Salt Virgin Needs Advice

[Myka]

Originally Posted by NewGuy

As for the ethical argument regarding keeping livestock in the best possible conditions. It is a good and valid argument against what I propose. It is something I will continue to consider. However, if everyone truly put the well being of the animals above other considerations then this website should not exist at all since they all belong in the seas. What I mean to say is that this is a highly subjective area and every person will come up with a different answer.

Oh yeah thats moldrik for your lengthy posts

Just after reading your last post here (I didn't read anyone's replies lol), the ethical thoughts came to mind. Do remember that most of the critters you buy are stolen out of the wild reefs. I have a hard time thinking about it sometimes, and have a hard time justifying stealing these creatures from the oceans.

One thing I forgot to mention is that you will probably need to use powerheads, and also it doesn't make sense to spend the money on a SCWD if you're trying to do it on a budget (for whatever reason).

EDIT: Ok I went back and read some of your replies:

Originally Posted by NewGuy

I obviously want to go T5HO and I have looked into it but its still pricey unless I find a cheap used setup. For a 4 lamp setup the bulbs alone will be around $120 after tax not to mention the ballasts and endcaps. I know that I can overdrive 4 T8 lamps for around $70 in ballasts. It all depends on whether such lamps exist and how much they cost. I believe that 4 T8 lamps overdriven 2X (or more with another $35 dollar ballast) will be reasonably close in lighting to T5HO especially when no individual reflectors are involved.

Also I want to do the least amount of waterchanges possible since salt is expensive . I will also be using TAPWATER DUM DUM DUUUUUM!!. Vancouver water is really quite pure. If you look at the reports nitrates are usually below 0.1ppm and phosphate is undetectable by analytical methods so I believe it to be "good enough for now".

Be aware that overdriving bulbs greatly decreases the bulb life. Over driven by 2x T8s should be replaced every 5-6 months. T5s are good for 12 months. Coralife T5 fixtures come with bulbs, and aren't expensive. There is no reasonyou need 4 T5s bulbs over your tank, so you can't even compare 4 T5s to 4 T8s. That's like comparing 500HP in a semi truck to 500HP in a car. Totally different. ONE T5 bulb would have about the same PAR as THREE T8 bulbs.

Lots of people use Vancouver tap water with success. It will be much more difficult though with few waterchanges and no skimmer.

Sorry, but I do think you are being a bit ignorant to the health of the potential animals in your care. Just taking a few simple steps would hugely increase their chances of living healthy. OR, you could do what you plan, but don't keep any fish. Keep macroalgaes, feather dusters, sponges, gorgonians, etc. Critters that LIKE nutrient rich water, and don't require large amounts of light to be happy.