[Romagjack]

I have the 12L with the Marineland 36" double brights. Had to put a 1/4" plexi cover on it because of 2 cats and jumping fish. No CO2 but not much luck with plants so far. Tank has been set up for 3 months and I'm just now getting algae under control with Otos and Nerites. I have the light fixture directly on top of the lid and love the color and shimmer but it does keep the tank temp rather high at about 78 degrees F. The location of the tank doesn't allow me to raise the fixture. I've recently removed my melting mid to high light plants (that seem to be doing well in my 6 gallon Eheim shrimp tank) and replaced with low light plants. Hope they will do better. I want to make it a low maintenance tank but don't seem to have a green thumb with this setup. I have it set up on top of a roll top desk so I can't raise the lighting as I have to look up to see the tank and looking directly into LEDs is no fun. Is the light too bright for anubias and crypts (or not bright enough thru the plexi)? Is the temp too warm? Do I need to dose? Thanks.

 

[Romagjack]

Algae seems to be under control

Added 3 nerites and 4 otos, decreased ML double bright time to 8 hours and rescaped. Dose once per week with Flourish. Still have the plexiglass cover on and didn't raise the lighting. I think the 1/4" plexi shields out some of the light which compensates for not being able to raise the fixture because of the tanks location above my roll top desk. I just have crypts and anubias but will try some medium light plants soon.

 

[Romagjack]

I'd like to be on the list - how 'bout #10

 

[Romagjack]

I didn't have room for a canister, so I used AquaClear 30 HOBs at each end of the tank behind a black background with some driftwood painted on it from Petco. Looks pretty clean and easy to maintain and provides good surface movement for a long, narrow tank.

 

[Romagjack]

1 ADA
2
3
4 PhillCA
5 1995db7
6
7
8
9
10 Romagjack
11
12 yellowsno
13 jingleberry
14 sayurasem
15 sunyang730

 

[Romagjack]

Quick question, is the 12 long 8.3 or 9.4" wide, like the distance from the front of the tank to the back of the tank.

8.3" from front to back.

 

[Romagjack]

I have my double brights right on top of the tank but had to make a plexiglass cover to protect the light (per Marineland) and to keep some jumpers in. I had to cut the light hours down to 8 hours from 12 to stop the algae and use weekly dosing of flourish. 3 nerite snails and 3 otos are on the job and things seem under control. No CO2. Since my tank is well above eye level (above my computer monitor on a roll top desk), I wasn't able to raise the light as I would be looking directly into the LEDs.

 

[Romagjack]

Updated photos of my 12L on top of my roll top desk.

 

[Romagjack]

No rim, just electrical tape. Since the 12L sits above eyelevel (above my computer monitor), I had to cover the gap between the water level and the plexiglass cover. Without the tape, I was blinded by the Double Brights as I was looking right into the LEDs between the water line and light fixture. It actually looks pretty good. When I look up now, all I see are the contents of the tank and the shimmer and reflections of the plants and driftwood off the surface of the water - no water line. It makes the tank look much larger. I almost feel like I'm in the tank rather that looking into an aquarium. The 12L is like a living screen saver since I spend so much time at the computer.

 

[Romagjack]

I see some using the 36" Marineland LED here. But, it seems this won't allow you any space to hook an HOB filter (unless you bend the extensions which I won't be doing cause I WILL break it)?
Let me know what you think of the evo light. This will be my first aquarium since I was 10...

I use the ML double bright 36 (without bending extentions) and have 2 Aqua Clear 30 HOBs installed without issue. I cut out the rear corners of the 1/4" plexiglass cover and use the openings (just in front of the filters) for feeding and dosing. It works great as the food and ferts are immediately dispersed using filter flow. The fish gang up by the filter when it is feeding time and chase after the floating pellets like crazy.

 

[Romagjack]

Perhaps you could ask Marine Depot to broadcast email all 12 long purchasers an invitation to join the club? MD could easily query their database for 12 long customers. They have sold thousands of these tanks and you would be doing them a great service. MD would get tons more accessories business and the buyers could join the club and would get good information on how to set up their new 12 Longs. Everyone benefits!

 

[Romagjack]

Source for FW Shrimp

Any recommendations for a good source of different varieties of shrimp. I have some cherries, but would like red crystals or other varieties. Thanks.

 

[Romagjack]

How many fish

I have been balancing the bioload for many months. The tank is well established with lots of plants and I use 2 AquaClear 30's for filtration and have a plexiglass lid for jumpers (and cats). It's a no stress tank with fish that all get along. 5 neons, 3 otos, 3 gold tetras, 3 cherry barbs (great algae eaters), 2 bloodfin tetras, and 2 kuhli loaches for scavengers. I also have 3 nerite snails that do a great job. I do a 30%^ water change every 3 weeks. Some of the fish are really old but the younger, more feisty characters respect their elders! I think the shallow design of the tank with lots of surface area make it a great show tank that allows for more fish than a conventional tank. Just add the fish slowly, monitor the parameters, and you will gradually find the point of optimal fish.

 

[Romagjack]

Go with the AC30's

Quick question, I'm planning on doing HOBs on both ends, do you think I need AC30s? Or will AC20s be enough to get decent flow?[/QUOTE]

I went with 2 AC30s. Definitely not too much flow even at the max flow setting. I don't think you'd get enough circulation to the center surface with the AC20s. I had debated the 20s also, but glad I went larger.

 

[Romagjack]

I wanted to go with a high clarity glass cover or lexan (doesn't warp), but the price was $80 to have it cut to fit. So I went with 1/4" acrylic and it works pretty well because the tank is so narrow, but it does warp slightly at the corners of the tank. The tank is shallow enough that regular 3/16" glass should still let enough good light through for plants and would be affordable. You could cut off the back corners to fit filter hoses and give feeding access.

 

[Romagjack]

Great video. mahphly

Are you a professional video producer? Paranormal!!

 

[Romagjack]

Jumpers and cats! Anyone had luck with a cover? I tried a 1/4" plexiglass but it warps quickly and I have to flip it over every week or so. I would like to have rectangular cut-outs on the back for 2 HOB filters and a small drilled hole in the middle front for feeding and ferts. Don't know if custom cut glass would be possible (or affordable). Lexan claims not to warp - anyone tried it?

 

[Romagjack]

Probably a stupid question - How do I get nerite snail eggs of my front glass? Thought I might be able to do it with my fingernails, but that didn't work.

 

[Romagjack]

Ich

After 1 1/2 years problem free, my !2 G long has ich. I removed all the plants, salted at 2 teaspoons per gallon and raised the temp to 87 degrees. So far the fish seem to be fine. Looking for suggestions: I placed the plants in a hospital aquarium in the same water that had the ich. When I get rid of the salt in the 12G with several water changes over the next few weeks, can I replant or do I need to treat the hospital tank with something other than salt in order not to re-contaminate the 12 G? Thanks for any help.