Right guys..not new to reef keeping, but need advice anyway..you can always teach an old dog new tricks...

Here is my problem...I have two tanks just now..an Orca TL 450 and a Jewel Vision 180..let me break down the two tanks...

The Orca was set up and I quickly realised that it was wanting. I added various pumps etc and tried to improve the lighting but in the end I got so frustrated that it really is not a "plug and play", was noisey (fans) inpractical (one power cord for LEDs and Tubes, crap skimmer, useless UV) that I gave up and its sitting in the shed gathering dust.

The Vision had a lot of customisation too. Initially I managed to have two T8's and a Aqua One twin 55 watt luminaire (total of 160). Added to this was a CPR skimmer (noisey), Fluval external with Rowaphos , carbon etc and a couple of powerful powerheads.

At first the tank thrived. I have mushrooms everywhere, all sorts of star polyps, leather corals etc. Looked lovely..then the Aqua One luminaire caught fire! I took it back to be told that the twin 55 watt units where discontinued because they caught fire!!!! and only twin 36 watts where available. So I swapped it for one of those.

The tank started to go down hill. I bought another luminare and added that..still did not look as bright. Stuff started to die off and I ended up with just 2 pussy corals left. I must have lost around £200 of corals All the water parameters are perfect although I had trouble with the powerheads and so swapped them out..but although the new ones are more LPH they do not seem to move the water as much and I have started to get cyno bacteria,

So..my dilema is this...do I try and ressurect the Vision or do I replace it with something easier to use as a Marine tank (The bow front is a pain for lighting options and the lid for skimmers) I have around £500 to spend on the tank..any suggestions? I was thinking of the new Jewel Highlite bay and an additional twin T5 unit under the original flaps. Then replacing the CPR with a deltec or V2 as i understand these are quieter in operation.

I would turely love a proper plug and play that does not require loads of modification as my partner hates the mess it leaves down the back of the tank and on top with wires and boxes etc. I was thinking of a Aqua Medic Chromis or maybe a REd Sea Max. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance
Rob

If it's any help, I used to run a Jewel Rio 125, with an Arcadia Series 3 150W MH, a deltec MCE600, 2 x streams and a HOB fuge. I did have to offset the MH because of the brace bar though. I have seen some very nice vision 180s and I would be inclined to use that instead of shelling out for a complete new tank, but I'm Scottish and don't like spending money if I don't have to

And I just happen to live 30 miles inland from Aberdeen ..Fallingbostal huh? I was stationed there in the 80's

Thanks for the advice. That brace bar is so annoying...that is why I have not gone down the MH route. I have heard of people removing it. I could go for two lower wattage 75w lamps, one either side I guess. Even with the two lumineres, which dont exactly put out a lot of heat, I have problems with evaporation. I have to top up around 3 litres a day!

I have fancied a fuge for a while..what make did you have? I have only seen the CPR ones and they seemed expensive for what they are. I guess I could use my old CPR skimmer, just replace the pump with a notmal powerhead to give a flow of water and add a wee light in the chamber

Thanks again..
Rob

Hi Rob,

Not much will have changed since you were here then, appart for a fence going up around camp, a few bars closing and a few opening. I'm heading back to Southampton soon, so I'll be leaving Fally for the last time (no more Hamburg trips )

Some have replaced the plastic brace bars with glass ones (I didn't) The fuge I use is a converted Hagen Aquaclear Hang on the Back AC 110 filter (damn difficult to find in UK) I had put put an extension on the return lip so as it would reach the tank water (Juwel Rio 300, so it has the black trim to clear) I change the species of algae growing in there every 6-8 months or so. It's teaming with small mysis shrimp at the minute.

Those top ups were a pain, that's for sure. Not as bad as my STM nano when I first started though, which reminds me, they used to do a 150W MH for that nano. Before I went with the Arcadia, I thought about getting another one and mounting them on a wall bracket over the tank, no dark areas.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks again for the info Dave. The glass support is an idea but I have been thinking about buying the Arcadia OT2 T5 Luminaire. I have seen the 4x39w version for £264. If i suspend it from the ceiling (unfortuantly they are 11 feet high!!) it should look much neater than the mess i have just now, then I can sell on my two Aqua Ones. It "may" bleed some light over the front corners of the tank due to the curve, but I am sure a little duck tape cut to shape on the glass cover will sort that.

My CPR skimmer has a spare chamber that should hold filter material, but its empty. I have a lot of Mysis in there. Pretty sure it would be easy to convert to a fuge. All I would have to do is remove the collection cup, add a light and maybe make a cover for it. I have some form of Macro algae in the main tank so I could seed the chamber with that and add live rubble....its all comming together in my head now!..lol

As for Fally, my fondest memories are of playing at the Dust Bowl in FV 432's...none of your Warriers back then!!! We had come straight from doing a lot of sneaky beaky stuff (Royal Green Jackets) and were used to quietly slipping into an OP and staying there for days (I am sure you will know where that was!) to a huge expanse of sand and water and roaring about in battle taxis all day and night. Loved it!!..Did not have to walk everywhere!!....I later transferred to the Gordon Highlanders in the early 90's and ended up back there, but only for a month, training with the Guards Division....geeeez..20 years ago now!!