Jake's DBP 10gal For Cories & Shrimp

[somewhatshocked]

The good news: I love the fixture and it provides perfect light. I have two of them and couldn't be more excited.

The bad news: My other half demands that I get rid of both of them because, in their words, the fixtures are ugly. I wholly disagree!

Some photos (water is filled with tannins):





My apologies for the strange resizing. Seems new ownership altered photo width.

So that bit earlier where I was desirous of a Finnex fixture? Guess that's what I'll be going with in order to appease the ruler of the house and selling both of these cool LEDs. Dangit.

More crypts supposed to be here tomorrow. Excited.

[somewhatshocked]

Some new crypts came in today, a few looking a bit rough. Since they're crypts, though, they'll soon bounce back. beckettii, petchii, parva.

A peek:






Excited for them to grow in because they're going to look terrific. The parva will flatten out and adjust pretty quickly. Usually only takes a couple weeks in my other tanks. Can't wait to see how the beckettii grows in. One my favorites.

Left space in the front center and front right for other goodies a bit further down the road.

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Some new crypts came in today, a few looking a bit rough. Since they're crypts, though, they'll soon bounce back. beckettii, petchii, parva.

I would dose with some Seachem excel for a week to help them bounce back.

[somewhatshocked]

Thanks for the tip.

They're already starting to bounce back. May be some melting but nothing that isn't manageable.

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

A peek:

Oh, I should say you have a good start. The isle between the wood would be more appeasing in was more towards the right. Thus applying the 3rd ratio which photographers use.

[somewhatshocked]

Thanks.

Give it a few months. It's been partially planted for just a few days. Will take a few months to grow in and look as planned.

This will be a no-Excel, no CO2, no dosed ferts tank. Just clay root tabs.

Originally Posted by Hilde

Oh, I should say you have a good start. The isle between the wood would be more appeasing in was more towards the right. Thus applying the 3rd ratio which photographers use.

[Hilde]

Sounds like you have thought this out. Can't wait to see the final outcome.

[somewhatshocked]

Me either! Now I have to find the patience to wait several months to see what it ends up looking like.

[somewhatshocked]

Tried to appease the other half with different lighting. Look how much spread there is with a 15w CFL:



That's with the work light dome about six inches above the top of the tank with a glass cover. Honestly think it should be raised 4-5 more inches. Or some fiberglass window screen needs to be put over the top of the tank.

Guess I can't complain about getting a Finnex fixture but it'll still be too much light for this tank and will have to be wrapped in window screen.

At least the tank will look really cool with a sleek LED fixture.

[thebuddha]

how do you like the 2213 for that size tank?

[somewhatshocked]

It's sized perfectly for a 10gal tank. Was previously used on an 8gal Fluval Ebi. Wouldn't go any smaller for any reason.

[somewhatshocked]

Tank update: Nearing the end of the Nitrite spike and think it will be ready for livestock within a couple weeks, as planned.

May end up waiting even longer to add critters so I can let Crypts regenerate and grow in a bunch.

pH is holding at around 7. It's not exactly where I'd like it for Cories but I think they'll do well. Depending upon hardness of my tap water, I may end up filtering it with peat or mixing with RO.

[somewhatshocked]

20" FugeRay arrived today.

First thoughts: unbelievably inconvenient and silly short power cord. Sure, it's a minor peeve. But three feet!? There is no practical way to use the fixture unless you run an extension.

Cheaply made but pretty bright. It's probably not exactly worth its current price (this is solely my opinion and not an attack on any company or even the product) on Amazon for what you get. It will be in maybe six months or a year? Maybe that's just me having spent hundreds on LED fixtures the past few years, though, and expecting different quality. This isn't a complaint. Just a peeve.

Would be worth finding the originator and ordering several in bulk if you have a ton of tanks, though. When you factor in the warranty, that does make the price easier to swallow. I guess. Will be interesting to see how long these things last with everyday use.

In fairness, I think Marineland fixtures are bogus when it comes to price. They're sturdier but really can't be compared to this kind of output.

Have to say: I really like this fixture. Bright. Really white, no yellowing in that 7000k realm. Perfect for a 10gal low tech tank. Would be a bigger hit - beyond this forum - if it weren't over priced.

Some pictures...

Without blue using legs:



With blue using legs:



Resting on glass without blue:



Resting on glass with blue:



Using an iPhone to adjust for brightness:



While I probably won't be able to use this fixture on the tank, it could be perfect if you've got an outlet within a couple feet of your tank.

Verdict: buy it if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket. You'll really enjoy it if you're a reefer at heart because it is crisp and white.

Just have to figure out what to use it for if I can't make it work.

Can't wait to start buying and using these in my actual reef refugiums.

UPDATE - Victory! Woah! My better half has agreed to having an electrician install an outlet by the new tank about half way up the wall. Guess we'll get to use fixture after all!

[somewhatshocked]

Okay. I caved.

Just ordered several smaller ones for my refugiums.

Neglected to mention that when you factor in the size of these fixtures - they're tiny/slim - that makes up for the cost 100%. And that's why I decided to pick up more of them.

[somewhatshocked]

It's so bright that I don't feel comfortable using it without a layer of window screen.

Just a tiny bit darker:



May actually add another layer of screen.

Discovered a young Ramshorn that I did not add:



Looks like the pre-filter needs a good rinse - dang.

Added 20 or so Malaysian Trumpet Snails last night:



They're making quick work of the algae on the crypts I got from the janky LFS. Guess I need to get in there to clean some of those leaves off myself.

You can kinda see remnants of it but the majority of this area was covered in diatoms yesterday:



Mostly gone today, as you can see.