Red sea crazy

[Dkuhlmann]

LMAO that was funny, but don't you think you should have used this picture

[CStrickland]

Yes. Especially after my most recent acclimation.
But I didn't want to scare the kids

[stingeragent]

Cs, can i see a pic of your coast to coast overflow? Never seen one with u tubes

[CStrickland]

Sure. I'll pm it it to you when I get home tonight, or tomorrow am. Feeling kinda sorry for how far off topic this thread already is

[Azzee]

Its great to know there are people willing to track my progress in keeping a reef tank... thanx for the positive vibes

In the OP i didnt say much about myself or what i do for a living so here it is... im 29 years of age. Lived a large portion of my years in the UAE (Abudhabi and Dubai) finished my education in the american international high school and then got my degree in audio engineering. Bak to saudi and currently working and managing a jewlery shop... i also joined PADI and just recently got my rescue license

Enough about me ..

I got my tank yesterday night.(20" x 24" x 17") (glass 8 mm thickness) Dimensions didnt come out as i thought and finishing on tank wasnt all that good. But functionality is what matters to me at this stage...

I will post pictures very soon inshalla as im really excited to start this project...

Once ive completly setup the tank i'll start posting pictures... currently im looking for filters, pumps and lighting that fits my budget. So im going with china made products...

[platypusklr]

Worked with some great dudes from UAE with KFOR in kosavo, i still have a patch from them. Chinese stuff is getting better, just keep some backups on hand for the occasional (inevitable) failure. Subscribed to your build, keep it up and we are looking forward to the build.

[platypusklr]

Originally Posted by CStrickland

Btw, thank you for serving platy and stinger!

No matter what different political ideas we all have about why you guys/gals were over there, Im very glad that you made it out and I think it's very very cool that you are using your experiences to correct ignorance when you see it.

When you only hear about places like SA on the news it's easy to forget that they are full of regular folks of all different sorts with normal probs just trying to like raise their kids and maybe have a hobby too. For us without first-hand experience its tempting to lump everybody into one stereotype of what a Saudi is. It's really great you guys can help us see a bigger picture.

17 years still going strong. Hard to keep a tank, but everytime i break it down I learn lessons applied to the next. Stinger and I would call it an AAR....lol. Completely agree, it makes me mad when i hear people like that. It is devastating to see the situation with ISIS, especially in places where i have served and lost brothers. I was with 3ACR when we liberated Tal Afar from the militia. Spent many nights on top of Sinjar Mountain, guarding the retrans antenna. All those areas are now controlled by ISIS. The yezidi kurds are some of the coolest people i have ever met, the kurds have paid a terrible price.

[Azzee]

Hey all

I am having trouble deciding between these two light systems. (Zetlight zt 6500 or Zetlight za 2421) these are the names. And here are the links -----http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/21-za2421.html ----- http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/products?id=47

The main thing is i plan to grow SPS corals and they require royal blue, blue and violet at the very least to show color and growth, is that true ? .... zetlight 6500 provides these wavelengths in the spectrum....

Or white and blue are enough ??? considering i plan to grow SPS after first stage with softies...

I thought if i got 2x zetlight za 2421 which holds white and blue LED's only.. i could perhaps substitute some diodes with the colors i need (if thats possible) and end result provide SPS with what they need....

Please help me and share your experiences with these lights if you had any...

Thnx alot

[stingeragent]

Hah. I haven't heard "AAR" in years,lol.

[Bent]

Lol I know what AAR is. Anytime I screwed up my grandad would say "sit down boy we need to have an AAR."

My entire male family were marines. I was the outcast who did not go....

I went to Art school at that time instead. That went over well.

Then I learned why the term "starving artist" exists. Then I went back to school to be a RN. That was worse. Lol

[stingeragent]

Lol, im actually working towards getting my rn

[Azzee]

What is AAR ... and rn ? :s

[Xxero]

After Action Review/Report and Registered Nurse. AAR is also a global aircraft repair facility.

[Azzee]

Lol ok ....

[ebow3d]

Originally Posted by stingeragent

Hah. I haven't heard "AAR" in years,lol.

Originally Posted by Bent

Lol I know what AAR is. Anytime I screwed up my grandad would say "sit down boy we need to have an AAR."

My entire male family were marines. I was the outcast who did not go....

I went to Art school at that time instead. That went over well.

Then I learned why the term "starving artist" exists. Then I went back to school to be a RN. That was worse. Lol

What has that got to do with the OP's question?

[OrQidz]

How is the tank going, Azzee? It's great to see someone interested in reef creatures, wherever in the world they are! The Red Sea looks amazing. Snorkeling must be incredible there.

Maybe we can stay on topic in this thread?

[Azzee]

Hello hello ... the tank is just sitting in my room until i figure out which lighting fixture im gnna get.. as u can see in the post there are two fixtures that fit my budget perfectly. But one of them has got only white and blue LED's. Ita really hard to decide on lights as in totally inexperienced....

Snorkeling is truly incredible.. i always see a few turtles. Sometimes one, and quite a while ago i saw 3 spotted eagle rays. I was super LUCKy! Cuz these animals are threatened to extinction unfortunately. Always see some intimidating barracudas... lol not to mention all the beautiful reef fish specially the anthias which i find to be one of the most beautiful fish ever... anyways bak to topic ... my tank is pretty basic and got no plumbing. So for filtration im looking at canister filters. Once i get a newer tank i'll use the old one as a refugum... i think the zetlight za 6500 is perfect according to what ive read and also perfectly fits my budget. One concern is spare parts which we dont have in Saudi sadly ... other than that time is a killer and i wanna start ASAP but also right...

Thanx for ur feedback

[CStrickland]

When you shop LEDs you will see a lot of info about extra stuff the light does, like a fancy way to attach it to the tank, or different special effects the lights can do. This stuff is not as important as how strong the LEDs are. I looked quickly at the link and I couldn't find that info so that makes me suspicious that they are hiding behind special effects that are cheap.

My opinion is to look for a light with a good number of 3 watt LEDs that can be dimmed, has a full spectrum of color, and separate controls for blues. I have these, I like them a lot. Spare parts are less of a concern when the whole light costs less than $100 us$

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1816271...chn=ps&lpid=82

One light would cover a 20"x24"x17" tank no problem

EDIT: I saw a couple reviews, looks like the zetlights aren't that bad. Just kind of a wonky website. They are expensive for a starter light, like $400 US

[CStrickland]

I don't think a canister filter is necessary. Your live rock provides a place for bacteria to colonize, the bacteria provides most of your filtration. A "protein skimmer" is also nice to have if you can get one. Pure water is a priority for reef tanks, most people use a ro/di filtration system to achieve that.

[Azzee]

Thanx alot for the info. I looked at the light and it does look like it does the job very well plus the price is so much better... only thing now i gotta find it either here in saudi or get it shipped from overseas...

Again thank you very much for your comment. Its of great help to me

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by Azzee

Thanx alot for the info. I looked at the light and it does look like it does the job very well plus the price is so much better... only thing now i gotta find it either here in saudi or get it shipped from overseas...

Again thank you very much for your comment. Its of great help to me

Might be better for you to get that light from China where they are made. Just a thought.

[Bent]

Originally Posted by ebow3d

What has that got to do with the OP's question?

What are you the OT police?

[CStrickland]

Originally Posted by Azzee

Thanx alot for the info. I looked at the light and it does look like it does the job very well plus the price is so much better... only thing now i gotta find it either here in saudi or get it shipped from overseas...

Again thank you very much for your comment. Its of great help to me

You're welcome
Most of us who use that light bought it from eBay, not a shop. Do you have trouble using eBay in SA?

I don't know much about the importation rules, but I have heard that it can be difficult to buy "morally objectionable" items. I only mention that because some reef lights are also used to grow marijuana
It has worked out nicely for reef tanks because the drugs people invest $ to make good lights which we can also benefit from because our coral need the same sun as their plants. I remember when I was researching the lights for my tank I was worried that I would get a visit from our police if they spied on my internet searches haha!
Not trying to get all political again, just wanted to mention that

[Bent]

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Might be better for you to get that light from China where they are made. Just a thought.

I found a wifi programmable one on eBay the other day I've been eying for my secondary refugium.

Edit:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=161749501856

[Azzee]

Ahahahahahaha!!! I can imagine... no trouble using ebay from SA. But the item is not shippable buy the seller. I have a cousin whos flying to the US in november and i might ask her to buy it for me when she gets there, unless i find an alternative and get it from somewhere else. I'll keep searching online though. Plus a friend might be able to find it in india while hes there and bring it along with hopefully........ in regards to importation rules in SA its not illegal to bring in lights such as the ones used to grow marijuana, Cuz they're sold here and some people grow Marijuana here privatley ofcourse cuz thats 100% illegal in SA... so ye hopefully if i could find a shippable item and the cost of shipping is not too heavy. I'll defo go for it... i will also look into the WIFI programmable version as it could be utilized better for sure. So thanx for that