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Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:57 pm
by slider_keeper
Toku enjoying his new pond!

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So I put him in the tank and sat him on the basking log. He poked his head out and looked around for about two mins then he dived in and it seemed like he was surpised when he didn't hit the bottom lol. He look very puzzeled, I wish I would have video recorded it. He began to look around on the bottom and then swam for the top and again looked puzzled to why he hadn't reached the surface yet, again I laughed. I do believe he loves the extra room and swims gracefully from one corner to the next and so on. He took to nips at the moss ball then left it alone after that. So maybe I will be in luck and can put a couple more in his tank.

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:52 pm
by cutepanda86
Awww turtle! lol This looks great. New lighting scheme huh? I can see that only one bulb doesn't light up the whole tank, so what kind of light are you thinking? He looks happy. As far as the moss ball, I tried it but I think I messed up so let me know how it goes. :) :mrgreen:

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:50 pm
by slider_keeper
Thank you so much! Yeah, I'm scheming on a multi light system. I have the 48" 4 bulb T5 lighting system sitting in my living room and I was talking to some of my herp gals and pals. Apparently there is new T5 UVB bulbs on the market, made by Arcadia. Arcadia is a European company that makes very good bulbs. I believe one online site is a North American distributor of the bulbs. So I'm thinking of running 2 UVB T5 bulbs and 2 full spectrum High LUX output T5 bulbs. Then I will maybe run a Metal-Halide UVB bulb for More bright white light and heat with UVB. Then a halogen bulb. Basically it will work like this..... The halogen will come on at sunrise giving that light hue of light, at 8:00am the MH bulb will come on, at 11:00am the T5 bulbs would comeon to mimic mid daylight. Then in reverse order the T5 bulbs go off at 3:00pm, then the MH at 5:00pm and finally the halogen at sunset. Now this will change with the seasons to best mimic the sun that he would experience in the Rio Grande basin. This would be my ideal lighting scheme but unfortunately this will be very expensive so I may not get to do it for some years to come. I'm trying something new, Toku is always in the tank when I introduce stuff so naturally he goes after it, i.e. fish, plants, food, so on. So I took the advantage of putting everything from the fish to the moss ball in the tank before he every touch a wedded foot in it, lol. Seems to be working so far, I will keep you all posted.

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:16 am
by steve
The tank looks great! You might want to think about a background to hide all those tubes and wires and it'll help make that really nice driftwood stand out.

Is the new T5 their 12% UVB bulb?

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:22 am
by cutepanda86
Sounds fancy. ;) Good luck with the lighting. I know it isn't easy. ;)

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:22 am
by slider_keeper
Steve, I would love a background! I'm gonna start looking for a nice vegetation filled background. The Arcadia Bulbs are 12%, Zilla makes a 50 UVB Desert T5 HO bulb. I haven't found what the UVB levels are yet but will keep looking. The Zilla bulbs are being sold at Petco. Another bulb I found is the Reptisun 5.0 and 10.0 T5 HO UVB bulbs. For anyone thinking about running these bulbs, you will need a T5 HO fixture and T5 HO bulbs that produce UVB. The three bulbs mentioned in this post are the only three bulbs I can find available on the market currently. There are non HO bulbs and they are useless to our reptiles. Another important factor is these bulbs are extremely bright and have a high output of UVB and LUX. The T5 HO bulbs do not put off enough heat so a secondary bulb for heat is required. One thing I did notice and had to ask about is the T5 HO bulbs are 46" and I have a 48" fixture. Apparently the 46" bulbs are for the 48" fixtures. I was reassured by Frances and Kevin on the UVB Meters Group, about the sizes. So I think I have the equipment I need to run my lighting the way I want it.

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:24 am
by slider_keeper
cutepanda the lighting isn't that bad you just need fixtures and timers for the three different lights.

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:46 pm
by cutepanda86
Well I'm glad you got it figured out. I've never even heard of these fixtures and stuff. :)

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:55 pm
by Kansasslider
Tank looks great. Sure he will enjoy it!!

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:01 pm
by slider_keeper
cutepanda, the technology of reptile lighting is progressing so fast (has been for a decade or more) with all the gimics, we will have to test by using them and see what is legit or what is a failure. Many others and myself see new stuff that is suppose to make things better but it takes usage to see what will really benefit the reptiles that are subjected to these lights. I say stick with what you know until you figure out what can help and what can not help or at least the possiblities from usage;) I have a slight advantage with the meters I own. BTW, I'm due to take a measurement. Not happening this weekend, snow is on the way:)

Stacy, thank you for the kind words. He loves it!!!! The fish and moss ball are doing great, as well. In fact one of the female guppies just had 6 fry today, awesome!

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:49 pm
by slider_keeper
Just for S and G, this is Bubba Gaga........

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Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:52 pm
by cutepanda86
I have to change my MVB out this weekend. I see what you mean. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:55 pm
by slider_keeper
No problem, I'm still learning but will pass on what I have learned;)

Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:56 pm
by slider_keeper
Ok, the real Bubba Gump, lol......

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Re: Toku's 150 gal build

PostPosted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:01 am
by slider_keeper
Heck, while I'm at it here is Flip Flop ( sounds like flip flops when he walks around haha), RIP buddy! My favorite bird and friend ever.........

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