"2 questions, Skimmer idea for the 40 and the MH on the 180, to do something a bit different, if it would work"
If the tanks I have were done correctly from the start, I wouldn't be of concern about spending on the new type of equipment that im planning to get as time goes on. At the end of the year if all is well, im too get a
calcium reactor first for the 150 and in later months will get two phosphate reactors for both, the 150 and 180. In that time I will have a low bio load with no issues of concern for phosphates. But im faced with a minor problem and that is all the Deltec equipment that im to get through the next few years will cost before tax and delivery a total of $7,948, the equipment is as follows;
Calcium Reactors > PF601 $752.00 "240"
Calcium Reactors > PF501 $651.00 "150"
Calcium Reactors > PF501 $651.00 "180"
Fluidized Reactors > FR509 $209.00
Fluidized Reactors > FR509 $209.00
Fluidized Reactors > FR616 $778.00 "240"
Kalkwasser Stirrers > KM500 $439.00
Kalkwasser Stirrers > KM500 $439.00
Kalkwasser Stirrers > KM500 $439.00
Protein Skimmers > APF600 $885.00 "180"
Protein Skimmers > AP600 $645.00 "150"
Protein Skimmers > AP702 $1,851.00 "240"
The equipment wouldn't matter in this case for I need it, but were im running against a brick wall is that I will also need to get both the 180 and 240 gal tank lights change over to 250 watt MH and i figure that the 180 will cost this change over for about $1,500 if not a bit more and I already as is, spent far too much and still im waiting until I can enjoy these tanks.
I figured as well that in order to make the 240 ready to use would run somewhere like $2,500 and it not includes the skimmer and calcium reactor. I wanted so much for the 180 and 240 to manage the highest possible
SPS corals. But what if I were to make one little change to cut cost here? The 180 will be started up with the 175 watt MH, and what if I were to stay with those on both, the 150 and 180 gal tanks?
I mean, the ER skimmer which will be on the 180, I will not look to change it until well after, a few years from now. But on the 150, I will look to get the Deltec by the time I reached 3/4 bio load. If I get enough to pressure me in sticking with the idea of having 250 watt MH on the 180. It wouldn't be of any problem for me, only that I keep on soaking cash into these tanks and im still at a point to where im still waiting.
I did while responding to a thread on a new setup had a thought, what if on the 180, that rather to change the lighting to 250 watts, that I add a fourth 175 watt MH. Making it be that there be four 175 watt MH bulbs instead of three. And all what I should have in this is to change a ballast and adjust the position of the three MH now in place. This will leave the 240 with four 250 watt MH when i get pass a point in to where im well enough with live stock in both, the 150 and 180.
So, on the above statement, what you think? It would work well or not? And the tank is 24" deep> If I get enough support into sticking with the program that I had planed for the 180, it will matter not on how much more im too spend. For the one realistic thing here is that I cannot take the money with me, so I spend it. I can make available anywhere from $600 to $1,000 a month and like this time of the year, I can do nothing other then my property tax bill and Xmas or so. So on average, I am able anywhere from $5,500 to $8,000.
I just feel that because of the person I had to do my tanks before and how I seem to be only soaking money into it and still im to wait a few more month before I can get started. At least or one thing, I will begin these tanks in a matter of months now. Even that I am with much patience with this and I already had waiting for to long then anyone and I not giving up on the ideas to what I wanted here with the 180 and 240.
That Jeff person of fish world, I told him a few times that I not would had done these tanks with him, no matter how nice they might appear later on, for the wait that he had put on me for the past four years after I moved into my new house, wasn't of what he agreed upon. The thing there I figure is that he is just another LFS person who only care about how much his sale receipts ring up each week, and nothing about the person. All of this would had been a different story if I not gotten injured and then Jeff could had taking a flying leap somewhere much sooner then almost four years later.
So what this post is really for is for those who would give their support and is the idea on staying with the 175 watt MH on the 180 be OK after adding a fourth 175 watt Mh bulb.
You are see the skimmer I will need to get for the 240 once im to start it much later on for I will put my efforts into the completion of both, the 150 and 180.
Now yes, the 150 again is 29" deep the tank and with four 175 watt MH, as well the 180 right now is with three 175 watt MH and im looking to see if by adding a fourth that it could possibly work well as the same idea by having three 250 watt MH. It does however fall short and the wattages, but would this be reasonable.
Im also looking around for a good skimmer for the 40 QT, and the Deltec skimmers for this would seem crazy to have a skimmer costing $500 or more on a simple 40 QT. Come to think about it, there be also a third question. Who knows of this skimmer?
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=750
If some things not make to much sense here, im sorry for I been typing a little each day, for the past few days for as well, I had some medical problems that my medication had to be made stronger and today for the first time for days, I am feeling some relief due to the new medication.
On the above statement, to where im looking for those who might give some support, I had done this before because of the waiting I done in these tanks for if it wasn't that I was disabled, I would had done these tanks a long time ago myself, but im extremely limited in what I can do.
I mean, if the idea on the extra 175 watt MH wouldn't work well enough, then I must stay with the idea that after the holidays I will changed those over to three 250 watt double ended MH bulbs
And if it would work well on the idea of the 175 watt MH on the 180, it would save me at least $1,000
Thanks
Buddy
