Alan79
Aquarium Advice Freak
I have 2 retrofit flourescent fittings for my tanks. One of them i bought with a 20W reptile light in it (says on the bulb for reptile use only). My other bulbs are 18W T8 bulbs. I'd like to know if the reptile bulb would be harmful to the fish or plants. I'd assume it's a more intense light or has UV aspects for the reptiles so would help the plants at least (i will be fishless cycling a tank soon so i can use the bulb for the plants before swapping for fish later if thats ok).
And my question with soil in substrates.
I already have a light layer of peat on the base.I have some scoria which is the closets thing i could find to Laterite) dropped fairly well spaced out. I have been adding filter sqeezings to this when i do water changes on a partly cycled tank which i have 2 small filters running in to build bacteria in both. I will add the second filter to the new tank when i get water in there.
I have some organic potting mix and some red clay thats exposed in my yard i plan to add to the potting mix. I'd like to know
a) What size substrate stones should i mix into the soil layer to alow for roots to growbest?.
I have these as my options
- Mixed grade river sand from very fine to about 4mm (i can sieve out a lot more of the very fine sand before i put it in the tank if need be as i remember reading that fine sand squashes roots)
- Some black river sand that is a pretty consistent 2-3.5mm. Or some larger stones that are about 4-5mm. I plan to have this on the surface.
b) What ratio of soil: Clay: Stones
c) How thick should my layer of black sand on top be?
The lighting aspect isn't that important right now but i'd like to use the reptile bulb if it's better. I'd really like to get a good idea on the ratio i should use in my subsrate and what size stones to mix with that layer so i can start it cycling and let a few plants begin establishing before they have fish to disturb them.
If someone has a link to a good article i'm happy to just read that if it saves someone the time of typing a detailed reply. I did read a good one somewhere but i lost the link.
And my question with soil in substrates.
I already have a light layer of peat on the base.I have some scoria which is the closets thing i could find to Laterite) dropped fairly well spaced out. I have been adding filter sqeezings to this when i do water changes on a partly cycled tank which i have 2 small filters running in to build bacteria in both. I will add the second filter to the new tank when i get water in there.
I have some organic potting mix and some red clay thats exposed in my yard i plan to add to the potting mix. I'd like to know
a) What size substrate stones should i mix into the soil layer to alow for roots to growbest?.
I have these as my options
- Mixed grade river sand from very fine to about 4mm (i can sieve out a lot more of the very fine sand before i put it in the tank if need be as i remember reading that fine sand squashes roots)
- Some black river sand that is a pretty consistent 2-3.5mm. Or some larger stones that are about 4-5mm. I plan to have this on the surface.
b) What ratio of soil: Clay: Stones
c) How thick should my layer of black sand on top be?
The lighting aspect isn't that important right now but i'd like to use the reptile bulb if it's better. I'd really like to get a good idea on the ratio i should use in my subsrate and what size stones to mix with that layer so i can start it cycling and let a few plants begin establishing before they have fish to disturb them.
If someone has a link to a good article i'm happy to just read that if it saves someone the time of typing a detailed reply. I did read a good one somewhere but i lost the link.