What have i been doing you ask?

[mr_c265]

I have those same lights' date=' but 30w ones. I got mine off fleabay but you have to wire the plug on yourself.

Chris, your tank looks incredible! This is what i'd like to do with my display tank once i've got all my shrimps into the new rack...

Ah the good old uni days. It's a hard slog but it'll be worth it in the end! I'm still paying off my uni debt and will be for years, but i had my best times at uni :) what are you studying?[/quote']

Ah i've got both, Australian and overseas ones, the Australian ones came with a plug and appear brighter. Are you into growing plants much? They do an excellent job, very happy with them.

Thank you! Funny enough, it hasn't even taken that long or that much work to get it here. Just a very strict fert regime and a bit of DIY CO2 and a HEAP of reasearch.

I have the joy of doing Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. You may see me post very technically about water chemistry sometimes, that'd be why :p I'm hoping its worth it! hahaha.

Did i read on here somewhere that you work in mining (or did i imagine that)?

[torface]

I had them on my planted tank but i'm not sure they were adequate enough to penetrate the depth of my tank (50cm) as I was never getting the growth I wanted. I found the Up Aqua Z Series LED did a better job, but i only used that temporarily as it doesnt fit under the tank hood. Today I completely redesigned the tank and just kept the low maintenance plants and put in a heap of Amazon Swords. I'm hoping they do well, it's looking good so far. What ferts do you use?

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering sounds intense lol

Yeah I work in mining, i'm an exploration geologist. I did two masters at uni, an undergrad in Geology (MSci) and Petroleum Geoscience (MSc) so I was pretty sick of it after 5 years lol

[shrimpstan]

That tanks looks awesome!!

[mr_c265]

I had them on my planted tank but i'm not sure they were adequate enough to penetrate the depth of my tank (50cm) as I was never getting the growth I wanted. I found the Up Aqua Z Series LED did a better job' date=' but i only used that temporarily as it doesnt fit under the tank hood. Today I completely redesigned the tank and just kept the low maintenance plants and put in a heap of Amazon Swords. I'm hoping they do well, it's looking good so far. What ferts do you use?

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering sounds intense lol

Yeah I work in mining, i'm an exploration geologist. I did two masters at uni, an undergrad in Geology (MSci) and Petroleum Geoscience (MSc) so I was pretty sick of it after 5 years lol[/quote']

I mix up all my own ferts (perks of the degree :p), was doing EI but got lazy on the waterchanges, bit of algae now. Mine definitely penetrate just fine, i have all the high light plants in there that shouldn't grow but do and really well at that.

Haha yeah, it is a bit intense, oh well, it'll be over in a few years. Do you do 2 on 2 off (or 6 on 6 off?) by anychance? If you do, how do you find it? I was thinking about going into Ore refining or petrochemicals and wasn't sure whether i wanted to stick around a city like Port Kembla, or get shipped off to PNG or WA. Got a while to decide, just want to hear about some other peoples experiences first.

[torface]

I mix up all my own ferts (perks of the degree :p)' date=' was doing EI but got lazy on the waterchanges, bit of algae now. Mine definitely penetrate just fine, i have all the high light plants in there that shouldn't grow but do and really well at that.

Haha yeah, it is a bit intense, oh well, it'll be over in a few years. Do you do 2 on 2 off (or 6 on 6 off?) by anychance? If you do, how do you find it? I was thinking about going into Ore refining or petrochemicals and wasn't sure whether i wanted to stick around a city like Port Kembla, or get shipped off to PNG or WA. Got a while to decide, just want to hear about some other peoples experiences first.[/quote']

I do 12 days on 9 days off. It's probably one of the best rosters out there. Working FIFO has it's pluses and minuses, it's all a very individual thing though. If you're single then it's better as I know a lot of people with families/ partners really struggle. The long time off is great, the money is better than working 9-5 but the hours are long, the conditions are harsh and you miss a lot of good things at home. I have to rely on my partner to look after my shrimps while i'm away which can be a bit nerve wracking and there are certain things that i'll never be able to do (like own a horse) which i resent. But like i said, it's an individual thing.

I work with a guy who's young and single. He spends his breaks travelling and riding his over priced motorcycle. He loves it and doesn't care about not being home for the things that i care about.

I've never worked residential in any of the remote towns so I can't really give my opinion on that. Personally i know i'd hate it though.

It's definitely not for everyone and in the years i've worked out bush i've seen a lot of people come and go so I guess you have to try it to know! If you can hack it, it's definitely a good way to save a lot of cash for something like a house deposit in a short time though and a lot of people do it for a few years to set themselves up then go work 9-5 if they can.

[shrimpstan]

Oh and thank you everyone else. I love this tank haha. It's my baby and an excuse to practice what i learn at uni.

Yeah sweet!! What subjects u takin at uni?

[mr_c265]

I do 12 days on 9 days off. It's probably one of the best rosters out there. Working FIFO has it's pluses and minuses, it's all a very individual thing though. If you're single then it's better as I know a lot of people with families/ partners really struggle. The long time off is great, the money is better than working 9-5 but the hours are long, the conditions are harsh and you miss a lot of good things at home. I have to rely on my partner to look after my shrimps while i'm away which can be a bit nerve wracking and there are certain things that i'll never be able to do (like own a horse) which i resent. But like i said, it's an individual thing.I work with a guy who's young and single. He spends his breaks travelling and riding his over priced motorcycle. He loves it and doesn't care about not being home for the things that i care about.I've never worked residential in any of the remote towns so I can't really give my opinion on that. Personally i know i'd hate it though.It's definitely not for everyone and in the years i've worked out bush i've seen a lot of people come and go so I guess you have to try it to know! If you can hack it, it's definitely a good way to save a lot of cash for something like a house deposit in a short time though and a lot of people do it for a few years to set themselves up then go work 9-5 if they can.

That's not a bad shift at all!Thank you for that, i'm just trying to work out whether it will suit me or not, still in two minds about it. Would love to be away from everything, but i don't know if i'd handle missing my mates and family back home though.

Yeah sweet!! What subjects u takin at uni?

This semester:Forensic and Environmental Chemistry, Mass and Energy Conservation and Transport Processes, Applied Maths for Chemical Engineers, Energy and Fluid Systems Practice. The chemistry is the main one, its a lot of aquatic chemistry and soil chemistry and biological processes.

[torface]

That's not a bad shift at all!Thank you for that' date= i'm just trying to work out whether it will suit me or not, still in two minds about it. Would love to be away from everything, but i don't know if i'd handle missing my mates and family back home though.

.

well keep your eyes peeled for something fifo out of where you are. 8:6, 12:9, 15:13 are all pretty decent rosters. You'll be able to handle being away from friends for that long particularly with all the time off. i know people who work 5 or 4 weeks on 1 off, screw that!!!

The industry isn't in great shape at the moment but it will pick up again.

if you have any more questions, feel free to pm me :)