Miss Mouse

Thanks

agsansoo

Here in the States we try to use a 16 watt/75 watt CF flood light with a color rating of 5100K. Though they are hard to find.

Miss Mouse

yeah I've seen some people using flood lights but dont they put out a LOAD of heat? Dont wanna have to get a chiller.

agsansoo

Very little heat at all . Just warm to the touch. It's a spiral compact fluorescent bulb in a flood light fixture.
The K rating (kelvin) is the color rating of the bulb. 5250K is the color of sunlight. Where the standard incandescent
color rating in @ 2600K.
The bulbs are 16 watts that's as bright as 75 watts. 8)

Miss Mouse

Ooh this is getting complicated! I really had no idea about that - so my yellow flourescent bulb is 25 watts but it's 5500 K. Is that good? I'm sure I must have done all this at school but I really dont remember I think I was too busy dreaming of being being a famous explorer and physics just wasn't important enough hehe.

Miss Mouse

Ok so yesterday we had a minor issue - my fluval finally packed up! I cleaned it out but I think it has just had enough. Checked the fuse, checked the impellor - nothing!

So I went to the lfs and he said don't bother getting a new filter. He said that the protein skimmer and live rock should be doing the job anyway and the powerhead has a little filter on it so that will be enough. I now have about 20 kilos of rock and a thick layer of live sand as well as the cheato and cualpera.

What do you think?? It seems very alien to me not having a filter!!

agsansoo

Yes ... That's enough, though I would put in a extra 5 kilo's of live rock latter on. My LFS has a 40 gallon display tank that has about
45-50 kilo's and a protein skimmer. No live sand (bare bottom) ! And it looks great. It's not hook up to his store system either.
He says just don't over feed the fish, no matter how hungry they look at you.
Also later get a PhosBan Reactor + a very small power head, and run carbon in it. Or get a Aquaclear 70 power filter and just run carbon in it.
I personal took my power filter off my aquarium a few days ago. Soon I'm taking my Wet/Dry (Eheim 2227) off too. I have 32 kilo's in
my 60 gallon.

Miss Mouse

Fantastic - thanks for the advice! I have ordered another powerhead that aslo has a carbon filter on it because I need it on the otherside of the tank for beter flow and ill add more rock in 2 weeks when I get paid. Fish look fine, I'm pretty good on keeping them slightly hungry and the hermits pick up and excess food anyway so should be ok!
Thanks again

atmmachine816

What's the advantage of running carbon?

agsansoo

Running carbon actively results in water clarity. Also if your soft corals are slumping over, carbon may remove some of the chemicals corals exude in chemical warfare. They should perk right back in within a few days. For me, I run it for water clarity and to remove smell. Many say running it 24/7
will promote higher nitrates. Since it stops acting as a chemical filter, and starts acting as a biological filter. From not keeping it changed !

atmmachine816

hmm. ok maybe I'll try running it for a few days to see if my water clarity improves.