Help Please - New Aquarium (after not being in the hobby for 3 years)

[Adam Chambers]

So while Charterhouse & EA sort out the cabinet issue I have set the lights up and placed the small test acrylic in place the tank to see what it looks like. I have only installed 2 lights at the moment as I am awaiting the 3rd arm for the last light but upon having it all setup I feel I might not actually need this 3rd light. Opinions because I can send it back if needed then and get credit at the store and buuy something else for the tank as needed.

Acrylic Sheet colour selected - Frosted White 3mm

20% light intensity

100% light intensity

Regards,

Adam

p.s the cables for the controller of the Kessil lights is way short and I need some extenders, will any 3.5mm extender cables work do you think?

 

[alto]

With the lamps that high there's a lot of room spill (why I have the Kessils quite close to the water)

I suspect with lower light plants (think moderate vs high), 2 Kessils would be fine, also consider effects of plants grown in & hardscape re shading - unfortunately Sanjay Joshi's PAR diagrams for Kessil seem to have been removed so email Kessil for PAR etc data ... as I recall, each A380W wiil "do" (grow anything PAR) a 60cm square, anything that falls outside this window experiences significantly reducing PAR - especially notable with deeper tanks.

You can certainly start with 2 lamps & decide about adding the third later.

p.s the cables for the controller of the Kessil lights is way short and I need some extenders, will any 3.5mm extender cables work do you think?

Agree - no idea why they chose this (infected by Apple ???) - especially
OTOH Kessil is generally very forthcoming if you call/email

 

[Adam Chambers]

Cheers Alto, I haven't adjusted the height yet. I just got them on and took some pictures really and thought hmm that seems bright considering am meant to be putting a 3rd on there. Thought process being I will be likely to scape a canyon or a central island so if there is a 12" gap in middle or 6" to either side it wouldn't be an issue really although it may limit my scape in the future or once I actually start. :/

In regards to contacting Kessil. Good shout will do that now and see what their comments are. And yeah looking at the cable it seems odd in that Kessil thought let's make cable 'X' long so they have to buy extender cables at £15 a pop. Adding in another connection point to a cable when just providing another meter in length has almost zero cost to them.

Regards,

Adam

 

[Manisha]

Hi Adam, heart sank when I read your updates After such a big outlay you'd expect quality to be perfect & to receive the correct product wrt finish... I really hope they sort this out for you. On the positive side from a 'photo' the actual tank & stand look stunning! Great choice ☺ Will look great when it is ready for hardscaping, planting, stocking...very exciting times ahead!

 

[Adam Chambers]

Thanks Manisha. It has just been frustrating.

In regards to updates though, EA are making a new cabinet as my original specification in the correct colour although are not taking any responsibility and blaming Charterhouse Aquatics for the mistake on colour. This I am not very impressed with at all and although me as the end customer is being provided what I want it seems a bit of a cope out.

I provied email to Charterhouse showing it was the wrong colour, I have the conversation on phone stating the correct colour upon order. EA show all the colours on their website like they are ready to order but have now stated to Charterhouse that isn't the case and that orders with new colours should not be put through. Why show them on your site saying new and agreeing with me on Phone and by email EA that it isn't a problem!!

They glossed over the holes in the side even though it is on the order. I feel at worst there should have been a 50/50 split in fault between companies but EA have put a bad taste in mouth tbh and I will not use them again and won't recommend them due to their customer service and the way they have handled this.

I have returned one Kessil light now and Charterhouse have just started suppling Tropica products (although not on their site at moment and have dropped ADA because of supply issues) so have ordered my Tropica Aquarium Soil and Ferts through them. I have some wood and dragon stone from my old aquarium at parents so will probably scape with that to start with and order new wood and drogon stone as needed to finish the scape. (need to order crate boxes off ebay to allow the canyons to be filled with soil without needing to use 20 bags.

Other than that, not much of an update. Will start a proper journal with this information and further upon receiving the new cabinet and starting the hardscape.

 

[alto]

I missed this update somehow

Good news that it will be sorted & Charterhouse likely has a long time customer .... shame the same cannot of said of EA
- as the order was not filled as specified, pretty difficult to argue where fault might be - fortunately Charterhouse practises a different business ethic!

As for Charterhouse (or any retailer) not putting through orders on the new color, surely EA should be the ones noticing that a "not yet available" finish has been ordered ...
like you I question the logic of presenting the new finishes on the EA website if they are not available, but having chosen to do so, it's on EA to track response.

Obviously "made to order" is more costly to produce (& purchase) than stock cabinets/aquariums but EA presents themselves as specialising in customized systems

have dropped ADA because of supply issues)

unfortunately the same has happened at my lfs, shame as quality of glass on the ADA line is decidedly superior

need to order crate boxes off ebay to allow the canyons to be filled with soil without needing to use 20 bags.

You might also consider stocking type "bags" filled with larger piece gravel or lava stone (you can see Amano use this in several videos) to build height, it's more malleable than egg crate, & easier to make slight adjustments or later adjustments to mostly completed areas
In case you've not seen Pedro Rosa's Terraforming video

 

[Adam Chambers]

Cheers Alto,

No worries on missing, there isn't a lot happening at the moment due to the issues and it will be around another 4 weeks before this all gets sorted. I have reconfirmed the details yesterday with Nick at Charterhouse.

My neighbour has pond that I could hook up my filter to seed it quicker/be doing while waiting for new cabinet but am wondering if that would work or if there would be any issues in doing that? I don't personally see a problem. It is an established pond of 2 years with healthy fish that I help to maintain. Thoughts?

Yeah although Charterhouse have had minor issues and a fair few number of they have been pretty good to deal with. Nick has been on the case and contacted me when needed.

I am not to worried on the ADA, was more of a heads up for people. I think the fact they are getting into Tropica products and live plants is going to be a nice little boost as they have always specialised in Marine from my knowledge.

So yeah I have got them to order in as their first Tropica order (since not on site)

5 x Tropica Aquarium Soil 9L
3 x Tropica Aquarium Soil Powder
1 x Tropica Specialised Fertiliser 5L

This should suit what the plans are for the tank and allow a good number of options. It was one of the links you provided Alto that I discussed with the OP and they stated they had only used Specialised Ferts and just made sure heavy dosing was used so will see how this goes and adjust once things are started.

Once Charterhouse show plant stockings I will order them. At the moment they have stated it is mainly mother plants they have in but am hoping they will stock the 123-Grow range as that is what I think I am going to use to start with.

And yes the bags will also come in handy. I think if I have both options of the crates and the stocking/bags to hand I can adjust as needed. Will pick up my old Dragon Stone and Wood from parents to see how that is looking this weekend and see how much more needs to be ordered later.

That link is awesome as always Alto and need to watch all the vids later at home but the principle of what I can see certainly shows premise to ideas I can use and methods that give excellent results.

Regards,

Adam

 

[Adam Chambers]

Further to that, I used the calculation on here to provide 5cm depth of substrate which is

LxWxD (Length of tank x Width of tank x Depth of substrate) 147x57x5 (cm) = 41895cm2 / 1000 (litres) = 42 Litre of substrate and then almost doubled to allow for greater depth at rear of tank (bearing in mind that it will have the build up noted above in regards to filling area out).

Hopefully this is enough substrate and will mean upon everything arriving and being sorted I can just crack on with different scape designs and lots of photos for you all.

Regards,

Adam

 

[alto]

I'd bring in an extra bag of the Tropica Powder (I've been too conservative a couple of times & then hate the wait ) - I prefer this for the top layer (easier to plant in - especially if you've not used soil previously) & likely you can return for credit if unused.

I use 10cm substrate height in my calculations & find that works well for me (after going short )

Running the filter on the pond sounds good to me - though you can also just transfer some sponge or other media over (likely more efficient) - whichever is easier for you.
Just place the small amount of media downstream of your bio media.
I don't know how pond bacteria may differ from tropical aquarium bacteria populations (I expect there's some shift in populations re temperature) but expect it's a good start too the tank

another 4 weeks

Shame it's taking so long to sort your order but at least it's happening

 

[Adam Chambers]

I'd bring in an extra bag of the Tropica Powder (I've been too conservative a couple of times & then hate the wait ) - I prefer this for the top layer (easier to plant in - especially if you've not used soil previously) & likely you can return for credit if unused.

I use 10cm substrate height in my calculations & find that works well for me (after going short )

Running the filter on the pond sounds good to me - though you can also just transfer some sponge or other media over (likely more efficient) - whichever is easier for you.
Just place the small amount of media downstream of your bio media.
I don't know how pond bacteria may differ from tropical aquarium bacteria populations (I expect there's some shift in populations re temperature) but expect it's a good start too the tank


Shame it's taking so long to sort your order but at least it's happening

The amount I have brought through Charterhouse is my credit note on the returned light. I will grab a few more bags from Aqua Essentials as they have some in stock and return them if needed as a separate purchase as I will be ordering more rocks and my plants through them anyways.

In regards to the pond, it would be easier just to add my new media to my filter and run the tubes in from the deck as it's 3ft high and his filter is in a timber enclosure so rather than fiddling with that at the moment my principle was just to get the bacteria colonised. I couldn't see an issue but wanted to sound out. They are at the end of the day fish with the same cycle, just not in a heated tank in principle. If it seeds it we can have a nice jump start I would think while I spend around two weeks hardscaping once the new cabinet arrives.

And yeah, it is a colour they have been advertising for 2 months and says new but they haven't had their first batch arrive to them as of yet so don't even have any samples.

Am holding off doing anything else until have more detail on exactly when the cabinet arrives as I don't want things to be an issue if I start ordering plants etc there after.

Regards,

Adam

 

[Adam Chambers]

Rant Update:

OK so I am fuming and can't believe this rubbish.

The new stand had been sent out to myself without any communication again!! Not only that it this time arrived damaged.

Lucky my house tenant was in to reject it!! Honestly this is the worst service from EA who are meant to deal with this direct.

Not only that but they had not organised collection of the other when it was meant to be swapped!!!

I think that's it. I'm ready to give up on this aquarium and the manufacture. I would suggest to avoid EA at all costs because they clearly do not care about customer service or they would have at least emailed and/or called me about the delivery.

The lack of professionalism has left me stunned for a tank that cost so much.

Rant over!!

 

[Adam Chambers]

Quick update following rant:

Charterhouse (Nick - Warehouse Manager) received an email at 4:20pm saying the stand had been dispatched. No phone call, not a general email anyone else could pick up and what good is 4:20pm to say it is arriving tomorrow like I am just sat at home waiting for this to arrive!

After a quick chat and Nick feeling both flustered, frustrated and a little embarrassed from his tone he read the email that EA sent to him, that went along the lines of;

"We have dispatched the replacement cabinet to the customer, please ask them upon receiving and signing for the cabinet to reuse the packaging to protect the existing cabinet and place on the pallet and leave outside and call yourselves to arrange with us collection."

So with the above there are a few things. As said they never called me to confirm which Chaterhouse have expressed on a number of occasions that EA should be in direct contact to ship to myself and arrange a day and time. They then are asking me to somehow carefully lift out a solid cabinet from a box without damaging it and to place the current one in it by myself.

I have nowhere for the pallet to remain with the cabinet on until collection so where is it going to go. It can't stay in the house because it has to come off the pallet in the first place to move it in/out. I don't have room in the house or my garden to just keep it and who is responsible for damages while it is left. If it rains it will get damaged further (we are in the UK).

EA have to be the worst company I have ever dealt with in regards to customer service for a luxury item. And I have worked with a lot of companies over the years whilst in Architecture.

I can honestly say that the way they treat customers I am surprised they have any. They have been dismissive since then tbh.

Anyways, that is where I am at with all this.

Regards,

Adam

 

[alto]

I'm sorry but cant stop
- at the sheer idiocy of that request


I suppose you'll arrive home tomorrow & there'll be a large kit curbside

I imagine that EA is responsible for everything <shrug> this is not a collaborative or shared task with either Charterhouse or the customer ... I wonder if Charterhouse will be done with EA sooner rather than later.

Email EA & state that they must arrange removal & packing of the returned cabinet as the mistake was theirs
BUT wait until you get the replacement

EA is obviously able to complete those tasks they've attempted to assign you rather easily, else it all would've been arranged with some notice.

 

[Adam Chambers]

Haha cheers Alto,

They have actually I found out checked the stand yesterday and said we cannot see any damage and re-dispatched it with a new box :/

More to the point they have yet again failed to tell me or confirm that anyone was able to take delivery of this pallet so yeah I still think this is rubbish.

So yeah now apparently it will arrive tomorrow again. Not sure how they have manage to check it so quickly from it only being rejected yesterday morning to it being dispatched again today and arriving tomorrow and not sure that it is good if it has been bashed about even if the box was what took most/all the hits.

Charterhouse have said if I just let them know when I have my new stand setup on aquarium on and they will arrange collection for next day. I said I can't pallet it up as no room and they have said no problem they will make sure it is sorted so yeah. Might get somewhere, just depends if I can see any damage with this cab they have re-dispatched then.

Regards,

Adam

 

[Adam Chambers]

Here are a few photos of some hardscape that I used to have in my old 350 litre tank. These were the largest size bits of wood I could use back then because of the bracing on the tank so going braceless already feels like such a joy on that front.

Sorry for bad quality and all that, rubbish old iPhone is all I have at moment.

 

[Adam Chambers]

Should probably also point out, this was 5 mins of placement and not a final hardscape or anything. Just put them in to get a feeling of scale and principles of what I need to buy and then what to aim for.

Although ideas on how to use the wood and rocks are welcome as these are the materials types I plan on using with the Tropica soil.

 

[alto]

I don't know how much Charterhouse carries or is able to source for you but I'd definitely try to put some more business their way - they are doing an outstanding job!
(maybe you can do a Shout Out to Charterhouse topic once this is all sorted )

For hardscape, take a look at the UKAPS Aquascaping Experience 2016 threads for a good idea of what's available from the sponsors
(also check the ukaps Classifieds)

You can mix different woods if you're going to moss them (or obscure with other plants), but it takes some practise , easier to choose a wood type for cohesion of style

Dragonstone takes some diligence (& experience) to maintain as a feature stone - it's a great algae magnet so make sure you can brush stone in situ or remove for cleaning with minimal disruption
Also use a high pressure wash to remove all the clay dirt in the textured stone

Your "rubbish" IPhone pics are pretty decent so don't worry on that score

Likely best to begin a new thread in Journals or Aquascaping subforums for hardscape commentary

 

[alto]

An inspirational scape by AquArtistic Design

(linked provided by Tropica FB )

 

[Manisha]

I know patience is a virtue but your experience with EA seems incredibly horrendous - good for you for your perseverance - I really hope they get their ass in gear & sort this out for you lovely hardscape so far & you've a good eye for that with the few rough snaps you've taken so far (far better than mine!) The outcome will no doubt be worth all the drama ☺ Best wishes ☺

 

[Adam Chambers]

I don't know how much Charterhouse carries or is able to source for you but I'd definitely try to put some more business their way - they are doing an outstanding job!
(maybe you can do a Shout Out to Charterhouse topic once this is all sorted )

For hardscape, take a look at the UKAPS Aquascaping Experience 2016 threads for a good idea of what's available from the sponsors
(also check the ukaps Classifieds)

You can mix different woods if you're going to moss them (or obscure with other plants), but it takes some practise , easier to choose a wood type for cohesion of style

Dragonstone takes some diligence (& experience) to maintain as a feature stone - it's a great algae magnet so make sure you can brush stone in situ or remove for cleaning with minimal disruption
Also use a high pressure wash to remove all the clay dirt in the textured stone

Your "rubbish" IPhone pics are pretty decent so don't worry on that score

Likely best to begin a new thread in Journals or Aquascaping subforums for hardscape commentary

As always, a fountain of knowledge and reason in your post Alto.

Have been and will continue to work through the posts about aquascaping that you have linked. I feel I will be sticking to one wood variaty due to the easier ability to make sure it all matches and works well together and maybe for my 2nd scape will look to mix things up.

The dragonstone is from my old aquarium and was in there a few years. it needs a good clean as it's been sat for a year since though. Thank you for the complement on he photos. Will try and get some high res 4K pics later though for the journal.

I am holding off starting a new thread till it is at least ready to be truly setting up the tank/hardscape with new cab.

In regards to the Tropica post you found. That looks awesome, had a brief look but will have a good read through later to really get the details from it.