Ok I have a couple of ?'s

[therock0861]

I would like to know if having a ugf and cc is bad? I have been reading alot of posts and all I hear are negative things about both. I was new to the hobby and got advice from my Gunny on what to buy because he has had a SW tank for a while now. I bought this stuff and have a damsel and a clarkii clown and L/R I do eventually plan to get another fish or two and a starfish and maybe some easy corals and crabs. Let me know if I am asking too much if I increase my lighting and add another Power Head if necessary?

 

[fshhub]

cc works for some, in a fish only, but i have used cc and ugf's, and dsb's and lr with a dsb,a nd i have foud that the easiest to care for,and keep real good readings, is the lr with a dsb, much more effective and stable adn easier to maintain than cc, IMEO
i would never go bak to cc
HTH

 

[therock0861]

So you would recommend ls instead ?

 

[fshhub]

my reccommendation is yes, go wiht sand, but if your tank is populated, already, you may have to mae a few precautions in the switch, which are easy and worht it, IMO
one is use ls, it will help to keep down on the dust storms, and will also help to avoid ammonia spikes

 

[mal]

Rock,
I would ditch the UGF, just stay with the cc if you want. That said, sand is much easier in terms of maint. You don't have to hoover up the gunk, and it keeps nitrates down. But really it only matters how you want your tank to look, and how much time you want to spend in maint. If you are going to get corals, I would definately address the lighting issue. Lights depend on what kinds of corals you want to have. I have only pc lights, but I don't have any sps corals or clams, just lps and two anemones. As for circulation, just make sure on the hex tank you have some ripples going across the top all the time for gas exchange. That can be a problem with hex tanks, the lack of large surface area. As long as you are moving the surface water constantly, doesn't have to be vigorous, just ripples, you will be fine. Upgrading the lights will get you on track for corals, and a little more lr wouldn't hurt. Sounds like your tank is coming along nicely.
I forget, what is 0861? FO? FDC is 0844 right? I was 0811, GO GUN BUNNIES! Mike 1/11 and Echo 2/12, got out as a Ssgt in '92. billyv is former Marine too, he was HMX 1. There are a few of us here. We even have a Doc, Coop21 was a corpsman.

 

[therock0861]

FO I work at Quantico with Artillery Instructor battery. Thanx for the advice and I will dith the UGF as soon as possible.