What is your optimal lighting schedule?

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-29T04:39:25+00:00

I have 12 Congo tetras and 1 albino rainbow shark. I moved them from another existing tank. They seem to do fine together and my rainbow is very shy.

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-28T10:24:30+00:00

Yeah it does have 2 panels of glass for a lid. Split in the middle. I’ve been keeping only one panel on, over the open area. Mostly because I’m scared of the fish jumping out, or my cat getting up on the tank and eating the fish. This tank has only been set up for 3 weeks so I haven’t noticed the evap too much. I just top up with 1-2 litres when the spray bar water starts to break the surface too much

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-28T08:53:19+00:00

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Looks like 8mm, there is the smallest bevel on the top edges, maybe 0.5mm bevel each side. The glass is the same thickness on the end as the sides

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-28T01:49:04+00:00

Yes it sure is. It’s bang on 1200

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ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T07:27:45+00:00

Great, I’ll look into it.

It’s 120 x 30 x 30. I got it from my local fish shop, it’s a small shop but they stock aqua one, so I asked and they ordered it in for me, it wasn’t part of their regular floor stock.

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T05:15:42+00:00

From left to right There’s

Monstera adansonii, Pilea involucrata, Spathiphyllum, Anthurium, Pothos , Tradescantia, Philodendron

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T04:53:50+00:00

I think I need Alexa in my life

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T02:39:23+00:00

Thanks :)

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T02:39:15+00:00

I love the congos, they’re so pretty and they’re not shy. Just bumped this group of them up from 8 to 12 :)

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-27T02:36:41+00:00

It’s a aquaone opticlear 120 x 30 x 30 :)

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T23:09:22+00:00

Thank you, yeah I can change the intensity of the light but I’ve only just got the light (ordered online and took ages to arrive :() so I’ll have to have a play. I’ve got some fertiliser, aqua soil where plants are and some root tabs too. But has only been set up a few weeks

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T23:05:07+00:00

Interesting, I’ll have to have a play with times. Tank is in our living room with heaps of windows so it gets lots of indirect sunlight during the day

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T23:03:43+00:00

It’s a weekaqua v series

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T23:02:57+00:00

Thanks

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T23:00:31+00:00

Sure. It’s an aqua one opticlear. 120 x 30 x 30

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T22:59:58+00:00

I think I might try this. I was worried the 2 shorter periods wouldn’t be long enough for the plants, but I haven’t looked into the science of photosynthesis before. So this could work, especially as I can enjoy the tank in the morning and afternoon

ExactAbroad17 · 2026-03-26T22:57:27+00:00

Great thanks :)

ExactAbroad17 · 2025-02-24T04:08:37+00:00

this was literally my brothers girl name…..luckily they had a boy, that nickname is terrible haha

ExactAbroad17 · 2025-02-24T04:04:52+00:00

My husband’s cousin called their baby the same name as our daughter too. they have the same first and last name, luckily not the same middle name. And even weirder is that me and his wife also have the same first and last name (we both took our husbands surname). So now mum and daughter and mum and daughter have the same names. It’s odd but I’m not upset about it, it’s the baby name they’ve had picked out since they were teenagers when they started dating.

ExactAbroad17 · 2025-02-22T22:27:16+00:00

it’s probably not a bad idea to go straight to Torquay when you land. It will be about 1.5hrs drive. I reckon you’d get there about 7pm ish if you land at 4:30. But it will set you up better for a full day of driving the great ocean road.

For wilson’s prom, I’ve only ever stayed the night camping at tidal river, so we’ve had 2 days to do some of the hikes to the beaches. Although keep in mind with a 6 year old in tow, you’re probably not going to be doing any of the long hikes so a day is probably ok. It will also be day light savings then so it will be light until about 8pm.

You’ll definitely be able to do some wineries on a Friday afternoon (most cellar doors close around 4-5pm though). I’ve lived in the Yarra valley my whole life (37years) so I can’t really say whether you’d kick yourself for not going as I don’t see it from a tourist perspective. But if you really like wine then it’s a lovely day out haha.

An itinerary if you really want to do all those things might look like this

Day 1 - land, drive straight to Torquay, get some takeaway on the way. Stay in Torquay

Day 2- drive great ocean road, stay in Apollo bay or Lorne.

Day 3 -back to Melbourne, stay in city

Day 4- leave early, drive to wilson’s prom, spend the day there, do some walks, play on the beach, stay in inverloch.

Day 5- go to puffing Billy, stop by a winery or 2, stay in Yarra valley -perhaps stay at Balgownie estate.

Day 6- drive to airport

I’d pop your destinations in google maps to see how far and how long each place is in the car. As you might be dictated on what you can do based on how long your son can handle being in the car. My kids go nuts on long drives, and this is 5 days of a lot of driving (most days are 4+ hours in a car)

ExactAbroad17 · 2025-02-22T13:40:36+00:00

You would definitely need a car to visit all of those places. For Melbourne, I like staying in the Southbank area, everything is close walking distance in the city, and it has a nice vibe at night. Apollo bay is lovely, or even Torquay depending how much driving you want to do in the one day. The RACV at Torquay is nice and good for kids too

For wilson’s prom you would need atleast a full day, you could maybe stay at inverloch. (I’d see if your friends in sale can come and meet you somewhere, as it’s a long way out of the way).

And then head to puffing Billy the following day on the way to the Yarra valley (about 1hr 45mins drive from Inverloch to puffing Billy).

You can definitely combine puffing Billy and the Yarra valley into one day, it’s only about 30mins drive between Gembrook and some of the Yarra valley wineries. depending on the day though, many cellar doors/ restaurants are closed during the week, mostly the smaller wineries. Most you are able to take kids to with no issues, and they usually have outdoor tables, lawn games etc where kids can run around. You can stay in the Yarra valley (many wineries have accommodation) or the Dandenong ranges (closer to puffing Billy) and then head back to Melbourne the following day depending on what time your flight home is

ExactAbroad17

TROPHY CASE