Well it's been sometime since I've been able to post or had anything worth posting. It is time to change some bulbs so I figured new T5's and a new halide in a few months would cost me about $175 why not just go with LED for a few dollars more. So I just ordered the Ecoxotic 17.5" LED system for my tank and can't wait for it to show up.
I went back and forth between the Ecoxotic and AI system but finally decided that I liked the look of the Ecoxotic better. The sticking point was really just the controller for AI but my fish and corals have done well without the slow transition from morning to daylight to dusk or a moon cycle so they will likely continue to do well without out those things. I liked the idea of the Ecoxotic being able to fold up out of the way for working on the tank. So basically here it was ascetics that won out. I'll post pictures after I get the lights next week.
I also have an update to my skimmer "overflow tank" system. While this overflow has worked great allowing me to take a few weeks between skimmer draining it does have it's flaws. Firs, when my ATO malfunctioned and filled the sump to within inches of the top it caused the skimmer to pump water into my overflow container. When that fills up the water just spills out the inlet hole - not good for the floor. To fix that I added a drain hole a little below the inlet hole so the water drains back into the sump. I know this works because my ATO malfunctioned again and no spills, at least not from the skimmer. Now to replace my ATO and add a switch that will, hopefully, cut it off when the sump reaches a certain level.
I'll post pictures of my overflow tank update as well as the lights next week.
Then it is time for a low nutrient system to help fight the little bit of red slime that just wont go away.
