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05-24-2006, 08:12 PM
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#1
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lantana Florida
Posts: 827
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I want to see the light!
I have a 57 gal reef 18 1/4" tall. Right now I have 36 W PC light that only extends half the tank. (opps big mistake). Any way I have been looking at t-5 lighting. I am torn between a 4 light nova or a four light tek. can any body give me input as to which system will be better for my money?
Also who adds the squid under my name and how does it get changed?
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Life is great until you have children, then you learn how great life really is. 
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05-24-2006, 11:45 PM
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#2
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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you will be able to change the squid after 50 posts. 
what are you looking to keep in the tank?
G~
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Think Tanker
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05-25-2006, 07:51 AM
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#3
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lantana Florida
Posts: 827
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beginner corals, some stony corals but i dont know what ones, and inverts,
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Life is great until you have children, then you learn how great life really is.
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05-25-2006, 11:10 AM
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#4
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Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,706
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for the basics you will want 5 watts of light per gallon so the standard VHO is the best bulb for a newer setup. If you plan on doing metal halide later, i would recommend that you just save up a little longer and get them now. then you don't lose the money when you have to upgrade later.
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I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
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05-25-2006, 02:08 PM
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#5
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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how long is a 57g tank?
G~
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05-25-2006, 03:48 PM
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#6
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lantana Florida
Posts: 827
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36" long X 18.25" tall X 24" deep
also i had VHO in a previous tank. I have read that the newer lights use less elecrticity.
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Life is great until you have children, then you learn how great life really is.
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05-25-2006, 09:23 PM
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#7
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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the amount of electricity is really all based on the ballast. electronic ballast are a bit more efficient than magnetic or tar, but not a huge amount. it would take like 10yrs to see any cost benefit from using electronic ballasts.
G~
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05-25-2006, 09:36 PM
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#8
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lantana Florida
Posts: 827
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the tank has been up for 2 months has about 5 fish (small ones) two mushroom polps, 50 blue crabs, 10 snails, one red star fish, one serpent star, and a partrige in a pare tree. The goal is to establish the tank with out any severe losses before we start the large tank.
The VHO ballast was an Ice Cap. On and old 75 gal that my ex-fiancee got when i boogied.
after some research I have leaned heavly towrd the nova t-5 4 bulb lighting.
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Life is great until you have children, then you learn how great life really is.
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05-25-2006, 09:56 PM
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#9
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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which icecap ballast? those can handle a fair number of bulbs. you may be able to add more bulbs to that ballast and not even know it. there is a total wattage rating on the ballast. you can add as many bulbs as you want up to that wattage. it might be cheaper for you to use th Icecap instead of getting a new fixture.
G~
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05-25-2006, 11:48 PM
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#10
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Big Fishy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lantana Florida
Posts: 827
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Yes But The Ex Got That
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Life is great until you have children, then you learn how great life really is.
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05-26-2006, 12:02 PM
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#11
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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oops. 
G~
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