Need some advice

[molocha]

What are you going to use for a filter? I am assuming that with the clamp lamp you're leaving the tank open-top?

im going to use the filter that came with the 6 gal and im just going to take off the top and shine the light in at an angle and then put the hood back on when im not using the light

[Mzungu]

What are you going to use for a filter? I am assuming that with the clamp lamp you're leaving the tank open-top?

[Somefishguy]

you can use those bulbs in that fixture no problem. The bulbs have the same socket as an incandescent but are the new energy efficient ones that are florescent. As long as the rating is 6500k (it says daylight but look for the raiting to make sure it is, if not buy the GE brand at walmart, they for sure say 6500k.) you should be ok.


I have a 26 watt one on a 5 gallon tank. I dose with excel. I dont get too much algae (the bit i do is good for my cherry shrimp), but this may be becuase i have duckweed and hornworts floaters to limit the light that gets into the tank.

[Complexity]

Does this look to be very similar to the fixture you got?

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10&productId=100354513&N=10000003+501093+10008002

Keep in mind that this is an incandescent fixture, not fluorescent. I don't think you can put a fluorescent bulb into an incandescent fixture. If not, then you can't use the bulbs you linked to above.

I do not recommend this fixture. I'd take it back and look for a desk light with a full spectrum fluorescent bulb.

[molocha]

hows this light

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100671108&categoryID=530232

or this

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100663849&categoryID=530232

is this too much light for a 6 gal?

[Somefishguy]

that fixture will work fine. Just make sure the bulb is daylight kind and 6500k rating. A walmart the packaging will be blue for this light.

[molocha]

actually the one i bought came with a clamp...so i clamped it to my desk facing down and the tank underneath....i was gonna get a 11 W bulb but i wanted to make sure if i should get it so i didnt have to make like 3 trips

[kwc1974]

ok so you are going to hang it as a pendant light. I assume you are toing to use a compact flourecent that will screw into the fixture.

[molocha]

it looks like that but without the cage thingy on top

[kwc1974]

Reflector?

[molocha]

well i got it from home depot for about 7 bucks the brand is Commercial Electric
5.5 in clamp light with 6 ft cord
125 V and 75 watt max capacity

[Complexity]

i bought a heat lamp to be my primary source of lighting....im thinking of using a 11W light....

What is the brand and model number of the fixture you bought?

[kwc1974]

The watt/gallon rule goes out the window on a small tank. Also, this does not apply to all kinds of lights (ie. LED)

When you put the soil in the tank, make sure to mist it very well before you fill. This will help with floaters. Also, you will probably want to dry set your plants as this is easier. Dry setting plants will require you to mist them and the soil anyways.

As TheOldMan mentioned. Amazonia will spike your amonia. Do a water change every day for the first day and then taper off to every other day on the second week. And then on the third week WC every third day. The forth week is when I start to do once a week WC and add fish. You can add shrimp and ocats in the second week if you keep up with your WC as scheduled. This is my experances with Amazonia. This is tedious but there is a method to the madness.

[molocha]

i bought a heat lamp to be my primary source of lighting....im thinking of using a 11W light....i read that the rule is 1.5 W per gal so its a little bit over
i got a nice wood piece and now need to get some plants lined up...o and i gotta put the soil in tank and then cycle the tank...then i can get going

[kwc1974]

Good, have you put it in the tank yet?

there are some tricks to help you in setting up the Amazonia.