30G setup help

[chowdan]

Hey guys,

New to the forum but have been lerking for a few months now. Finally got a 30G tank and stuck my Red Cap Oranda in it(yay for petco 1-a-gallon sale). Hes about a year and a half to two years old. I want to finally plant my new tank but am on a budget.

I dont have a lighting system so i was thinking about building my own from homedepot to save some cash. Thinking a dual t8 24w flouros?

I am not sure exact plants would be good for an oranda so i'm open to suggestions.

Thanks for all of your help!

[GMYukonon24s]

Welcome to the forum. I wish I could help you but I've never kept a Oranda so I'm not sure what you could keep with him sorry.

[chowdan]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

Do you know some of the more hardy plants with strong "tougher" leaves?

Also what do you think of the light idea? I'm up in the air not sure if i should get a t8 or t5 or t5ho?

Thanks

[chowdan]

Bump

anyone?

[pandamonium]

about lighting, i built a DIY light fixture using CFL bulbs. i was able to fit 4 13W bulbs inside a 36in hood that use to house a 24 inch t8. i used aluminum tape for the reflector. this lighting fixture cost me 14 for the bulbs and i dont know how much for the sockets. here is the final product of my light fixture if you want to see it.


unfortunately i havent kept orandas either so i dont know what would work well with them. hardy plants that are nitrate/ammonia suckers are pennywort and frogbit. both are amazonian plants and i have them in my tanks. they help a lot with controlling the levels of those two compounds.