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**Zulaab** · 08-10-2007, 10:56 AM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

The Cardinals and the Bolivians will play well with each other. I would prolly go with 4 Bolivians, you can get some right now at Fish Land (Westheimer and Synott), and they look to be mature enough to sex at this time therefore getting 2m/2f should be possible, if not then hopefully you will get a pair out of 4. The Betta will do well in a tank like that. Make sure if you can get some plants that will go all the way to the surface and the Betta will absolutely love you.
PhishPhreek can prolly tell you more about Betta's as he has a few of them.
The only thing I am worried about is that the pearl gourami's might be a little much with what you already have setup. You maybe running out of space.

**eklikewhoa** · 08-10-2007, 11:36 AM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

Welcome to the box!

The stocking doesn't sound too bad for it being a 30g but the footprint is a bit small so keep that in mind. As for planting what lighting does that tank have? I think most "All-In-One" tanks lack in the lighting dept so you might want to look into that.

**finfan** · 08-10-2007, 12:36 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

thanks for the advice, you guys are awesome, one thing, i also don't have a stand for the aquarium, i don't need anything fancy, something for the aquarium to sit on, any ideas? i am just thinking of getting anything sturdy and fits the dimension (not necessarily an aquarium stand)

also, anything about acrylic i need to be careful about? my current little 6 gal. tank is glass, and i have never had acrylic

**eklikewhoa** · 08-10-2007, 12:37 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

acrylic scratches really easy inside or out.

**Hanson77** · 08-10-2007, 12:57 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

Whatever stand you get needs to support the entire bottom and not just the edges like the hollow stands for glass tanks do.

**sproett** · 08-10-2007, 02:00 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

I would get a larger school of neons instead of trying for two schools. I think you'll be more satisfied with the results.
I have the eclipse light/hood on a glass aquarium, I like how it is so neat and tidy looking and all-inclusive. It's the 30 gallon size, I have two sitting on my 55 gallon. There are two light strips and I am pretty sure they are 18" like you'd find on a ten gallon tank. If that's the case then the bulbs are 15 watts each making you have 30 watts of lights. I don't think that's too bad. I'm no expert on planted tanks though. I've successfully kept floating plants alive in there. I haven't tried anything else though. The bad thing about the eclipse hoods is that there isn't room for adding extra filters. I ended up not using one of my eclipse hoods and after lots of hard work I wedged my hoses for a canister filter in that tiny little space. I have messy fish though, I don't think it'll be a problem for you.

**eklikewhoa** · 08-10-2007, 02:03 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

I agree large group of one species will look nicer them a jumble of them.

The reflectors on the lights are really poor or non-existent so you lose half of what lighting you have over the tank and then factor in the loss through water and other things that come into play and you have just enough light for humans to view.

**Zulaab** · 08-10-2007, 03:03 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

Finfan, I agree with Hanson77 on this.. make sure that you get a stand that has a table top, NO EDGE ONLY stand. For 30g the table top has to be able to handle about 300 lbs total weight, which is not much.. basically any table will do that has study legs. You can build your own if you are a carpenter or if you know someone who is.

Like Ek said, scratches easy.. ie DO NOT GET A magnet cleaner you will one day get a pebble under it and it will scratch up the glass. When you clean your tank windows do what the stores do, get a clean cotton rag which has NEVER had any chemicals in it and wipe down the glass.

**Mzungu** · 08-10-2007, 03:35 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

They also sell algae pads made especially for acrylic tanks. I use them on my acrylic tanks, no problems so far. :)

Is the standard lighting the 2 18W fluorescents? From what I've seen:
The Eclipse System Hood has two 18" full spectrum, Daylight Fluorescent Bulbs that are ideal for deeper, heavily planted or marine tanks. The light is enclosed in a clear, water-protected housing.

**finfan** · 08-10-2007, 04:02 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

thanks guys for the great advice, i will go with a bigger shoal of cardinals, and get a table type stand, lighting - i will start with what i have on the hood now (2 tubes - 18") and then maybe replace the tubes as things get settled a little (i have already spent more $$ than i should have), i am so glad i joined this, your guys are awesome and i will feel more confident with my final choices

where is the best place to get the bolivian rams and the other fish? i live near galleria but open to driving far for good fish

also where is the best place/price to get eco-complete? how much do i need for my 24"*12" for at least a 3" substrate?

**sproett** · 08-10-2007, 04:28 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

Oops, I said neons but you have cardinals. Sorry about that!
I got some rams at Fish Ranch off Larkwood and 59 (near Bellaire). They had some earlier this week when I was there. They are able to sex them for you. I like this store a lot. I'm not sure about the cardinals or the gouramies.

Here's a substrate calculator.

Oops! We ran into some problems.

http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html

What kind of plants are you considering?

**eklikewhoa** · 08-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

There are several places nearby if you are in the galleria area...

Fish Gallery
Fish Ranch II
City Pets
Fishland
T&T fish and reptiles

As for Eco-complete it is pretty expensive at the LFS but I think it will be about $30 per bag and you should get about 3 bags which should give you a decent depth. Personally I prefer ADA aquasoil which softens water and is more nutrient pack then any commercial substrate I have used and it's only $26 a bag from ADG or City Pets.... a bit more expensive at Fish Gallery.

**finfan** · 08-11-2007, 12:30 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

my tank just got delivered and it is brocken/cracked

i was soooo looking forward to this, so i had to call petco back and they said they will replace it soon, but that is at least another 10 days or so if not later, this really blows, what a bummer, i guess on the bright side, i get more time to research and plan for the tank, keeping my fingers crossed that the replacement does not come broken

**eklikewhoa** · 08-11-2007, 12:51 PM

Re: need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acryli

That sucks.

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need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acrylic

need advice on Seaclear eclipse sys. 2 compatible acrylic

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