[e_baer]

210lbs of this:

CaribSea Aragamax Sugar-Sized Sand 30 lb (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Dry Sand )

1 gallon of this:

CaribSea Mineral Mud Refugium Substrate 1 Gallon (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Mud )

and 20lbs of this:

CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand 20 lb (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Live Sand )

[Ganrin]

Elliott knock off 2 of the 30lb aragamax and you will be a lot closer to what you need. GARF sand bed calculator says 158 lbs for a 36x18x6 inch sand bed. Sand Bed Calculator

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The reef central calculator says 225 pounds for 36x18x5.

[e_baer]

I htink I will start with around 140lbs and see how it goes from there. I dont want to buy too much and then have to get rid of some.

[e_baer]

So if I am understanding thiscompletely, a pair of these ( EFI's Online Store for Lights of America | LOA Fluorex™ Flood Light ) will be just fine for my 40g sea grass tank? OR, do you think I should get 3?

[Adam J]

Would one of those work for an under cabinet refugium?(sump style)

[e_baer]

That is what I hear....I just want to make sure they will reach a good depth of water.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I like that fixture.Since it is an outdoor fixture the bulb is enclosed and proteted from salt creep.That 6500k temp for the bulb is perfect for a sump growing algea.Now if they only made that bulb in 10k and actinic.

[e_baer]

the tank I have is something like 36"longX18" deep and maybe 15 or 16" high. Do you think 2 of those would od the trick, or should I aim for 3?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

How about 2 of the 85 watt models?That would give you 4.25 watts per gallon.surely that will grow grass.

[e_baer]

where do you see the 85w model?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Well I can find the bulb and it gives a fixture model # that the bulb fits but I cant find the fixture.Click on the 85 watt bulb and see what you can find.

[e_baer]

this guy?

Lights of America 85W fluorescent canopy light (white) (9385) (9385)

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Unless you are lighting a swimming pool that light wont work lol.

[e_baer]

So back to the drawing boards....

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I am starting toean towards the model 9027 27 watt unit.

[e_baer]

Do you think that would be enough? The tank is 16-18" tall.


In this tank the one thing I DEFINATELY DONT want to do is skimp on lighting.

Also, I just realized that these fixtures are direct wired. How hard would it be to convert them to regular plugs?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Elliot these lights are ment for parking lots and side walks.I thought you were in the experimentation mode.I wish there was some place i could go look at the fixtures.A 40 gallon breeder is 16.5 inch's tall.and how deep is the planned sand bed?5 inch's?In the end you will be penatrating less than 10 inch's of water.How about the 9042?

[e_baer]

I am in the experimentation mode, but graveyard has the 65w fixture for his sea grass tank. I guess what I am trying to get at is, if it is working for him, I guess it would work for me. I just want to know if I should get 2 or 3 lights.

Also, about that converting the light to a normal plug.....would it be hard?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

How about start with 1 but dont lose the address?

[e_baer]

hmmm......

I think I actually may end up with 2. Ill put one in my fuge under my 55 and then one over my 40g. Then if I feel my 40g needs more I will just have to go and purchase another one.

[e_baer]

Back to the topic of sand. I know CC is not recommended because fish waste and what not can get trapped in there, but Sicne this will be a seagrass tank looped to a frag tank, what are the dissadvantages to CC?

I was gonna get something in between CC and LS like this:

CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand 40 lb (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Dry Sand )

Along with 2 gallons of this:

CaribSea Mineral Mud Refugium Substrate 1 Gallon (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Mud )

Thoughts or comments are welcomed!

[e_baer]

And another liuttle update, The frag tank lights were ordered over a week ago and still have not received the shipment notice

[e_baer]

New plans....found some planted aquarium substrate. I though I would give it a whirl...

MarineDepot.com

[Lowej82]

the light onback order?