Thanks Kevin, I have been looking for someone with an old SeaClear ll, 65 gallon, like I bought from Craigslist three months ago. I see that you glued acrylic at the bottom of the areas 4&5 (closing the opening between final bio-ball area and pump area); I wondered how you kept the sand from being sucked out under that area. We are thinking along the same track, but I have only been at it for three months so far. I have a few questions:
1.) If I turn area 3&4 into a refugium by putting sand in area 3 and coarse gravel or small live rock rubble in area 4, then do you think that I could avoid gluing acrylic over the opening between 4&5, perhaps preventing air from being sucked into the pump area when the water level dropped?
2.) There is a small area (area 2), about 20 inches deep, two inches wide and 12 inches long. What is the most logical use for that small space?
3.) I am currently using two small fans under the hood to reduce the temp. when I run my four 40 watt each florescents and the 50+ watt actinic. If I increase the ballast and replace the 48" flourescents with VHO, is there such an increase in temperature that I will require increased cooling methods such as a "chiller"? (expensive) - Gr8Mikey
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........|.............................| Kevin's SeaClear ll diagram.