getting a aquapod 24g for an upgrade from my 12g eclipse(proceedure questions)

[nobody]

I know i have been talking about getting a 75g but the more i think about it it just isnt a responsible decsion. My gf and i are moving into a house next here so i dont want to hassle of breaking down a 75g and stressing my inhabitants. I am only getting this one because a co-worker of mine is giving it to me for next to nothing. Ok so it comes with 2 32w pc bulbs for a total of 2.7wpg. Now I have the 80w current orbit lighting fixture on my 12g eclipse which is the same length as the 24g aquapod so it would fit. That would give me 3.33wpg which is better but not where i want it. I am going to either get a current hq fixture or figure out how to do a retrofit in the stock hood. Now here are the questions

1. I am thinking of getting new dry fine sand and LR for the aquapod. I know i will have a cycle but i dont have to break down the 12g so my fish, inverts, and coral can wait out the cycle in the 12g. Now i can just move the sand and LR from my 12g to the aquapod and not have an issue. Which way would be better?

2. I like black sand but the only black sand we sell is not a buffer does that matter if i do weekly water changes? With the sand i have about 2" in my 12g. I want to cut that down to 1" or so in the aquapod. Is this a good idea or should i keep a bit more?

3. the 24 aquapod isnt much deeper top to bottom then my 12g it is just wider from to back. So would my corals be ok with my 80w fixture on this 24g. i have a toadstool, finger, frogspawn, zoas, kenya tree, pagoda, tooth, and shrooms. what about on the stock lighting? if i can keep the hood i want to because it will cut down alot on the evap.

[nobody]

these are the lights i am think of getting. i am not sure if the pendant is to high to fit in the stock plastic hood. the pendant is 3" high. if not i will have to make a wooden canopy. i will get a 175w 14,000k bulb with it and will install luner light separate
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1324

[JennM]

Well even if the fixture fits under the hood (which is doubtful)... you'd better have a chiller or you're going to have fish soup.

If you're buying an Aquapod, why not just get the HQI model? They eliminate the hinged hood and it comes with a HQI light fixture designed to fit on the tank, and it should be high enough above the water line to allow some ventilation.

I've run a 12-g Aquapod for about 2 years now and I can tell you that the PC lights in the stock hood keep the tank plenty warm - too warm sometimes during the summer months.

Jenn

[nobody]

again i am getting this one used and for next to nothing. this is the only reason i am getting this. i am paying 80.00 for it unlike the 350.00 it normally cost from someone that just wants it gone.

[JennM]

What do you wish to keep in it? For most LPS and soft corals, the lighting it comes with is adequate. The "watts per gallon" bit is a poor way to assess whether lighting is sufficient or not.

If you don't plan to keep SPS or clams, I wouldn't sweat it. For what it's worth, in my 12g with 2 x 27 watts of PC I've kept an Echinophyllia for about 2 years now - it's healthy and growing. It started as a frag about the size of my thumbnail and now it's saucer sized or a bit bigger. I suppose it would grow more quickly under MH - but I don't need or want it to grow that quickly. And that's an SPS coral. I did have a couple of acro frags in there for a while and they grew too - but I later moved them to another tank.

I just don't see the point of putting a ton of lighting on a tiny tank unless your goal is to keep something that requires very high lighting. And, as I said - adding that much firepower is just going to give you heating issues.

JMHO

Jenn

[nobody]

well i like clams but i know they get big so not interested now. i just want the corals i have (listed above) to live and any other soft/lps i get. my thought process is 64w of pc are fine for what i have. what about the sand and rock processes

[JennM]

3/4" to 1" of sand is plenty. Place the rock before adding the sand so the rock has a firm foundation on the bottom of the tank. Don't sweat the number of pounds - make it look nice and don't overstock it.

It doesn't have to be complicated

I think in this hobby we have a tendency to overthink things sometimes.

Keep it simple. Thus it will also be more affordable.

Jenn

[nobody]

i am going to put rock lifts in so i have an opening under the rocks. My question is should i reuse the sand i have or just start fresh. and im thinking about getting new lr eventhough i know i will get anothing cycle. my fish, inverts, and corals can wait out the cycle that will take place in the aquapod in the 12g they are in now.

[JennM]

How old is the sand you have? What is the water quality in the existing tank?

If the sand is fairly new and your parameters are good, then there's no problem moving the sand to the new tank. However if the sand is "old and tired" and you have issues with phosphates and/or nitrates, then I'd scrap the sand and begin with new.

As for the rock - yes uncured rock will have to cycle in the new tank, however if you obtain cured rock - that is to say it's been in a system local to you for a few weeks, you may not see an ammonia spike at all if it's moved into its new tank within a few hours. I always suggest leaving even cured rock to settle out for at least a week, and if the parameters dictate that slowly beginning to move livestock is appropriate, then do so.

Jenn