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jamesbuf

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Posts posted by jamesbuf

    Question for Radium 20K users

    in General Discussion

    Looking to go back to metal halides over my 60gal cube. What ballast is best for this bulb? Was going to get an icecap or Coralvue electronic ballast, but I read that HQI are supposedly better. Why is this?

     

    Also, where is the best place to buy them? The prices have definitely gone up the last few years since I had to buy MH bulbs. They are $90 for the 250watt bulb on premiumaquatics!! Crazy!!!

    It has begun.. Marineland 200 DD & Stand

    in Dedicated Tank (Build) Forum

    Having LEDs myself, I can say that you might have a light spread problem if you go with LEDs only in such a wide tank. I have a 60gal cube and it's 2' front to back, and if I didn't supplement with T5s, my entire tank wouldn't be covered like I was with a single metal halide. You just don't get the spread you do from LEDs as compared to halides. You could probably get away with just the LEDs if you strategically placed your SPS, but your overall tank won't be very bight since the LEDs are focused. You could go with a few 4' long T5s to supplement. Just 2 additional 24" T5s singnificantly brightens up my 60gal, and the aquablue + actinic bulbs help to add alot of pop to the corals colors. I have a 150gal 3'X3' cube waiting to be setup and I've been pondering what I'm gonna do with lighting since its 3' deep like your tank. Definitely following along to see your outcome......

    skimmer

    in New to the Hobby

    I have that exact skimmer, and I used to use maxijet pumps as my feed pumps. If you want wet skimmate, use a maxijet 1200 as your feed pump. If you want dryer skimmate, use a maxijet 900.

    Waterproofing for inside a new canopy

    in General Discussion

    You can use a Rust-Oleum spar varnish, primer, and top coat for marine applications. This is what i did and they sell all the paint at both Lowes and Amazon. Here are a Amazon prices. You can get the top coat in other colors as well.

     

     

    This item: Rust-Oleum 207008 Marine Spar Varnish 1-Quart by Rustoleum $15.77

     

    Rust-Oleum 206999 Marine Topside Paint, White, 1-Quart by Rustoleum $14.63

     

    Rust-Oleum 207014 Marine Wood and Fiberglass Primer 1-Quart by Rustoleum $20.97

     

    So I'd have to use all of these right? Sorry, I'm a total newbie when it comes to wordworking

    Waterproofing for inside a new canopy

    in General Discussion

    I just built my new canopy for my 60gal and I want to paint the inside of the canopy to help it stand up to water damage. What paint or sealant should I use??? Also, my canopy is a plain old plywood veneer right now, and I want to stain/paint it black so it matches my black stand and tank trim. Should I just paint it with one of "glossy" paints, or should I stain the wood black and cover it with a clear coat? Obviously this is new to me, so any advice is much appreciated.

     

     

    Thanks everyone

    What's the deal with these biopellets??

    in General Discussion

    So I've seen more and more clones of the biopellets come out now. Does this mean the system actually works for reducing nitrates and phosphates, or are companies just hopping on the bandwagon on the latest product to make a buck? Has anyone used them in a reactor and had success with them?? Iunderstand the science behind it. Provide a carbon source so bacteria can thrive and reproduce, thereby consuming nitrates and phosphates, and then the bacteria gets removed by the skimmer. Let's here some real life experiences!!!!!

    My new Clowns!!!!

    in General Discussion

    Chris, I'm a certified lip reader. Pretty sure those clowns are trying to say they want to live in a tank with 5+ different types of anenomes to host in. Wonder where you can find a tank like that.............

     

     

    :biggrin:

    Ritteri anemones- experts I need some advice

    in General Discussion

    H. magnifica tends to wander looking for lighting and flow improvements.

     

    IME, they should be kept under a point light source like metal halides since this tends help keep them in a centrally located spot away from overflows, filter intakes, heaters, etc. I would avoid the even light distribution T5 situation unless you can accommodate the next two scenarios as well.

     

    I would also try to position them on some sort of pedestal away from the sides of tank. They should be forced to have to move downward at least 12" before reaching the bottom. Such a pedestal will again assist in keeping them in one location.

     

    Lastly, they appear to appreciate alternating flow across the top of the pedestal.

     

    Best of luck, they can be quite a handful for even the most experienced anemone keepers.

     

     

    Wow, you just described exactly how I have my Riteri setup. I agree with everything you stated. I had my anem wander a couple years ago and kill a bunch of corals. I used some PVC and designed a tower for the Riteri to perch on top of, completely separate from other rock and the glass. It loves the light intensity being that high up. It does wander on the top rock, but doesn't travel down the tower, partly because the top rock has a steep cliff/turn to make it down the tower. I have my Vortech on the blue pulse mode, creating a nice wave back and forth in my tank, and it seems to like this over any other settings.

     

    I have had this anem for close to 5 years now. I have had it under:

    Aquactincs 72" T5 only system

    400watt Radiums

    400watt Hamilton 14K

    250Watt Phoenix 14K

    150watt 10K XM

    and now its under a Solaris LED light.

    It has thrived under all of these lighting systems. I have noticed that flow has more to do with it's "happiness" than what light its under.

     

    Best of luck with your new purchases. Make sure you post some pics!!!!!

    Zoa killing sponges

    in General Discussion

    So I've got a few sponges that are starting to overtake a few zoa frags. I've keep the sponges at bay by periodically taking the frags out of the fragtank and letting them sit out in air. Doesn't hurt the zoas and the sponges seem to die off to a degree. I'm wondering what people do to keep the sponges at bay when they aren't able to take their zoas out of the tank?? Other than Angels (which are also knows to eat zoas), what creatures out there eat sponges??

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