Marineland 27 gallon cube Planted Tank Planning

[spidernids]

I am saving up to purchase the 27 gallon cube ensemble . I want it to be a low light non CO2 planted tank (the Tom Barr approach). The tank comes with the double bright LED light unit (450 Lumen). Will this be good enough to grow plants? I'm trying to see if I will have to save to add another LED unit.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...731&lmdn=Shape

Thanks,
Frank

[Zefrik]

From what I have heard, the light doesn't give good coverage for the whole tank. It might be more bright in the middle and dark in the back. I could be wrong but if it where me I would look into getting another double bright to use with the one that comes with.

[spidernids]

Originally Posted by Zefrik

From what I have heard, the light doesn't give good coverage for the whole tank. It might be more bright in the middle and dark in the back. I could be wrong but if it where me I would look into getting another double bright to use with the one that comes with.

Would two double brights be enough light for moderate light plants or just low light?

[spidernids]

Ok, so I pulled the trigger and bout the 27 gallon cube . Petsmart had it on sale 70 bucks off. Convinced the wife I should get it now and save money .

So, It comes with the Marineland DoubleBright LED light. 6W, 6000K, 450 Lum. From reading, I don't think the 1-2 W/gal rule applies to LEDs ??? From what I could find out, 0.8 - 1 W/gal is needed for LEDs.

Maybe it is better to look at lumins or maybe lux?

So, looking at a second LED unit...

1) Double-bright, $65, only gives 12 W total, budget friendly

2) Marineland Reef Capable, $145, 18W, 10000K, 1305 Lum

3) Marineland Plant LED, $210, 18W, 6500K, 1740 Lum

4) GroBeam, $135, 12 W, 6500K, ?? Lum

5) GroBeam Duo, $260, 2x12W, 6500K, ?? Lum

6) Beamworks Doublebright, 18W, 10000K, 1300 Lum

7) Finnex Ray II DD, 15 W, 7000K/1000K, ?? Lum

Trying for the low-light, non CO2, 1-2W/gal florescent. Does that mean I should target 0.4-0.5 W/gal LED??

[spidernids]

OK, I'm thinking of getting the Ray2 18" DD for the front half of the tank and keep the DoubleBright for the back half/moonlight.

Will this keep me in the non-CO2 realm, or is that too much light? Can I dim the Ray2 somehow if it is too much?

[spidernids]

Ok, so I don't have any more money to buy stuff, so I'll spend the time to plan the layout and plant/fish/decoration selection. Here is my substrate and lighting plan. I want to have driftwood, maybe some rocks in the middle going up to the back-right corner. I don't know a good LFS to get this from. I would have to order it online without seeing what I am getting. I was maybe thinking a carpet on the bottom, flat slope. Maybe some alternating rows of different colored plants as you go up the slope. Also, I was thinking of getting the Rena 721 XP2 canister filter. I haven't had a canister filter before, just Aquaclear and Aqueon HOBs. Substrate will be 1/2" Diamond Black, 2" ECO Complete, 1" onyx sand.

[blink]

Sounds like a good plan, I've been trying to get hairgrass to carpet in my cube and it's more like my hair than a carpet, kinda here n there but not everywhere.
Canisters are great but you don't have rule out aquaclears either, I ALWAYS keep one around the house as a spare because they're pretty much unkillable.

[spidernids]

Originally Posted by blink

Sounds like a good plan, I've been trying to get hairgrass to carpet in my cube and it's more like my hair than a carpet, kinda here n there but not everywhere.
Canisters are great but you don't have rule out aquaclears either, I ALWAYS keep one around the house as a spare because they're pretty much unkillable.

Do you know if the aquaclear will fit over the back without having to trim the rim?

[DishyFishy]

Try looking around at Lowe's or Home Depot section to find some landscaping rocks. Might find something you like.

[JEden8]

Glad to see the progress!

Originally Posted by Zefrik

From what I have heard, the light doesn't give good coverage for the whole tank. It might be more bright in the middle and dark in the back. I could be wrong but if it where me I would look into getting another double bright to use with the one that comes with.

As a fellow owner of this tank setup, it is true that the light coverage doesn't go front to back. Depending on your layout, it works well. I have it placed more forward than I do to the back only because the plants in the back are low light stems so they reach up toward the light anyways. The only thing I would be worried about with going with two light setups is that you might end up with too much light and getting algae. So far I haven't had any algae problems and the plants are growing well. I'd either get a larger led fixture or go the pendant light approach. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps!

[amygirl11]

Hi!!! Newie here.

I also have the 27 gallon cube. IMO, the doule bright is useless. The width of the tank is to long. LED's lights tend to shine straight down and not disperse the light properly for this tank. I put mine on a 10 gallon and it works perfect there. As for plants..... URGHHHHHH. Moss, Java, and Anubias are about the only plants that would grow with it. I put a 24 strip light with a T8 floramax bulb and it lights up the whole tank. My plants like it too!!!!!

[blink]

Originally Posted by spidernids

Do you know if the aquaclear will fit over the back without having to trim the rim?

It sure will, fits perfect but I'd recommend at least an aquaclear 50 or 70, I found the 30 gave poor flow even in my thinly planted tank.

[spidernids]

Originally Posted by blink

It sure will, fits perfect but I'd recommend at least an aquaclear 50 or 70, I found the 30 gave poor flow even in my thinly planted tank.

Awesome. I've got an Aquaclear 50 on my 36 gallon. I also have an Aqueon 30 which came with it. I like the self priming of the Aqueon...protection from power failure which happens on occasion. If I cannot find a self-priming canister filter which has good reviews. I might use the same setup as on my 36 since it is working well. I would like to try a canister for the 27.

[sphack]

Originally Posted by spidernids

Awesome. I've got an Aquaclear 50 on my 36 gallon. I also have an Aqueon 30 which came with it. I like the self priming of the Aqueon...protection from power failure which happens on occasion. If I cannot find a self-priming canister filter which has good reviews. I might use the same setup as on my 36 since it is working well. I would like to try a canister for the 27.

Once your canister filter is initially primed and running it will not lose the prime during a power outage. I've seen canisters assist with the initial priming but not advertise self priming.

[spidernids]

OK, so I think I'm done with the research on the canister filter. If I am going to get one, I will get the Penn Plax Cascade 1000. As far as canister filters go, it seems there are many filters which have leaking issues. Sometimes as bad as emptying the contents of the tank. Has anyone had this issue with the Pen Plax Cascade 1000? I might be able to put a plastic container in the cabinet just in case. It wouldn't have to hold 27 gallons, just the amount from the intake tube to the top. My wife would kill me if this leaked all over the floor.