Need input on light/tank selection
- Thread starter skirossi
- Start date
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11568982#post11568982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
I've got an overflow. Its a horizontal overflow. Its 24" wide, 4.5" tall, and 6 inches deep I think. Its in my tank now but I'll be putting in a thinner one soon. If you're interested, let me know and you can have it. I would rather give it away than throw it away.
Brandon
Brandon,
Thank you, I am definitely interested in it! I am wondering though, if it's a HOB or will I need to drill the tank to use it? I may have forgot to mention the type I was interested in is the "U" style (weir?) like on melev's reef. Like this( the pic is about half way down w/ the grass in the background) : http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/routing.html Is it clear acrylic, and do you have any pics of it? Thanks again!
Chuck
Siffy, thanks for posting up the pics, I see what you mean about too much rock! I'm a long ways from having that large a volume of rock in the tank, especially now that I have the 40B!
gsusfreak, thanks for the heads up on the light, I'm not sure it's what I'm needing right now, I'm curious about it, but am waiting for more info from him. I'm still gonna talk to Cee at the swap about DIY MH that is pretty budget minded and hope that'll get me in the door for less $$. I'm a little apprehensive about drilling, but don't want to spend the $25 a hole I've heard mentioned on here. I guess I'll have to talk to Terry/Terrie and see if we can't do it at a meeting or something. I definitely don't want the risk of having a flood, the tank will be in my living room and I just put in hardwood floors last year, I can't ruin that!
Thanks for the advice!
gsusfreak, thanks for the heads up on the light, I'm not sure it's what I'm needing right now, I'm curious about it, but am waiting for more info from him. I'm still gonna talk to Cee at the swap about DIY MH that is pretty budget minded and hope that'll get me in the door for less $$. I'm a little apprehensive about drilling, but don't want to spend the $25 a hole I've heard mentioned on here. I guess I'll have to talk to Terry/Terrie and see if we can't do it at a meeting or something. I definitely don't want the risk of having a flood, the tank will be in my living room and I just put in hardwood floors last year, I can't ruin that!
Thanks for the advice!
gsusfreak
New member
MH would be cool especially if its cheap....i decided against it strickly because bulb replacements range from 6-9 months, the bulbs are pricey, and too much heat for my liking (my family prefers cold over hot).......a 4 bulb T5 setup over a 40B will be able to keep just about anything (yes, SPS and clams)...T5's are less expensive, have longer bulb life, and runs cool....many people in our club has had experiences with T5.....hope that info helps a little.....(i am in no way trying to steer you away from MH, just trying to inform from what ive read/research)
dborowsk
New member
Glasscages.com will probably be at the swap or are not too far from you. They have a 40 long 36 x 18 x 13 tank for $70. A very reasonable price. The $1 per gallon tank sales at big box pet stores usually only include the normal 10 and 12 inch depth tanks. Plus, they would add your overflow and holes for bulkheads, safely for an additional cost.
I agree the deeper front to back tanks are easier to landscape. A built-in overflow has worked better for me than a hang-on overflow. 36 inch tanks have higher powered lights. 30 inch lights are usually the same wattage as those made for 24 inch tanks with a longer box to house them in. Buy a light fixture or do-it-yourself, you will have several choices for sufficient lighting for softies or LPS.
Live rock is good to a point. Remember you want your corals to grow and be happy. Too much live rock leaves less room for growth, plus many corals you might purchase come on a piece of live rock already.
I agree the deeper front to back tanks are easier to landscape. A built-in overflow has worked better for me than a hang-on overflow. 36 inch tanks have higher powered lights. 30 inch lights are usually the same wattage as those made for 24 inch tanks with a longer box to house them in. Buy a light fixture or do-it-yourself, you will have several choices for sufficient lighting for softies or LPS.
Live rock is good to a point. Remember you want your corals to grow and be happy. Too much live rock leaves less room for growth, plus many corals you might purchase come on a piece of live rock already.
gsusfreak, after seeing the setup chadfarmer has for sale that's the way I'm leaning, as long as there's a way to mount them in a hood then I will likely get them from him. I've also been looking at the nova T5 extremes since they are fairly budget minded.
Brandon, thanks, I look forward to seeing pics of it. After gsusfreak mentioned that drilling would be safer to help avoid a flood I think I'm sold. I just hope it's not too hard to do as I can't afford to break it!
dborowsk, thanks for the advice. I bought a 40 breeder yesterday! It's 36 x 18 x 16, so there's plenty of room for landscaping. I don't have nearly enough lr right now, but I'm curious to see all of mine setup in it. Some time after the swap I'll get it going. From what I had read about the 30" lights they are just 24" bulbs that are offset to span the whole 30". You have a very good point about some frags coming on lr, I'll have to keep that in mind for the future, thanks.
Brandon, thanks, I look forward to seeing pics of it. After gsusfreak mentioned that drilling would be safer to help avoid a flood I think I'm sold. I just hope it's not too hard to do as I can't afford to break it!
dborowsk, thanks for the advice. I bought a 40 breeder yesterday! It's 36 x 18 x 16, so there's plenty of room for landscaping. I don't have nearly enough lr right now, but I'm curious to see all of mine setup in it. Some time after the swap I'll get it going. From what I had read about the 30" lights they are just 24" bulbs that are offset to span the whole 30". You have a very good point about some frags coming on lr, I'll have to keep that in mind for the future, thanks.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Here ya go, man...
Post-installation:
Pre-installation:
Its not hard at all to drill the tanks. Just tanks patience (IE, just don't rush through it
).
Here's a popular guide: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603816
Brandon
Brandon
Post-installation:
Pre-installation:
Its not hard at all to drill the tanks. Just tanks patience (IE, just don't rush through it
).Here's a popular guide: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603816
Brandon
Brandon
gsusfreak
New member
hello again chuck....lol....yes, those lights can be mounted in a hood....all you have to do is unscrew the endcaps and mount them in a hood however you like....he probably decided to mount them to some pieces of wood and have them hung from the ceiling
oh yea, about drilling....make sure to practice before going ahead with the 40.....go buy a $10 10-gallon tank, and practice on that(of whatever tank you decide for the sump).....a 10gal has really thin glass so if you do that successfully, you should be able to do a 40 just fine........just remember to let the drill/dremel do the work, so dont add extra pressure
oh yea, about drilling....make sure to practice before going ahead with the 40.....go buy a $10 10-gallon tank, and practice on that(of whatever tank you decide for the sump).....a 10gal has really thin glass so if you do that successfully, you should be able to do a 40 just fine........just remember to let the drill/dremel do the work, so dont add extra pressure
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11579214#post11579214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
Unfortunately I don't think that I will. I'm not going to have time this week (with school starting back) to do it. I'm hoping to do it the weekend after the swap.
Brandon
No biggie, I still have to build the stand so it's not like I'll be waiting on the overflow.
I'm starting back to school on Tuesday so I will be feeling your pain. I am sure it's going to slow my progress with the stand.skirossi, I got a stand for a 40 breeder if you dont wanna build one. Here's the thread I just updated....
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1237880
Brandon, is that the frogspawn you got from me in that pic? The one the clowns are around? If so, it never looked that full in my tank. Nice.
Steve
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1237880
Brandon, is that the frogspawn you got from me in that pic? The one the clowns are around? If so, it never looked that full in my tank. Nice.
Steve
I'll probably post up pics of the build after it's complete, but you're more than welcome to swing by the house when you're in the area. It's only a few minutes away from where we met, your truck would make it no problem. Nice score on the 30 gal cube! If that had been available before I bought the 40 I probably would have gotten it.
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