"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...

That's the advice I've usually gotten from people who
have really large tanks with a lot of expensive fish. :)
I have small mostly cheap tropicals.

That's me too:) When I go to the LFS first I scan the pricetags - then the
fish!!

Could be you're overfeeding a bit. That's something a
lot of us do, I think. Maybe try throwing in a fast day?
It's hard to walk past a tank knowing I haven't fed
the poor guys that day, but it really doesn't hurt them
and might help keep the nitrates down. Anyhoo, I
schedule Wednesday for my fast days. (by "my" I
mean the fish, but I suppose I could do a fast day
for myself, too. LOL)

I have read and forgotten about 'fast' days - good idea. btw - the only
tank that is 40ish is my one with fancy GF. I was just trying not to
confuse the issue since I know they are a little dirtier and hardier. I
also give them about 3 gal/inch.

The bottom line is I am going to have a tendency to
want to spend sparingly, add as little as possible and stock heavily

By "stock heavily" what do you mean? If you're putting
too many fish into your tank(s), that could well be the
source of your higher nitrates (which don't seem excessively
high to me, but could be lower). Better to move up to
a larger tank than overstock.

All the tanks I have are pretty much filled at the inch per gallon (with a
*little* growing room left). I can't really add much bigger tanks or they
would be REALLY expensive - I'd have to buy a bigger house:) I am curious
what plants you have. I have been trying to slowly build up my plant life
but thus far with small hood lights the only thing that seems to get bigger
instead of smaller is the anacharis I take from the pond.

"4 years" ?? I killed off most of my poor little fish over
a 7 year period - never learned a darned thing -
ROFL - too funny.

near San Antonio TX
::hi neighbor:: :)
Howdy partner(ess):) Yes I am the same Newbie Bill you have helped from
time to time in rec.ponds. I've just been graviting towards the glass ponds
during the winter.

Thanxx
Bill

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
|
| This may be a stupid question, but there is a difference in light
per
| watt between fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. It would be nice
if
| posters would define which they are talking about. Or does
everyone
| just assume fluorescent?

Flourescent is assumed. Incandescent lighting at the levels required
for many plants would create WAY too much heat.

Billy wrote:
"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
|
| This may be a stupid question, but there is a difference in light
per
| watt between fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. It would be nice
if
| posters would define which they are talking about. Or does
everyone
| just assume fluorescent?

Flourescent is assumed. Incandescent lighting at the levels required
for many plants would create WAY too much heat.



Expect more confusion when super-cool LED aquarium lighting becomes
available. And the "bulbs" will last years!

"Nikki Casali" wrote in message
...
|
|
| Expect more confusion when super-cool LED aquarium lighting becomes
| available. And the "bulbs" will last years!
|

No doubt. I considered going into a long blather about CF, PC, HO, MH
and whatnot. Decided that was outside the scope of the question. g

"Billy" wrote in message
...


"Nikki Casali" wrote in message
...
|
|
| Expect more confusion when super-cool LED aquarium lighting becomes
| available. And the "bulbs" will last years!
|

No doubt. I considered going into a long blather about CF, PC, HO, MH
and whatnot. Decided that was outside the scope of the question. g

On/along this subject:

Does anyone know what CRI or lumen output Cold Cathode lights have?

I am thinking of using a couple of blue ones for "moon night lighting" on
the new tank.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
In article 043Gd.17886

This may be a stupid question, but there is a difference in light per
watt between fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. It would be nice if
posters would define which they are talking about. Or does everyone
just assume fluorescent?





flourescent or metal halide. You cannot get incandescents with the proper
spectrum of light for growing plants. Incandescent grow lights are just
colored bulbs, they don't really work for plant growth.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

"Geezer From The Freezer" wrote in message
...


Margolis wrote:

nitrates are harmless. Don't worry about it. In fact in planted tanks
people try to get more nitrates which the aquatic plants need to live.
I
would agree with those that say as long as they don't go off the scale
it
will be fine. As long as you are doing your weekly water changes, don't
worry about it.


Nitrates at high levels are not harmless to fish, it will kill them
eventually!


I didn't say they were harmless at high levels. They are harmless as long
as they don't get extreme. That is why I qualified my statement by saying.

"As long as you are doing your weekly water changes, don't
worry about it."



--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

"Newbie Bill" wrote in message
. com...

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
[snip]
All the tanks I have are pretty much filled at the inch per gallon (with a
*little* growing room left). I can't really add much bigger tanks or they
would be REALLY expensive - I'd have to buy a bigger house:)

I don't know how the experts feel about the system I'm
about to recommend, but I found this really useful
in figuring out how many fish I could reasonably have:
http://www.tropicalresources.net/web..._guide_fw.html
I'm still overstocked a bit in several of my tanks but
since all my fish are small tropicals I don't worry too much.

I am curious
what plants you have.

When I got started buying plants I didn't pay much
attention. Some died off, some did great. I think
I mostly have crypts, and definitely Java Fern (great
tied to driftwood or other surfaces). There's one
plant I mentioned in my other post I can't id and
wish I could. I tried taking photos to post but
none came out. Anyway, plants aren't that expensive
and I just try different ones til I find some that work.

I have been trying to slowly build up my plant life
but thus far with small hood lights the only thing that seems to get
bigger instead of smaller is the anacharis I take from the pond.

Oh yeah I've done that, too. :) My anacharis doesn't
seem to do as well indoors as outdoors. Maybe because
my tanks are warmer? It is worth converting to
flourescent lights, even the mini compacts Wal-Mart
now sells are worth a try. (They'll work in an
incandescent hood - trust me, I've done it.)

"4 years" ?? I killed off most of my poor little fish over
a 7 year period - never learned a darned thing -
ROFL - too funny.

near San Antonio TX
::hi neighbor:: :)
Howdy partner(ess):) Yes I am the same Newbie Bill you have helped from
time to time in rec.ponds. I've just been graviting towards the glass
ponds during the winter.

Thanxx
Bill

"glass ponds" I like that. :)

Gail

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
I don't know how the experts feel about the system I'm
about to recommend, but I found this really useful
in figuring out how many fish I could reasonably have:
http://www.tropicalresources.net/web..._guide_fw.html
I'm still overstocked a bit in several of my tanks but
since all my fish are small tropicals I don't worry too much.

Rats- the site seems to be down right now. I would be very interested in
seeing yet another idea. My reference to pushing the limits (overstocked)
are based on the simple 1"/gallon rule. But like you most of my FW pets are
around 2 inches. I think I am correct in assuming that a 2" gourami is
going to produce more waste than a 2" narrow body tetra just because they
have more girth to support. I have also seen some reference to some fish
just apparently not producing as much waste per inch - platys are the only
one I have seen specifically mentioned. I have always figured that's one of
the reasons that fancy GF are considered so much more 'dirtier' - because
there is much more fish to support.

It is worth converting to
flourescent lights, even the mini compacts Wal-Mart
now sells are worth a try. (They'll work in an
incandescent hood - trust me, I've done it.)

All of my tanks have single florescent bulbs, 2 have the more expensive
'grow lights'. But they still are very minimal compared to the 2-5 watts
per gallon I often see recommended. The artificial plants in the 3rd tank
with regular florescent lighting seem to be doing fine:)

Thanxx
Bill

"Newbie Bill" wrote in message
...

"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
I don't know how the experts feel about the system I'm
about to recommend, but I found this really useful
in figuring out how many fish I could reasonably have:
http://www.tropicalresources.net/web..._guide_fw.html
I'm still overstocked a bit in several of my tanks but
since all my fish are small tropicals I don't worry too much.

Rats- the site seems to be down right now. I would be very interested
in seeing yet another idea. My reference to pushing the limits
(overstocked) are based on the simple 1"/gallon rule.

For your reading interests then : )
http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/st...stocking.shtml
--
www.NetMax.tk

snip
Thanxx
Bill