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Old May 9th 09, 09:14 PM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs
olddog
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Posts: 5
Default New (used) 75gal reef aquarium

http://www.safaricabs.com/IMG_1785.jpg

http://www.safaricabs.com/IMG_1782.jpg

48" 75gal temp. glass tank
AquaC Remora Pro Hang-On Protein Skimmer 75gal cap.
Eheim 2213 Canister Filter (sponges and charcoal only)
3 Hydor Koralia Circulation Pumps
48 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x54W w/ Timers & LED
5 fish (one large) and one shrimp.

Combined my 55, 29 & 29 gal tanks into one 75 gal

I moved everything over 2 months ago but the light didn't come in so I was
using a 36" cf light combined with a Wal-Mart plant florescent light while I
waited for my 48" light.

Just got the light and I'm impressed. The fan does make some noise. The
led's are excellent and come white with removable blue caps (very cool). I
thought I wouldn't like the integrated lights but it is nice only dealing
with one cord. The lights are HO and they aren't kidding. I thought maybe
too much light at first but the corals and the fish responded right away. My
brain coral may even come back to life. We thought we killed our shrimp but
with the new lights I can see him in the rocks.

Some media in the skimmer effluent (white stuff).

Canister filter is only for the charcoal. All bio balls removed.

Circulation pumps are a little under powered so I need to replaced a couple
with bigger ones. I've still got a little algae growth in front.

The new Sundial light has individual reflectors and it works much better
than my old Coral Life cf fixture. The timers come with covers which I think
are critical. I couldn't imagine using a timer on the light fixture.
Hopefully, these will stay salt free.

I'm basically going w/o a sand bed. I've only got about 40lbs of sand this
time and I could of put in less. I don't like the way deep sand beds look
and my old sugar-fine dsb was pretty much a flop. I didn't see any
miraculous drop in nitrates with my old dsb. My two tanks that went almost
maintenance free had little to no sand bed.

I've been checking the 75 gal daily for two months and the nitrates were
pretty high. I've been doing 10 gal water changes almost daily. But....I've
got the nitrates down now and that coincided with the new light. My wife
thinks the light helps the nitrates. I don't know, but they are down. The
last two days the readings have been good and I got the light Thursday.
Still feeding the fish daily.

So far I really like the new light!!

od