chewie

oops! I guess I should read the title better. You run the 250's. Try a HQI ballast. Nice tank, sorry about the losses

How long has it been running? They tend to get whiter after about a month, although I'm running mine on M135 Pulse Start ballasts. I have run just about every 400w bulb on the market and IMO the XM 20k is my favorite.

ROTFL! I'll take a Dominican please!

That's the way it should be.

That, and counting dorsal spines. I find it easier to just look at the eye.

From the looks of the eyes, you have an A. Percula (lover center) and an A. Ocellaris (upper right). Notice the Perc has an orange ring around its eye, and the ocellaris has a black ring. I'm also guessing you meant Entamacea instead of Heteractis

Nice! I like the Percula/Ocellaris pair! And DANG! you have alot of flow.

WOW! That's a pretty awesome skimmer you built there. Nice Job! I want it too, but no doughDOH!

That's an achievement! Good Luck!

Doubling the stock LPH is pretty good, I'm guessing I doubled mine with my mod. I haven't used the mesh on my sedras yet, but I haven't had any extra mesh. I also like the way my skimmer skims with the needlewheel. The Sedra's aren't that far off from the Gen-x. The sedra 3500 and the gen-x 2400 are identical. I think the only differences on the sedra is the potting is better and they don't have the "stainless" steel heat sink that usually rust out.Gen-x dips the "stainless"steel heat sink in epoxy to keep it from rusting but they still rust after that stuff flakes off. The needle wheel is different for both but the sedra ER/ASM needlewheel is far better. I think the magnet is balanced a little better also. I'll pick up my own meter and a killawatt soon. There are a ton of better pumps out there, but I'm waiting a year or so to try them out. I have a Eheim 1262 meshmod that's for my new tanks skimmer (ER 8-5) and I can't wait to see what it'll do. I would like to try out a 1048 for my smaller ER (5-3) but haven't had the extra funds for that yet. pledosophy, I think whichever one you get you will be happy. Needlewheel skimmers are very good.

What size pump? How many GPH. I assume you want an external. Tell me about your new setup. Your old tank isn't up to par with the TOTM back in the day, but it is still pretty nice.

It would help if we knew your name FRANK! Long time no see! Your link doesn't work, but here's a good one. www.thereeftank.com/totm/jan04.php Do you still have your Banshee? I helped move your old tank after the guy(binh) who bought it from you moved. I had to redo the whole closed loop. Man, that was fun! It still is a pretty nice tank. Let me know when you're ready for some frags, and definitely come to the meeting this Sunday at 2pm Saltwater Fanta-seas (106th & sandy). See you round! Jon

He's getting that 40SCHF(1135LPH) with a 65w pump, and meshwheel. The Sedra 3500 that comes with a RS80 is only 35w Stock it pulls 420 LPH with a needlewheel. I don't have a meter yet, but I'll see what my 3500 does when I get the right meter. I also have a pair of Sedra 5000 (50w) (720LPH) stock that I will mod soon. If you're going to be at the meeting Sunday, bring your meter. I have a slightly modified 3500(venturi mod) with needlewheel to test. If not, I will pick one up soon, and post my results. FWIW, I like the octo skimmers too. Besides the pumps, the only thing I don't care for is the transition at the neck. It's a little too sharp for me. ER's have a rounded transition at the neck.

In stock configuration You can definitely mod the pumps on ER's to pull more air.

still there.I even got to the checkout.

Yes it does. I think they're normally around 250. I guess they're on sale.

C'mon, you're a Teacher. There are no stupid questions, remember? Acropora is the genus. Tortuosa is the species. The blue tort is Acropora. It is a tough species to keep for some. Myself included. Many other SPS do well even while the torts do not. I had one for about 3 months that encrusted and looked good for awhile but suddenly STN'd. That was around 3 years ago. I haven't tried a frag lately, but as soon as I get one it will go in a very high light/flow area in my tank. I will also check CA/Alk, PO4 religiously because I'm sure my Alk dropped too low or something and I didn't fix it until it was too late.

You're welcome. If you start leaning towards the euroreef, you better hurry. They won't last long at that price. Well worth it.

a 400w ballast will drive a 250 bulb. It may stay lit for a while, or it could fail and possibly cause serious damage. I wouldn't risk it.

You can get it from euro-reef.com for $198 plus shipping. http://commerce03.i2net.com/able55new/stores/111/RS80-P-Protein-Skimmer-P400C4.aspx

Out of the choices you listed, go for the euro-reef. They are tried and true, and built very well. I have a few euro-reefs, and I have used ASM, PM, and AquaC. All are good skimmers, but the convenience and ease of use goes to the euro-reef. ASM's are pretty good too, but I would buy a used euroreef instead.

Saltwater Fanta-seas has a few, but they're 48" x 24" x 14" (LWH)

I'd get rid of the first 5 gal of good water and call it good.

He's very sticky. 1 time I accidentally got too close with the cleaning magnet, and he wouldn't let go for nothin. It took about 30 minutes before he finally let go. I should have paid around $125, but like I said, I know a guy..........

I know a guy who knows a guy. J/K, I got it from Patrick at SW Fantaseas. I have had it for 3 months, and the greenish yellow one behind it I have had for 6 months. It took me a long time to find a healthy one. Thanks!