Search results for query: *

I sure I'm way off the mark here but ... Half of my tank has significantly more surface agitation than the other half. When sat in front of the tank, I've noticed that there is a lot more internal reflection on the half with less agitation. I realise polarisation at the water surface and viewing...

All fascinating stuff, and mostly beyond my level of knowledge. I just asked the question as I'd like to extend the illuminated hours so I can watch my tank without promoting algae, and was hoping eg green light might tick enough boxes.

As a lazy aquarist, this satisfies my confirmation bias. :rolleyes:

So more PAR is good for plant growth. As I can't justify a PAR meter for purchase of a single light, is there any way to find low PAR lighting? (I can build an LED dimmer far more cheaply.) Every light I've seen advertised that mentions PAR seems to be sold on the basis of being good for plant...

Are cheap, domestic/ ebay (green / RGB) IP65 LED strips relatively "intense" compared to aquarium specific LEDs. My gut says they ought to be less "intense". But I've no idea how 1hr with something like that would compare with an hour of my iQuatics T5s. (Throw in a PWM driver from something...

Is there any colour light that is less prone to helping algae? Without working things out scientifically, I'm wondering about purely green light (as I think that what's reflected from green leaves... right?) As much as anything I'm hoping to extend the time I can watch my tank without it...

I have a tank of similar depth. For the first couple of years I had a pair of circa 36" T8 tubes. By anyone's standard it was low light and low tech. But it did ok. Then I neglected the tank for a very long while. About 6 months ago I put in a pair of Juwel length T5 tubes (I cant remember the...

Fair point. Now I think about it, I've a feeling I've heard about using a torch at night as an old poachers trick. :eek:

Nice idea. I'm surprised the fish follow the light. From my trout fishing experience, they seem to prefer the safety of the shadows once they're bigger than fry, but I guess there's not so much aerial predation in an aquarium. :D Over night I've remembered I've got a semi functional LED...

I'm not thinking of anything too ambitious at the moment. Just a timer with light intensity varying, as you say, with PWM. To simulate clouds is just a matter of some changes in light intensity (simply manipulate variables for the respective RGB outputs) based on some timings. Power it all with...

Thanks Zozo. "Why blue?" is a very good question. Perhaps because cheap, discrete, blue LEDs came before RGB strips, so were an easy option for moonlights? I'd build my own (Arduino based) controller. I quite like the idea of writing code to mimic clouds, just for the geek-irony of controlling...

Thanks. 30 or 60 LEDs per meter?

Only joking about Alexa. I know not everyone wants to mine their own iron ore and forge their own knife before they can skin a cat. Do you know what spec your LEDs were? From what I've seen of the USB strips, they're relatively low powered.

Alexa? Pah!. I don't trust Amazon not to snoop on my fish watching habits. Anyway, I'm planning on doing it in C++.:rolleyes:

Having read posts by the more knowledgable forum members about the downside of split photo-periods, my 100W T5s are on for 7hrs a day. Until I spotted early signs of a BGA outbreak last night, I was wondering about adding a moonlight so I can watch the tank morning and evening. My current...

My only issue with the mechanical timers is that I've yet to see a 7 day timer: the time when I'm likely to be around the tank at the weekend is different to during the week.

Call me a ludite, but I have little interest in the IOT. I'm more interested in simple, reliable (predoninantly) hardware based solutions.

I can't find the PC723 on Arlec's uk website. Interestingly their digital 7 day timers look to have exactly the same display and button format as other makes I've used and which have failed. It makes me think they're probably knocked out if the same factory at minimal cost.

Have seen both the posh aquarium PLCs and the Grundfos conversions. I could see no reason not to use one of the timers. Cheap (second hand) and they have to be better build quality than most timer plugs.

Has anyone used a central heating timer for their lights?

I am absolutely no expert on lights or plants, but I've had a 75cm deep tank for some years. It has been lit with 2x38w T8s, no CO2 and no ferts. The substrate is Adakama. So about as low tech as you can go, and (on paper) very little light. Firstly, as mentioned by others, having a deep tank...

Any opinions on iQuatics T5 controllers? And if I were to order one of their two tube kits, any advice on which of their tubes would be best for a low tech 250L tank? Aquablue 50:50 Blue Plus Purple Tropical

Deleted

I'll look out for a copy of PFK. I was thinking of replacing the tubes directly as the tank/hood/etc is custom and getting the old cables out without cutting them, and getting new ones in could mean drainng the tank. Now you come to mention it I have a spare 1.8m of IP20 7.2W/m RGBW strip, and...

Are the LED tubes with T8 fittings worth the money?

Can anyone help identify these T8 clips. I thought the might have been Arcadia but I can't find them on their website.

Ceg, I think the easy answer is that I'm doing the wrong things and for the wrong reasons and because I'm a not a great student. I'm using APF's all in one ferts ... http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fert ... fills.html ... For the same reason I was thinking of adding more light. (ie to help...

Ok. Points all taken and noted. My bunking was that if there are nutrients for algae to use, that would be because the plants aren't using them. And by increasing light (in a low light tank) that might help plant grown. Obviously not. I'm trying to remember to dose ferts daily and using a...

I'm contemplating adding another one or two T8 tubes to my tank in the hope of improving plant growth and, by consiquence, reducing algae. The tank has currenty got about 1wpg (which I know is low) and and I can easily (and relatively cheaply!!!) increase that to 1.5 wpg. I may even be able...

Having searched a fair bit, as far as I can tell with lights for a night time feel, those who have tried blue or moonlight bulbs haven't lasted too long with them. So I was wondering what the cognoscenti think of just using a much lower powered tube to make the tank viewable for an extra hour...

There's a new up date in the wings. I'm just waiting for some fish to stop being camera (and everything else) shy so I can get some decent photos. The crypts and swords are now actually looking pretty healthy. Even without CO2.

Wise wordsof patience, Garuf :lol: 250l tank, about 2'6" deep, 76W of T8. Low tech all the way.

A small amount of EasyCarbo and NPK + trace but I keep forgetting to do it so I'm only adding it once every 3 or 4 days. Not planning on using Presurised or EI. (See signature ;) ) The crypts and swords have grown about 2" in about a month and the grass is doing ok too. (Not sure about the...

I started with DSM and 12hrs of light. I gave up on DSM and flooded the tank. Initially (out of ignorance) I stuck with 12hrs but was advised to cut it to 5hrs, as I understand it, and increase later. How long should I stay at 5hrs, and how quickly can I increase it?

I've got 2 x 38W T8s over my 2'6" deep low tech tank. I'm doing alright so far with Vallis, crypts, amazon swords, wisteria and dwarf hair grass. Nothing particularly exotic, so may not suit you, and growth is slow, but progress is definitely being made.

If you want to look after my pond you're welcome.

Thanks.

Thanks Darrel Not aware of a problem of fish eating the plants. Would it be better to have the plants in gravel rather than in gravel filled baskets (as they are at the moment)? They're easy to haul out of the pond for maintainence at the moment, but the do get overgrown with weeds. And does...

I've got 3 or 4 potted Irises in the main pond at the moment (although they need weeding and repotting) along with some struggling lilies. The small pond has pebbles all over the bottom (1" - 2") and I have a bin full of gravel I was planning to put in the main pond. In terms of bioload there...

Darrel, not sure I understand what you mean by a "phyto filter" of how to set one up. The main pond is about 15' x 6' x 2' with a smaller pond about 2' x 2' x 8" feeding it from about 5' above via a water fall. There's a pump in the bottom of the main pond which feeds into the small pond via a...

My pond pump has a UV tube in it. Having had a couple of pump related problems recently I noticed the UV tube was blown so changed it. The difference to the water clarity has been amazing (and positive) in only 48hrs. AFAIK there is no suggestion that it kills the bacteria you want, but that it...

Only having read what the quote from the OP (and not searched any further on TGM's website) I would say that's a disappointing statement from them. Not disappointing from the fact of acuracy but rather for how it says it and what it doesn't say. They state the same things repeatedly (we don't...

Ah yes, UV sterilisers, hadn't thought of that.

Fair point, but ... 1) my fish don't drag me out of bed at 4am because Teddy has fallen on the floor or jump on my head at 7am. 2) I've tried to get my daughter to adapt to my life as much as possible, rather than let her think the world revolves around her. 3) I'm allowed to sell my fish when...

Is there any good reason to use / not to use UV lights to illuminate a tank at night so fish can be seen without extending the plants' photo-period?