CL's GLA 48 Gallon Rimless Pre Journal

[Francis Xavier]

You could totally send me some RAOK HC, I'm in short supply.

[CL]

Originally Posted by @marko@

jet lag is really easy to get over on the way back. everything is 6 hours later then it feels like. so you just have to keep from falling asleep before 10 (which feels like 4 AM). then you sleep until the morning regardless that your body thinks its the middle of the day cause your so exhausted. and then your re-adjusted.

It was easy going over there, but hard coming back. I guess because we were doing labor intensive jobs for four days, and walking all over paris for three, and I had pulled 2 all nighters in just 7 nights. At least I was able to sleep through the whole 11 hour flight back lol.

[FSM]

You could save a lot of money by getting a Nova extreme fixture instead of Catalina...a 4x54W catalina fixture costs less than the 4x39W

[CL]

Originally Posted by FSM

You could save a lot of money by getting a Nova extreme fixture instead of Catalina...a 4x54W catalina fixture costs less than the 4x39W

I see the novas for $200, but they don't quite have the looks that I want. Have you seen how sleek those cats are?
And I know that the 48 inch fixtures are half the price (for the 3 bulb fixture) but I don't really want 6 inches hanging off each side of the tank. I guess if I was willing to go cheaper, then I would, but I'm going to go full out on the light.
Thanks for the tip. It could save me some money if I decide to utilize it
If I want to have a really professional look, I could always upgrade the tank to a rimless 40 breeder. I was contemplating drilling this tank, to use the Tom Barr type set- up with loc- line, but The tank has a rim, and I don't really know where the hardscape is going to go, so I ditched that idea.

[eyebeatbadgers]

What about a light like this? I know you're probably set on the Catalina, but since your income is quite limited, this would get you done faster. I really don't think you'll need four bulbs over such a short tank, but that's just my .02.

Another way to save a good chunk of change is not to pay 80 bucks or more for rocks. They're rocks. Go to a landscaper, go to the mountains, go to a river, look for something that you like in nature.

Good luck man, I've been thinking about setting up a 40 breeder myself. Would you build me a stand like that for $60?

[CL]

Originally Posted by eyebeatbadgers

What about a light like this? I know you're probably set on the Catalina, but since your income is quite limited, this would get you done faster. I really don't think you'll need four bulbs over such a short tank, but that's just my .02.

Another way to save a good chunk of change is not to pay 80 bucks or more for rocks. They're rocks. Go to a landscaper, go to the mountains, go to a river, look for something that you like in nature.

Good luck man, I've been thinking about setting up a 40 breeder myself. Would you build me a stand like that for $60?

Man that light is cheap, but you're right, I am set on the catalina. I will most likely use three bulbs. If I do only use two, I will use the outside two, which would give me a better spread over the tank, which is 18 inches front to back. I mean, the light could be more expensive

I have looked all over everywhere for some quality rocks. I've checked garden centers and everything for it. We only have limestone here, which looks awesome, but it makes the water not awesome. Who knows, if I start seeing some wild cactus growing in the woods, I'll know I'm near some cool rock

The reason I was able to make the stand so cheap was because I had some left over lumber from my last stand, and I had four half empty cans of black spraypaint, which was barely enough. I think that the labor alone was worth at least $30 on that thing. Who knows how many cuts I had to make (with a hand saw), and how long I sanded it (with regular sandpaper, the old fashion kind). LOL. But I loved every minute of it.

[CL]

Hmm, I wonder how many pounds of rock I would need.

[speedie408]

Originally Posted by eyebeatbadgers

What about a light like this? I know you're probably set on the Catalina, but since your income is quite limited, this would get you done faster. I really don't think you'll need four bulbs over such a short tank, but that's just my .02.

I have that fixture over my 39g right now. It's perfect for that tank but the 40breeder has more depth (front - back) to it so it wont be able to cover the entire surface area sufficiently with just 2 bulbs. You can hang it up higher, but then the lower area's of the tank will suffer from the lack of light. Now if each bulb were able to be spaced out more, it might work. I'd say for 40breeder's go with 4x39 watts t5ho, with the ability to turn on 2 bulbs at a time for variance. I'll be using 2 - 2x39w fixtures on my 40breeder.

[eyebeatbadgers]

Good info. I hadn't thought much about the spread. What about building a DIY fixture with two bulbs, so that you could space them out more?

This is what I'm going to build for my next tank. Sleek, and customizable for wider tanks.

[CL]

Thanks for the confirmation, speedie

Originally Posted by eyebeatbadgers

Good info. I hadn't thought much about the spread. What about building a DIY fixture with two bulbs, so that you could space them out more?

This is what I'm going to build for my next tank. Sleek, and customizable for wider tanks.

now that is slick. I'll have to think about that one

I was bored, so I figured that I'd test out how much the k4 would push in this tank, So I filled it up, and I noticed these

Bubbles between the two panes of glass in the silicone. I got this with my 20 gallon, but not to this degree. I'm thinking that it's because this tank is longer, and with no center brace, but I was freaked out that it was my stand. What do you guys think? I did a search on google, but couldn't really find much.

[@marko@]

i would think its ok, but see what other people say.

[CL]

Originally Posted by @marko@

i would think its ok, but see what other people say.

Ok. I found some misc. lights laying around, and just happened to have a big 24 inch long pane of glass that fit right in the rim, so I put the 6L or so of AS in there and put in some misc plants that I'm going to grow emersed in there until I have everything I need to set it up, and I hopefully have plenty of plants to use for the scape when I'm ready.

[CL]

What do you guys think about this light? http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-...ce-p/52202.htm
It doesn't have the single bulb reflectors, and isn't very sleek, and doesn't come with bulbs that are worth anything to freshwater, but, it's cheap...

[chase127]

NOT ODYSSEA!

I hear they burn down houses, underdrive bulbs, are made of weak parts, and will eat your plants at night.

[CL]

Lol