24 Gallon Aquapod with 70W HQI

[Tihsho]

Looking to start a reef up. Not new to SW and know just a little on reef. Basically I came across a 24 gallon Aquapod with a 70W HQI with 12 lunar lights for a good price and was just doing some research on it before I go ahead and fork out the cash for it.

Basic concerns:

~Top offs from evap. from this tank will be about how much per day?
~Water changes as often as __days?
~Will the tank over heat from the heat the light produces? (I know these things pump out heat like an oven)
~Bioballs a good/bad thing for these units?
~Currents Fission Skimmer for the pods? Worth the $$ or not?

And that basically ends my questions.

Thankz for your time!

 

[binaryterror]

~My 24g Aquapod with 150w Sunpod evaps 1/4g or more per day
~Water changes probably once a week. Or once every 2 weeks.
~My 150w MH cooks my tank to about 83 and stays there. No probs
~Ditch the Bio-Balls and put activated carbon or somethign similar
~Fissions are a POS. Dont waste your $. Collects nothing but water.

I would suggest looking into the new Nano Remora, or the Tunze Nano skimmer. But you shouldn't have any problems with the heat from the light. Good luck, and what is the price for it if I may ask? If it is a reasonable price, I would say go for it!

 

[Tihsho]

How much of a water change should be done? 25% or so just like for any tank? I know the sunpod you have is higher wattage than the one I am looking at, 83 degrees sounds too high... is it not?

The price I was offered at work (work at a LFS) was $295 or so, didn't seem like a bad deal if i say so myself.

About tha nano remora, it it as sensative as the normal ones? I have another remora model on my eel tank and that thing is veeerrry reactive.

 

[hifoo]

I have a 24gal 70watt,

I usually add 1/2 gallon of water every 3-4 days, so evap isnt all that bad. Do about 2 gallon water change every week. I never put in the bio-balls, I have live rock rubble and activated carbon in the back chamber. My temps hover between 77.5-79 degrees. I think its a very nice tank, I got mine for 299 so 295 is a good price too =).

 

[Dirtball]

Tihsho, I have the same tank as you do and my temp this summer has run around 80 to 83. Every body I talked to just said to try and keep it at a 3 degree change. I run a fan on mine to keep it cooler. My water evaps more but I cant aford a chiller and it has done great. I also do a 5 gallon water change every week. Good luck with your tank.

 

[noschmo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7886194#post7886194 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by binaryterror
~My 24g Aquapod with 150w Sunpod evaps 1/4g or more per day
~Water changes probably once a week. Or once every 2 weeks.
~My 150w MH cooks my tank to about 83 and stays there. No probs
~Ditch the Bio-Balls and put activated carbon or somethign similar
~Fissions are a POS. Dont waste your $. Collects nothing but water.

I would suggest looking into the new Nano Remora, or the Tunze Nano skimmer. But you shouldn't have any problems with the heat from the light. Good luck, and what is the price for it if I may ask? If it is a reasonable price, I would say go for it!

He is correct on on scores. I would add that a small investment in some of the excellent marine fish books would be well advised rather than relying on everyone here to answer all your questions.

 

[Tihsho]

Glad to read all the responses. Yes, I have been doing some outside reading too.

ATM I'm just gonna set it up (water, LR and LS) and let the pump and all run for a few weeks.

Stocking wise I was planning on a cleaner shrimp (or 2), some peppermint shrimp, some sort or star (researching a little), a glown goby, dwarf hawk fish and a lawn mower blenny.

Coral wise I was looking at some zoas, mushrooms, xenia, SPS, and maybe a brain.

 

[Tihsho]

What are the major params that need to be tested? How often?

 

[Tihsho]

*bump*