siskiou

Yeah! Exactly!

I didn't realize that my location isn't listed. Have taken care of that now! I'll probably aslo start out with half the lights first, and a shorter period, though I have to think of some way to keep jumpers from getting out of the tank, maybe some lighting grid stuff (can't think of the name right now).

Would love to see it in person, but the drive is a bit long from Eugene. And thanks for the "algae" warning! Did you do any "screen acclimation" on your tank, or start with less hours for the lighting?

That *is* very blue! Did you switch your bulbs around to see if that would change anything? And which ones do you turn on first for dawn/dusk? Are your softies doing okay with the new lights? I've read T5 threads until my eyeballs are falling out, and opinions change so much, with some people saying the daylight bulbs (GE or ATI) are too much for their corals, and others recommending them. I'm leaning toward getting one ATI Sun (6000k), one Aquablue (11.000k) and two blue plus (20,000k). Which ones of these would work for dawn/dusk? Do I need one pure actinic in there, instead of one of the blue plus? And if yes, should I get an ATI brand or go for a UVL super actinic instead? So many choices, and I want to get it reasonably right, since I'll have to live with it for the next 18-24 months. Your pics help a lot! Are the colors in them reasonably true to life, in your opinion?

What about the Aquablue and Blue+? I can't quite figure out what they would look like. The Aquablue are 11,000k 60% actinic/40% white spectrum and the blue plus 20,000k 450nm peak (similar to Radium Blue metal halide lamps)? The ATI Sun is 6000K. I prefer white, leaning toward blue, not yellow.

If you were to run a 4 bulb T5 fixture, what bulb configuration would you use for a tank with softies/LPS/a few Sps?

Sent you an email!

I'll check out the aqualux website! And thanks for your offer to help, but I'm in Eugene. Looking at the resources available in Portland, I sometimes wish we lived closer! If only gas were still $.99 a gallon! -Susanne

Thanks for all the advice!

And a monti cap. Uh, I'm sure *you* could do that easily with your knowledge, Miles! (whistle) I, on the other hand, have not much experience with what is good/bad in electronics and how to do the wiring safely. And by the time I've bought the wood, paint, tools to make it look decent, fans, reflectors, ballasts, end caps, wiring and a tutor to put it all together... I'd love to go T5 and add a few sps! Anyone here using them? Could I build a T5 retro as easily as a pc and be in about the same price range? I've bought a couple of lottery tickets and will try to pick up some overtime once my boss is back from Mexico! -Susanne

Just wanted to say a big "Thank you" to Reid and Kristi, who are loaning me one of their fixture until I can get things straightened out!(waving) And I agree in general on "getting what you pay for", but I've had just as bad luck with more expensive name brand lighting, so I'm not sure. I sure wish Portland were a little closer, or gas a little cheaper!

Thanks! It's a cheapo jebo fixture, about 1 1/2 years old, no warranty. I know it's not the best quality, but it's been doing great all this time, and I've had name brands (Coralife) die on me sooner. The bulbs are fine (tested them on a ballast from my daughter's freshwater tank. I just took the fixture apart, and visually there is nothing to be seen. No melted, burned or loose connections. It must be the ballast again, I guess. I'll check out the link for the CurrentUSA ballast.

This must be the year of the failing light fixtures for me!:eek: After just replacing two recently (a month or two ago), my 20H 130w pc fixture just died on me (after a popping noise). This is the one I just changed the bulbs on, but now nothing is working. no moonlights, no fans, everything dead. It's still warm, so I haven't opened it up, but I suspect it's something serious. If it were just a bulb... I can absolutely not afford buying another fixture right now. Is there anyone in Eugene or surrounding areas who has something lying around they are not using that I could borrow or buy for very cheap? I have plenty of 65w replacement bulbs around, but they aren't doing me much good without a working fixture. The only thing I could trade right now are red mushrooms, Xenia and a purple mushroom, and a candy cane frag. Correction: after one more check, all lights dead, fans working. Any ideas?

Yep, thanks! I've changed the bulbs. BTW, where do you all get your replacement bulbs (pc) and what brand do you use? I need to change out the 96w :: in my other fixture soon.

Sorry! Forgot the pH! It's 8.2-8.4.

My 20H has been doing really well, but lately I've notice that the orange monti cap is getting lighter. It's still growing just as much as ever and nothing new has been added in ages. Parameters seem fine 0/0/5, temp 79, SG 1.025, Ca 450, alk 9. Lighting is and always has been 130w pc, half 10000k/half actinic. Bulbs are about 10 months old. Could it be time to change the bulbs?

Unfortunately, nobody here in Eugene can get the fish I want and I'm wary of mail order. Anyone know where I can get a Red Sea Mimic Blenny (eventually! Not right now, since a couple of other fish will be added first). I've asked at all the LFSs here...

I'll try it, though I don't understand why they would do well and be expanding for a while (months!) and then decline without any changes made in flow or otherwise.

No yellowish color. They just close up and get smaller and smaller until they are completely gone.

Hard to tell. The return has two outlets, and the CL 4 (running an Eheim 1262) and the return pump is 600and something GpH (3 ft head). Lookswise, I wouldn't call it exactly strong flow. but everything else seems happy enough. The skirts of the zoas were moving back and forth a bit.

I've had this happen to a few colonies over the years, and it's happening again right now. Zoas are doing great, colony is expanding, and then one day they are all closed up and just melt away over the next few days. Water parameters are fine, nothing is pestering them, no flatworms, bugs or anything else I can see, nothing new added to the tank. Other zoas and corals are doing fine. Has anyone else experienced this, and is there something that can be done? I've tried putting them into my other tank, doing lots of water changes, but no luck there, either...

Still working on my fish list! One of these days I will actually get the first one! Anyone here have a Midas Blenny and how is he treating the tankmates? I've read they can bother smaller gobies. Would a Midas Blenny be okay in a 40G with a Rainford's or Hector's gobi, and a Blackcap? Or should I look at a different Blenny? And which fish should go in first? The gobi?

Nothing yet! I have to find out if Sean can get me one or the other. It's hard to decide, as I like the looks of both, and the Fridmani is available as tank bred. I'm taking it slow!

Mine likes the red mushroom rock, but has also hosted in an anthelia (and then proceeded to rip it apart :eek:), a finger leather and the candy cane. The mushrooms are definitely her favorite, though.