Recent content by bigtank

Precision Marine makes a 6' venturi skimmer. I have seen these behemoths in action...talk about huge quantities of terrible nasty foam. They indeed require a big old pump though.

I would go with the HOT-1. It provides more contact time and is built a lot better IMO. You can run a drain from the collection cup too. The 18"x3" reaction chamber is much larger than the regular Remora's chamber and 20% larger than the one on the Remora Pro. This translates to better...

I use a Mag 3 on my Remora Pro and am very happy with the pump. Quiet, rugged, reliable, and a lot more oomph. Worth every penny.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MattM: <strong> We have considered carrying them, but I didn't think anyone would spend the money...</strong><hr></blockquote> Awesome systems. I have a 2x150 and am very happy with it. Only...

The HOT-1 is a much better skimmer. I really don't think the BakPak would suffice on your 55, but the HOT-1 certainly should. It is built a lot better and will pull out much more gunk with no modifications.

Why not MH? Most VHO-only tanks look pink/purple to my eyes and many people would agree about the color. My top choice would be a 2x150w HQI system. It will smoke 4x110w VHO in terms of brightness, color, and overall appearance. I'm willing to bet money that your corals and clams would grow...

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by carolinaclown: <strong>The best and easiest protein skimmer IMO is the CPR Cyclone BakPak. This skimmer is reef ready and very easy to use plug it in and check the collection cube every other...

I have had a Remora Pro for more than a year. I can assure you that there are better choices. The Precision Marine HOT-1 is cheaper, yet built much better and works much better than the Remora Pro. Much more contact time, higher GPH throughput, loaded with features, and built like an army...

I use 2 10k 150w AB HQI bulbs on my 70 and they are indeed extremely bright. You can actually keep anything with them.

I think you would be much better off with a good skimmer and high intensity lighting, maybe PCs or a small metal halide.

Some tangs need much larger tanks than others, although they all need a lot of room. I think a small kole tang would be okay in a 50, although he may outgrow it in a few years. I have a kole in my 70 and he's a pretty mellow fish, seems happy, very plump. Excellent algae grazer too. I think...

70 gallon reef, mostly LPS, set up 11/00 I recently won a major battle with aiptasia and am currently working on a mysterious water chemistry problem.

My setup is an Aqualine Buschke Aquastarlight. It sits 4" above the tank and the bulbs are maybe 6" from the waterline. This system warms the room more than the tank. I've never seen the tank temp above 78 degrees. Evaporation is the only "problem" with my lighting, about 1.5 gallons per day...

The 150w 10k double ended are awesome bulbs. I use a pair on a 70 and they are deceptively bright, enough to keep anything. They last 12-18 months. The 20k are supposed to last 6-12 months depending on the type of ballast used. I am willing to bet that the 150w HQI is brighter than the 250w 20k...

Get good equipment to start with. Starting out with crappy stuff is a mega waste of $ in the long run. The LFSs can be unreliable at best for advice. You'll hear outdated stuff or just BS at many fish stores. Most equipment and supplies cost half as much, or less, online as the LFSs charge...