I haven't really used it yet won't have fish for a few weeks, but I'm impressed with what I've seen.
20g-Long build thread
- Thread starter irishspy
- Start date
I haven't really used it yet won't have fish for a few weeks, but I'm impressed with what I've seen.
Tonight's test readings:
PH: 7.2
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 5 (!)
Nitrate: 5
I was shocked at the Nitrite spike from yesterday to today: this was a solid "5" and may well have been past it. I didn't add any ammonia tonight, as I understand too much nitrite can kill even the bacteria. If it hasn't gone down by late tomorrow, I'll do a 20% water change.
PH: 7.2
Ammonia: 1
Nitrite: 5 (!)
Nitrate: 5
I was shocked at the Nitrite spike from yesterday to today: this was a solid "5" and may well have been past it. I didn't add any ammonia tonight, as I understand too much nitrite can kill even the bacteria. If it hasn't gone down by late tomorrow, I'll do a 20% water change.
In my initial post I mentioned I wasn't too happy with the Coralife light fixture I had, and I was getting a bit wary of the Visi-Therm, which was running hotter than the dial setting, though holding steady.
So, I figured "in for a penny, in for a pound", and I bought a Finnex Planted+ LED and Fluval E-series 100w heater from Amazon.
The light is on and I do like the increased light and better coverage. Here are before and after photos:
Then:
Now:
I think you can see the difference. And, yeah, I suspect this will lead to a war with algae. Great customer service from the company, too. I wrote with a question and had a helpful answer within a few hours.
One slight thing I don't like: the power cord is too short. I had to face the light "backwards" (logo toward the wall) to reach the outlet. Oh, well. If they don't want the world to see their brand... ;-)
The heater will go in later. Several video-bloggers on YouTube gave it good reviews, and I'm looking forward to the more precise control it promises. But, gee, it seems a bit bulky for a 20G tank... Have to hide it with plants and decor, I guess.
That's all for now.
So, I figured "in for a penny, in for a pound", and I bought a Finnex Planted+ LED and Fluval E-series 100w heater from Amazon.
The light is on and I do like the increased light and better coverage. Here are before and after photos:
Then:
Now:
I think you can see the difference. And, yeah, I suspect this will lead to a war with algae. Great customer service from the company, too. I wrote with a question and had a helpful answer within a few hours.
One slight thing I don't like: the power cord is too short. I had to face the light "backwards" (logo toward the wall) to reach the outlet. Oh, well. If they don't want the world to see their brand... ;-)
The heater will go in later. Several video-bloggers on YouTube gave it good reviews, and I'm looking forward to the more precise control it promises. But, gee, it seems a bit bulky for a 20G tank... Have to hide it with plants and decor, I guess.
That's all for now.
myswtsins
Global Moderator
Just found some PAR data for your setup and whew 95 par at 12"! Better get on that CO2 venture. lol Might want to raise the light?? Looking forward to your progress. *insert popcorn emoji* I miss all the emojis 
Just found some PAR data for your setup and whew 95 par at 12"! Better get on that CO2 venture. lol Might want to raise the light?? Looking forward to your progress. *insert popcorn emoji* I miss all the emojis
Oooh! Do you have a link to that data? I found some at Planted Tank from Finnex, itself, but it said 61 PAR at 12". Yeah, I think CO2 and I are going to become best friends.
(Funny, because it doesn't look *that* bright to me, but plants and human eyes process light differently.)
I miss all the smileys, too. What happened to them?
myswtsins
Global Moderator
Par Data. But I would trust finnex's numbers more. Although I am gonna go double check something now that you mention that. Either way you are in high light so I guess it doesn't matter, just know you have lots-o-light. hehe
I know what you mean, I am looking at my new LED going, "That's enough? Am I SURE?" lol Only second guessing it now cause I got some bucephalandra and I am SO nervous!
I don't know where the smileys went.
I know what you mean, I am looking at my new LED going, "That's enough? Am I SURE?" lol Only second guessing it now cause I got some bucephalandra and I am SO nervous!
I don't know where the smileys went.
myswtsins
Global Moderator
Ok, just checked out some par data for the finnex stingray (that I've looked at before because my knock off light is said to be comparable to it). One source (that kinda hosted the launch of the stingray)
Then a youtube video shows live par readings of 30 at ~17"
So....Gonna leave it at who knows! lol
Then a youtube video shows live par readings of 30 at ~17"
So....Gonna leave it at who knows! lol
Well, I've used my club's old PAR meter & those #s myswtsins posted look more like my OLD T-5 bulbs over a 20g long than a brand new LED or lights of many kinds might be. Part of PAR testing is holding the probe in an unobstructed, untilted view, not as easy as it might sound if you haven't tried, lol. Take it all with a grain of salt.
If either of those 95 or 61 PAR numbers are close, it sounds like CO2 time to me...but I'm a low light/ no CO2 woman.
If either of those 95 or 61 PAR numbers are close, it sounds like CO2 time to me...but I'm a low light/ no CO2 woman.
Thanks for the data and opinions,
myswtsins
and
F
fishorama
. It does look like "experiment and learn" time.
Edit: Hah! I follow that channel on YouTube. He has some informative videos. His test of the Planted+ looks like it roughly matches the data I got from Finnex's post. I'll have to remember the Stingray, should I do another tank -- it would be low-light, since one tank with CO2 would be enough expense.
myswtsins
and
F
fishorama
. It does look like "experiment and learn" time. Edit: Hah! I follow that channel on YouTube. He has some informative videos. His test of the Planted+ looks like it roughly matches the data I got from Finnex's post. I'll have to remember the Stingray, should I do another tank -- it would be low-light, since one tank with CO2 would be enough expense.
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Will wonders never cease? An actual update with something other than readings for ammonia, nitrite, &c. 
I finally added plants this weekend and rescaped it a bit. First the full-tank shot:
I bought them from Planted Aquariums Central. You can read about my experience. Short form: it was very positive.
Starting at the rear from right to left we have:
Ludwigia repens
Alternanthera reineckii roseafolia
More repens
Hygrophila Corymbosa Stricta (behind the wood, kind of hidden)
Cardamine lyrata
Along the front from left to right:
Enchinodorus tenellus
Marsilea hirsuta
Here's a close-up of the Marsilea:
As you can see, some leaves have started to yellow, but I'm putting this to transplant shock. I think I've spotted new growth.
The Marsilea was a pain to plant: my tweezers kept getting caught in the leaves and pulling the plant out again. Argh.
Other plants, such as the cardamine, are also showing melt, but I'm hopeful they'll pull through. Definitely saw new growth here.
I took out one large piece of driftwood, as you can see by comparing the full-tank shot in this post to the first one in this thread. It was just taking up too much room for all the plants I bought. (I can always use it in another tank) Also I swapped the heater and the filter: the outflow from the filter was blowing the Alternanthera like a windstorm.
Question: Now that I've moved the filter, there's not much flow on the right of the tank. Is this a potential problem?
That's it for now. I'm going to give the plants a couple of weeks to establish themselves before adding fish. if I can get better pictures of the other plants, I'll post them.
I finally added plants this weekend and rescaped it a bit. First the full-tank shot:
I bought them from Planted Aquariums Central. You can read about my experience. Short form: it was very positive.
Starting at the rear from right to left we have:
Ludwigia repens
Alternanthera reineckii roseafolia
More repens
Hygrophila Corymbosa Stricta (behind the wood, kind of hidden)
Cardamine lyrata
Along the front from left to right:
Enchinodorus tenellus
Marsilea hirsuta
Here's a close-up of the Marsilea:
As you can see, some leaves have started to yellow, but I'm putting this to transplant shock. I think I've spotted new growth.
The Marsilea was a pain to plant: my tweezers kept getting caught in the leaves and pulling the plant out again. Argh.
Other plants, such as the cardamine, are also showing melt, but I'm hopeful they'll pull through. Definitely saw new growth here.
I took out one large piece of driftwood, as you can see by comparing the full-tank shot in this post to the first one in this thread. It was just taking up too much room for all the plants I bought. (I can always use it in another tank) Also I swapped the heater and the filter: the outflow from the filter was blowing the Alternanthera like a windstorm.
Question: Now that I've moved the filter, there's not much flow on the right of the tank. Is this a potential problem?
That's it for now. I'm going to give the plants a couple of weeks to establish themselves before adding fish. if I can get better pictures of the other plants, I'll post them.
