kingfish

Nice set up... the fish are beautiful.

If I came across a Blue Wave 1 - 250watt Remote Ballast - Pulse for $75 new would you all recommend buying the ballast or spend the extra money and get electronic ballast?

Thank for the useful information you all.

thank everyone for the comments. I had those 5- 1.5 holes drilled in the tank for a closed loop system but I didn't think about a pump selection, all I knew is that I wanted a closed loop system. Can you all provide some recommendation? I'm look for flow higher than 2500 gph and low wattage if possible. I haven't start conducting my own research but I will within the next month or around christmas . I am sure I will be purchasing a 4 way ocean motion as I start to purchase equipment for my set up.

Is there any significant reason to select an electronic ballast over a pulse ballast? What would be a reasonable price for a single 250 W ballast? Im am considering a Blue Wave 1 - 250watt Remote Ballast - Pulse. Any information on this topic would be greatly appreicated.

On July 25th, I took possession of a 210 G acrylic tank from a the coworker of a close friend. The tank is 65L X 24W X 36H. The acrylic once inch thick. I hand NAGA drill and provide me with 5-1.5 inches holes for close loop. 1 return and 4 outputs. In preparation for this project, I decided that I wanted to have a drain source , water supply, exhaust fan, and a dedicated circuit in a close proximity to the tank therefore so I don

I'm curious, what's your distributed load in psi or lb/in? Have you already identified the stress location in the horizontial members. I expect to see higher stress along the very center of the top and bottom horizontal members. Leg compression or bulking was Negligible based on 2-d calculations. Why is the stress concentrated to what seems like one corner? Can I see a front view and top view so I can have a better look at your analysis? Nice work what software are you using?

Really just being sarcastic. Any engineer that can recall strength of material can perform the anaylsis. You can use stress strain calculation to design the stand or a residentail structural and framing book to get the formulas. I'm put together a speadsheet for my tank stand design. I got tired of using a calculator. If you can open the attached PDF you can see what I have done. You can get a copy of the spreadsheet if you want to plug in your number and I can check them if you don't understand. I tried to make the input simple as possible. For example: Based on my input, I can use either 2 X 6 or 2 X 8 for my horizontial members. FYI: I plan on post the detailing of efforts and project as I get further along. All structural components have but cut now I am in the process of assembling. Aquarium Stand Calculations for 210 gallon tank.pdf

Thank everyone for the feedback. Does anyone have any recommendations on SE vs DE pendants.

I am going to be in the market for some at least 2-250w mogul pendants and enough VHO lighting for a 65 in long tank. I plan on keep LPS and if any SPS they will be keep near the top of the tank. Tank 36 inches deep. Question: Pendants first, What is highly recommended? I don't want reflectors I want pendants so i can put them on a rail and have them exposed without being tacky but I will have a canopy. I decided against 400W because I figure that I don't need the excessive wattage, and heat generation. I will rely on coral placement if I purchase SPS. Followed by my plan to buy a third 250W pendant and second ballast if needed. I would like a brand recommendation for both a ballast and pendant fixture manufacture. I have too many choices and not enough knowledge but I want the metal halides. I see current, sunlight supply bluewave, hamiltion, Coralvue, etc. I got a headache. I can tell you all this, I am definitely looking for best value and I am not opposed to used. Right now I am doing my research before I pull the trigger. Come on experienced reefers give me that advice and/ or reference sources. I will give myself two weeks at minimum before I buy.

I had a good visit to piedmont plastic recently. They were helpful and open to walk ins when I visited a little over a month ago to get some weld on.

Under tank setup no more height to give. building tank stand to 36 in max

Since this skimmer discussion is hot, I am looking for best value for a 210 gallon tank. I plan on have a medium to heavy bioload. Based on the on going discussions I am leaning toward an asm G4+. I took into consideration power consumption, size (footprint and height) , and the feedback from various members. I don't have Deltec money to spend on a skimmer so best value it is. I want to use one skimmer. Any recommendations? My tank won't be up for at least another month or two. I will be buying everything except the tank over the next couple of months.

I would like external pump recommendations? I am look for the best value. Please provide recommendations based on experience along with a rationale for selecting the suggested pump. Tank size: 250 gallon tank Head height: 5 to 6 ft GPH range= 2500gph +/- 500 gph. (Internal pumps will be used to circulate water in tank as well) Priority: 1. Cost 2. Efficency 2. Flow rate 3. Reliability

thanks

Can someone provide the pro and cons of each method? I am puting together a 250 gallon set up so I am currently researching equipment. How much am I look to spend on a used setup? Over the life of use which will be the least costly to operate and maintain?

That's news to me. You can buy calcium cloride from home depo? What ratio do you add per a gallon based on increase desired? Are there any quality issues?

Anyone has any experience with this skimmer? Is this a solid skimmer good for a 250 gallon tank with heavy bioload potential? So many choice skimmers. I was told ASM is the best bang for the buck..at least for the G2. G5 is preety tall, at 35 inches. I plan on putting everything under my display tank. The stand will be built to accomadate equipment that I select over the next few months. Right now I'm putting in a drain, water outlet, and dedicate circuit forthe tank.

You know guys that avast skimmer looking pretty good. I like to build stuff and this seems easily enought to put together since I don't know how to fabricate acrylic yet. Like I said, yet, or at least i haven't tried. I will be going for a LPS tank with a heavy bioload (many fish). My budget? There is no budget, I didn't plan on this, a coworker of a friend basically gave it to me. Long story but at the end I am very thankful. I really don't want to spend a lot of money, so I will keep my eyes out for oppurtunity and my ability to fabricate. All I have at this time the tank, a berlin skimmer, and about 100 lbs of pink fiji sand. I also have a 90 gallon, that I've had for over 3 years. I will transfer everything over when set up. I am in no rush becuase i want this done right. The acrylic tank has 1 inch think wall. 64" Length / 24" width / 36'' Height. There is an overflow in the center of the tank. Tank is still crated. I need to buff out scratches. Product recommendation to remove scratches? I called NAGA but he hasn't returned my call yet. Right now what am I doing: within next two weeks 1. Have a dedicated circuit put in breaker box 2. a drain and water supply ran to tank location 3. Starting to design out stand to support the tank. Lights I am sure I want to go with MH and VHO. debating on 2-250W or 2-400W. Leaning towards 250W. Tank will be located in family room with a concreate floor. Skimmer question comes from me wanting get the best value. What is best value to me? Low power consumption and highly efficent. I am tanking the approach that I can select everything else around a good skimmer(s). I would like experienced reefers guidance and take even if it down to at least the top three skimmers I can select after that. Goal: Heavy bioload capable system with LPS and 4-6 inches sugar fine sand bed with easy detruis removal in main tank. Everything must fit under tank

I have a 250 tank. I need a recommendation on a protein skimmer. I'm looking for best value skimmer. I am considering both internal and external skimmers. Sump hasn't been built yet..

Help me out here

The following site provides a comprehensive explaination and it make sense. http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquar...dingProbes.html http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquar...calDetails.html There are several articles that recommend not using the ground probe. While using a ground probe can get you a zero or lower voltage reading in the tank the voltage problem is not solved and the fish are now get shock verse having a localized voltage issue i.e. around the heater. I got shock becuase i grounded out the system. GFCI is defintely a must.

I went to my tank yesterday and when I put my hand in the water I got a localized tingling sensation near a split cuticle on my hand. This was not painful but I am very cautions. Since I value my aquarium inhabitance health and my health even more, I ran a test on my system

Has anyone had experience with a fish that stops eating all of the sudden? I recently had a blenny scooter perish that ate ready when I first purchased him (aka Bennie Seigal RIP) . He would eat virtually anything Mysis shrimp, amipods, copods and pellet food. Over a period of time it seemed as if he could not swollow food. He would take the food in an spit it out as if he had a blockage of some sort in his digestive tract. At the end my fish straved to death. Does anyone have a clue what could possibly cause this to have occured and what can I do to prevent or stop something like this from happening again. if its medication I need let me know so I can purchase some. I quaritine my fish before i put them in my main tank.

thanks again. I'm still researching. I have been doing some research and the prices vary tremendously. I see D80 going from $499 to over $ 1000 for just the body. For example http://www.expocameras.com/prodetails.asp?...0&display=3 Is this a rip off or something. Something is a little phishy here! I was looking at the D40 but I was told that I would be limited to only digital lense. As far as a cannon SLR I was told the lens are more expensive. I will eventually go in the store after i have a clue what SLR body I want to look at. Right now based on what I was told and what I look at, I am look at starting with a D80 and a 60mm lense. Of course this will be a couple of months from now but I'm researching. Chime in...chime in...