My MHs are 5k. They work well. You will want the actinic for sure though. If you go LPS and softies, with a healthy growth of caluerpa and doing your water changes religously, you should be able to get away without a skimmer. You will want to watch your nitrate levels, but I think you will be okay without one. I ran a 20 gallon mico reef for a year without a skimmer, but I changed 10 gallons of water weekly.
Shane > -----Original Message----- > From: Jose Arturo Perez Vera [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 10:38 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > Thanks Shane ! > i have two more questions: > > I can get very cheap 55 watts PC�s bulbs, but they are 5000k only. Can be > used in a reef aquarium? > If I go with a refugium, Do I still need a skimmer on the system? > > TIA. > > Reef Man > ICQ # 21731316 > www.crystal-oceans.com > ((�>`�.��.���`�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�> > ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�.���`�...�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > `�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Shane Clays [ <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 12:23 PM > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > 2 daylight PCs (or VHO) and one NO actinic would be perfect. I would go > that > route. You will spend a lot of money in replacement bulbs for the LOAs, so > in the long run, they wont be much cheaper. Plus the PCs will be much > cleaner and easier to install. > > IMO, > Shane C. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jose Arturo Perez Vera [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 10:21 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > > Plan "B" > > > > If the skimmer Idea will not work, I will put a T and a ball valve to > > divide the water that is comming to the tank to feed the refugium. I > think > > is a better Idea as I can see with your recommendations Shane. > > Talking about "LOA fixtures" supose you have 3 13 watts PC�s in only one > > socket. As I mentioned, they are 50 watts and 6500k. Beutifull light. > the > > advantages of them, > > -I can get it here in Mexico. > > -They have the correct k rate to light a reef tank. > > > > Disadvantages, > > -They will cost me the same as 55 watts PC bulb. > > -Their size is about 6" large > > -The duration of this bulbs, I think is the same as Normal Output > > Fluorescent bulb (6 months) > > > > So, I think is a very good Idea about 2 VHO, maybe 3. Does that apply to > > PC bulbs? I know the PC are not true actinic, so, maybe I can go 2 > > daylight PC bulbs and 1 NO actinic. > > > > What do you think?? > > > > Reef Man > > ICQ # 21731316 > > www.crystal-oceans.com > > ((�>`�.��.���`�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�> > > ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�.���`�...�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > `�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Shane Clays [ < <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>] > > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 12:06 PM > > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > > > > Jose, > > > > You do not need MHs for LPS and softies. As a matter of fact, that would > > be > > way too much, and would probably do more damage than good, trust me on > > that > > one. It sounds like your tank is a 50 gallon. If thats the case, you > could > > run a couple of 36 inch VHOs, giving you 3.84 watts per gallon, which is > > enough for LPS and most softies. That would be a cheap, efficient way to > > light your tank. If you decided you needed more light down the road, you > > could add a 3rd, but I really think 2 VHOs would be enough.You could do > > some > > nice LPS and softies on the upper 2/3rds of the tank, then do some nice > > polyps and mushrooms on the bottom 3rd. Thatd be a nice way to go. > > > > What are LOA fixtures? You say they are 65k, and that would work well > with > > an actinic or two. That may be a good way to go if you can wire them up > > safely. Also, how hot do they get? > > > > Only feed back for you on the skimmer to the refugium is that if your > > skimmer is really cleaning the water, your caluerpa may not get enough > > nutrients to grow. They need organics to survive, and you may literally > > starve them to death if you run your skimmer outlet into the refugium. > > This > > may not happen either, but is a possibilty. You could try it and see how > > it > > works, but make sure to have a plan B if you see the caluerpa is not > > growing. > > > > IMO > > Shane C. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Jose Arturo Perez Vera [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 9:54 AM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > > > > Thanks Shane ! > > > Regarding the flow on the refugium, I am thinking to direct the > outlets > > of > > > my skimmer (Red Sea Berlin classic) to it, and put a some kind of > > overflow > > > to return the water to my sump. Maybe that can be enough flow??? > > > The "LOA" fixtures that can we get down here (Mexico city) comes in 50 > > > watts presentation and 6500k.I think this is a good source of lighting > > for > > > my refugium. > > > > > > And you are right, I forgot to mention what kind of animals will I > have, > > I > > > will keep softies, LPS, and maybe clams, that I can skip. I am looking > > for > > > the cheapest way to go, BTW, I was seriuosly thinking on put 3 of the > > "LOA > > > fixtures" available in Mexico to the Main tank, maybe with an actinic > > > fluorescent bulb. > > > > > > Suggestions and Recommendations are very welcome !!!!!! > > > > > > TIA. > > > > > > > > > Reef Man > > > ICQ # 21731316 > > > www.crystal-oceans.com > > > ((�>`�.��.���`�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�> > > > ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�.���`�...�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > `�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Shane Clays [ < < <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>] > > > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 11:42 AM > > > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' > > > Subject: RE: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > > > > > > > You refugium does not need a ton of flow going through it, but you > will > > > need > > > a powerhead or two in it to keep the water moving around the refugium > > > itself. My refugium has a large flow rate, but that is beacuse it is > > full > > > of > > > LR. I still have a powerhead blowing current under the LR, just to > keep > > > dead > > > space from happening. For lighting, just aim for 3-5 watts per gallon. > > If > > > you can get 50-60 watts above it, you are golden. A brighter light > > source > > > will help the caluerpa grow faster, less light, slower growth. > > > > > > For you lighting, what types of corals are you going to keep? > > > > > > Shane > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Jose Arturo Perez Vera [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > > > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 9:38 AM > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Subject: Planning Tank Upgrade. I need some advices..... > > > > > > > > Hi !! > > > > > > > > I am planning a Tank upgrade and I need some ideas and advices. > > > > > > > > I will put a small refugium like a 10 gallons tank at one side of > the > > > > sump. Question: > > > > > > > > how much flow do I need there? > > > > Can I use a single LOA fixture to illuminate it?? > > > > > > > > Now, the tank will be 40"long, 16 wide and 20" tall. > > > > > > > > Can I illuminate the tank with a single 250 watts Iwasaki? > > > > > > > > Can I get better illumination with a pair of 175 MH bulbs? or 150 > HQI > > > > bulbs?? or maybe a pair of 150 watts Iwasaki? > > > > > > > > Thanks in advance for your help and recommendations !!! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Reef Man > > > > ICQ # 21731316 > > > > www.crystal-oceans.com > > > > ((�>`�.��.���`�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�> > > > > ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�.���`�...�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > > `�.. ><((((�>`�.��.���`�.�><((((�>��.���`�.�. > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________ > > > > > > LEAVING THE LIST > > > ===============To stop receiving messages you will need to send a > > message > > > to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a command to remove you from > > the > > > list. 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