Could use some advice.. I now need an ADA tank..

mluk27 · 03-09-2012, 04:49 PM

So, it all started with me wanting to setup another small tank and I wanted to get a 2 gallon Do!Aqua tank but found out they were discontinued. Instead of going up to the 4 gallon I figured I should just do it right and get a ADA mini S since nothing beats that beautiful glass. So I just wanted to get some peoples opinion on some of the stuff Im getting for the tank. Lighting has seemed to be my biggest challenge because I dont wanna spend to much but I want to get sufficient LEDs. Im planning on growing UG so I will need a decent amount of light.

I am thinking one of these for a light
http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Mar...315193&sr=8-14
it seems pretty bright so I was thining it should be sufficient for 3 gallons.

I am going with fluval co2 system and gonna swap out the bubble counter and diffuser

Substrate- ADA amazonia

For a filter I am torn between Zoomed 501 canister filter or azoo palm filter

I really dont wanna put a heater on the tank since theyre so ugly and it doesnt get TO cold here room temps are about 67 during winter.. and will surely rise in summer.
Anyways any recommendations and thoughts would greatly be appreciated

chiefroastbeef · 03-09-2012, 06:11 PM

You will love the ada tank, I love my 60P! Be very careful when you place rocks, or use planting tongs in the tank, my metal tongs totally scratched the inside of the tank...

I can't comment much about that light, it does look pretty expensive for what it is, judging from the photo. It doesn't seem to have any reviews either..

You should be fine without a heater, here in HK I don't have to run a heater, my tanks water gets to 68 at the coldest, and 82 at the hottest. My ember tetras, cardinal tetras, celestial pearl danios, dwarf cories, amano shrimp, cherry shrimp all do great with those temps. Unless you want to keep CRS/tiger shrimp, most freshwater tropical livestock should make it through your cali temp swings (emphasizing on the heat).

mluk27 · 03-09-2012, 06:40 PM

I have a finnex and I did a cheap substitute in the beginning to save initial cost, but geez I just cant escape the quality of ADA lol Of course as everyone says do it right the first time and get ADA lol.
The light does look expensive but it seems around the same price as some of the other LEDs which are about the same price like the archea lights. I heard those arent bright enough for highlight plants. I have heard good things about the 6w of the innovative marine so I am hoping the 4 watt will be sufficient.
I am actually planning on having CRS in there so hopefully the temps arent to extreme

chiefroastbeef · 03-09-2012, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluk27

I have a finnex and I did a cheap substitute in the beginning to save initial cost, but geez I just cant escape the quality of ADA lol Of course as everyone says do it right the first time and get ADA lol.
The light does look expensive but it seems around the same price as some of the other LEDs which are about the same price like the archea lights. I heard those arent bright enough for highlight plants. I have heard good things about the 6w of the innovative marine so I am hoping the 4 watt will be sufficient.
I am actually planning on having CRS in there so hopefully the temps arent to extreme

I honestly can't say if 4 watts of LED is sufficient even in a 3 gallon tank when you want to grow a carpet plant. I am running a low tech 60p, densely planted, no co2, no excel, barely any ferts. I am currently running 12x 3W leds, and it is in perfect balance.

zchauvin · 03-10-2012, 12:32 AM

just get the ada solar s?

mluk27 · 03-10-2012, 03:00 AM

Solar s is a little out of my price range I also want an led so something strong enough to carpet would be ideal.

**b10n** · 03-10-2012, 03:46 AM

@ chiefroastbeef
happen to me and i never noticed them until i try to sell it....

zchauvin · 03-10-2012, 04:12 PM

Mluk, imo I'd just save the extra cash and get a solar s. I had one and you won't be disappointed trust me. It's very bright, and it looks nice also. You won't find a better working and looking light for less. It fits the tank perfectly and can swung out of the way for maintenance. No worries of it not being strong enough to carpet, it would put an led of equivalent size to shame

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

mluk27 · 03-10-2012, 05:51 PM

It is a very nice light, but I hear its a little over priced? I noticed Archae sells a very similar light for a fraction of the price. Idk if its up to par with ADA as far as quality though.

**Geniusdudekiran** · 03-10-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluk27

Instead of going up to the 4 gallon I figured I should just do it right and get a ADA mini S since nothing beats that beautiful glass.

Lol. Dat Glass

I have the same tank on the way. Stoked!

zchauvin · 03-10-2012, 07:55 PM

well, its personally preference but what I loved was the fact that it didn't sit on the tank on clip on.. Why buy a clear glass 60$ 4 gallon tank just to put something on the rim of it? I like the fact that I could just turn the light and all and it was attached to the tank in no way.

**Geniusdudekiran** · 03-10-2012, 07:55 PM

If you want LED, go for the archaea 30 cm led. That's what I'm using on mine when it comes. I called the guys at AFA and asked if it would grow med-high light plants, and they said they're growing glosso with it and have grown HC under it. In the mini s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluk27

It is a very nice light, but I hear its a little over priced? I noticed Archae sells a very similar light for a fraction of the price. Idk if its up to par with ADA as far as quality though.

chiefroastbeef · 03-10-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b10n

@ chiefroastbeef
happen to me and i never noticed them until i try to sell it....

Heart breaking isn't it.. I see those scratches everyday now... right in the middle of the tank too... I was planting dwarf sag.

**Geniusdudekiran** · 03-10-2012, 07:57 PM

That's true man. Truly the ultimate ADA light.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zchauvin

well, its personally preference but what I loved was the fact that it didn't sit on the tank on clip on.. Why buy a clear glass 60$ 4 gallon tank just to put something on the rim of it? I like the fact that I could just turn the light and all and it was attached to the tank in no way.

mluk27 · 03-10-2012, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zchauvin

well, its personally preference but what I loved was the fact that it didn't sit on the tank on clip on.. Why buy a clear glass 60$ 4 gallon tank just to put something on the rim of it? I like the fact that I could just turn the light and all and it was attached to the tank in no way.

Yeah I get what your saying.. I mean it will be a while until I buy a light , so I have some time to think about it, since Im growing my UG emersed first. I just would hate to spend 200 on such a small light

lol

03-09-2012, 04:49 PM	#1
mluk27 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: california Posts: 211	Could use some advice.. I now need an ADA tank.. So, it all started with me wanting to setup another small tank and I wanted to get a 2 gallon Do!Aqua tank but found out they were discontinued. Instead of going up to the 4 gallon I figured I should just do it right and get a ADA mini S since nothing beats that beautiful glass. So I just wanted to get some peoples opinion on some of the stuff Im getting for the tank. Lighting has seemed to be my biggest challenge because I dont wanna spend to much but I want to get sufficient LEDs. Im planning on growing UG so I will need a decent amount of light. I am thinking one of these for a light http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Mar...315193&sr=8-14 it seems pretty bright so I was thining it should be sufficient for 3 gallons. I am going with fluval co2 system and gonna swap out the bubble counter and diffuser Substrate- ADA amazonia For a filter I am torn between Zoomed 501 canister filter or azoo palm filter I really dont wanna put a heater on the tank since theyre so ugly and it doesnt get TO cold here room temps are about 67 during winter.. and will surely rise in summer. Anyways any recommendations and thoughts would greatly be appreciated

03-10-2012, 03:46 AM	#7
b10n Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 123	@ chiefroastbeef happen to me and i never noticed them until i try to sell it.... __________________ ADA 60p ADA 45f

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03-09-2012, 06:11 PM	#2
chiefroastbeef Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hong Kong/Dallas, TX Posts: 783	You will love the ada tank, I love my 60P! Be very careful when you place rocks, or use planting tongs in the tank, my metal tongs totally scratched the inside of the tank... I can't comment much about that light, it does look pretty expensive for what it is, judging from the photo. It doesn't seem to have any reviews either.. You should be fine without a heater, here in HK I don't have to run a heater, my tanks water gets to 68 at the coldest, and 82 at the hottest. My ember tetras, cardinal tetras, celestial pearl danios, dwarf cories, amano shrimp, cherry shrimp all do great with those temps. Unless you want to keep CRS/tiger shrimp, most freshwater tropical livestock should make it through your cali temp swings (emphasizing on the heat).

03-09-2012, 06:40 PM	#3
mluk27 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: california Posts: 211	I have a finnex and I did a cheap substitute in the beginning to save initial cost, but geez I just cant escape the quality of ADA lol Of course as everyone says do it right the first time and get ADA lol. The light does look expensive but it seems around the same price as some of the other LEDs which are about the same price like the archea lights. I heard those arent bright enough for highlight plants. I have heard good things about the 6w of the innovative marine so I am hoping the 4 watt will be sufficient. I am actually planning on having CRS in there so hopefully the temps arent to extreme

03-10-2012, 12:32 AM	#5
zchauvin Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: maurice, la Posts: 866	just get the ada solar s?

03-10-2012, 03:00 AM	#6
mluk27 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: california Posts: 211	Solar s is a little out of my price range I also want an led so something strong enough to carpet would be ideal.

03-10-2012, 04:12 PM	#8
zchauvin Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: maurice, la Posts: 866	Mluk, imo I'd just save the extra cash and get a solar s. I had one and you won't be disappointed trust me. It's very bright, and it looks nice also. You won't find a better working and looking light for less. It fits the tank perfectly and can swung out of the way for maintenance. No worries of it not being strong enough to carpet, it would put an led of equivalent size to shame Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

03-10-2012, 05:51 PM	#9
mluk27 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: california Posts: 211	It is a very nice light, but I hear its a little over priced? I noticed Archae sells a very similar light for a fraction of the price. Idk if its up to par with ADA as far as quality though.

03-10-2012, 07:55 PM	#11
zchauvin Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: maurice, la Posts: 866	well, its personally preference but what I loved was the fact that it didn't sit on the tank on clip on.. Why buy a clear glass 60$ 4 gallon tank just to put something on the rim of it? I like the fact that I could just turn the light and all and it was attached to the tank in no way.