spykey

Thanks for all the replies. I should have given a little history on my tank to avoid this confusion. This 75 gallon tank has been set up for years (8 or 9 years). I've changed lights several times. I've had T5's over this tank ( 3 T5 and 2 VHO). I've had Two 175's and 2 NO, and have had 4 VHO's over this tank. I am looking to do something a little different. Thats why I asked if anyone did this. I am looking to Reef on the cheap!!

I was thinking of doing Normal output because of the price of the bulbs ($5). The last I checked VHO's were $30. Has anyone been successful using normal output bulbs on a Icecap 660?

I currently have 2 175 (10K) metal halides over my tank. I was thinking of changing my lighting to 1 Actinic VHO and 3 40 watt 6500K normal output florescent lights (from Home depot). NO lights will be overdriven by an Icecap 660. Do people still overdrive Normal output lights with success? Is anyone in the club doing this? I do not currently have any hard corals in my tank, but will soon have some LPS. Larry

I kinda new to the area. Could someone help me out. What's the best place in the area to purchase 54watt HO bulbs without getting raked over the coals. I live in Rockville. Thank you

The last time I started a tank I used southdown playsand and seeded it with sand from an established tank. Does anyone know where I can get southdown sand or cheap live aragonite sand locally?

Does anyone have fish store recomendations in the Rockville area?

My profile is updated. I will PM you soon fishwife. I was hoping to hear from some locals.

I live in Derwood, MD. Ironically, Julius West is my son's school.

My Name is Larry (Spykey), a new member of WAMAS. I recently moved into this area from New Jersey where I am a member of NJ Reefers Club, Philadelphia Area Reef Club (PARC), and North Central Pennsylvania Aquarium Reef Society (NCPARS). I attended a WAMAS meeting several years back when you invited Eric Bornman(sp?) to speak. I also met some WAMAS members during MACNA in Crystal City, VA. I currently have 2 tanks. (180 and 75) In NJ both were reef tanks. I am really looking forward to going to the meeting in Rockville on the 16th. I hope to meet many of you there. I am starting out (with live stock) from scratch, and I am currently looking to buy macro algae (cheto and grape calurpa with copepods living in it), live sand, and a little live rock to seed my currently dead rock. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.