joshman1204

Put me down for one as well

There are many awesome tanks that do not use skimmers but I think for the average person a skimmer is a smart choice.

you might wait for some more advice before you start pulling them out. I have never used bio balls at all but I have heard it is bad news to remove them from an established system.

some people like to use live rock I personally do not. I am sure there are arguments for rock and no rock both but I just never liked cramming rock in the little bitty chamber on my aquapod.

Pull the bio balls out and add some chaeto with a small light. If the bio balls have been in the tank for a while be careful not to remove them all at once.

I just got my new 40g setup and I now need some macro algae to get my fuge going. Please let me know if you have some. Thanks

We really need to know a little more detail. What are your last water test results. What kind of cleanup crew do you have and how heavily is your tank stocked.

I think I finally got the light in a spot that I am happy with but I am still looking into some other options when I build my hood. Here is a FTS with the sand added. I used about 1/2 bag of sugar sized aragonite and about a 1/2 bag of the next size larger. This tank has been running for a little over a week now and I have no signs of a cycle. I used all cured live rock so I guess I am not going to have a cycle. I did lose my GBTA and clowns in this move which really sucks but I guess I will know better next time. I had everything setup in a rubber-maid tub with a heater, 2 maxi-jets for flow and a 4 bulb T5 setup for lighting. I thought that would work fine but after three days one of the anemones managed to get sucked into the max-jet and crashed the whole setup I was able to save all of the zoas and added them to this setup a little before I would have like to but it looks like they are going to make it. Here are some shots of the various zoas I added. My plan is to cover both of the large rocks on the ends with zoas and then fill the top of the arches with SPS and then I am going to try some dendro or sun polyps hanging upside down from those two arches.

Carbon is very effective in a reef tank

anyone have any experience with the TEK 6 bulb fixture?

I was also looking at the TEK 6 bulb setup but I really think I want a canopy on this tank and I think I really want to go with a retro kit unless someone gives me a reason to just go with the TEK.

I love my phoenix 14k in my 250w pendant. I dont have any data other than personal preference.

Thanks for all the compliments! The tank is currently lit with an aquamedic 250w pendant at about 12" over the water. I am just not happy with the way the light is distributed in the tank. It is very bright in the middle and pretty dim towards the edges. I want a more uniform coverage from side to side and front to back. Will using a nice reflector like a lumenbright III give me better coverage than the pendant I am using now? I have a 4 bulb current USA T5 setup and I really like the way it lights my tank but I just dont know if a 4 bulb T5 is going to be enough to keep SPS,Clams, and anemones. I really think I want to go with 2 250w MH and maybe 2 T5 actinic bulbs. I know this will be a lot of heat but I will just install a chiller if it is too much. The other option would be using like a 6 bulb T5 retrokit in my hood when I build it. If anyone has any ideas for lighting this thing I would really appreciate some input! Thanks!!

That was the plan but I think I am going to focus on the 40 for now. My stand building skills need a little work before I can teach any classes.

Yea I think I will epoxy the rocks together before I start adding corals even though they are amazingly stable just as they are. I know I am pretty clumsy when it comes to working on my tank so a little epoxy will be cheap insurance.

I dont post very often but I lurk here pretty much all the time so I figured it was time to start posting:) I started in this hobby last year with a 24g aquapod from seahorsejl and finally after a year I decided to upgrade to a 40g that I could really setup exactly how I wanted. I got the tank for free and had it drilled by shane at fishy business and it turned out perfect! I couldnt find a stand I liked to so I started on my first ever woodworking project and I must say I think it turned out pretty well. I dont know how to build the doors so I am going to order them from someone online when I get around to it. Anyway here are some very bad pics taken with my point-n-shoot that I have no idea how to work. FTS including my DIY stand: Shot of the rock work which was my first attempt but I think I really like it: The next step is going to be a DIY canopy with prolly a 6 bulb T5 setup or maybe two 250w metal halides I dont know which way I want to go yet. Equipment: free 40g tank DIY 20Long sump with some really bad silicone work Mag 3 return Precision Marine PM150 skimmer Two little fishies phosban reactor Autotopoff.com ATO Unknown heater from my 24g Aquamedic 250w pendant but I am going to T5's or dual 250w in the near future

I run a 250 Phoenix 14k over my 24g aquapod. I run it for 10 hours and everything seems to be fine.

Is anyone ever going to buy that shark? That thing has been there for months.

I guess I think different than most because when i started this hobby I loved the simple answers. I hated asking a simple question and getting a two page answer that really didn't even answer my question.

well if its not a fact then show me one successful tank that uses tap water. Can it be used to start a tank? It can but I would not recommend it. Can it be used long term in a saltwater tank? Nope and thats a fact unless someone can prove me wrong.

Tap water has no place in this hobby! If you are going to do a saltwater tank you must use RO/DI ... no exceptions.

I am looking for a 20 long and also for a mag 7 or 9. please let me know what you have. Thanks!

If its not to late please add me to the order as well e-mail: [email protected] name: Josh Mills

Wow your phospates lookway high. You might try some gfo in a reactor to see if you can get than down

You mean they still makes phones other than iPhones