Stuff that's changed

[Europhyllia]

I just got a couple more powerheads today and it reminded me how much my current set up differs from my first reef tank ten years ago.

I think my biggest difference really is flow rate. Looking back my poor corals and clowns must have thought they live in a pot hole during their years in my first tank!

I am surprised they even survived.

What's your biggest change from when you started to now?

[Mr Cob]

What's your biggest change from when you started to now?

Lighting...I was the fool that thought 65watt PC bulbs would grow anything just because I paid $120 for my light fixture! LOL!

I was used to freshwater 15w bulbs and I thought 2 65w bulbs were intense lighting!

[vman181]

Lighting...I was the fool that thought 65watt PC bulbs would grow anything just because I paid $120 for my light fixture! LOL!

I was used to freshwater 15w bulbs and I thought 2 65w bulbs were intense lighting!

I would have to agree with Mr. Cob. My lighting has changed from two NO grow lights to four VHO's and now to two 250w MH with VHO sups. I guess now it’s time to try out some T5’s.

[hobogato]

well, i have nearly come full circle....

first tank was in 1993 - 29 gallon with ugf with crushed coral and powerheads, bleached acro skeletons for decor

several tank upgrades all the way to full blown 240 gallon sps reef attached to a 50 gallon clam tank with just about every reactor/mh and t5 lights/controller, etc

now back to a glass box with sand and rock - lit only by sunlight and only a k4 for circulation

funny how things cycle sometimes

[Europhyllia]

Lighting...I was the fool that thought 65watt PC bulbs would grow anything just because I paid $120 for my light fixture! LOL!

I was used to freshwater 15w bulbs and I thought 2 65w bulbs were intense lighting!

Oh the 130w Coralife Aqualight - I had that one too

[Bill S]

What's your biggest change from when you started to now?

Are you KIDDING? Have you READ my signature? The magazines were chiseled in stone!

OK, from the early 70's:

BIG tanks were 55s. I mean, you were living big, with a 55. I worked in a LFS from 8th grade thru college. We got an 8' tank in, and just laughed about it.

Lighting was a single plain old "gro-lux" fluorescent tube. All tanks had undergravel filters with dolomite on top of them. That was it.

If you had the money, you could afford to buy a coral. A BLEACHED coral - and every month or so, you took it out and soaked it in some bleach to turn it white again.

We had HOB filters - usually Marineland Supremes (you had to special order the SW version that didn't have metal screws).

We did run carbon, and we did have skimmers. They were tiny by today's comparison, and had birch wood blocks that served as airstones.

[Big_Pun]

wow bill the "stone age" bites, only thing thats changed for me since march is the size and lighting, softies to sticks, but ive had 6 setups in that time though, woohoo, all thanks to maast