2. Most rimless folks using glassware to obscure the equipment. Try to run everything you can in-line so that the only equipment going into the tank are the filter intake/outtake, and optionally a CO2 line/diffuser. (You can run the CO2 in-line with the filter to eliminate that). Most of the pictures you see are after they've temporarily removed the equipment, just to take the picture. If you don't want glassware, design your scape in a hill/mount formation to one side, and hide as much of the filter behind that as possible.
3. Use a electrical conduit to hang your light from:
More info here on how to build / assemble:
http://gwapa.org/wordpress/2007/07/july-2007-meeting/
4. Be careful of IKEA stands. You don't want any pressed wood -- they'll warp, crack, and fall apart when the inevitable water drips onto them. Perhaps build one? I'm very happy with my 2x4 stand that has a piece of black polyester wrapped around to provide a more slick look. It's pretty easy to build, and just the cost of a few 2x4s, velcro, and fabric. I think the velcro was the most expensive component.
-
londonloco
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:48 pm
- Real Name: Loni
Thanks Kris. Talk to me about powersand. I thought I read all that other "stuff" besides the aquasoil was just "fluff" and not needed. Why do you use powersand also? I have no problem buying it if it's necessary.
I already decided on an inline heater, does anyone have an inline heater they are satisfied with? Personally, I HATE HEATERS, haven't found one (except for the OLD style stealths, before they started blowing up) I would recommend. I'm not planning on co2 just yet, but who knows, I can add it later.
I've read and seen the electrical conduit lighting set up, I was looking for a cleaner look. I was looking at this light:
http://www.adgshop.com/SOLAR_Mini_M_p/108-062.htm
but REALLY don't want to spend 215$ on a 16" light
. I was hoping someone here had other options.
Ikea puts on a few cabinets that are solid pine, but I hear ya, I don't need 25 gallons of water in my den
I already decided on an inline heater, does anyone have an inline heater they are satisfied with? Personally, I HATE HEATERS, haven't found one (except for the OLD style stealths, before they started blowing up) I would recommend. I'm not planning on co2 just yet, but who knows, I can add it later.
I've read and seen the electrical conduit lighting set up, I was looking for a cleaner look. I was looking at this light:
http://www.adgshop.com/SOLAR_Mini_M_p/108-062.htm
but REALLY don't want to spend 215$ on a 16" light
. I was hoping someone here had other options. Ikea puts on a few cabinets that are solid pine, but I hear ya, I don't need 25 gallons of water in my den
Powersand contains a bunch of organics, nutrients, and high CEC pummice-like stones that are supposed to help kick-start plant growth off the bat, and prevent compaction of the Aquasoil long-term. I've setup aquariums both with and without it. You likely won't notice a huge difference either way.
I don't think ADA makes a desk-style light for an 18x18x18 footprint. That's getting into their suspended lights. Your original "hanging from a shelf" or wall brackets idea may be your best option. Catalina Aquarium makes some nice hanging lights, and you can have them custom make the fixture to your specification. Mention that you're from "GWAPA (the D.C. area plant club)," and you might be a discount too. I don't know if they have special hanging hardware suggestions...
I don't think ADA makes a desk-style light for an 18x18x18 footprint. That's getting into their suspended lights. Your original "hanging from a shelf" or wall brackets idea may be your best option. Catalina Aquarium makes some nice hanging lights, and you can have them custom make the fixture to your specification. Mention that you're from "GWAPA (the D.C. area plant club)," and you might be a discount too. I don't know if they have special hanging hardware suggestions...
One word: LED.
(If Julie is going to call me the club expert on this, I might as well play the role of pusher.)
For ~$200, you could build a nice dimmable fixture with the latest high-quality LEDs. You would get metal halide shimmer, the ability to tune color (within limits), and wimpy T5HO people would rush to get out of your way when they saw you coming. While they are taking out second mortgages to buy more bulbs, you would laugh, becuase it would be ten years before you had to replace an LED. By then we'll be bringing in sunlight via fiber optics.
But seriously. TPT is full of info on this, and I would be happy to help distill it down for you. Here are some options:
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-189 ... fit/Detail
http://shop.stevesleds.com/Complete-LED ... es_c22.htm
The caveat is that you will need to pony up some basic DIY skills. I can help with that if you help figure out what's killing my @#$@#ing Amanos.
(If Julie is going to call me the club expert on this, I might as well play the role of pusher.)
For ~$200, you could build a nice dimmable fixture with the latest high-quality LEDs. You would get metal halide shimmer, the ability to tune color (within limits), and wimpy T5HO people would rush to get out of your way when they saw you coming. While they are taking out second mortgages to buy more bulbs, you would laugh, becuase it would be ten years before you had to replace an LED. By then we'll be bringing in sunlight via fiber optics.
But seriously. TPT is full of info on this, and I would be happy to help distill it down for you. Here are some options:
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-189 ... fit/Detail
http://shop.stevesleds.com/Complete-LED ... es_c22.htm
The caveat is that you will need to pony up some basic DIY skills. I can help with that if you help figure out what's killing my @#$@#ing Amanos.
-
londonloco
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:48 pm
- Real Name: Loni
Thanks Kris. I think I might try the power sand. Now if someone would stock the substrate, I could purchase it!krisw wrote:Powersand contains a bunch of organics, nutrients, and high CEC pummice-like stones that are supposed to help kick-start plant growth off the bat, and prevent compaction of the Aquasoil long-term. I've setup aquariums both with and without it. You likely won't notice a huge difference either way.
I don't think ADA makes a desk-style light for an 18x18x18 footprint. That's getting into their suspended lights. Your original "hanging from a shelf" or wall brackets idea may be your best option. Catalina Aquarium makes some nice hanging lights, and you can have them custom make the fixture to your specification. Mention that you're from "GWAPA (the D.C. area plant club)," and you might be a discount too. I don't know if they have special hanging hardware suggestions...
I own 4 Catalina T5HO fixures already, and constantly recommend Jim to anyone asking for advice on lighting. All my fixtures from them include extra cords/switches, and hanging brackets. Lighting options, IMO, is what it's all about. Want high light, run all the bulbs and lower them, decide on low light, run a few of them, raise them. However, for this tank, I wanted a "cleaner" more European look (make sense?) since it's going into the den (my other tanks are in a "fish room/my office). I have time to look/investigate lighting, I don't plan on the actual set up of this tank til Jan.
-
londonloco
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:48 pm
- Real Name: Loni
I am one of those "wimpy" T5HO people, tho 3 of my tanks do have T5NOsamsankar wrote:One word: LED.
(If Julie is going to call me the club expert on this, I might as well play the role of pusher.)
For ~$200, you could build a nice dimmable fixture with the latest high-quality LEDs. You would get metal halide shimmer, the ability to tune color (within limits), and wimpy T5HO people would rush to get out of your way when they saw you coming. While they are taking out second mortgages to buy more bulbs, you would laugh, becuase it would be ten years before you had to replace an LED. By then we'll be bringing in sunlight via fiber optics.
And for the record, I haven't seen the need to change my T5HO's bulbs in over 2 years. Not saying I shouldn't, just saying I haven't seen the need yet, which btw, doesn't mean much. I did consider the LED option, but none of the complete fixtures out there have been recommended on the boards for planted tanks. At least none I've seen. This is def something to think about. Thanks!
-
londonloco
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:48 pm
- Real Name: Loni
Your tanks look great! Do you have the link to those lights? I also read the reviews on the stands, not going there either. After seeing your stands, I'm thinking my DH and I are going to make our own stand. Thanks!GOT MTS? wrote:I painted the backs of my rimless ADA tanks. I think they look great. You can see pictures in the aquarium journal section.
Marine depot has a 18x18x29 hardwood stand for around 200 with shipping. It is made by Mr. aqua.
