Need some advice

[molocha]

You can have lighting anywhere. Keep in mind that plants will grow towards the light source so if the light is beside them, they'll grow sideways.

Don't get me wrong; you can have a planted tank with that setup. You just have to be realistic in what you can grow and how well the plants will grow. What I find happens sometimes is people give planted tanks a first try with undesirable results, and they decide they can't do it (or don't want to) because they think this is what it's like to have a planted tank. But the truth is that the beginner setup wasn't very good to begin with. As long as you keep things in perspective, then you'll be fine. You can always upgrade to a better setup later.

do you know if they sell a better light that will fit in the original housing? o and if the front part of the tank gets lighting i could just put the plants in the front maybe?
and also if i have the substrate that u mentioned in your earlier posts how would i go about cleaning it...is it like cleaning gravel with a siphon...or do you let the poop fertilize the plants?

[Somefishguy]

Leave the poop for the plants, just keep an eye on water parameters.


There may be a way to rig up one of those 6500k spiral bulbs that fit into a regular light socket. Dont know the size of the hood or anything but if your good at those things then its probably very doable

[Mzungu]

There may be a way to rig up one of those 6500k spiral bulbs that fit into a regular light socket. Dont know the size of the hood or anything but if your good at those things then its probably very doable

I think it would take a lot of rigging, since it's a normal fluorescent socket. But I'm no good at all the DIY stuff, so it's probably doable, just not by me. :)

[Somefishguy]

I ment to pull out the original lighting in there and then replace it..

[molocha]

i can take the light out...do they sell something of the same size that fits in there that is better...or i have to rig something up

[Complexity]

I've read on other boards where people have removed the light to put better lighting in there. Be careful though of the heat buildup. Some people add a fan to compensate.

Let me see if I can find some threads of DIY upgrades others have done. Might give you some ideas.

[Complexity]

Here are some upgrades others have done. Maybe one of these ideas will work for you.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/75133-5g-bowfront-hood-lighting-upgrade.html

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/diy-aquarium-projects/7839-eclipse-6-lighting-upgrade.html

This is a 3g tank, but it might spark some ideas.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquascaping/57714-my-eclipse-3g-pics.html

[molocha]

where can i get aquasoil for the 6 gal....do they sell them in different quantities...i dont wanna buy a big pack and only use a little....any thoughts?

[Complexity]

Put up a WTB post. Someone might have some or know of where you can get a partial bag.

[TheOldMan]

I have two eclipse tanks I use for baby fish and shrimp. On the twelve gallon I grow anubias, small crypts and vals. Just plain gravel with stock light and filter. On a three the filter quit so I took it out and added an intank whisper and grow anubias and java moss for the shrimp. All plants are healthy, but very slow growing. You can get a small bag of amazonia at city pets. Just watch for amonia peaks when setting up and don't add fish for a month or so.

[kwc1974]

where can i get aquasoil for the 6 gal....do they sell them in different quantities...i dont wanna buy a big pack and only use a little....any thoughts?

Yes, you can buy a small bag of Aquasoil. For such a small tank you may want to use powser type. Fish gallery has it for about $16. Or you can get it from ADG on their website.

[molocha]

yea i bought it but not the powder type

[kwc1974]

Good, have you put it in the tank yet?

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

[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]

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.