Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Bob Goemans corresponds with Derrick Fowler

Derrick Fowler writes...

Dear Bob,

I am preparing to set up my first Reef tank and I have heard and read many of you articles on the Jaubert/NNR method. I have decided to use the method but the problem is that I have never been able to get the plans on how exactly to construct this.... I know you use egg create material covered with fiberglass window screen material with aragonite gravel covered by another screen followed by more aragonite.....what I am not sure about is how high should the plenum area be and how many inches of sand/gravel ? I am sure you have been asked these questions a million times and are tired of answering but I would greatly appreciate your help. In one of your Q&A articles a writer mentions reading your "booklet" could you tell me where I can purchase it as I am sure it will help me a great deal

One more quick question, I plan on using 3 Hagen 301 powerheads running all the time and three Hagen 801 powerheads set up on a Red Sea Wavetimer, do you think this will create enough water movement in a 150 gal. (72x18x24) tank. I will have 150 pounds of Fiji live rock. As far as lighting, I will use 4 140w VHO florescent 72" bulbs (2 50/50, 2 actinic 03) and two 175w MH lamps with 4000k bulbs (do you feel I should upgrade to 5500, 6500, 10,000k or will the 4000K be ok with all the florescent actinic lighting I have ? ).

I guess that was two more questions

Thank you very much in advance

Derrick Fowler

Bob replies...

Hi Derrick,

I am just recovering from a computer hard disk crash and am behind in answering email. But…, that's the way it goes sometimes.

Live Sand Secrets is available through Champion Lighting & Supply, (800) 673-7822, - That Fish Place, (800) 786-3829 - or Pet Warehouse, (800) 443-1160 (under $10.). Also, amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. It will explain all you need to know to get started. There are also two other booklets you may want to consider reading before you set up the aquarium; Protein Skimming and Activated Carbon Secrets; and, Marine Algae Control Secrets. You would then be totally prepared to start an aquarium that would have long term success!

As for water movement, my system pump puts out 600 GPH. My wavemaker turns on/off two other pumps that each put out 750 GPH. At times, I surge 2000 GPH in my 125 gallon system. Does that answer your question? Good water movement is one thing overlooked by many hobbyists. As for light, you don't want anything below 5500K on the aquarium. Anything below that probably contains too much red spectrum, something algae prefer. Corals need the blue spectrum, which is found in greater qualities in the higher Kelvin rated lamps.

Hope this helps.

Bob

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