Sanlynn
Premium Member
Hi, I have a 150-g aquarium in my garage still in packing box for 3 years since my move from NY. Now thinking of re-starting. We're not much of a DIY-ers, and will engage someone to re-plumb and help me start it up again. From what I can remember of my last experience, here's what I want to research to start over.
I would work toward building a reef tank with fish, lps and sps and clams.
Lighting...is cost the ONLY downside of LEDs such as Pacific Sun 160W (I would need master and 2 slave units to cover the 72" l, 18"w tank and about 32" deep.) I was reading a v. long thread on the color spectrum of a DIY LED project, but I am not sure the same complaints apply to the commercially-made units. I am attracted to the lower electric bills; no need to frequently replace expensive bulbs; the lack of heat generated; and no need for a chiller.
(I have an Orbit PC fixture packed away.)
While in the hobby in NY I was just starting to look at retrofitting somehow for a refugium. I was and remain (as if you can't tell) a newbie exploring this; anyone running a tank with this for filtration? I have limited space to the side and back of the tank so am wondering if it can be efficiently kept in the base of the stand.
Never had a calcium reactor and am wondering if that's a necessary addition for what I eventually want to house in the aquarium.
Other things I have packed away include: deluxe Reef Devil skimmer; Little Giant motor; 300 watt heater, 150# of dead live rock (yes, we actually moved this!); 4-watt UV sterilizer; bags of bio balls.
Hoping for advice on re-starting and to join the Alabama hobby community in continuing to learn about best practices.
Sanlynn
I would work toward building a reef tank with fish, lps and sps and clams.
Lighting...is cost the ONLY downside of LEDs such as Pacific Sun 160W (I would need master and 2 slave units to cover the 72" l, 18"w tank and about 32" deep.) I was reading a v. long thread on the color spectrum of a DIY LED project, but I am not sure the same complaints apply to the commercially-made units. I am attracted to the lower electric bills; no need to frequently replace expensive bulbs; the lack of heat generated; and no need for a chiller.
(I have an Orbit PC fixture packed away.)
While in the hobby in NY I was just starting to look at retrofitting somehow for a refugium. I was and remain (as if you can't tell) a newbie exploring this; anyone running a tank with this for filtration? I have limited space to the side and back of the tank so am wondering if it can be efficiently kept in the base of the stand.
Never had a calcium reactor and am wondering if that's a necessary addition for what I eventually want to house in the aquarium.
Other things I have packed away include: deluxe Reef Devil skimmer; Little Giant motor; 300 watt heater, 150# of dead live rock (yes, we actually moved this!); 4-watt UV sterilizer; bags of bio balls.
Hoping for advice on re-starting and to join the Alabama hobby community in continuing to learn about best practices.
Sanlynn