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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Help with lighting for tank

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21 Sep 2015 22:27 #1 by corkmartin (martin murphy)
Hi everyone Martin here need your help with lighting for my tank which i have just finished building from 3/4 inch WBP plywood.

Have also built a cabinet to take the weight of the tank when it is full the frame of the cabinet is built with 4x4 timber and finished with plywood and architrave trim.

I am currently working on the plywood canopy for the tank hope to be finished soon so much work and planning going to paint it all black and then a satin varnish to complete the job. The size is 70 inches length 24 inches wide 24 inches tall 70x24x24 inches

I will be keeping silver dollars oscars and anglefish corys and pelcs so not planting the tank i think i will go with silk plants rather than plastic. I have purchased an external canister filter its a Sunsun HW-404b got it on ebay for €100 including post from uk.
It has got great reviews so am pleased with that.

Will also get some large airstones for the water. What i need help with is lighting as i said i am building a plywood canopy so i dont a full kit with hood and lights Just need the light bulbs and connectors and to fixings to fit it to my canopy I was thinking of T5 or T8 florescent lights can anyone help where i can get these and which one is better T5 or T8.

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to read this.

Martin
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21 Sep 2015 23:06 #2 by JohnH (John)
Martin,
While you could go with 'traditional' fluorescent lighting why not consider something along the LED route?

Here's a link to one of Bart's articles which you might want to have a look at:

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php?optio...73&Itemid=200#180551

But if you enter LED into the 'search' facility (the tab above, not the one in the IFK banner) you will find other conversations there have been recently on the subject.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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22 Sep 2015 01:02 #3 by alan 64 (alan)
Sounds and looks like a great project I wouldn't bother with the silk plants I'd just go with lots of root and bogwood it would look amazing

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24 Sep 2015 23:42 #4 by corkmartin (martin murphy)
Hi John thanks for your reply as i have the hood nearly constructed which is 12 inches high and 24 inches wide.

i think i will go for the florescent lighting which i can fix to the under side of the aquarium hood but am i unsure which one to go for T8 or T5 I am looking for the cheapest option as my finances are not great at the moment. Have you any idea where i can get this light with a starter switch that is aquarium safe.

Thanks John for your help

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24 Sep 2015 23:48 #5 by corkmartin (martin murphy)
Hi Alan thanks for your reply

I have lots of dried out bog wood and some roots . Was going to add some silk plants just to add a bit of color to tank.

Any ideas where i can florescent lighting T8 or T5 aquarium safe with starter switch I have the hood almost complete will be attaching to underside of hood.

Thanks again Alan for you reply

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26 Sep 2015 12:51 #6 by anthonyd (Anthony Debesne)
I have a lighting unit but no tubes, it is 1 m long 2x 39 watts T5 if you want to pick it up in watergrasshill for free.

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26 Sep 2015 18:12 #7 by helix8008 (Tomas Novak)
If you go for new T5 or T8 it's actually not cheaper than LED if you think long term. Led last several times longer and consume several times less energy.

If you go on Amazon or eBay you can get really cheap LED bars or even cheaper strips, just make sure they are waterproof.

Tom

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26 Sep 2015 23:38 #8 by corkmartin (martin murphy)
Hi Anthony that would be great but i dont drive i live in Blarney but could get a bus to watergrasshill to pick them up if that suits you thanks so much again

Martin

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27 Sep 2015 13:07 #9 by anthonyd (Anthony Debesne)
Here is my number martin
0861744248
Give me a shout i will sort something out

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27 Sep 2015 14:48 #10 by corkmartin (martin murphy)
Hi Anthony thanks again see you tomorrow at 10

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