Please Help

[jcolon2]

Ok. I have been posting a lot here lately and I hope I have not exhausted my welcome. However, I am really in need of help. I have 200 dollars to kill (which is very little), but I want to use it right.

I have a 55. I have vhos but I am no longer going to use them. I am thinking of going with metal halides for my 55. And I will have to buy fans to keep them cool. Where can I get 2 ballasts really cheap (I need one ballast for each light bulb), correct? How many watts should I put over the tank if I want anemones, clams, sps, etc...? I was thinking 300-350 watts?

Should I put a canopy on the tank (I love the aesthetic) or should I keep it simple and go with pendants for reasons of costs, and ease of maintenace and installation?

I have a pro clear 125 sump. Should I get rid of it and have a sump made from a 20 gallon aga tank with baffles inserted or should I keep my current sump?

I have a 55 gallon tank and a stand that I built. Although, I can't upgrade I want to replace the 55 with another 55. There are scratches all over the tank. Anyone know where I can get a very cheap 55 with no scratches. My glass is scratched badly.

Thank you to all those who have already helped me and thank you to those who leave advice on this thread.

 

[Tommy Boy]

on a 55 ur good with 150w or 175w. the depth is 18 right? as for the hood its about preference u can install the pendant into the hood. ime.

 

[snickers]

i have a 55 that is drilled out the back and brand new
$100 takes it

I also have a used 75 R/R for $150

 

[albano]

I have 200 dollars to kill, but I want to use it right.

I have a 55. I have vhos but I am no longer going to use them. I was thinking 300-350 watts?

should I keep my current sump?

I want to replace the 55 with another 55.

You accidently typed $200...you meant $2000... right!

even if you find a FREE MH setup. it'll cost near $200 to replace all the bulbs!
If you have/use 4 VHO 48" bulbs, thats 440W, which is fine for now...you need to learn the hobby, and actually keep something alive (long term), first!

why do you need to change the sump?

replace a 55 with a 55?????????? upgrade or save your $...
can you turn the tank around, is the back scratched as bad as the front?

:shhh: Best advice, counselor...use the $200 to buy a gun..rob a bank...upgrade everything!





J/K

 

[jcolon2]

Albano,

I wish I had 2,000 dollars to currently spend on the tank. I spent 2,000 on the this tank in the past, however; I utilized the money incorrectly.

I have kept livestock alive; I have had some livestock in the tank for a year now. Unfortunately, I did lose the majority of my tank though in the last crash.

And, if I design/construct a canopy and install the 440 watts of vhos, is that going to costs me in the long run? I want to keep sps- and I heard from people on this forum that they will be fine but I have also heard that sps can only be placed in the top portion of the tank because the vhos arent strong enough and that they aren't cost efficient. I know the bulbs are cheap so that is a plus for the meantime I suppose. But I would think that 440 watts on a 55 tank is a lot.

The sump has no room for a refugium; it is the proclear 125.

I do not mind keeping this tank as is if I can turn it into something great.

 

[Tommy Boy]

just make the hood a box so that u can rig anything to it.

 

[E.intheC]

In the interest of keeping costs down, I'd keep the VHO's, provided they're not old bulbs (how old are they?). I agree with Albano.. can you turn the tank around? That would help with the scratches at least. People might say you can't keep anything with them, but that's not true, and for your budget, it will be fine.

For now, you don't need to replace the sump, although you could buy a simple glass tank for about $20 (head over to Tropical Island Aquarium on Route 231.. he probably has a used 20 gallon long for cheap, if you ask him) and make the baffles yourself. It's not tough.

What else do you need?

Honestly though, it really depends on what you dislike the most about your current setup, and what you really want to change.

 

[jcolon2]

I can't turn the tank around : / The back is painting black and had barnacles all over the glass. I guess I will have to deal with the scratches.

My bulbs are old so I can order all new ones for about 95 dollars with shipping off of Amazon.

I don't know is the 20 gallon long will fit in my stand but I am going to try anyway.

What bothers me most actually is the lighting system. i really want to see a tank that is able to sustain corals. Right now that lighting is preventing me from doing that. The particles from the sump also bother me but I have nearly gotten rid of those as well.

Thanks for the advice guys!