Pies

James - That tap is the WRONG tap. This is what I was saying to you, use taps with a Union on both sides, those red handled ball valves are ok (sticky) but you can't disconnect the piping from either side. If you want a pic, look at the pics I posted for my Frag Growout tank with the SCWD, these a true union taps and about 100x more usefull. The red handled taps are going to be hopless for the closed loops (been there done that). Pies

Lucky the bulbs don't explode and cause some serious injury (and cost!).

Lots of people use 6500k for coral tanks. Some people belive that 6500k bulbs are better for growth. Eric Bourneman uses 6500k + 20K on his stoney tanks.

And thats why I am trying to help Good planing is what its all about. I would seriously have a think as to why you would want the holes through the back pain as oposed to having them through the bottom. the bottom is the safest and most forgiving place aestheticlly speaking. On a related topic, just got the call from Mico Plumbing, my plumbing has arrived. I hope my tank begins assembly next week and my floors are sorted in the next few weeks. Its all happening. Next challenge, lighting... Alois called me, 400watt DE are available... arghhhhhh what to do? Pies

That pic is a nightmare. To say that its excessive is an understatement. So whats your question? It doesn't matter where you put the holes. No place is going to be any better than another, just depends on what you are trying to do. I would think the only important point is that you can't see them (hence the reason not to put them at the top of the tank). I think there is a safty issue with plumbing in through the side, with pressure pipe too. I would be worried that if you lent on the pipe, it could put extra pressure on the hole and cause the hole to crack or break its seal. Proably wouldn't happen but I want to have my plumbing away from anywhere I could lean on it and cause me some problems. Pies

I am only confused because your explination is a bit confusing and I don't see why you are asking the question. You can put the holes anywhere you want, as long as they are bellow the surface of the water there will be no head pressure to contend with and the pumping loop remains closed. The worst place to drill a hole is near the top of the back or front of the tank, as this is the place where the glass is under the most pressure and stress. Why not put ALL the holes through the bottom of the tank? I can't see any advantage to putting them through the back of the glass, and it will be harder to hide them the higher they are drilled. Put em all through the bottom, and use pipe to direct the flow upwards. You can then use this pipe to support a reefrack and hold the rock in place. Pies

Chimera - then... I don't understand your question. If your drilling your holes through the bottom arn't they all going to be bellow the water line... As per my previous comments and tank design pics, all the holes should be through the bottom, safer. Why are you still looking at drilling the back/side? Or are you just confused? Or am I confused? Pie

Mars - Post your question with as much detail needed in the technical forum on this board. Warren frequents that board and will be in touch I am sure. Piemania

Last time I went to HFF and asked for the discount, they gave it to me but I did have to present my membership card. Pies

hahaha

Mix it in with your anti-red, what harm can it do...

But its normally correct. hrmmm.

The boards clocks off.

Interesting that its 3:11pm here now yet you posted at 4:03pm. FREAKY!

Its coral sand, get it from anywhere you can get it from. I quickly rinced mine but wanted to keep the fine dusty stuff too. Water was very merky for 1 day, was crystal clean when I got up the next day. Mixed grain, doesn't really matter. I am using 2mm in my tank, 2-4 on the coral growout tank. Don't think its a big deal really. I am going to buy 2mm again. Pies

The 'berlin' method has no substrate. Just rock and skimmer. Sand is only required for aesthetics. Michael Moore (the RC Married with children guy) doesn't use sand and his tank is a stunner. Don't use sand in an acrillic tank. You will get life with a sand bed as Alois say, so there is a plus. I have read lots about substrates. Either use less than 2 inches, more than 8 inches or none. anything inbetween will be a 'shit trap'. Some people vacum there gravel, I havn't in 18 months, without problem and my tank is clean. I think this is more to do with the aggressive water flow than the sand though. substrate is a funny thing, I suspect that no matter what you do it will be wrong. FYI for my new tank I am using a 2inch bed. I think a tank looks better with it than without it. I dont' belive a DSB is worth the risk. 1 inches works for me now, so I am just going to do the same. Pies

I am confused. You are worried about Cyno being there even if your can't see it? Who cares! It will be present (or could become present) in any tank, like algae, coal, fish or anythig else, if the conditions are right it will thrive, if not it won't. I don't belive you can eradicate it to a point that if the conditions are right it won't be present. Its always there, waiting... Dosing anti-red... Pies

I honestly don't belive it has anything to do with ASW/NSW as there are dozens of people on UR/RC with Cyno who use saltmix. Remember the majority of people here use NSW so its a bit hard to draw conculsions, only Alois and Layton on saltmix (anyone else?). Chimera - I completely disagree about your comments on cyno being there forever. How long have you had your tank? My cyno was there at the start of my tank, then disapeared for about 9 months then came back, and its definitly in recession again now. I am 100% confident that within the next few weeks I will have none again. I am also 100% confident that it may come back again at some stage. Phosphates should be 0. Piemania

I have 2ppm Nitrates, 0 Phosphates and my water quality is 'spot on'. Water changes are regular. My system has over 1100 litres of water in it. Well lit and very well circulated. I too have Cyno in both tanks (none in sump). Everything is very healthy, the skimmer has recently been upgraded from an APF850 to an APF902 which removes almost a litre of skimate every week. As a side note, when we were diving in Fiji I saw Cyno EVERYWHERE, accross the sand, on the rocks, between some corals. So I have decided to just leave it and call it a 'natural ocurance'. I will not be trying to intervien again in regards to cyno. YMMV. Chimera - I am glad you can tell the difference between Cyno and Corline Algae. Pie

JetSkiSteve sent me some corals early this year. He sent them on Monday afternoon. The arrived at my homeon Thursday afternoon. Xenia died, leather coral died. Dozens of mushrooms, yellow polyps, green star polyps survived. As did some calistrea and a small pistol shrimp stuck in a piece of rock. The box stunk though, was't pretty. Pies

Single ended bulbs don't use cover glass. So 1 spot of water on them when they are running BANG! Thats why you don't want em too close. Doubble ended have cover glass, so you can run them closer to the water surface (about 6 inches on mine for example). The light spread is effected of course, as does the reflector design impact the height some people run them at, coral needs etc. Pies

Renta cyber cops

I am running my 740 litre with 1 Eheim 1262 (3500 litres ish) and 1 Eheim 1050 (1200 litre an hr approx) and my 25mm hole working fine. I do have a 2nd 25mm hole at the other end, but its currently not in use. All water is driven directly into my skimmer before entering the sump/refugium. Pies

Alan is right. I personally think that if you are using 2 heaters you should only be using 1 thermastat. There are lots of heater controllers that are not expensive, and you can buy cheaper thermastats and wire them into 2 heaters (you can buy heaters without thermastats to reduce the cost). I use an electronic heater controller that I plug my 3 heaters into. Works a treat. Pieman

Layton - using Durso standpipes which are completely silent as the pipe is always full (no air through the pipes). I suspect a single 35mm hole will be enough for the 8000 litres or so I want, but I might drill a second 35mm hole in case I need it (will glue and plug it). So maybee just easier to have the 40mm hole, and put reducers back into the garage (or even at the taps under the tank). No the garage, then if I need more flow I don't need to re-plumb from the tank. Hrmmm.