I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with an Eclipse System Six tank. Its the 6 gallon tank with built in biowheel filtration, comes with a whopping 9W CF fixture.

I know the light on this thing is basically crap, I wanted to use an 13W AH supply retrofit kit on it. Would that be sufficient lighting for this tank? I envision this as a low tech, moderate light, low maintenance Excel tank, that can grow the most plants slow and steady. The other option is I have is a 27W 6500K desk lamp that I could just stick right over it.

Thanks

I've had okay growth with the default light fixture. It will be slower, obviously, but you won't need to worry about CO2 and frequent water changes. I've grown crypts, even giant hairgrass (I can't yet figure why it grows like crazy in there, but not in my 3+wpg bigger tank!). Even Echinodorus tenellus pygmy chainsword grows ok.

I would think retrofitting with a 13W CF would be a pain in the ass, and would also get pretty hot as well...

Thanks for the info. If you have had some success with just their light fixture as a low tech, I will give it a shot.

Thanks

Fred

I use Excel nearly every day (usually only miss when away for a weekend) as per instructions on the bottle. I have been dosing very small amounts of KNO2 + KH2PO4 once a week, and CSM+B once a week. I found some measuring spoons that have the really small measurements, like "nip," "pinch," etc.

I have very rarely done a water change, and not scientifically. I usually remove 1-3 gal approximately once a month while planting something new, or replanting, or trimming. Otherwise my arm/hand displaces water all over the place! And just go ahead and replace what I took out with new water and dose a small amount of GH Booster or Equilibrium.

It's not a spectacular tank, aquascape-wise, but I've been learning with it. The crypts generally seem pretty healthy in there. The C. pygmaea didn't do much.

I seem to get a tiny amount of "green dot" algae on the front of the tank on occasion, usually after a water change. Perhaps that has something to do with an influx of CO2? Not sure.

Apologies for a late post and bump, but I have an Eclipse 6 and was searching for lighting alternatives and found this:

Retrofit Systems - Compact Fluorescent - 8" Retrofit Systems

Apparently AH supply used to carry a kit that fit but no longer.

I'm sticking with the stock lighting for now but may upgrade if I can't keep the plants alive.

I'm stocking with cherry shrimp and ADF's.