Loaches Online Forum

I've been fed up with the visual clutter of the top of this tank for a while now.



There's the single row flourescent unit with 2 x 3 foot tubes in it. It's very cumbersome and the Clowns don't like the light it produces. In front of that the black box is full of blue Christmas Tree lights and made a reasonable blue moon effect till it went on the frizz the other day. Then the two hanging halogen lights are quite elegant, but the power cable is a visual pain.

I wanted something different. I used to have a lot of halogen lighting in my place in England. Even on my aquarium that some of these Clowns used to live in there. I wanted to use a lot of stuff I shipped over in an innovative way because it seemed the Clowns liked the contrast of pools of bright light and deep shadow.

So I came up with this idea:



So how does it work? How did I make it?

I'll show you tomorrow. I need to sleep. Got about 4 hours last night.

Martin.

wow, i love that bamboo!!
good work martin, im sure the clowns love it!!

-brett.

Do halogens have the right colour temperature for plants?

Are there different types of halogens?

oh yea, martin, that is a 150 right?

thats kinda how i want my 55 to look, big piece of bogwood, covered in java ferns...

-brett.

EDIT: i found your stash of pics martin...looks good..

Lovely.

Wow

I really like it Martin, it certainly does add to the asian theme of the tank really well

I want one

I knew someone would ask about the lighting spectrum I'm not 100% sure yellowfin, but the fact is that the plant growth you see comes from a (very) few hours of flourescent light per week. I hardly ever had the lights on. I'm sure with these lights on a set timed cycle that the plants will do even better. Even last night, the Clowns were peeping out and making little forays around the tank. Normally, they would just hide with the other lights on.

Martin.

That looks great, Martin. Have you done away with the blue moon lighting altogether now then?

Emma

Martin Thoene wrote:I knew someone would ask about the lighting spectrum I'm not 100% sure yellowfin, but the fact is that the plant growth you see comes from a (very) few hours of flourescent light per week. I hardly ever had the lights on. I'm sure with these lights on a set timed cycle that the plants will do even better. Even last night, the Clowns were peeping out and making little forays around the tank. Normally, they would just hide with the other lights on.

Yes, I am aware that clowns do not like bright light. Also, I know that too much light, even if it is the right colour, does not help plants. I have got a single MH light above my planted tank, the growth immediately under it is stunted, and towards the sides the growth is much fast and high.

I like your lights because they are simple, inconspicuous and light (I mean they don’t weigh much).

What is the plant on the far right hand side that has long thin leaves? As always very nice tank/innovative ideas.

it might be Corkscrew Val. or Jungle Val.

-brett.

brett_fishman wrote:it might be Corkscrew Val. or Jungle Val.

-brett.

Brett,

Your enthusiasm is great, but this is Martin's aquarium and the question is directed at him - so please give him time to answer!

Many thanks,

Emma

just suggesting!! sorry martin..im probably wrong though..

-brett.

The loach tiki palace is lookin' mighty fine, Martin.

Mark in Vancouver wrote:The loach tiki palace is lookin' mighty fine, Martin.

Yes very nice! I imagine Tiki torches would be out of the question due to local fire codes, no?