DogFish's 40

[DogFish]

NEW VIDEO >>>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFzsDlC2N8E


Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-F1YEOE2Ng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3Wkq4jbQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT-X8...ature=youtu.be







Hardware

> 40Gl Acrylic Tank
> Cust. Steel Stand
> DIY PAR38LED Track lights
> Fuval G3 filter
> Finnex 300w Titanium Heater
> MTS
> Const./Play Sand Cap

Flora

C. Becketti
C. Nurri
Java Fern
Taiwan Moss


Fonia

Cherry Barbs
SAE
Neon Blue Goby
Amano Shrimp
Cherry Shrimp
Ramshorns
MTS
Black Worms

From the living rm.


Inside

[crazydaz]

I really like it, Frank!! LED's?? Interesting choice for the lighting! Obviously your massive, beautiful crypts love it. Are these humongous nurii's the result of your MTS?

[DogFish]

Stand & DIY Par38LED Track

1.25 steel box w/ dark gray powder coat 'wrinkle finish'


PAR38 LED CREE 18W 5500K DIMMABLE 12LEDS, 30degree lens.in a Home Depot Track Light

I bought the Track from Home Depot by the pc. a 4' track, the outlet box adaptor, and two pendant lights. I went to IKEA and bought the shades and two of their $3.99 Hemma Cords. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10175810/# The clear cords that came with the Home Depot pendants didn't look right in that room.

NOTE- You are not buying the pendant for the light, you are buying for the base that connect to the track so find something make down that was for at lead a 60wt blub as you should get a heavier gauge wire. I was unable to locate a pendant to track adaptor.

Al pendants come with lots of power cord that isn't hard to trim & rewire.

With my house The easiest electrical run was up along that sliding door behind the tank. So, put a local switch there and installed my dimmer.

NOTE - Find an LED dimmer, low way bulbs don't always work on all dimmers. he typical dimmer normally has 600W of power and requests a minimum of 60W of power used in order to be stabilized, with less than this power usage, it is under loading condition and is not the original dimmer designed for. Single LED light bulbs are hardly over 20W, so if the user can install minimum of 4 LED light bulb, the performance will yield a visible difference.

I wanted to put in a double box and install a digital timer there too. But, access will be to hard behind the tank to see back there to set the timer. I'll be installing a timer inline in the basement next to my breaker box. Easy access, and besides that is only adjusted 2Xs a year or after a power outrage.

The hardest part to this has been finding a Dimmable PAR38 LED in the 5000-6700K temp range, that was affordable.

I found a seller at that "e" place. $65 ea.

Lots of talk about a 60degree spread being the desired lens. I went with 30degrees and I think I have more in the tank. I'm sure 60degees would give a lot of light spill.

I was able to get everything up & wired for well under $75. Total job in under $200. Of course I did the work.

I wish i had a light meter to take a reading.

60w bulb vs. 18w PAR38LED - Here the lights are 26" above the Aquarium stand, PAR38 vs. 60watt bulb for comparison, in a dark room. (Lampshade I found at Goodwill.) I think this helps tell the story about focus of the light beam


Lights on lowest dimmer setting.


High Beams

[somewhatshocked]

What a great tank and stand.

Can't wait to see more photos of gobies!

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by crazydaz

I really like it, Frank!! LED's?? Interesting choice for the lighting! Obviously your massive, beautiful crypts love it. Are these humongous nurii's the result of your MTS?

Thanks for the support!

Don's that's my GENI batch of MTS. You have the GEN III.


There was a bit of a learning curve on the lights. I do move them from side to side to regulate plant growth. I would not use them without a dimmer and a way to adjust ht. Over-all I'm happy with them.

[drewsuf82]

WOW lookin great how long has it been up and running?

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

What a great tank and stand.

Can't wait to see more photos of gobies!

Thank you. I'll be working on that.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by drewsuf82

WOW lookin great how long has it been up and running?

I started it the last wk of 2011. The C. Becketti came from a mother plant and a few young plant splits that I had been raising in a Grow-ot tank since 9 -2011. The last C. Nurri was added in July, all have had at least one baby so far.

The Java is maybe 33% more than I started with. Taiwan moss 2Xs.

[driftwoodhunter]

Love it! I really love the undulating scape, I think it's the perfect balance between serene and moment. I may draw from it when I redo my 40B ; )

The photo of the light comparison is cool, too.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

Love it! I really love the undulating scape, I think it's the perfect balance between serene and moment....

Thanks Cindy! Under all that Java & Moss is 3 pc of Mopane & 2 stones. I tired to keep it simple, going for a fresh water 'reef' type look.

Under the stump I have this:


The middle pc is only sitting on 3 small points of the wood. I'm able to remove the driftwood pc. very easily for cleaning & planting.

[acitydweller]

nice job dogfish. i love the scape and plant selection. they really filled in nicely

[pejerrey]

Very neat installation!
Those plants look mega healthy!

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

nice job dogfish. i love the scape and plant selection. they really filled in nicely

Thank you!

I used the Ferts we talked about, Atlantis Hydrolyzed Fish Fertilizer 2-4-0 and Dr. Earth Seaweed Concentrate 0–0–4.5 in this tank April up to Mid Sept. I had my fish outside in my Whiskey Barrel Pond.


So dosed s I only had a few Amano shrimp and snails in the tank. Now I dose a little Flourish 1X a wk at 1 drop per gal. I ran out of the Dr. Earth and haven't re-ordered yet.

[DogFish]

Originally Posted by pejerrey

Very neat installation!
Those plants look mega healthy!

Thanks I wanted to keep it simple that room is only 12' wide and a big furniture style stand would have over powered the room. I very happy with the lights as they don't look like Aquarium lights and they look good with the rest of the room.

[Lowe]

It's about time this bad boy popped up!