help with 30 gal reef tank. please

[Heathd]

ok. then i wont need a heater right?
n would 2 150 wat bulbs be over kill?

I would get a small heater for the night when the lights are off. Water is slow to accept heat, but quick to give it away. Plus, even if you kept your house at 80 during the winter, you want to keep your tank from experiencing more then 1.5 degrees of temperature swing (*F)

I am tempted to say that a single 175 watt double ended MH pendant would be enough, since the tank has no center brace. Then again, metal halides are only supposed to be good for a 2 sqaure foot scatter, which depending on the reflector, could be insuffecient since I think your tank is 36 inches wide. Really hard for me to answer at this point with out me digging around for an alternative, which I will do later.

 

[scalesandfins]

the tank is 36x18x13 no center brace
im not too worreid about the light covering every square inch. i figure if i put it higher up it should cover more area also

 

[Heathd]

the tank is 36x18x13 no center brace
im not too worreid about the light covering every square inch. i figure if i put it higher up it should cover more area also

You could get away with a 175 or 200 watt MH pendant, IMO. Those might be a little hard to find since they are not as standard as say a 150.

 

[scalesandfins]

well i found a double 150 wat MH fixture for 35 bucks with everythin but the balasts
i might just use one 150. would that not be enough?
i can find a 175 pendant.
would a 250 watt pendant be too much? i can get a 250 for less than a 175

 

[Heathd]

well i found a double 150 wat MH fixture for 35 bucks with everythin but the balasts
i might just use one 150. would that not be enough?
i can find a 175 pendant.
would a 250 watt pendant be too much? i can get a 250 for less than a 175

Go with a 250 then, should be more then enough and less heat then a duel 150.

 

[scalesandfins]

ok cool. sounds like a plan
im glad thats resolved.

 

[scalesandfins]

well....dang me for lookin at criaglist
i found an 80 gal bow front with everythin including fish for $500!
thats insane. including sump and everything
but he has some sort of black sand. is that ok ? can i just switch the sand out ?

 

[scalesandfins]

ok im starting another thread

 

[Heathd]

The black sand is likely to be silicate based. Take some of the sand, rinse it in tap, and let it air dry. Take the dry sand and drop into some vinegar. If it fizzles, its calcium carbonate based, which is good. If it doesnt fizzle, its silicate based, which can be used but is more likely to give you more trouble then its worth.

And when I say fizzle, it is CO2 gas being released. It should be strong at first and then trail and gradually die off