Deal or No Deal?
 

I am buying the following set up;

180 Gallon Drilled Tank 6' x 2' x 2'
Stand (Needs Work, it's just plywood painted black over 2x4 framing)
Coralife 6', 3 x 150W MH and PC Actinic
2 Aqua Medic OR3500 Pumps
45 Gallon Sump
18W UV Sterilizer
1 Koralia 4 Powerhead
Coralife Dual Timer Powerstrip
Aqua Euro USA 265 Downdraft Skimmer
2 Visitherm heaters
All plumbing included as well

I am getting everything for $1500.00. My biggest fear is the lighting. I don't plan to do SPS but I have a Green Carpet anemone that I want to keep, I also want to keep LPS and soft corals. Is the 150W x 3 MH going to be sufficient for a carpet? A BTA would be fine because it will move up whereas carpets generally like to settle where the sand meets the rock. Also does this look like a great deal overall (it's only one year old)?

Sounds like a decent deal. The 150w is a little low for 24" (that's about the max. depth I would recommend before upgrading to 250w). Maybe if you have a 10000k Geisemann over the Carpet, then the PAR would be good enough. Also, with anemones, if adequately fed, that can compensate somewhat for the lower light level.

The lighting is my biggest fear. If it was 250 watt I would have no reservation, I am currently running 250's on my 110 lps/sps with no problem and it's 30" tall. Who sells Geismann bulbs? I usually shop at J&L and they don't carry them.

150W will be fine for LPS and your carpet. If you where overly concerned you could always run 10K bulbs which on on average will produce more par than a 250W 20K.

I run 250W 14K and they'll cook most LPS corals if placed too close. I would definitely say 150W would be better if you're not keeping SPS.

I believe you could also just switch the ballasts and bulbs down the road if you wanted to upgrade, you may not need a new fixture.

...and just FYI, the Carpet is currently in my 90 Gal under my TEK 6 x 54 watt T5 HO and thriving. I just need to go bigger before the Anemone does. I also have a Blue Angel who will need the 180.

You can, but it means switching out the bulb socket in the unit as well, since 250w DE is larger than 150w DE. I know a couple of members who've done it. You may also need to switch to a more powerful fan.

For your needs, medhat, the 150w should be fine. See how the carpet does under it and if you need to, J&L does sell Geisemann bulbs, but not sure what k? I grew clams, anemones & LPS under my 150w in a 2' deep tank for years before upgrading to 250w.

Anthony

I guess I just wanted more flexibility. You know how it goes, everyone starts off with a FOWLR and next thing its evolved into a full blown reef. I've discovered that FOWLR tanks are a myth...lol, they're just an excuse to get a new tank and justify it to yourself. It's almost impossible to avoid the evolution!
...or maybe I just don't have the willpower, ha ha!

Same thing happened to me. Here's a pic of my "fowlr":

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...y/IMG_3205.jpg

Pic by Franklin (fkshiu):biggrin::wink:

This is so true!:lol: Mine started as a FOWLR and then i bought a couple frags and then my bta from my other tank and now over the matter of a couple of weeks i have a reef tank ha ha Now i have to buy another system because i want emperor angel soooo bad! haha

Ray

My FOWLER...lol