Aqua One 620T

[rawprawn]

Hi All.

I've just purchased a second hand Aqua One 620T tank (130L) and stand for 150 bucks. 

Has anyone had any experience with this setup?

I'm considering trying to convert the lighting hood to LED, or at least using the right bulbs from their range for shrimp.

Also looking at possibly doing away with the integrated filter and fitting a small canister (possibly an ebay special) along with my HC100A chiller that's been struggling on my 4 footer.

I've been a bit agricultural with my 4 footer, which sits out on the back deck. I'd like to this a little nicer as it will sit in my office and me noticed more by my wife.

I'm really open to all suggestions with lighting/filtration choices, as well as ideas for planting.

I'll be adding the nicest of my yellow cherry shrimps so as to step up my line, and already have Piscies black iron sand for substrate.

Would love to see any pics if you have this setup or similar.

Cheers and thanks.

[ineke]

I have the 980 which is 210 litres. I originally just used the overhead filter and lights that came with the tank plus 4 sponge filters. I then took away the overhead filter , added a canister but kept the lights. I used that for 18 months with great success for my large CRS colony but found it got warm in the summers - I then used 4 computer fans with a thermostat which kept the temp down to 22/23. Recently I changed the lights to an LED system and did away with the hood altogether.  However I'm fairly sure you can take the fluros out and fit an LED system in the hood- pretty sure if you look under lighting you will find a thread where that was done and how to do it. I love the tank and have now added another canister and a chiller so I can put all my in wanted shrimp into. I will see if I can find some pictures but it looks a bit more of a planted tank rather than a shrimp tank as its in the lounge so I needed it to look neat

These are a couple of pictures I still have - not the best but one has the hood lighting and the other LED lighting

You can see the difference the LED makes its much brighter

[jayc]

I have done something similar to an AR126.

The canister filter replacement will be easy. The intake and outake tubes will easily slot through the existing holes of the hood with out much (if any) modification.

I also replaced the stock light with an Aqua Pro Z. 30cm LED light fits the AR126.

You just need to remove the stock light fitting and drill a hole large enough to fit the power plug through.

[ineke]

This shows part of the thriving colony that was in there.

[rawprawn]

1 hour ago, ineke said:

This shows part of the thriving colony that was in there.

Thriving is an understatement!

What is that flaky white stuff I see you all feeding them so often?

[jayc]

"Snow" flake.

[perplex]

isnt it just 'soybean husk' compressed into a pellet?

thats what i feed mine anyway

Edited January 21, 2016 by perplex

[ineke]

Yes soybean husks. Little nutritional value although they love it but it's the bacteria that grows on it that is so good for them. You can leave it in the tank without causing any problems. Exçellent holiday food.

[rawprawn]

8 hours ago, ineke said:

Yes soybean husks. Little nutritional value although they love it but it's the bacteria that grows on it that is so good for them. You can leave it in the tank without causing any problems. Exçellent holiday food.

I'm trying to find a seller in Australia.

Where do you buy it? Would you please post a link?

I'm always seeing this in tank pictures, must be the shizz.

[perplex]

i just bought mine from ebay, that was super cheap but if you want to buy it from your fish shop, it might be called "Snow" flake, what Jayc said, it will be for shrimp

Edited January 21, 2016 by perplex

[jc12]

1 hour ago, rawprawn said:

I'm trying to find a seller in Australia.

Where do you buy it? Would you please post a link?

I'm always seeing this in tank pictures, must be the shizz.

I think almost all our SKF sponsors sell them. Why not have a browse through their websites. You'll never know what else you might 'need'.

Remember to quote SKF as I think most of them provide 10% discount to SKF members.

[ineke]

Boss Aquaria have their own brand -both Boss Aquaria and Newbreed Aquatics sell it as Shrimp Snow. As I have so many shrimp I buy mine bulk but it's in a 30kg bag so that will last me a lifetime. Best just buy from our sponsors as you don't need much and theirs is shrimp specific.

[rawprawn]

I ended up going with some shrimp crack and some biozyme for now.

I've got an unlimited supply of mulberry leaves which have really picked them up as well.

Back on topic, I'm hoping for some driftwood and planting suggestions....

The other tank just has java moss and ferns, anubia and some marimo balls.

I don't want to get into high tech with co2 etc, but will most likely upgrade the light to an LED.

As this is a taller tank, I'm thinking of a stump of some sort with roots at the bottom and hopefully trunk/branches all the way up the middle.

I'm also thinking some nicer mosses, leafy plants among the stump roots and some kind of ground cover in the foreground.

Apparently the black iron sand is good for plants.

Any suggestions for an intermediate selection of plants?

Where and what sort of driftwood is available/recommended?

Cheers again for the advice so far.

Edited January 24, 2016 by rawprawn