Carl

Should I put a gallon full strength vinegar in it, and swish? Or do I put 50 gallons of water, and 2 gallons of vinegar...and let it sit for a couple of days?

I've acquired a 55 gallon drum that was used to hold Malted Barley...The molassas-type Barley easily cleaned off the drum with soap and water, but It still has a smell of Barley...how do I clean it further before using it for holding water? Gallon of bleach? -Carl

Matt - so it's possible to to run 2x54w bulbs from a 96w ballast? -Carl

I have two, double-96w PC lights w/ ballasts and all wiring. I got them from Marine Scene several years ago, and have been very happy with them. Now, I'd like to convert them to T5's. Has anyone done this? and if you have, can you point me in the right direction? The 46.5 inch T5's would easily fit in the my 49 inch hood. -Carl

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/fm/feature/index.php Some background reading...may or may not answer your questions...

I had a great yellow tang in my 60 gallon tank for 6 years. She got along fine with a pygmy angel, blue chromis, a pair of percula clowns, and a flame hawk. -Carl

http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/product...02e591fe61a7e0b Any experience with one of these? -Carl

Great to see you this afternoon. Glad to hear that things are progressing, and that nothing leaks!!!

I have a 150g glass tank - 72x27x18 if you're interested. It's in good shape, but could use some re-caulking in spots. -Carl

Thanks for all your feedback...it sounds like 75w and 400w are out. It's either 175w or 250w. Like Steve said, I have 3 openings over 8'3", plus an additional 9 inches being a full-side-overflow. So if I go MH, it will be 3 bulbs. Dave - I'm looking forward to your experiment...keep me posted. And I assume I'll be able to grow "something" if I use 250w mh...at least some stuff toward the top...and I'll have to find some shrooms that like it dark toward the bottom. James - trying to conserve energy and electricty cost...if I"m going to put fish in there that destroy corals - like triggers - I won't be successful with corals...so I just assume use less electricity with the 175 vs the 250. What I think I'll do, is set the tank up...and after I have water in it...borrow someone's 175w and/or 250w for a day or so to see how it looks. In the meantime, I will continue to accumulate equipment. Although, I've had bad luck trying to purchase that Sequence Barracuda...twice now...

I'm working on it...I'm keeping my eye out for 3 used MH lights for the tank. I keep seeing 400w for sale...but I think that will be way too much for what I need. I'm trying to figure out if I can get away with 70w or 175w, so I can purchase them!

Who has a large FOWLR with low lighting, and perhaps some MH shimmer as well? I want to have relatively low light, in a tank that is 36 inches tall (by 9 feet) . I also would like some MH shimmer. What is the least amount of light I can use? Could I get away with 3 70w MH lights? plus 4x4 supplemental VHO's or 4-6 t5's?. Would 3 175w MH lights be enough? -Carl

Prior post updated!!

I am still VERY curious how many holes have folks successfully put in the back glass of their 75 glass tank? one hole? two? five? more? -Carl

I believe the bottom is tempered, and the sides not tempered...so I think I"m good there. The additional glass bracing sounds like a logical idea...alhtough not sure if silicone alone would actually be strong enough without flexing to make a difference. And running the CL over the top is what I'd fall back to...drill the two top "skimming holes", and one feed to the pump on the CL, then put all four returns from the CL pump up and over the top of the tank... But I would be so excited to actually not see any pipes at all!!!

Grav, Byron, and others have suggested that I could reuse my ballasts to go t-5 as well. I guess I'll be going that direction, and getting the new endcaps at BRK next time I'm up that direction. Thanks for your help GRAV Steve and rioreef

I assume then, it is possible to get new harnessing, and change my icecap 660 to work with t-5's? -Carl

What would you use on a 75 if you had to choose between the two? IceCap Ballast 660 with 4 bulbs - FR 48T12/VHO (not sure how many watts this is???) (All of these would go on and off at the same time each day - one ballast) or 4 bulbs x 96w Power Compacts. (Each of the bulbs has it's own ballast, and can turn on/off individually)

That's what I'm worried about... I know folks drill holes...and I presume there are a bunch of 75's out there...so curious what folks have done...and not have a blown-out tank. Steve O - how many holes did you drill in the back of yours? Was it glass?

Yes, all of the holes I'm considering are in the back wall of the tank, not the bottom. I'm also thinking that all the holes will be at least 1/2 way up from the bottom, so worst case scenario, when Murphy hits, I'd only lose 1/2 the water onto my floor, not all of it. And if I had to replace a bulkhead, I'd have to empty 1/2 the tank, not all of it.

What is the Stingray pump? Or is that the Manta Ray? -Carl

I could re-phrase the question... Who has the most drilled holes in a 75 gallon glass tank...and the tank is still holding water!

I'd like to drill my 75 for a closed loop and for skimming. How many holes are too many? when do I start worrying about the integrity of the glass? Here is what I'm thinking - all holes in back glass of tank. - 2, 1.5 inch holes near the top to skim, then feed into the sump (return to tank over top) - 2, 1 inch holes 1/2 way down the back, to return from CL pump - 1, 2 inch hole to drain out of tank, into CL pump Would drilling the holes near the middle of the glass cause more stress than towards the sides or the edges? 'preciate your input. -Carl

Jeff - Sounds like you have the water and pumps humming along - great to hear! When do you start making RO/DI water? Have you figured out where you'll get the rock yet? -carl

I'm waiting as well to see some mainfolds...