Another Update

[quadrider5953]

Hi everyone. Well today i went to the lfs and i bought a aquarium pharmecuticals master test kit. I tested the water and here are my results: ph- 7.7
ammonia- .25ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
nitrate- 5ppm

I guess this is ok right? I guess it is pretty much cycled even after 15 days? If you dont think so please reply. I also bought an anacharis plant and placed it in the center. I should be adding a piece of driftwood shortly. I also bought 3 rosabaras but i dont know which kind they are yet. I will search online to see what they are. The food i got was Tetramin Pro Crisps. Is this food any good?


I will try and get picture soon.

-Kyle

 

[Bhunsucker]

Your tank is not Cycled yet unitl Ammonia-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate->5

 

[Fluff]

I agree your tank isn't cycled yet. Since you already added fish, you will need to do extra water changes so your fish won't suffer. Here is an article on the nitrogen cycle that may help you understand the cycle process.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=21

 

[Blazeherd2306]

I'm assuming the light is only 15 watts, therefore 1.5 wpg. Make sure you pick low light plants such as the ones listed here, http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=2

 

[quadrider5953]

The light is the one that came with the perfecto light. I am not sure what it is. I will try to find out. If it is no good enough i will repace it. also in catalogs the perfect strip light says it comes with an 18 " bulb but i measured it and it is less then 18". Why is that?

-Kyle

 

[quadrider5953]

OOPS

Mistake- the fish i bought from the lfs were black phantom tetras, the guy got the wrong fish. its ok though, they look cool and seem to be good fish.

 

[Jchillin]

The light is the one that came with the perfecto light. I am not sure what it is. I will try to find out. If it is no good enough i will repace it. also in catalogs the perfect strip light says it comes with an 18 " bulb but i measured it and it is less then 18". Why is that?

-Kyle

The bulb size is different from the light strip size. Perhaps they were referring to the light strip instead.

It's doubtful that the bulb is more than 17 watts.

 

[quadrider5953]

In that case the bulb is 15" and that is how long it measured. I was just making sure because i dont want to buy a bulb that doesnt fit. What is the best bulb that is 15" long and is good for a planted tank?

-Kyle

 

[Jchillin]

This is probably one of the biggest problems we planted tank folks have, the stock light strip and bulbs. The ballast cannot support any greater wattages and to make things even worse, the bulbs don't come in greater wattages in that length.

This leaves us no choice but to customize the entire thing or retro-fit a different light strip altogether. In your case, PC's are the easiest way to go. The PC's are small enough and carry enough wattage to fit your tank size.

Try looking at the PC light strips here for some ideas.

 

[quadrider5953]

i also have a AGA strip light that holds 2 tubular bulbs. Could i use 2 bulbs like the ones in this link? http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23441;category_id=1845;pcid1=1843;pcid2= That would give me 2wpg.

 

[Jchillin]

Flourescent bulbs are not interchangable with modified incandescent bulbs. The flourescent has a two-four pin insert, not a screw in. You would have to change the entire assembly over to screw in. Those bulbs were designed primarily for the smaller tank hoods that come with incandescent bulbs.

 

[quadrider5953]

You must have misunderstood me, the one AGA hood i have has a liaght fixture that holds 2 screw in bulbs. I will try and get a picture soon.

-Kyle

 

[Jchillin]

Yeah...I did misunderstand. When the term "tube" is used, I automatically think flourescent with pins.

If this is the case...Homerun! For the record, I would love to put that bulb in my 30 gal hood, but I have that silly problem with the pins.

 

[quadrider5953]

Ok, i will order these bulbs as soon as i get money. Thanks for your help.

-Kyle

 

[Jchillin]

No problem...glad to help.