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Mermaid
February 5th 04, 04:58 PM
Hey I managed to convert my sump to a fuge. I got my husband to cut some
plexi and made a section taller. Put 3" of live sand in bottom with caulerpa
and rock on a second layer grid not touching the sand. Next section has sand
and caulerpa in it. Last section has my skimmer and the return pump in it.
You would not believe the difference in my tank. It was almost overnight the
change in my inverts and the HA is almost gone. Poor crabs are really having
to look for something to eat. My GSPs are opening up for which I have not
seen in about a month. Was getting worried that I might lose them. I did a
water change at the same time I did the conversion. I have cut back on how
much I feed my fish too. The skimmer is working much better. Wish I had room
to put my heater down there but there simply is not enough room unless I
back off on how much caulerpa I put in there. By a recommendation I am
having to leave my light on underneath my tank 24/7. The only problem with
that is my evaporation has increased. I am using a twisted fluorescent bulb
with a clamp on metal shade lamp. I even have my kalk going and dripping in
an area underneath that has a lot of flow. It just blows me away how much
difference has taken place over the last days. I converted it about a week
and a half ago. I am even seeing pods for the first time! Looks like
everyone is happy and I am ready to add to my collection. I appreciate your
encouragement and confidence to just go ahead and do it and not listen to my
friend at the LFS. I think he needs to catch up on some things.

Anyway. I have pictures but have not loaded them on the computer yet. Will
let you know.

Thanks a whole lot!
Paulette

Marc Levenson
February 6th 04, 07:05 AM
Paulette, sounds like everything is working perfectly! Btw, I got a new bulb
over my refugium. It is yellow, but I was able to get rid of the reflector, and
the bulb cost me $10 at Home Depot. It still only uses 29w, and puts out 75w,
and it is on 24 hours a day as well.

http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0104/new_bulb.jpg

It is yellow because it is 5100K vs the 6500K I've been using. However, my
macros don't seem affected badly at all, and it has been almost 2 weeks since I
installed it.

Please do post some pictures or the links ot the pictures when you can.

Marc


Mermaid wrote:

> Hey I managed to convert my sump to a fuge. I got my husband to cut some
> plexi and made a section taller. Put 3" of live sand in bottom with caulerpa
> and rock on a second layer grid not touching the sand. Next section has sand
> and caulerpa in it. Last section has my skimmer and the return pump in it.
> You would not believe the difference in my tank. It was almost overnight the
> change in my inverts and the HA is almost gone. Poor crabs are really having
> to look for something to eat. My GSPs are opening up for which I have not
> seen in about a month. Was getting worried that I might lose them. I did a
> water change at the same time I did the conversion. I have cut back on how
> much I feed my fish too. The skimmer is working much better. Wish I had room
> to put my heater down there but there simply is not enough room unless I
> back off on how much caulerpa I put in there. By a recommendation I am
> having to leave my light on underneath my tank 24/7. The only problem with
> that is my evaporation has increased. I am using a twisted fluorescent bulb
> with a clamp on metal shade lamp. I even have my kalk going and dripping in
> an area underneath that has a lot of flow. It just blows me away how much
> difference has taken place over the last days. I converted it about a week
> and a half ago. I am even seeing pods for the first time! Looks like
> everyone is happy and I am ready to add to my collection. I appreciate your
> encouragement and confidence to just go ahead and do it and not listen to my
> friend at the LFS. I think he needs to catch up on some things.
>
> Anyway. I have pictures but have not loaded them on the computer yet. Will
> let you know.
>
> Thanks a whole lot!
> Paulette

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