Back in the hobby after 4 years.....need MH bulb, and skimmer advice.

[mkengr45]

Well,
I have been out of the hobby for a few years after selling my 250 cube. I am now back, but with a smaller cube (30g). It came with a DE 150w MH setup, and I need to replace the bulb. Any suggestions on DE bulbs and where is a good place to buy them would be appreciated. I have a 250w SE mogul setup laying around and considered putting that in instead but it would need a bulb also. Do you think I should just go back to my 250W SE setup? I always used 14k bulbs before but I have never used DE halides before.

On another topic....the tank came with an Aqua-c Urchin skimmer using a mag 3 pump I believe. I always used Euro-reef skimmer on my tanks in the past. Anybody have experience with this skimmer? I always had good luck with my euroreefs....should I ditch the Aquac Urchin and just stick another Euroreef in the sump?

I am looking forward to being involved in the reef hobby again!.

Thanks
Randy

[mkengr45]

Oh yeah, my RO/DI has been sitting for 4 years also and I figure I need to replace all the cartridges. I used to get them from some online store that had great prices. Any reccomendation on where to get replacement cartrdges? I still have about 15 pounds of the color changing DI resin that I assume is good....does that stuff go bad after a while?

[wolff809]

I always hear great things about the 14k Phoenix.

[alton]

On the RO/DI questions I would send those to Russ at Buckeye. Aqua C Skimmer with a mag three will be to big for a 30 plus noisey and sit on the side of the tank. Since you have a sump I would go with an insump skimmer, out of sight. Oh yea welcome back. I think a 250w would be too much light/heat for a 30.

[zerreissen]

I always hear great things about the 14k Phoenix.

I love my Phoenix, I currently have a 250W 14K DE and I'm very happy with the color. For a 30G, you might want to stick with a 150W:

http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-150W-Metal-Halide-000k/dp/B003JO6HN8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319547225&sr=8-1

[StevenSeas]

I would stay with the Aqua C. The Urchin is an insump model and if it really a urchin and not urchin pro it should be prefectly sized. Aqua C rates it for 20-75 gallons. I havent ever heard anything bad about aqua C skimmers. I know I personally have used the larger Aqua C skimmers and havent ever had a problem but those were with the EV series. But if you feel more comfortable with Euro Reef that is ultimately what will be more important, but it wouldnt hurt to try out the Aqua C during the setup process of your tank, and potentially save you some money for coral instead of another skimmer.

As far as the mh goes I would stick with the 150 DE halide. I would just think you would run into too many problems (heat, light acclimation, etc) with the 250w.
The DI resin (the color changing stuff) should still be good so long as it was in a closed container where the humidity couldnt effect it.

[Europhyllia]

Wow that 250 cube must have been something!!!
I owned and sold an Aqua C skimmer. It was fine. Company was fine but it was taking up a ton of space under the cabinet so check at what water level the skimmer needs to sit to work and if you can still fit it.