My very first marine tank

[johanpm]

hi matt,

the new chiller is not noisy at all. i got it with the thought of upgrading the tank in future and not having to replace the chiller then too.

 

[johanpm]

is it possible to build mh into the standard canopy? i don't really want a suspended or pendant.

 

[Falcon]

not really....they usually take up more space...i dont have a tl550 so cant help with exact lengths but wont a 24w t5 fit in there if you take out the pl tubes...t5's are much much more efficient and give of more light than those pl tubes...

say maybe six x 24w t5's then your in bussiness.

 

[johanpm]

ah, now thats a point, falcon. do you know the length of the 24w t5?

 

[Falcon]

ah, now thats a point, falcon. do you know the length of the 24w t5?

remember to put reflectors in though, otherwise you loose up to half the light output on any globe....


they should be 55cm long add a few cm for the endcaps. you can mount them any direction left to right or front to back

 

[johanpm]

i think the best thing to do would be to take the hood and go and visit lanzo in the new year. i can then measure and try all kinds of things there.

 

[Falcon]

good idea less hassle of buying the wrong equipment etc then

good buy on the chiller,future proofed it

 

[johanpm]

i have lots of microscopic particles floating aroung in my water. not sure if the water is supposed to be crystal clear.

is it worth getting an external skimmer or is this normal?

 

[jacquesb]

Hi Johan - what skimmer and model do you have at the moment? You an perhaps run "filter floss" for a short period of time.... this could possibly remove the micro particles.....

 

[johanpm]

i have the standard skimmer that comes with the tl-550. tank is about 2 months old.

 

[jacquesb]

HHHMmmmm - ok Johan - try running some filter-floss for a while. If you have a tank with a sump, this might have been slightly easier. You asked about an external skimmer - this could definitely work - but for the Boyu TL550, a hang-on skimmer is the best bet......

 

[johanpm]

does the hang-on skimmer fit without having to remove the hood of the tank and if so, which one?

 

[johanpm]

i think the problem is that huge black spunge in the far right compartment, under the skimmer. when you take it out to clean it all the gumf comes loose.

 

[jacquesb]

HHmmm - not 100% sure of that, Johan - perhaps we should wait for someone who actually has a Boyu TL-550?

 

[johanpm]

life would be so much easier if i could somehow have a sump.

 

[jacquesb]

Jip Johan - a sump does indeed make things a HUGE amount easier.... believe me!

 

[johanpm]

Some updated pics...

 

[Matt]

Why not borrow a large container l, drain the tank and get it drilled so you can fit a sump? Is the glass tempered? If so you can't drill but if it is you can easily add a sump

 

[johanpm]

i will hopefully be adding a new fish this weekend... see if i can get a flame angel or a coral beauty.

 

[Falcon]

hey johan looks good.

Just two things i would consider changing.

1.the placement of the pin cushion...under the tree its not getting enough light and secondly it being too close to the tree could cause them to fight with chemical warfare so move it into its own light and decent space away from any other corals....also remember euphylia's including your green one have long stinging tentacles(longer than the normal ones but they normally come out at night only) so be sure not to place any corals within their reach.


2.the branch type of thing you have there looks good but it pulls the attention away from your corals.taking it out would look better in my opinion but they thats up to you as it wont affect the health of your inhabitants in anyway