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dom · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 08:52 AM

Chris,
Sorry for the late reply.

3 footer low maintenance tank. I would like to suggest you to make sure what type of plants you are keeping first then only decide what tube or how many Watt to use. If there is not enough tube/Watt. Then you can just add on.

Example: You are keeping ferns, mosses, nana and etc. 2 x 36W PLL tubes, or 3 x 18W FL tubes are good enough. Running the DIY fans 24 hours. You gonna top up the water daily.

Actually the CO2 cylinder and regulator is not that expensive like what ari said. Ari own a fish shop...and of coz fish shop will selling slightly higher price. (lfs owners going to kill me now.) Goto the fire distinguisher or cylinder shop n ask. For sure you will get a cheaper price. I got mine...15kg which is 3feet tall cylinder with CO2 refilled for RM150 only. Manual regulator is just RM40-60. Depends on what brand you are getting. If you got a bit extra of $$$. Get the regulator with solenoid which cost around RM240-280. Then you can let the timer do the on/off.

I am using both manual regulator and automatic regulator (with solenoid). I am turning the manual regulator 24 hours for my 2ft tank. Lazy to turn it off and on daily. But with 1bps (bps = bubble per second). If your 3ft, you can adjust like 2bps for 24 hours. But then you need to get an air pump to increase the aeration while the photoperiod is off at nite. This is because of the fauna and flora and bacteria do need more Oxygen to grow at nite time. And it can prevent CO2 overdose when there is no photosynthesis at nite time.

For low lighting and co2 depends plants, 1.5wpg is good enough. What type of tube to get... it is depends on you. Personally I am preferred PLL. coz it is shorter and it last longer than FL. But then the heat is higher than FL. Suggest you to make few rounds to lfs or member house to check on their equipments and advices. Before you dump all your money in.

I can tell you that, this hobby is not a cheap hobby. Easily cost you few hundred to few thousand ringgit.