Retro Fit Question

[EugeneReefer]

I just picked up a 12 gallon Nano Cube made by JBJ. Its the "deluxe" model with 2x24w 50/50 pc's. ( only giving me 4 watts per gallon)

I'm letting it cycle right now with rock and a yellow tail damsel.

My question to you all is should I try and upgrade the lighting in the hood by retro fitting a single 96w power quad into it, leave it as it is, or buck up and buy a 150 HQI that fits it?

Downside to the current lighting would be that it limits me in my choices for livestock as far as any SPS are concerned.

Downside to the halide would be scrapping the current hood and getting a whole new top.

I guess I'm mostly wanting to find out if anyone has any experience putting a power quad into one of these hoods. Anyone out there?

[fish.freak]

it depends on what you want to keep in there, I would just run it as is for the first year to get your money out of the current lights.

Hey man, I'm from Eugene too.

[EugeneReefer]

Yeah I decided to not worry about the lighting for now and concentrate on upgrading the filtration.

I'm adding an external LED setup onto the back side of the second chamber to do a refugium in.

Should be sweet.

[fish.freak]

Nice, let me know how it works out.
What LFS's do you go to?

[EugeneReefer]

Well when I was in Eugene ( I just moved to Beaverton a week ago) I worked at Pet Time. That was pretty cool for the fact that I could order in anything I wanted, let it sit in the tanks there to see how it did after shipping, then buy it at cost if it survived Not to mention all the frags of anything cool that ever came in there that I would take off of the larger pieces. Man I miss the perks of the business

Pet Time has some decent stuff, but are very inconsistant in what they have. The prices are pretty good on just about everything. You just have to be on the ball when new stuff comes in. ( If you do go there, talk to Charles or Ken and tell em that Stu sent ya. They know their stuff)

Aquaserene has nice stuff, but is WAY over priced, and the owner is a douche.

I would go to Liquid Sunshine down on East 13th. They by far have the best selection/prices/customer service in Eugene.

How long have u been into reef keeping? I worked at Pet Time for like 6 years or something, maybe we've met before.

BTW for the most part, I've been cruising the PNWMAS website since its all local people. I believe that Liquid Sunshine has all their info on there as well.

[fish.freak]

We have deffinately met then, I used to work in Aqua serene and now work in Liquid.
Oh yea check out nanotuners.com for upgrades

[EugeneReefer]

Right on, I've looked at a couple things on there. I've also been looking alot on Nano-Reef.com. Lots of info on there.

Do you guys ever get any of those little bumble bee shrimp in down there at Liquid Sunshine? I remember a long time ago they had one in a nano up on the front counter. It also had a super sweet goby of some variety in there too.

[fish.freak]

not sure what that one is, are you thinking sexy shrimp? Well if your in town come by next Sat. i'll be there