... ...Okay... ...Couple more questions... Sorry!

[as40]

:emb:

I feel bad to keep pumping you all so heavily. You know, not one or two, but ten billion questions. But you all have been so super helpful so far, that I just can't help it!

Okay, here's what I'm wondering.

Before the LR, God said, "Let there be... 10,000K Premium Daylight and Ultra Actinic light!"

I know if you aren't planning on doing too much in the way of softies or hard coral, etc., there isn't a need for AS MUCH light (like the 6W/gallon I've been reading). This is GOOD. I wanted to steer clear of TOO much light, to minimize bad algea growth, and because I can't afford that anyway! So, saw this, and am highly considering ordering it today so I can start getting my show closer to the freeway entrance (60 gallon tank, BTW):

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CL1117

This would get me a little over 2W/gallon, which is about what I'm running in my FW/planted. Think it would be enough for FOWLR, possibly a couple hardy softies (hehe, does that sound oxy or what?) or such somewhere WAY in the future?

Also, I want to order these (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CL1121) for it once they get some in stock, to minimize heat, but do you think it's necessary if I have a 2-3" gap between the top-back of the hood and the back of my tank (running the length of the tank)?

Then, the only other thing I'll bother you all by asking (this time around :D ) is about the LR itself. My LFS wants $5.99 a pound for the stuff, doesn't (in my VERY inexpert opion) look all that special/great, and I can't afford that!!! They also sell only uncured, and can't tell me what it is or where it comes from. So...

http://liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?siteid=24&pCatId=393

This stuff looks cool (looking in my wallet, scanning the room even though I know my fiance isn't here at my work with me). I could get into a lot of trouble with this. Most of it pretty reasonably priced, it seems. What to pick, however? Which LR has the most biodiversity, color, is hardiest to noob's like me, etc. I can't pick, y'all, so need some advice.

Thank you all in advance, and for all the previous. And as usual, sorry for my wordiness. :)

[OrionGirl]

Good lights--will allow you to have mushrooms, and quite a few low light corals. PC lights penetrate water better than NO and VHO, so you actually get better results from the same wattage.

For the legs--depends. I have 2 lights similar to these--one is directly on the glass top, the other is about 7 inches above open water. I haven't really seen a dramatic increase in heating in either tank.

Online live rock is great! There's good things said about liveaquaria, as well as TBS, and a few others. Keep in mind--you can always buy some now, then fill in later with another shipment, or if you find some good stuff at a good prive locally.

[as40]

Well, OrionGirl, going off what you said about there not being much of a difference with legs or no, I didn't get the legs for the lights. But I did place my order for equipment, and here's what I got. Put me back a bit ($457.00!!!), but, only have to buy these things once, hopefully, and nobody said this was going to be cheap:

CustomSeaLife 48 SmartLite Fixture (w/2 65W bulbs - 10,000K Premium Daylight and Ultra Actinic)

Two 150W Pro-Heat II Titanium IC Heaters

One ViaAqua 1300 Pump (370 GPH)

And, for the biggie I wasn't planning on splurging (sp?) on, but decided since I'd gone this far and had read some amazing things about:

AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer with a MaxiJet 1200 pump (instead of the Rio 800)

And last but not least the AquaC Remora Filter Box that compliments the skimmer.

Dammmn. Here I was thinking I wouldn't do this. Well, once it's all up and running my tank better be the S**T!!! :bowing:

Or at least help make my maintanence life with it a little easier. :dance

[OrionGirl]

It will.


Should we wait until later to tell you that the bulbs usually last about 1 year, and then have to be replaced?

[as40]

:rolleyes:

Yeah, don't tell me now. Hehehe...

Though, in all seriousness, I have read that before. I'm just hoping to ignore that bit of information until I have to accept it's true. Which won't be until a year or so from now. :D

[OrionGirl]

Yep. We watch our xenia--it starts shrinking and pouting when the lights turn.

[ben72227]

;) Good Luck !!

[as40]

Tanks! Ur, uh... I mean, thanks!

(Sorry. I know you all didn't want to hear that one again.)

I'm excited.

Still wondering about the live rock though. Am I guessing correctly from what you said about a bit here, a bit there, OrionGirl, that it's okay to mix and match different kinds from different geographic locations? And is it all pretty much the same as far as difficulty/care/requirements go?

[ben72227]

that it's okay to mix and match different kinds from different geographic locations? And is it all pretty much the same as far as difficulty/care/requirements go?

yeah. thats about right. of course it might look strange if you mix tonga branch LR with Caribbean LR, but then again it might look nice to you. it all really depends on what you want it to look like. as far as difficulty/care/requirements go, all LR needs moderate lighting and medium water flow. here's the specific requirements:

temp. = 72-78°F;
sg = 1.023-1.025;
pH = 8.1-8.4;
dKH = 8-12

and these supplements usually make the live rock do better in the tank: Calcium, Iodine, Strontium, Trace Elements. HTH

[as40]

Thank you!

That clarifies quite a lot and answers all my live rock concerns, I think. Hopefully my equipment will arrive in the next day or few, and then, I will put the sand in, fill her up with salty water, turn everything on, and wait...

Then I'll be back on here for more specifics, I'm sure. :)

Wish I had a digital camera, then I could post some pics... I'll try and get a friend to take some for me. Anyway, thanks again everyone!