Recent content by Ralph

Anybody want to explain why I would want a low flow through the sump? Can I hook a water pump between the drain and return on a RR tank for closed-loop flow in the absence of a sump, or is there some other drill configuration I should have for closed loop circulation? Thanks and sorry for the...

Sump Flow No problems going slow here. I've been thinking about this thing for over a year. What is the disadvantage of a high flow through the sump? It what locations would I need drills for a closed loop system? I suppose if I had closed loop circulation, I could use the pump that I'd...

Circulation Thanks for the kind encouragement and advice. Silly question: If I don't have a sump at the start, what is the best way to maintain circulation while the system matures? I had been thinking that the sump return would provide a lot of circulation that the LR would need. Power...

This build is not dead, I just haven't made much progress lately. I've been distracted by other stuff but I've been reading and learning. I'm trying to heat up progress on this again. Same spot for the tank, now thinking about a 5' acrylic with a sump system. I'm trying to put together a...

This is all really good input guys. Thank you for keeping me encouraged. I will definitely keep updating you on progress. Does anyone have an recommendations for a supplier of lighting components? I'd like to incorporate both MH pendants and fluorescent fixtures. I'm a bit handy with...

I have thought about multiple fixtures. I didn't think about 2 x 3' for a 6' tank though. I wonder if there's any cost advantage to that arrangement, or maybe allow more options for mixing in different lamps (actinic and daylight for e.g.) For a 5' tank, which I'd like to try to do, I guess...

So I'm thinking that since I'm not going to be using a hood, I should be able to have a bit more flexibility with lighting. I talked to someone at my LFS and he suggested that I could use MH pendulums or go with 5' flourescents. He said that 5' lamps are not necessarily more expensive, but not...

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking forward to seeing it there. I have more research to do on exactly what I want to keep, but I would like to keep hard corals and fish. Would it make any sense to hang a 6' fixture over a 5' tank and let the light "spill over" the sides? I may be...

Welcome from one newbie to another. Folks seem very helpful and friendly here. Hey Zagz, I like your African Grey. I have a Yellow Nape Amazon that's been with me for 20 some odd years. I'm looking forward to getting my reef up to give him something to watch! Regards, Ralph

I'm having trouble deciding whether to choose a 4' 5' or 6' long tank for the location. The bar is 7' wide, so 6' might be pushing it. 5' would be nice, but I'm worried that then I'm into non-standard lighting, etc. Does anyone have thoughts about lighting a 60¨ long tank? I will probably...

Pictures Attached are pictures of the location. The first is the bar, which is not much to look at yet. The second is the area just behind the bar. The door opening you see is out to the living area with the bar. Sorry about the drywall obstructing the view. Ralph

The floor is concrete slab. It is in the lower level of my atrium ranch. I'll post pictures of the area very soon. Thanks guys! Ralph

Thank you for the posts, and for the welcome. I think I'm really going to like it here! It sounds like 24" deep, glass, pre-drilled, overflow across the back, 2x4 frames (treated.) Now that I think of it, I had a fence with a twisted 4x4 post in a previous home, but it was cedar. I was...

I was partially considering making the tank viewable from both sides. The "fish room" is adjacent to an office space that I'm building behind, so it might be nice to see from both sides. Is it tricky to make a reef that looks good from both sides? Would I be better off with a built-in overflow...

Hello all, I'm new to this forum, and am also new to the segment of the hobby that I'm about to dive headfirst into (reef keeping.) I have had a 40gal bow-front freshwater in the past (about 10 yrs ago.) I really enjoy looking at the pictures of the beautiful reef tanks that are posted on...