5.5 Gallon Photo Log - Page 3 - Aquarium Advice

tuvok · 04-16-2006, 11:06 PM

Nice tank. I was thinking of doing something similar but I had a few questions which I hope someone can answer. Did the 5g hex come with a splash guard? Or was it just the rubber sleeve over the socket. Is it safe to use a compact fluorescent in those circumstances?

**Purrbox** · 04-16-2006, 11:14 PM

Basically there was a plastic piece that assured a tight fit and was designed to keep moisture out of the socket. There was nothing between the water and the bulb. In the time that I was running the aquarium I never had any difficulty running the tank with the CF Bulb. Keep in mind that I purchased a bulb that was specifically made to be used in this type of hood, which may or may not have made a difference.

tuvok · 04-17-2006, 10:15 AM

Thanks for the reply. Was it the bulb on the right of this page:

http://www.all-glass.com/products/li.../lighting.html

If so you have provided some inspiration here. Did you have trouble growing low light plants? I'm shooting for Anubias and Java Fern and Java Moss in my hex if I manage to get it started.

**Purrbox** · 04-17-2006, 12:13 PM

The Mini Compact looks to be basically the same as the bulb I was using. That one probably runs around $10, or you can spend $5 for the one I used that was located in the pet dept of Walmart.

With 10 Watts of CF light the tank was a solid Medium Low Light tank. The Anubias regularly put out new leaves and even bloomed once while the Dwarf Sag kept trying to take over the tank had to be thinned every one to two months. I was also injecting CO2 and dosing all the Macro and Micro Ferts. While this kind of fertilization wouldn't be strictly necessary I'm sure that it contributed to the results I was getting. You could easily use Flourish Excel instead of CO2 injection on this size tank if you wanted. You should have no problem with Low Light plants and could even try some of the Medium Low Light plants.

tuvok · 04-17-2006, 09:09 PM

Thanks for sharing. I have to put off my 5g hex plans for a while, however, I think I will be able to apply much of what we have discussed here to my other small tank plans. I too am a big Anubias fan and so far the best growth I have seen is in my 10g with 15w NO fluorescent and a canopy of frogbit & supplemented with flourish excel.

tuvok · 04-17-2006, 09:10 PM

Thanks for sharing. I have to put off my 5g hex plans for a while, however, I think I will be able to apply much of what we have discussed here to my other small tank plans. Also, your tank looks too good for me to not try something like it in the near future. I too am also a big Anubias fan and so far the best growth I have seen is in my 10g with 15w NO fluorescent and a canopy of frogbit & supplemented with flourish excel.

Jchillin · 04-18-2006, 07:24 PM

Yes, this is the type of thread that belongs in the new forum. I moved it here from the "showcase" forum as per request.

ct67_72 · 04-18-2006, 07:43 PM

wow looks great, I like to be able to see some progress in motion!

**Purrbox** · 04-21-2006, 11:17 PM

Here's the 11 month update. It's hard to believe this tank has been up and running for nearly a year. The plants are filling in nicely. I'm especially pleased with how the Rotala Rotundifolia and Micranthemum Umbrosum (Baby Tears) are doing.

The Dwarf Sag is spreading even more rapidly now than before the upgrade, not that I'm really surprised.

I'll be removing it completely in a few weeks, I only saved a few plants for my fish club's HAP (Horticulural Award Program).

Once the Dwarf Sag has been removed I'll be moving a few new plants in from the 2.5 Gallon. Definatly the Elatine Triandra, but I'm not sure what else. Possibly the Rotala Rotundifolia "Colorata" and "Green". We'll see when the time comes.

rich311k · 04-21-2006, 11:19 PM

Tank looks great. Very healthy plants.

04-16-2006, 11:14 PM	#22
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 4,911	Basically there was a plastic piece that assured a tight fit and was designed to keep moisture out of the socket. There was nothing between the water and the bulb. In the time that I was running the aquarium I never had any difficulty running the tank with the CF Bulb. Keep in mind that I purchased a bulb that was specifically made to be used in this type of hood, which may or may not have made a difference. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

04-17-2006, 12:13 PM	#24
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 4,911	The Mini Compact looks to be basically the same as the bulb I was using. That one probably runs around $10, or you can spend $5 for the one I used that was located in the pet dept of Walmart. With 10 Watts of CF light the tank was a solid Medium Low Light tank. The Anubias regularly put out new leaves and even bloomed once while the Dwarf Sag kept trying to take over the tank had to be thinned every one to two months. I was also injecting CO2 and dosing all the Macro and Micro Ferts. While this kind of fertilization wouldn't be strictly necessary I'm sure that it contributed to the results I was getting. You could easily use Flourish Excel instead of CO2 injection on this size tank if you wanted. You should have no problem with Low Light plants and could even try some of the Medium Low Light plants. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

04-18-2006, 07:24 PM	#27
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,937 Images: 47	Yes, this is the type of thread that belongs in the new forum. I moved it here from the "showcase" forum as per request. __________________ _________________________________ My 75g Planted tank

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04-16-2006, 11:06 PM	#21
tuvok Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Nice tank. I was thinking of doing something similar but I had a few questions which I hope someone can answer. Did the 5g hex come with a splash guard? Or was it just the rubber sleeve over the socket. Is it safe to use a compact fluorescent in those circumstances?

04-17-2006, 10:15 AM	#23
tuvok Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks for the reply. Was it the bulb on the right of this page: http://www.all-glass.com/products/li.../lighting.html If so you have provided some inspiration here. Did you have trouble growing low light plants? I'm shooting for Anubias and Java Fern and Java Moss in my hex if I manage to get it started.

04-17-2006, 09:09 PM	#25
tuvok Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks for sharing. I have to put off my 5g hex plans for a while, however, I think I will be able to apply much of what we have discussed here to my other small tank plans. I too am a big Anubias fan and so far the best growth I have seen is in my 10g with 15w NO fluorescent and a canopy of frogbit & supplemented with flourish excel.

04-17-2006, 09:10 PM	#26
tuvok Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks for sharing. I have to put off my 5g hex plans for a while, however, I think I will be able to apply much of what we have discussed here to my other small tank plans. Also, your tank looks too good for me to not try something like it in the near future. I too am also a big Anubias fan and so far the best growth I have seen is in my 10g with 15w NO fluorescent and a canopy of frogbit & supplemented with flourish excel.

04-18-2006, 07:43 PM	#28
ct67_72 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 178	wow looks great, I like to be able to see some progress in motion!

04-21-2006, 11:19 PM	#30
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,850 Images: 35	Tank looks great. Very healthy plants.