Folta

Erik, are you looking to take Gadgets place? No one else has spoken up yet, and Craig (who was first on the list) won't be able to take his place. If you both agree to it, I'm fine with the swap

You should have knocked a wall out and gone bigger I am having my first experience using T5's - they are really bright, especially with the individual reflectors! I also like the coloring with my bulb configuration - alittle bit on the blue side of white Good luck with the new tank Larry!

Bumping this to the top again. Everyone will need to buy one powerhead of their choice that will pump around 200 gph. I will be using a maxijet 900 for mine, for example. And, again is there anyone that can check a lowes (or a local hardware store near you) for 3/8" cpvc? I'm having trouble finding this part (we need a single 10' section).

I'm sorry all, I think I created some confusion with the way I stated things for replacements. In the build party thread, I have listed 'confirmed' people, and 'in queue'. The way I meant this to be is that the confirmed people are responsible for paying for their parts. If, however, one is not able to attend, it is their responsibilty to make sure that someone takes their place (ie. makes sure I get the money for the parts and either has a warm body at the party to take their place, or pick up their pieces at a later date). First in line of course should be those 'in queue', in this case Craig should be the first to be able to step up, if he can arrange it with the person who will not be able to make it (in this case, Gadgets). I do, however want both the person who isn't going to be able to make it, as well as the person who is stepping up to take their place (Again, in this case that would be Gadget and Gator) to send me a PM, so that I don't get stuck with the "I thought so and so would be taking my place" and "I didn't know I was going to be able to make a reactor so I didn't come to take your place" scenario. If you are not on the list on the first post of the Kalk Build Party thread, please make a post to that thread to be added to the list as someone who would like to be in queue in case anyone else drops. A note to everyone who will be attending the build: Chip (flowerseller) has only received PM's from a few people. If you do not have his address yet, please send him a PM as soon as you can to get the info! If there's still any confusion, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks, Tim

Ok, a little update. The local home depot to me does not carry 3/8" cpvc. We will need a 10 ft. section of this for the build party. Does anyone who will be coming live close to a lowes that can pick this up for the party? 10' section of 3/8" cpvc (cream color is fine). Another note. Everyone will need to purchase a powerhead of their choice for the reactor. Something in the range of 200 gph. I plan to use a Maxijet 900, but this is up to each person to decide what they want. We will be meeting at Chip Frederick's house at 10:00 am sharp on Sunday, January 8th (thats this Sunday coming up!). Please PM Chip for his info (phone, address, whathaveyou). Again, if someone can stop by a lowes for the 3/8 cpvc, that would be awesome (just please send me a pm).

Jeff, I just talked to chip and he mentioned that, that is awesome! Send me a pm with how much the materials cost for those. 143 Gadgets, we will save your parts for you. I asked everyone to confirm that they could come because I don't want to get stuck with paying for extra parts. However, if you make a personal arangement with someone to take your place, that is fine with me as long as both of you send me a pm and let me know. The way I'm looking at it, everyone on that list is who I have bought parts for; if you cannot make it to the party, you will still owe me for the parts. (You just will have to arrange a time to pick the parts up). Tim

This heat stuff is the equivalent of a product like kent turbo calcium?

How much sand do you have? I am setting up a 180 and need to get some sand still. Maybe we can work something out, if you have enough? I'm also interested in some critters (hermits and snails). Tim

I just put my t5's up on my 180 tonight, and they are bright! I can't wait to see the corals under them!

Just to give an update, I'm in the process of gathering the components for our build! I'll let you know the grand total (and what each will owe me) when I have all the necessary items. One more week!

Ok, I still haven't bought my skimmer. Thinking one of these two: ASM G4x Skimmer recirc mod gate valve mod -- vs. -- My Reef Creations MR-2 Skimmer Mag 18 (or other recommendation?) feed pump Prices are pretty much identical for them. Which is better quality, and skims better?

Thanks for the links and info guys. I'm going to try to push my calcium up to 400 and my alkalinity up to 10 dkH. Looking into the tank today, I think the kalk is having a positive effect - the montiporas in particular are starting to show growth once again (the ends are becoming whiter). They typically are the first to show growth. Also the tort looks like its doing quite well... we'll see how things are when I get the levels up.

Up until about two weeks ago, for a period of about a month and a half, I had really good sps growth rates. Then it started dwindling. At this time, my calcium test (salifert) came in, and I checked the calcium level. It was @ ~ 270. I bought some kalk, and have been dosing that into the tank with the top off water. After a week and a half of this, I checked kalk levels, and it was @ ~ 300. I mixed up some new saltwater for a water change today, and took a calc reading on this mix (after its been stirring a few hours to be completely disolved). It's calc level was only around 350. I was expecting it to be a little bit higher than that. What level should I am for to keep the calc at? I have about 10 small sps pieces right now, and plan to add more with the 180. I'd like to get a good growth rate (of course). I have not yet added any kalkwasser to the saltwater I plan to put in for the water change. Should I? My tank specs: Temp - 81 degrees Ph 8.3 Salinity 1.025 Alk 8.0 Calcium 300

Very true Jon, that crossed my mind after I made my last post. The plan is to buy a sheet of acrylic that should be more than enough - both for the reason you said, and in case we screw any pieces up we will have a little extra.

jimcroce21 (Garrett), You have been bumped onto the list! Sam, since you couldn't confirm I had to bump you to the bottom of the list. Garrett, please confirm that you will be able to attend on Sunday, January 8th for the build party!

haha! well, we'll see how much I like it!

Ok, I placed my order. I got the following: (2) Tek Fixtures, 39w 36" 6-bulb @ $280.95 each............................. $561.90 (6) Geiseman Aquablue t5 39w 36" bulbs @ $17.83 each................... $106.95 (4) Geiseman Blue Plus t5 39w 36" bulbs @ $18.00 each................... $72.00 (2) Geiseman Sun t5 39w 36" bulbs @ $18.00 each........................... $36.00 (1) Shipping: FREE Total Cost: $776.85. This is about $250 less than the MH that I would have gone with, so I'm happy about that. I also like the fact that I'll be able to fool around with bulbs until I get the color and placement that I want. I've ordered this stuff from Seeds Etc, a seemingly small company. I spoke with them on the phone over the course of the week. Very polite, and took the time with me to discuss the bulbs, including showing me the spectragraphs on their website. He also told me that if I ever need to buy 4 or more 'cases' (6 bulbs I believe is considered a case, hence the slightly lower price on the aquablue bulbs). I told him about being a member of wamas, and that we just might be taking him up on that offer in the future. We'll see how the order works out, as these seem to be great prices on these fixtures and bulbs. :D

I've been talking with the guy who runs simply acrylic. He said its not a problem to cut the 6" acrylic tubes into 2 foot sections as opposed to 3 foot. Should I ask if he can cut the squares and circles? Or should just total up what size sheet we will need for all those mats (plus a few extra for mistakes)? The last 12' clear pvc was in your list above, so I thought we needed it for something. No? Just the 6" tube and the squares and circles? A sheet that would cover the 8.5" x 8.5" squares (27 of them) would need to be 5 squares by 6 squares (with 3 extras). 8.5" x 5 = 42.5" 8.5" x 6 = 51" so we would need a sheet thats 42.5" x 51" x 3/8" The 2" x 3" squares, 36 of them, 6x6 grid: 2" x 6 = 12" 3" x 6 = 18" 12" x 18" = 216 square inches the leftover squares from the first ones are 8.5" x 8.5" x 3 = 216.75 square inches. Sounds close, however as the squares are 2" x 3", neither one of these dimensions will fit into the extra 8.5" x 8.5" extras just right. We could increase the size of that initial sheet of acrylic, which would also give us some extra in case of any screw ups. Chip, I'll give you a call later on tonight and we can discuss.

Chip, as far as the acrylic needs, can you fill in the 'x's' : (9) 6" x 5-3/4" (24" long) clear extruded acyrlic tubes (9) 8.5" x 8.5" (x" thick) black acyrilic squares (18) 8.5" diameter (x" thick) black acyrilic circles (these can be 8.5" x 8.5" squares if circles can't be done) (36) 2" x 3" acylic squares (what color??) (x) 3/8" x 1/4" (x" long) clear pvc (can this be acyrlic tube??) need how thick the square and circles are, what color (if we care about it) for the 2" x 3" squares, and how many and what length each clear pvc segment should be. Send me a pm with all that (I sent you a few pm's, but put it here too so you have all my questions in one place)

Ok, I'm not sure I quite follow how many of each bulb type... I want the left and right sides to be the same. So... Front Blueplus Aquablue Blueplus Aquablue Sun Aquablue Back? So 3 aqua blue bulbs, 2 blue plus bulbs, and 1 sun bulb per fixture?

Added you to the list on the first page

What do the different bulbs rate as, if they were considered in terms of kelvin... what I mean is, in MH you chouse 10,000k, 14,000k, 20,000k.... aquablue = 20,000K? blueplus = 20,000k? etc?

Ok, so the Sun bulbs aren't required to get the good growth? dhoch, I believe the fixutres are double switched... inside bulbs and outside bulbs.

Ok, I've made my decision. I'm going to try out t5's. part of the reason is from this thread: Coral Growth Under T5's - Amazing growth in the pictures people provided (of course there are other factors, but this thread shows that the lighting in a 6 bulb fixture is enough for corals to grow really well). Second factor, is that for the MH's that I planned to get it would come to a total of $1027.00, and that is before mounting (would have to build a canopy, which I don't want to have, or get brackets, etc), compared to around $700 for a pair of 36" tek fixtures with 12 bulbs. What I need help with still, is the bulb choices. # Blue Actinic Plus or Blue: 39 watt 36 inch-$18.00 per lamp Sun: 39 watt 36 inch-$18.00 per lamp Aquablue: 39 watt 36 inch-$19.00 per lamp Pure Actinic Plus or True Actinic: 39 watt 36 inch-$21.50 per lamp Could someone help me figure out a good configuration for the 6 bulb fixtures? I'm going for a 'white with a very slight blue tint', with hopefully some fluourescing. For example: Front Sun Aquablue Pureactinic Sun Aquablue Pureactinic Back -- or -- Front Aquablue Aquablue Sun Sun Aquablue Aquablue Back At this point, I really have no idea what bulbs will give me the color I want. And the last point that made me decide on the t5's : If I get them and don't like them, the Tek Fixture will be easier to sell than put together MH's.

We're only planning on one build party, that will be on January 8th. I can add you to the wait list if you'd like though.