xenxes's Fluval Edge 6g - "Volcanic Tree" + Blue Neos

[xenxes]

Current Status (7/20):

Opae Ula & Nerite habitat. Gravity @ ~1.010, pH 8.2. Here's an interesting read on the habitat, but I'm tweaking it by adding some brackish-plants.

Converted to a freshwater tank, kept the old hardscape, now with blue neocaridinas.

Tank Progression Pics

Latest FTS:


Fauna:



Equipment / Hard Scape:
- Fluval Edge 6g 1st Generation ($27 @ Petco)
- Edge Pre-Filter Sponge
- Coralife Mini 13" T5 (returned). MR11 LED Bulb Upgrade
- SS Mesh for moss wall (use Bostich Snips to cut)
- Home Depot Red Lava Rocks ($3.85 for 6lbs, they have black too)
- 1/4" dirt, black gravel, calcium sand, crushed corals, Tahitian moon sand, river rocks (Home Depot, Petco/smart)
- Black fan coral skeleton off Evilbay

Fauna:
- 50+ Opae Ula
- 4 Nerites
- 3 MTS

Flora:
- Java Moss
- Giant Vals
- Blyxa Japonica
- HC
- 5 Red Mangrove Propagules


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Original Post:

Just picked up an older model for $27 at a Petco! Going to be my opae ula and nerite habitat. Do I need to replace or upgrade the old halogen bulbs on order to grow algae?

[Geniusdudekiran]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Do I need to replace or upgrade the old halogen bulbs on order to grow algae?

You don't need to TRY to grow algae

[skindy]

Originally Posted by xenxes

Just picked up an orange older model for $27 at a Petco!

Whaaaaaat?! Lucky! I've been scouring the three Petcos around me for one of the older Fluval Edges and they're still pretty pricey!

[oscarsx]

was this a special? or is it the normal price.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

[Geniusdudekiran]

They're clearing out the old ones to make room for the new led ones

[xenxes]

I was scouring Petco too. This one was more remote, had one old wrinkly black box listed for $150. Price check rang up $27. It's a nationwide unmarked clearance.

[xenxes]

Blah, got home, took it out to setup. It's missing the rear column with the light fixture, as well as the biomedia pack. Only has base, hood, filter.





I doubt they have any older ones in stock, and don't feel like making the drive to the far Petco. Think I can exchange it for a newer model at a closer store? A return really isn't worth while.

[Geniusdudekiran]

Derim it, it looks sweet that way! That's what I would do even if it did have those pieces! lol

[xenxes]

Don't really want to derim it unless I have to, to fit a light. Leaving it on allows me to fill water to the top rim.

Going to see if I can find parts somewhere. Anyone have spare Fluval EDGE parts they want to sell me for cheap?

[xenxes]

I just ordered this Coralife Mini T5

Argh, impulse buy! We'll see if it fits... I must control myself :/

[skindy]

Originally Posted by xenxes

I was scouring Petco too. This one was more remote, had one old wrinkly black box listed for $150. Price check rang up $27. It's a nationwide unmarked clearance.

I thought the old ones were in a white box? Maybe I'm going crazy. I did see a a black box at my local one ... TIME TO DO A PRICE CHECK ASAP.

Also, that sucks that your box came with missing parts Did the box seem pretty beat up to begin with? Maybe someone bought it, took some parts, and returned it without the Petco people knowing. BAHHH.

[CmdrBond]

Maybe the reason it was so cheap was because it was missing parts.

Re old 6 new, the new ones are definately in white and the old in black.

[xenxes]

Reason it was cheap was because it's an older model, not because it was beatup or missing parts. I was just unlucky, someone probably got it for the light and filter media (lol) and returned the rest.

Black box = older; white box = new leds.

The glass itself is worth way more than $27. The filter is an AC20 that costs $20 on Amazon. Still a good deal.

Go get that price check on the black box! Run! They're not marked, but system will show $27 in every Petco.

[xenxes]

And so it begins!


Seashells and coral + hammer, calcium sand (I probably don't need the corals, but ohwell), aquarium rocks, left over tahitian moon sand, lava rocks


Mmm the smell of baked soil after midnight, why soil? I'm planting red mangroves in this thing.


Mixed dirt + seashell/coral bits. Top off with a 5lbs of calcium sand, some Tahitian moon & aquarium gravel.


Not all lava rocks are alike, using the darker ones for more contrast.


Don't know how to scape with lava rocks so just bunched some together, began to flood then stopped myself, will probably want to paint the back black.

[atom]

Looking cool so far. Is this going to be filled all the way to the top? It would make a great terrarium or a riparium with some emersd plants.