Any Eclipse users out there.
- Thread starter wfrost
- Start date
Fishfreak218
New member
You just need to ditch the stock lighting and the stock filtration.... get an Aquaclear on there and buy a retrofit kit
mister crabs
New member
I started in saltwater with a 25 gallon eclipse show tank and it failed miserably. the filtration pad and bio wheel are nothing but nitrate factories and the lighting is barely adequate for a FOWLR. Best bet is to return it wherever u got it from as they sell for around $100.00 and u can get a 12 gallon nano cube for only 30 bux more. it would cost u way more than 30 bux to make that eclipse anywhere near reef ready.
Zero-2-Sixty
New member
oh, come on guys, i have the eclipse 5 hex and i like it. the stock lighting does suck, just retro it. and i did managed to use the stock filter just fine, chaeto in the filterpad chamber and LR rubble in the bio-wheel chamber. just keep up on your water changes and i think their great.
mister crabs
New member
costs more to retro his 10gallon than to just buy a 12 gallon NCdx
Alas! they have allready set it upwith sand and saltwater and a heater, and some base rock. Any links to some modifications would be appreciated. I doubt any corral will ever go in to it, if so just some low light corrals. I do have some 18 watt pc's lying around somewhere, and had allready planned on ditching the bio-wheel and filter pad. Only planning on 1 fish, a clown Goby and maybe a shrimp and of course a clean up crew. Any suggestions will be appreciated also.
mister crabs
New member
ok then ditch the wheel and just put a a regular cheapo filter pad in there that u can replace often and put some chaeto in that bio wheel spot. May think about cutting some of the plastic in the bio wheel area and gluing some eggcrate in there so the chaeto gets some light.
mister crabs
New member
or put some sand and LR rubble into the filter pad spot....
Mr Sh0tgun
New member
I have an Eclipse 12 and I don't know what to think about it. I'm having trouble keeping the parameters stable, but the LFS where I bought mine has one on display that is loaded with mushrooms, has a few polyps and a spaghetti coral. It also has a true perc, and a black and white perc., along with a cleaner crew. It's stock and it's been running for a long time with no problems. But I've tried to mimic that tank, without much avail. So I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'm thinking about cutting out the back corner of the hood, removing the old filter and adding a millenium 1000, but I don't know how to get better lighting.
i used the hex 5 for a year with a damsel emerald crab 2 turbos and some live rock went well till the bloody crab ate everything and dies two weeks after. its my freshwater tank now. using an eclipse 10 with twin lighting doesnt seem too bad water chemical levels are good and im using the pad and bio wheel.
I have an eclipse 12 (acrylic), and I like it. I ditched the lighting and installed a 2x28W (13inch) retro. I just run stock carbon, but I would recommend ditching the filter so that you can center the lights (my lights are in the front to make room for stupid stock filter). I have kept all kinds of soft corals and LPS.
It isnt a bad tank at all. Have fun!
It isnt a bad tank at all. Have fun!
Mr Sh0tgun
New member
Yeah, I was wanting to change from stock lighting. Where did you get your kit?
spline9
New member
I'm sorry, but for those complaining about water quality, your aquarium is just a container. Be it a NanoCube, an Eclipse, a rubbermaid trash can, the water quality has everything to do with what you put in it and how you take care of it.
But back to the OP's main concern; He already has the tank and its set up. I dont think he can get nearly as much for it if he returned it now that its used. Theres nothing wrong with using it as a marine tank. All he needs to do is add a powerhead and as long as he maintains the tank, it should be fine. If he wanted better filtration, cut a hole in the back of the hood and add a powerfilter or a HOB skimmer if he was feeling adventurous. Problem solved.
If he wated to set it up as a reef, sure hes going to need to MacGuyver himself some better lighting but its not impossible and I dont think it'll cost him a fortune (especially considering he didnt pay for the tank in the first place). It can be done.
But back to the OP's main concern; He already has the tank and its set up. I dont think he can get nearly as much for it if he returned it now that its used. Theres nothing wrong with using it as a marine tank. All he needs to do is add a powerhead and as long as he maintains the tank, it should be fine. If he wanted better filtration, cut a hole in the back of the hood and add a powerfilter or a HOB skimmer if he was feeling adventurous. Problem solved.
If he wated to set it up as a reef, sure hes going to need to MacGuyver himself some better lighting but its not impossible and I dont think it'll cost him a fortune (especially considering he didnt pay for the tank in the first place). It can be done.
Break122704
New member
do something about the lithing, a reftrofit, in my opinion the lighting is poor
scoobasteve
New member
Well, being as the tank is already salt this advice is a moot point, but i am bored so i don't care. I had a 29g eclipse tank and yes they are great--if that is,,you are willing to remove every single thing that makes it an eclipse tank. The central strong point of the eclipse is that is an all inclusive system and it provides an unparrelled look of stealth. The hood looks awesome and it is so low profile. But that is where it stops. The filtration was crap on my tank. The water rushed right over the filter pad and not much was actually sperated from the water. I ended up adding a 96w PC retrofiit and then the overheating began. Even with the back section of the lid off and the main part of the hood open a few inches the tank was running at 88 degrees. The extra lighting started to produce algae growth on the filter pads, forcing me to change them every three days. Yes your tank, like mine was given to you. But even as gifts, saltwater eclipse systems are far from a free endevour. I just bought a 12g aquapod and so far i consider going from a 29g eclipse to a 12g aquapod to be a considerable upgrade.
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