From: erno@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (Erno Pena)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: New Aquarium Thoughts ...
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:53:36 GMT
Reply-To: erno@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. First, I'm still going to go  
ahead with the water recycling can idea but instead buy 1 or 2 water  
hyacinths and put them in the can in the sun. I'll report any positive  
results to the net. Secondly, I just got the book _The Optimum Aquarium_ as a  
gift and I must say while I am very impressed with the information and  
insight presented, I'd be the last to spend $$$$$$$$$ on DUPLA products to  
get those kinds of plant tanks. I'm currently working on ways to get around  
most of their high-$$$ recommendations to create my own Optimum (but  
Inexpensive) Aquarium. As for MFM, I haven't seen a copy yet but I will be  
looking out for it.

Now, on with my other questions.

1. Has anyone built their own aquarium lighting systems from scratch? In my  
quest for the Do-It-Yourself Aquarium, I don't plan on spending the $100+ to  
get a 4 - 40 watt 48" bulb light system when I can build one myself. I figure  
I can make the canopy out of 1" x 6" pine with a hinged top and open back for  
ventilation, and just install the sockets on the inside. I figure I can save  
lots of money by using regular bulb sockets instead of the $5/piece  
waterproof caps. By using 6" tall wood, the bulb should be about 5-6" from  
the water's surface, high enough to escape any splash. For extra assurance,  
I'll wrap a piece of electrical tape around the ends to be a little more  
sure. The ballasts are available for $25 for one that lights 2 - 40 watt  
bulbs, which is about $15-20 cheaper than those in the magazines. From seeing  
a hand built one in the pet shop, I think I should be able to build one  
myself. Again, has anyone got first hand experience doing this?

2. On a similar subject, if the ballast says it can light 2 - 40 watt bulbs,  
can I assume it would be safe to hook up 4 - 20 watt bulbs?

3. Again on a similar note, what is the general requirement for a good plant  
tank light bulb. I've been told to make sure I get a full spectrum,  
tri-phosphorus bulb like a TRITON, or ULTRALUME, or Tri-LUX as a main bulb  
and a regular full spectrum bulb like a VITA-LITE as a supplemental bulb.  
Almost everyone has said that just wide spectrum bulbs and bulbs that aren't  
made specifically for aquariums aren't good enough, and to get more than one  
light for a tank, for larger tanks even three or four bulbs. Is this right?  
Must my main bulb(s) be a full-spectrum, tri-phosphorous bulb? Which bulb is  
recommended by nine out of ten aquarists? TRITONS looks like the best one to  
me right now.

4. I was fooling around with one of my 30 gallon tanks with only one Penguin     
660 power head and decided to drill holes in a spare 5/8" ABS pipe and add it  
as a spray bar to the power head. I used a small piece of surgical tubing to  
connect them and extra suction cups to hold it about an inch below the water  
surface aimed 45 degrees up at the surface. At first I drilled 44 - 1/8"  
holes but found that the back pressure was forcing water out the venturi, so  
I enlarged the holes to 3/16". Now the flow is uniform and smooth accross the  
top and the gentle current really moves the debris around so that the Whisper  
power filter can suck it up. It really works a lot better than without a  
spray bar. If I get the chance, I'll retrofit all my tanks with a spray bar  
on the power head. 

5. Can anyone recommend a good book of aquarium plants, or one with a good  
section or on waterplants? 

Thanks again for your responses.

--

E r n e s t o   F.   B.   P e n a
---------------------------------
erno@uiuc.edu   NeXTmail accepted