Kaplanm

Budget is pretty generous, I just do not care for the look of pendant style fixtures. That said, if it's the tool to get the job done, I go with that.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I497 using Tapatalk HD

I have a 50 gal. Bow front coming in, I'm trying to spec out a lighting solution. I know I do not want to run MH I was planning on going all LED. Can I get enough juice out of an LED solution to grow SPS? I think I want to try and work some acropora in towards the top of the tank.

Also, what are people's thoughts on the pendant style vs the strip style?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I497 using Tapatalk HD

If you skim prior to the fuge, don't you wind up nutrient starving all the micro fauna you're working so hard to grow?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I497 using Tapatalk HD

So the manufacturing process mimics the densities of natural corals effectively? Also, can you get it in shelves? I've only ever seen it in chunks.

I actually placed an order for that volume last night! Thanks for the litany of great references as well.

If you don't have Delbeek and Sprung's "Reef Aquarium" Vol III it does an excellent job of explaing things including the various filtering methodologies from the very simple pumpless, skimmerless systems by Lee Chin Eng and Dr. Jaubert to the equipment intensive multi tank systems like Dr. Adeys approach. I also wouldn't get hung up on using a skimmer, coral farmers like Steve Tyree (you'll see his name attached to a lot of colorful corals variants) and Tropicoriuminc.com are quite successfull without using them.

Here's a very good series of articles by Ken Feldman, et al. of research on Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and how it's moderated (or not) by activated carbon, skimming and bacteria:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/8/aafeature3 TOC part I

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/aafeature2 TOC part II

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/1/aafeature1 Carbon Part i

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/aafeature1 Carbon part II

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2 Skimming part I

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature Skimming part II

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature Skimmate analysis

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature Bacteria counts and modulation

And just because I like showing off here's one of my skimmerless systems:

So I'm setting up my first reef tank and I've been looking at getting some form of a sand sifting goby. (Probably the Diamond Sleeper goby) My question is, if I'm running a protein skimmer will I have issues keeping him fed? All my experience is with fresh water tropicals so the world of sumps, and protein skimming is a whole new series of concepts for me.

I'm a new member and this is perfect for me! I'm just setting up my first reef tank within that week. I'm planning on attending.