I'm Handy, To Some Degree

[damselfish]

Since I finished my bar application and worked on Swans, I decided that it was time to reward myself with modding my Fluval Edge and setting it up for its new inhabitants!

I took pictures of the process, and it was all going well. I was setting up new lights, which meant removing the old ones, wiring up some light sockets and attaching them to cables (why they don't just sell light sockets ready to use, I do not understand) and all was going well!

Until I tried to mount them and realized that I had overestimated the length of my zip-ties. I couldn't mount the lights to the arm. So I attempted to attach them to the hood with twist-ties, but the bulbs were too heavy and dangled into the water unless I used the tie on the bulb itself.

Fortunately! I have hanging wire. It's no good for hanging as it tends to break, but it should be able to hold up a bulb.



I also way overestimated the size I'd have to work with: the extension cords are double runs, which means they are GINORMOUS and barely have space next to the filter. The wire nuts make it even worse, but I'm unconvinced about just taping them together. It'd probably work, so I'll switch. Eventually. For now there's only one light, I don't know if I have room for a second (it was going to be a blue moon light, you can see the extra socket on the filter) and if I do, I may need another day light because the back corner of the aquarium is in shadow.

I could just put a fake plant in the shady corner. Right now I've got cabomba in there, we'll see how it grows. I've also got corkscrew val (front left), a baby rangeri sword from the big tank to see if I can coax it into growing, and the remains of a scarlet temple (back left) that the mollies have totally decimated.

Also don't know how well things will grow in sand.

I have 50 pounds of play sand in my house, because I couldn't get anything smaller, but the 50 pound bag was $3.50, versus the $15 I spent for a 12 pound bag of Floramax gravel in the big tank. If I get plants to grow I will use sand for every other aquarium I do.

It's also so soft and fluffy to touch.

I'll post my progress stuff as soon as I figure out a mounting system for the lights. I'm going to see if I can do something with C-shaped braces to hold them in place. Something solid since right now the lights are wobbly. But the CFL was a good choice, look how bright it is!