Finally got up and running

[Snuffy Smith]

hopefully picture attaches. 32 gallon cube (older current tank was free) 125w 6500k metal halide (was free except for bulb) homemade substrate. Got more in the plants and what little chemicals (conditioners etc) than anything else. Now to work on co2 and have a line on regulator (for free) as mine all busted from divorce move lol.


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[Snuffy Smith]

Thank you for all the information as I have been lurking on the bd taking notes as just about every question I had was all ready asked. Many months of research and slowly setting up. Now to get through my hands on learning curve again thank you and thanks in advance for what ever may arise.


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[RadMax8]

Tank looks really nice! What did you use to make the substrate?

Good on you for lurking on the forum before asking a million questions!


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[Snuffy Smith]

I just used an organic potting soil with a small natural looking gravel was a lot easier than I thought it would be once get over black cloud shock lol it was oh boy what did I do? but cleared out fairly quickly. Im happy with the results so far


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[Rivercats]

Is the metal halide HID or HQI or Mogul based? Just curious. I use metal halides on my 220g, 3-150w HID bulbs over a 30" deep tank. Metal halides but out very high light especially over shallower tanks. How far away from the water surface is the light?

You can only run high to very high lighting for a shorter period of time or algae can become and issue. I ran mine 6 hours daily. Besides getting the CO2 hooked up you need to look into proper dosing of ferts via PPS-Pro or EI.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

It is a 20" tall tank, the light is a pendant light I measured it last night and have the light 8" over the water and the actual bulb is another 6" inside the light. Right now I have the timer set for 8hrs of on time and will probably cut that back. Currently using liquid carbon until I get co2 setup complete have all but few valves and gauge for my regulator and just need to get my tank filled (old kegerator kit lol got too dangerous to have in garage) buddy gonna give me his regulator since he not using it any more. So far all parameters are staying steady. I am doing every other week a 10% to 15% water change.


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[Snuffy Smith]

Oh in that pic above the pendant light had dropped down I have reset up higher 8" and can go 2" more higher if need to.


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