Need an unbiased opinion

T

tuchon35

AC Members
Jan 4, 2005
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I am setting up a 55 gallon tank ( I know it is not an ideal size).

I had it filled with crushed coral, when it was a brackish tank, do i need to remove it, or can i put sand on top of it?

Second has to do with lights, My lfs is trying to sell me a 260 watt pc setup. It seems like that would not be enough light and would limit what kind of corals i can grow? I do not want anything fancy, but i would like to a selction to choose from, and i would not want them all at the top of my tank.

Thank you for your help
 
I would start with a fresh substrate, preferably all sand. Your old CC probably has a good bit of debris trapped in it, even after rinsing. Plus, a finer sandbed will trap less debris over time. When you start using the higher output lights, any excess nutrients will feed algae growth. That's pure opinion.

I agree with you that getting more light will make you happier in the long term. If you can afford them, go with halides. They still penetrate better than other types (although T5s are pretty good), and the shimmer you get is much prettier than any other kind of light (that's obviously an opinion). A couple of 175 watt lamps would be great over that tank.
 
I kind of figured the CC would have to go. How much sand 140-160lbs?

With the 175's my lfs said "because i do not have a sump and cannot run a chiller, that i will make soup" is that true?

That brings me to my next question, my lfs has an aquamedic 2x175 w/ 2-t5 for $750, is that reasonable, or are there different brands or retailers that might be a bit cheaper.
 
You may need to add some fans to the hood to prevent it from overheating, but I don't think it would make 'soup'. I agree with the sand--CC can be a problem in a marine setup.
 
OG beat me to it. Keep the lights 9-12" above the surface and use fans and there shouldn't be a problem. My reef is in the warmest part of the house during DC summers, I don't have a chiller, and I don't have soup.

That sounds like a decent price for the canopy. You can probably save a few bucks online or if you do some DIY, but you're not being robbed.
 
I run 2 250w mh and do not have a heat issue. Of course, Mi. in the winter is cold. I run an open top with the mh(s) 8" off the water. The shimmer lines alone were well worth the price.
 
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