Quick question on lighting. Do i have any color options?

Not yet, We will order these things as soon as we can get the budget for this project this year. If it isnt enough, then we will have to wait until August when the budget recycles.

 

But since you are working in a biology lab, why would you purchase premixed solutions for this and not use raw materials which a lab should have access to or be able to get for rock bottom prices, Calcium, Alk, and Mag shouldn't be a problem for any lab to get. Technically you could even be creating your own salt blends to really cut costs down. I also know most labs, schools, offices are huge fans of using t10, and t12 bulbs, however it not being ideal you could look at retrofitting some t10led tubes and make a quality light for a fraction of the cost using ready on hand supplies.

So much advice could be offered but first since you said reef, and due to its limited size, what types of small fish, inverts, corals will you be focusing on.

 

Looks cool..subscribed to tag along on this one ! : )

 

Yeah you are right on the models

and I know, I am so exited! it's always fun to spend other people's money LOL

 

Well, I know our budget should be good enough to do what ever we want really. However, since this is the end of the year, I am not sure what we have left. After the summer, it resets it self, so money isn't really an issue. It's just a matter of when we will start adding the expensive stuff

We don't have the time to do all that, so we will basically just buy all we need. I'm considering on maybe doing LED lights, but I'm not really sure. Metal halides sound good too. ( or even T5HO).

As for the tank, I am definitely adding a pair of clown fish. Not sure what kind right now. I will try to add 1 or 2 wrasses, some sort of goby and a firefish of some sort. ( maybe a helfrich firefish).

 

someone else money?... LED Baby !! That way you have the control and have virtually no limitation on what you can put in it...imo

 

no budget, i see radions or vortechs in your future! lol

 

i would do a mp40 on the left side no doubt. a DIY led would be pretty cost effective.

 

hahaha, Maybe but I don't want to just spend money like crazy lol otherwise they won't let me build another tank LOL

So im going to keep things simple, but with good quality

 

I would focus on natural filtration methods and try some unconvential low tech models for low nutrient systems. Test different medias for dsb, algae filters, reactor medias, coil denitraters, etc. That would be an interesting and inexpensive project.