125 gallon build log
- Thread starter neilanh
- Start date
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marchmaxima
Aquarium Advice Addict
what joy said.
Glenc
Aquarium Advice Addict
Very, very nice. You are growing plants beautifully that I have tried many, many times that just won't grow for me. Great work!
pitt420dude
Aquarium Advice Addict
How many wpg are you at again, and how do you run them (hours? noon burst?)
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
Interesting question.
I've got a total of 312 watts. But half of it is 50/50 bulbs. Some believe the actinic isn't beneficial, some think it is slightly - so depends on how you want to measure it. At 312 watts, that puts me at 2.5WPG. If you disclude the actinic, I'm at 234W which is 1.8WPG.
I run my lighting from 2-11PM. The first and last hour are at half power, so 2-3pm is half power, 3-10pm is full power, then 1/2 power again from 10-11pm.
This is why I'm so big on recommending the TEK T5HO fixtures. At the lighting level I'm at, I haven't found any plant I can't grow in this tank yet. Others I know with the TEK fixtures say the same thing.
I've got a total of 312 watts. But half of it is 50/50 bulbs. Some believe the actinic isn't beneficial, some think it is slightly - so depends on how you want to measure it. At 312 watts, that puts me at 2.5WPG. If you disclude the actinic, I'm at 234W which is 1.8WPG.
I run my lighting from 2-11PM. The first and last hour are at half power, so 2-3pm is half power, 3-10pm is full power, then 1/2 power again from 10-11pm.
This is why I'm so big on recommending the TEK T5HO fixtures. At the lighting level I'm at, I haven't found any plant I can't grow in this tank yet. Others I know with the TEK fixtures say the same thing.
pitt420dude
Aquarium Advice Addict
Ah ha! So it's not just CO2 that is "plant crack" but TEK HOT5's as well?
I have Catalina HOT5's. I bet TEK just has better reflectors eh?
I have Catalina HOT5's. I bet TEK just has better reflectors eh?
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
You saw the review Ingg did between the TEKs and the catalinas. I don't have any experience with the catalina's, but trust Dave with what he says. But yeah, I think it has a lot to do with the reflectors.
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
Not much of an update. I've got some brush or stag algae coming back, not sure why. Trying to up the CO2 level a bit, but I think I've maxed out capacity on the diffuser I'm using, so I ordered a 2d one today.
In an attempt to move forward towards breaking down the 46 gallon community tank I have upstairs, I transferred a few more fish today - 5 rummynose tetras, 2 peppered cories, a regular oto and a rubberlip pleco. Everyone seems happy, especially the rummies. Their colors are much brighter after an hour in the tank than I've seen in months in the other tank. They're much more active too.
Also, I think I mentioned earlier that I had found fry in the 125 before I put any fish in the tank. We assumed eggs had come in from plants I got from Dave (Ingg). I got a quick pic of them. Crappy pic, but they're fast and don't stop. They're in my shrimp tank, and one of them is starting to get the blue shimmer praecox rainbows get high up on their back. There's 3 of them total.
In an attempt to move forward towards breaking down the 46 gallon community tank I have upstairs, I transferred a few more fish today - 5 rummynose tetras, 2 peppered cories, a regular oto and a rubberlip pleco. Everyone seems happy, especially the rummies. Their colors are much brighter after an hour in the tank than I've seen in months in the other tank. They're much more active too.
Also, I think I mentioned earlier that I had found fry in the 125 before I put any fish in the tank. We assumed eggs had come in from plants I got from Dave (Ingg). I got a quick pic of them. Crappy pic, but they're fast and don't stop. They're in my shrimp tank, and one of them is starting to get the blue shimmer praecox rainbows get high up on their back. There's 3 of them total.
mom2reds
Aquarium Advice Addict
nice pics I could not see the algea but the plants and tank look good
jdsunflower
Aquarium Advice Activist
absolutely beautiful
You inspired me to copy you. 
Stopped and bought 9 rummynose yesterday, have to admit I really like the way they school up and patrol out in the open!
Still trying to figure out a bottom dweller or two for the 180g, still thinking some of the tamer cichlids. May see if I can find some badis badis, those can be tough to feed though...
Stopped and bought 9 rummynose yesterday, have to admit I really like the way they school up and patrol out in the open!
Still trying to figure out a bottom dweller or two for the 180g, still thinking some of the tamer cichlids. May see if I can find some badis badis, those can be tough to feed though...
spilzer
Aquarium Advice Activist
Rummies are some of my favorites. I'm really looking forward to getting some into my own tank. I love how big yours are, you must have had them a long time now.
Fluff
Aquarium Advice Addict
Neilan, that tank is incredible!
Sahabo
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Wow.
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
Thanks everyone. Great smiley Heidi ... lol
Yeah, the rummies are awesome. I only have 5, and since I moved them to the 125 one of them has lost an eye. not sure how that happened. Those I've had now for probably close to 18 months, so yeah, they're pretty much full sized.
Dave, where'd you get yours? I'd like another 10 or so, but they're not easy to find around here and the quality when I do find them is... shall we say... lacking. I bought a dozen, lost 8, bought a dozen more from the same source, and now have those 5 remaining, so you see my issues with what I'm able to get here locally.
I'll see if I can get some closer photos of them, but like Dave said, they love to swim laps in the tank, and they're quick!
Yeah, the rummies are awesome. I only have 5, and since I moved them to the 125 one of them has lost an eye. not sure how that happened. Those I've had now for probably close to 18 months, so yeah, they're pretty much full sized.
Dave, where'd you get yours? I'd like another 10 or so, but they're not easy to find around here and the quality when I do find them is... shall we say... lacking. I bought a dozen, lost 8, bought a dozen more from the same source, and now have those 5 remaining, so you see my issues with what I'm able to get here locally.
I'll see if I can get some closer photos of them, but like Dave said, they love to swim laps in the tank, and they're quick!
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
Here's some fishy shots. I know, "clean the glass, sheesh". I tell myself that all the time.
Rummynose Tetras:
Peppered Cory:
Male Boesmani Rainbowfish:
Male Dwarf Praecox Rainbowfish & Boesmani:
Rummies and Praecox:
Furcata Rainbowfish:
Another Rummynose:
Furcata Rainbowfish (See the one flaring? awesome!) & Praecox:
Sorry, I get a little click-happy with the camera sometimes. You're lucky I'm limited to 8 photos per post by the forum, else you might be in serious trouble here. lol
Rummynose Tetras:
Peppered Cory:
Male Boesmani Rainbowfish:
Male Dwarf Praecox Rainbowfish & Boesmani:
Rummies and Praecox:
Furcata Rainbowfish:
Another Rummynose:
Furcata Rainbowfish (See the one flaring? awesome!) & Praecox:
Sorry, I get a little click-happy with the camera sometimes. You're lucky I'm limited to 8 photos per post by the forum, else you might be in serious trouble here. lol
FishEggs
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just picked up some endlers from neilan and got to see the tank in person and the pictures just dont do it justice. it's an awesome tank inside and out.
i know where it's located so who wants to help me move it.
i know where it's located so who wants to help me move it.
pitt420dude
Aquarium Advice Addict
I just picked up some endlers from neilan and got to see the tank in person and the pictures just dont do it justice. it's an awesome tank inside and out.
i know where it's located so who wants to help me move it.
Ha, sounds like a plan FishEggs.
Neil, on a completely seperate and unrelated note: Are you going out of town anytime soon? Need anybody to help watch your fish?
And Neil that's the first time I've ever heard anyone apologize for posting so many pics. Seriously we love them, don't worry about it and keep em comin.
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neilanh
Sliced Bread
We are in the planning phase for summer vacation(s). I have 3 weeks of vacation that if I don't use this year, I lose completely. What are your fees for tank babysitting? I'll look into taking out a seperate insurance policy on my tanks, cuz I get the feeling you and fisheggs are scheming against me.
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