[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Obviously to me ....I need to learn and read a whole lot more. I've finally started understanding water params and how to keep them, now it seems I'm entering a new phase of the hobby, uncharted territory to my mind.

Ahh, that's the fun part of it (learning... uncharted territory... makes living fun!)

Just think of it like... would you try to keep a cat in a bird cage, or try to make a dog use cat litter, or expect a bird to live in a fish tank? Corals are the same way, they each have specialized needs, and whichever creatures you decide to keep will determine which lighting/water params/feeding etc. choices you will make governing your system. You are God, make a good world

[Samper]

Also wanted to ask.....

Up until now I have been running my aquarium with a hood. When the light arrives the hood will come off. At times I have seen my flame hawk as well as my neon goby jump entirely out of the water. This is another reason I was considering using the plexiglass for a lid. Am I running a big risk of these fish jumping out? If I used the plexiglass and drilled a ton of holes in it would this be an answer to the problem?

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Also wanted to ask.....

Up until now I have been running my aquarium with a hood. When the light arrives the hood will come off. At times I have seen my flame hawk as well as my neon goby jump entirely out of the water. This is another reason I was considering using the plexiglass for a lid. Am I running a big risk of these fish jumping out? If I used the plexiglass and drilled a ton of holes in it would this be an answer to the problem?

Hmm... Yes you would be in danger of them jumping out... As for the holes in the plexi, I dunno..... Most people I've read about with jumpers tend to either keep a hood on, or lower the waterline so that they can't jump out. You could try the plexi with holes, at this point I don't see that it could hurt anything, especially since your system is not already acclimated to those lights yet anyway.

[Samper]

Gonna do it up all nice with trim around it and some hand holds just to keep the Feng shui going. Will drill plenty of holes in it to allow for gas exchange and heat escape. Also going to buy one of those fans with a clip will attach it to the side of the tank and angle it so that it blows across the surface. and out the holes. With only 20g of water to deal with heat is a big concern of mine.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Gonna do it up all nice with trim around it and some hand holds just to keep the Feng shui going. Will drill plenty of holes in it to allow for gas exchange and heat escape. Also going to buy one of those fans with a clip will attach it to the side of the tank and angle it so that it blows across the surface. and out the holes. With only 20g of water to deal with heat is a big concern of mine.

Kewl... I'd like to see pics when you're done ... And yeah, heat is a pia for sure.. That's why I'm building all my new tanks in the basement, cuz it stays cool down there..... I can heat the water much cheaper/easier/nicer looking than cooling it. My 46 is having a serious hair algae battle... when the weather gets cool, it backs off quite a bit..... when it gets hot, boom, it's everywhere again... poor snails get all depressed cuz they 'just cleaned that mess up' ... lol

[Samper]

Well thanks to my flame hawk I don't have to pay for therapy for any snails.

What part of the country are you from?

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Well thanks to my flame hawk I don't have to pay for therapy for any snails.

What part of the country are you from?

I'm in Michigan, and @therapy for snails.

[Samper]

My fiance is from Michigan, Detroit area we go up there every now and then to visit her friends.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

My fiance is from Michigan, Detroit area we go up there every now and then to visit her friends.

Then you are probably familiar with Hazel Park..... Just north of Detroit, South of Royal Oak, 'tween Ferndale and Warren ... That's where I be
(or if you know the area REAL well, you'd know it as 'Hazeltucky' ... lol)

[Samper]

I'm not personally familiar with the area but I'm sure Sherrie does. Maybe next time we're up there we could meet up and chat.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

I'm not personally familiar with the area but I'm sure Sherrie does. Maybe next time we're up there we could meet up and chat.

Sounds great.. maybe play some cards or something

[Samper]

Heck yeah some spades or hold em would be awesome.

[Samper]

Was just informed I might wanna pack some heat if I wanna come to that area haha.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Was just informed I might wanna pack some heat if I wanna come to that area haha.

lol, well, if ya go a couple miles south, you might be right... my neighborhood is pretty much all redneck types... good people for the most part if you discount the teenies, and really they don't mess with much. It's a good neighborhood I think ... I don't usually lock my doors if that tells you anything. Of course, the police tend to perch across the street from me (a speed trap) and they can see my whole yard/house so that probably makes me feel a bit more secure

[Samper]

Haha I don't think I would mind much. If I make it up that way I'll let ya know.

[Reefland]

Samper,

You could probably save yourself a lot of time, and provide a better "rack" for covering the tank by purchasing the white egg crate from a local hardware store. It is the same stuff that a lot of businesses use under flourescent fixtures in the ceiling.

[Samper]

Is it a big rectangle white sheet of plastic with a bunch of 1 inch squares cut out of it?

[Reefland]

Yup.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Samper

Is it a big rectangle white sheet of plastic with a bunch of 1 inch squares cut out of it?

The eggcrate I have isn't flat, and the squares in it aren't 1"... it is probably about 1/2" deep, and the squares are also 1/2" .. I picked it up at home depot in the fluorescent lighting/drop ceiling area (it's made to shield lights without enclosing them)

Scott is right, it would probably be a great deal easier and better in the long run to use eggcrate... You could also maybe get some of that fine plastic netting people use to protect their vegetables from birds, it would serve about the same purpose, only prob might be that it would have to be secured in some way (a frame of some sort) because it is soft and flexible whereas eggcrate isn't.

[Samper]

Thanks guys, hopefully the lights will arrive tomorrow so I'll go to lowes and check out my options.