New to the Game. Questions.

[dakar]

The critters are likely 'pods, they are good (most will become fish food later). Lighting is adequate for most any soft corals, at least what have been labeled beginner's coral, zoanthids, mushrooms and the like will do pretty well under that lighting, as will many others.

A suggestion on your rock, if you've got it pushed down into the sand, I'd consider moving it up and out of the sand, if you can get some small pieces of PVC (1.5" or so) that are just a but longer than your sandbed is deep to set the rock on you will be better off. This allows water to flow around the whole surface of the rock (increases the effective surface area for the good bacteria to live on). Drill some random holes in the PVC to allow water to flow thru it as well.

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#It's amazing how much I've learned from you guys, but here's another one. As faras the PVC that seems kind of up in the air for me because I wouldn't know how to get the same stability. I'm still thinking about it, but for now I'll post some pictures and you tell me what you think. Another thing was how's the flow in the tank with a rio 400, should I get another one for the other side or maybe go with a 200? I'm going to go ahead and buy battery outage essentials as recommended by liveaquaria tomorrow morning. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Front View#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k30da302065.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k30da302065.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Side View#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2kaf2f2516ff.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2kaf2f2516ff.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Close Up#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k7cebdb58ad.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k7cebdb58ad.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Close Up#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k3a16427ded.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k3a16427ded.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Close Up#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k7278a81124.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k7278a81124.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#This is the flow I got going...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#IMG alt="image file name: 2k392011c0a1.jpg" src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/upload/2k392011c0a1.jpg" border=0#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clem#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[zoo-a-holic]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Looks really good so far. One idea is that you would like to have the currents coliding in the middle, if you get what im saying. Just so everything doesnt flow the same way, just an idea#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Yea, I'm going to see if I can get another pump facing sorta into the other one.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

The trend nowadays is to get your total turnover rate to 30-40 times the tank volume, so 600-800 gph would be great. The trick is to get it without real straight line flow, you want the water mixing up but not a whirl pool or blasting away at an area, diffused flow.

[Tom McKenna]

or just buy a zoomed powersweep power head they rotate to make wave motions an dnever in the same direction. If you can't get them let me know I have a pet shop and I will ship

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#As far as not causing a whirlpool would it matter if the flow was going to one side of the tank instead of colliding in the middle from opposite sides? I would be able to get a 200 with sweepor another 400 with the sweep but it would be better on the same side of the one I got now. In addition I think it would push alot of stuff toward the filter.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clement#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

you have got it. you want good current for feeding and good agitation on the surface for gas exchange. the power sweeps work well but you have to keep them very clean or they will stick and not sweep.

[cq28]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#30-40 times my 20 gallon tank. Wow. I was reading my pump box and it says the Rio 400 pumps out about 150 gal/hr so I am behind on that.This is really low to what you guys recommend. Should I leave the 400 and then get the 800 (200 gal/hr.) or do you guys have another powerhead that would work good in my 20 gallon tank along side the Rio 400. If you think I'm okay with just another 400 or 800 let me know, I don't mind having the same brand name for pumps.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Clement#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#