FX5's are on sale right now at bigalsonline:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp17290/si3478855/cl0/hagenfluvalfx5canisterfilter
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp17290/si3478855/cl0/hagenfluvalfx5canisterfilter
150 Gallon Build Thread ... From the Start
- Thread starter WaywardSon
- Start date
A great thread so far and very relevant to my tank. I am in the middle of setting up a 125 heavily planted CO2 discus tank, and have been considering all of these questions as well. As far as lights go, I have decided on 2 36" T5HO 4 x 39 Watt lights from this site: http://www.fishneedit.com/3ft4bulbs-with-l34.html. You can choose your bulbs, they are cheap, nice looking, have LEDs for night lights, and have three cords so I can vary my lighting throughout the day. I simply have not found a better bang for the buck. I am ordering them today or tomorrow. I have read some pretty good things about these, and they fit my budget. I almost went with the 72", but the 36s have the three cords and LEDs...
I am also debating about filters: Eheim 2080 or Fluival FX5. There are so many opinions! The Fluval will probably win the battle due to cost (I have found them as cheap as $179 including media). Look into Turface MVP gray for substrate. I paid $36.00 for 100 lbs; about 10-20% of what I would pay for Eco-Complete, ADA Aqausouil, etc.
I just ordered some dwarf baby tears (HC). glosso, and Lobelia cardinalis short form which I will grow emersed for a month (Per Tom Barr/Plantbrain) or so until I can afford to buy my filter, then fill the tank and stock more plants. This solves the problem of rooting them, algae growth, CO2, I can put tons of light on them for a long period per day, plus it will allow me to look at the tank for a month and not go crazy and buy some cheap filter just to have it done! I don't want to hijack your thread (I'm starting my own w/ lots of pics I have been taking), but wanted to chime in with what conclusions I am reaching with essentially the same project. My funds are extremely limited, so I am DIYing and re purposing as much as I can.
Good luck, and thanks for the awesome thread!
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Eager to hear how you like them ...
The FX5 will definitely do the job (a beast I hear) if you can DIY spray bars and control the monster output ...
Will do - thank you ... and thanks for all the great input - good luck with your tank as well!!
Any thoughts on a light fixture like this one? Would need to replace bulbs with 10s (comes half loaded with 50/50s). I haven't really looked for a better price yet, just looking for the fixture. It would let me grow all I wanted even in the tall tank - you think?
Will need to scrap the idea of the canopy with a fixture like this. Wonder if we should dress the stand down (cherry would be overkill without the canopy I think)?
Here is the Aqueon Mission Series (both cherry and black are listed) - maybe moving to black with no canopy and a black 72" fixture would also be a cool look - not cherry, but still pretty strong!
Will need to scrap the idea of the canopy with a fixture like this. Wonder if we should dress the stand down (cherry would be overkill without the canopy I think)?
Here is the Aqueon Mission Series (both cherry and black are listed) - maybe moving to black with no canopy and a black 72" fixture would also be a cool look - not cherry, but still pretty strong!
no for light
yes for stand
the price of the light isnt that great. The one i sent you has a sleeker look and cost $100 less. Plus with the extreme you will need to replace the bulbs which will cost you another $100 +/-. With one i sent you, they replace bulbs for free
yes for stand
the price of the light isnt that great. The one i sent you has a sleeker look and cost $100 less. Plus with the extreme you will need to replace the bulbs which will cost you another $100 +/-. With one i sent you, they replace bulbs for free
and i believe that strip comes in 2 colors. silver and black. Make sure to know which you are getting when ordering
BK - did you read in the post that it needs a splash guard? Wonder if they can build that in also?
