Hoa G. Nguyen's very low-tech

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Tank started May 1994.
• Size: 280-litter (75-gallon) acrylic tank, 1.5 m x 45 cm x 40 cm high (60" x 18" x 16" high).
• Filter: Marineland Magnum 350 external canister, with foam sleeves and ceramic rings. Return is routed to the CO2 reactor.
• Heater: VisiTherm 300 Watt submersible, set at 24C (75F)--but the daytime temperature can be as high as 25.5C (78F) due to heat generated by the lights.
• Lighting: 120W of high-efficiency fluorescent lighting in home-built canopy:
  • One dual-40W Coralife Wizard electronic ballast and one single 40W MagneTek electronic ballast (added 4/95), all with T12 water-resistant end caps.
  • Current bulb mix is one Coralife Trichromatic, one GE Chroma50 (Sunshine), and one Interpet Triton. See my Fluorescent Light Comparison page.
  • Light is on for 11 hours a day, using two timers: the single bulb coming on 15 minutes before the other two and going off 15 minutes after, simulating sunrise/sunset periods.
• CO2 injection. CO2 level ~8 to 21 ppm (from CO2 table).
• Substrate:
  • Peat moss plates on the bottom where plants are desired (mostly along the back).
  • 7.5 cm (3") of coarse river gravel on top.
  • 10 DuplaRit K laterite balls pushed into the gravel.
  • A small area of neutralized fine Cambria gravel in front, where small foreground plants are kept.
• Water quality:
  • Aquarium water: (measured with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' test kits)
    • Before CO2 injection, pH = 7.8 morning, 8.0 evening.
    • After CO2 injection, pH = 7.0 morning, 7.4 evening (due to CO2 absorption by plants during light hours).
    • Total/general hardness (GH): 18 dGH
    • Carbonate/temporary hardness (KH): 7 dKH
    • Ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate = less than 10 ppm.
    • Phosphate = less than 0.5 ppm.
  • Tap water:
    • From report by San Diego's Water Quality Lab:
      • pH: 8.11
      • Total/general hardness: 329 mg/L (CaCO3 equivalence) (18 dGH)
      • Carbonate/temporary hardness: 150 mg/L (bicarbonate) (8.4 dKH)
      • 1.5 ppm chloramine most months, 2 to 3 ppm free chlorine one summer month each year.
      • Nitrate: 0.62 mg/L
      • Phosphate: not detected.
    • Measured with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' test kits:
      • pH: 8.1
      • Total/general hardness: 14 dGH
      • Carbonate/temporary hardness: 7 dKH
      • Nitrate: 0
      • Phosphate: 0.
• Maintenance:
  • Change 20% of the water approximately every 2 weeks.
    • Use Python "No Spill Clean 'N Fill" vacuum/fill set, vacuum very lightly where gravel is exposed.
    • Refill with tap water--no declorination.
    • Remove any spot algae from front and one side.
    • Prune and thin out plants.
  • Clean filter about every 4 weeks.
  • Fertilize: Currently using Seachem Flourish plus homemade PMDD and Jobe's Plant Food Spikes for Lush Ferns and Palms.
  • Recharge CO2 cylinder approximately every year.