30 Gallon Hexagon Paludarium/Riparium Project! 56K Warning!

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Ive started a 30 gallon hexagon tank. Ill update every so often. The goal is to build a half planted tank, half vivarium/terrarium. Im using an external Rena Fillstar XP2 canister filter system designed for moving up to 75 gallons and Im only working with a 30 gallon tank with only 10 gallons of water in it! Clean Clean Clean! Enjoy!

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Heres my tank and a few steps into my project.

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I opened up the lighting hood because Im fitting it with three 42W T4 CFL's (126W Total)

[chonhzilla]

interesting to see how this is gonna come out

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by pinkfloydeffect

I opened up the lighting hood becuase Im fitting it with three 150W equivalent T4 CFL's (450W Total)

There is no meaning to "150 watt equivalent". Those bulbs are whatever wattage they consume, probably about 27 watts each. When the manufacturer puts a "X watts equivalent" on the package, that is just a sales pitch, not a real statement.

[pinkfloydeffect]

Originally Posted by chonhzilla

interesting to see how this is gonna come out

THANKS! Its guna take a while alot of patience and time. Im not rushing it thats how you build a genuine piece of crap.

[pinkfloydeffect]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

There is no meaning to "150 watt equivalent". Those bulbs are whatever wattage they consume, probably about 27 watts each. When the manufacturer puts a "X watts equivalent" on the package, that is just a sales pitch, not a real statement.

REALLY!? It uses 42W. The largest CFL's Ive seen screw in style. They are BRIGHT (T4's) So wouldent that be illigal? (false advertising) I mean Im using 2 of these bulbs right now to artifically grow herbs inside two of these bulbs provides excellent growth rate for plants seems, nice and short stubby all bushed out and branchy. You think three of these will work? I know incandescent and halogen are the worst spectrum bulbs. HPS gives a redish orange tint so I dont want that. MH lamps are clear white light, but I dont think I should use one becuase of the fact the plants in the air over the water will get cooked. Plus the power consumption of a ballast. Even though I do have a 100W MH lamp and ballast sitting around.... Whats yur thoughts?

[foster400]

The bulb industry uses "equivalent" to mean the light output(wattage) of the florescent is equivalent to X amount of incandescent output.

so if the CF lamp says it consumes 42 watts then that is what you base watts per gallon on. That is still a good amount of light though(126w)

Where did you find 42 watt screw in lamps?

[pinkfloydeffect]

Originally Posted by foster400

The bulb industry uses "equivalent" to mean the light output(wattage) of the florescent is equivalent to X amount of incandescent output.

so if the CF lamp says it consumes 42 watts then that is what you base watts per gallon on. That is still a good amount of light though(126w)

Where did you find 42 watt screw in lamps?

Ohh sweeto thanks.

So 126W of T4 for 10 gallons of water should be fine? but the lights are maybe 18" from the water surface Although I only need the front of the tank lit the rest of the water is in the back under the false botem supporting the air plants.

I found them at Walmart about a year ago for $11.50 a piece and I still have them I use them everyday for my herbs however I went back to bump my herb box up last week and they dont carry them anymore, Im guna have to order them online. http://www.fluorescentefficiency.com...tt-equivalent/ best I could fine those are 40W probaly the same thing only better efficientcy (these look more pointed then mine though)

[Hoppy]

126 watts seems way too much, but having those lights 18 inches above the water, which is about 28 inches above the substrate is roughly equivalent to 23 watts of light mounted 12 inches above the substrate. That should work fine with Excel supplying the carbon for the aquatic plants. I suspect you will have severe overheating of the hood with that much lighting in it, which may be the biggest problem you will have. If you can fit a 12 volt DC fan in that hood to help get rid of the heat it may work ok.

[pinkfloydeffect]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

126 watts seems way too much, but having those lights 18 inches above the water, which is about 28 inches above the substrate is roughly equivalent to 23 watts of light mounted 12 inches above the substrate. That should work fine with Excel supplying the carbon for the aquatic plants. I suspect you will have severe overheating of the hood with that much lighting in it, which may be the biggest problem you will have. If you can fit a 12 volt DC fan in that hood to help get rid of the heat it may work ok.

OK good so lightings DOWN. Yeah Ill update photos of the hood Im going to put probally 3 pc fans in it or more no dowt. Cooling is important. So whats a good light schedual? Theres gota be for the plants right? 16-18 hours of daylight? 6-8 photo period?

[danakin]

Not to nitpick, but I only see 6 sides there; Hexagon instead of Octogon?

[yikesjason]

I have 3 cfl in a hood I made for a 25 gallon hex and it works just fine. I have 1x26watt 2x16watt. You should be fine with 3x26watt and be able to pick them up at a local store instead of having to order some. Just make sure you get the daylight bulbs.

[pinkfloydeffect]

Originally Posted by danakin

Not to nitpick, but I only see 6 sides there; Hexagon instead of Octogon?

No! Thankyou did not notice that!

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Used Krylon Fusion and painted the PVC green





Heres a top shot...



I used metal window screening and some gorilla glue to attach it. This should help keep dirt from falling through the plastic slits and also help keep air under the roots

Any thoughts what so ever please leave them!