I'm back......

[Steve McKay]

OK...what a freaking day. So I made the plunge, borrowed my fatherinlaws truck, went to the LFS and bought the 125g. Called up my brother-in-law to help me get it in the house. we drain the 65g move the live rock into a rubbermaid. Move the old tank get the new one in position, things are going perfect but.........oh ya there is a but. As I'm pouring water in the tank to mix i look up and see a 3 inch crack on the glass at this point its 4pm and the lfs closes at 4pm. I call anyways and the shop owner answers, says bring it back. So I drain the water i dumped in there load the tank back in the truck and drive the 30min back to the shop. He and his assistant waited for me, switched me tanks and sent me on my way. So not exactly a flawless day but the tank is in the house I moved the sand, lr, and hermits/shrimp into the 125g and I'm currently brewing up some water to fill the tank some more. I'm pretty well spent and its a 30min round trip drive to my closest RO Water station so its gonna be half-cocked tonight but it is what it is. Most importantly i was really impressed with my shop staying open and taking care of me. Its not often you get above and beyond service and today I got it and definitely appreciated it. Side note I ripped off the better part of half of my thumb nail today in the process of cleaning out the 65, feels awesome in salt water

I'm glad you were able to replace the tank quickly, good service from the LFS. A 125, then we'll have the same size then because I've decided on a 125 too. I hope the thumb feels better.

[fishguy_8]

I'm glad you were able to replace the tank quickly, good service from the LFS. A 125, then we'll have the same size then because I've decided on a 125 too. I hope the thumb feels better.

I see you have the schwartz......

[Steve McKay]

I see you have the schwartz......

Actually I don't know, I've never heard that term before.

[fishguy_8]

its a spaceballs reference, maybe im starting to show my age at the ripe old age of 27

[Steve McKay]

its a spaceballs reference, maybe im starting to show my age at the ripe old age of 27

I fought the bugs with the starship troopers, don't do comedy.

[fishguy_8]

well chalk this up to "why didn't i think of that?" i bought some glass lids put them on the tank threw my pendant up on the lid, 2 hrs later the heat from the light broke said lid. Happy fricken saturday.

[Steve McKay]

well chalk this up to "why didn't i think of that?" i bought some glass lids put them on the tank threw my pendant up on the lid, 2 hrs later the heat from the light broke said lid. Happy fricken saturday.

I hope that doesn't mean your having fried fish tonight. No pun intended. Not that you need to ask us every time you do something, but you don't put glass canopies on reef tanks you leave them open for better cooling and gas exchange. Did the light go into the tank?

[Steve McKay]

Also I would ask why you wanted the MH that close to the water, I would think that would be too much light (ultraviolet) and would cause excessive heat buildup.

[fishguy_8]

no it didnt go in the water. I dont have a hood and the wife put the ixnay on hanging the pendant so the glass lid was the move. but as its broken it was just a waste of money so I'm going to see if her uncle can build me a hood for the tank so I dont have to shell out more $$$ for a hood. I know better it was just a bone head move As far as it causing excess heat, I had it sit right on top of my acrylic tank and never had temp problems when it was up and running.

[Steve McKay]

no it didnt go in the water. I dont have a hood and the wife put the ixnay on hanging the pendant so the glass lid was the move. but as its broken it was just a waste of money so I'm going to see if her uncle can build me a hood for the tank so I dont have to shell out more $$$ for a hood. I know better it was just a bone head move As far as it causing excess heat, I had it sit right on top of my acrylic tank and never had temp problems when it was up and running.

I'm glad it wasn't worse than it was, also that using a canopy won't cause you heat buildup.

[fishguy_8]

I remember alot of people installing fans in their hoods I'm thinking this might be the way to go as well to make sure heat doesn't become an issue. also are there any places you guys recommend for a diy lighting retro kit? I have the 1 250w mh im thinking the way i'm going to run the tank is do 2 stacks of rock on each end of the tank. the far left side i'm going to do sps and then flush to the right do lps and leave the middle open. What would be the most cost effective but yet effecient way to pull this off?

[Steve McKay]

I remember alot of people installing fans in their hoods I'm thinking this might be the way to go as well to make sure heat doesn't become an issue. also are there any places you guys recommend for a diy lighting retro kit? I have the 1 250w mh im thinking the way i'm going to run the tank is do 2 stacks of rock on each end of the tank. the far left side i'm going to do sps and then flush to the right do lps and leave the middle open. What would be the most cost effective but yet effecient way to pull this off?

I don't know anything about MH retro kits, never used a MH. I think T-5 lighting is the way to go, They will easily light up a tank that is up to 24" high, In fact I had to raise my light fixture to 6" above the the top of the tank and change the bulb combination to reduce par. And I have plenty of SPS corals.

Cost effective as in what, lighting?

[reeferguru]

As far as heat issue and cost, a room fan is sufficient to enable evaporational cooling to help maintain cooler water temperatures. This will enable you not to have to bother with retro kits.
you can also install a computer fan to sit on top of your tank to help with air flow as well as gas transfer in your tank.
Hopefully, this answers your question.