Oh ... hmmm, OK then. Guess that changes the advice then! :lol:

Hard to say then. The T5s-only option will give you unparalled options for mixing and matching bulbs to your taste. I don't see why an 8 lamps fixture wouldn't be more than enough for 30" of tank height..

But halides do a bang up job too. 5 lumenmax reflectors over that tank would be incredibly sharp.

:neutral: Flip a coin I guess. Sorry I'm not much help, I'd be agonizing over the choice as well. :lol:

My Teks put out more heat than my Halides 6 bulb vs 250 watt. I've heard people running the Ati power modules that they are quite quite hot. That is the t5 lighting system to go with i think. Awesome looking and peforming. IIn the hotter months you can drop your photoperiod down and run the actinics or swith the bulb placements...little more user flexible i think going the t5 route.i have both and the loss of shimmer is not that big a deal. Although if i run just the two outside bulbs on the tek i get shimmer :)

Of course, if shimmer is a really big deal you should pick up one of these bad boys:
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/mm5/...gory_Code=SFWM

Check it out, I bet you'd get shimmer with just regular old normal output fluorescents with this thing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=y5wW0sL_CFk

Another option is the Tunze wavebox, I know you're going with Vortechs but you could slap one on that tank supplementally and get a double wave happening (I think you need at least 8' of tank length to pull it off).

Although I guess the Vortechs could probably pull it off too if they were tuned just right?

I like that wavemaker thing. I bet I could build a smaller one for my tank. Looks like a reciprocating paddle

Thanks for the advice guys i am really haveing a hard time with this becouse it will affect the look so much. I should make up my mind soon i hope. I was also thinking of running a red dragon for my return do any of you have one? was it worth it? do you like it?

Thanks a lot Chris

New sump
 

Well I finally have some new pics to show you guys. My new sump was just delivered and I can’t wait to get started plumbing now. The dimensions are 96''long 30''wide and 18''tall this should add a lot of volume to my system. I would like to have it up and running before the New Year.


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...quarium102.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...quarium103.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...quarium104.jpg

i cant tell from the pictures but is your tank rimless? cant wait too what else your going to do with this monster. keep us updated with lots of PICS.

For the HRV to work do you absolutely need a humid air intake near the tank like you do? Mine tank is in my livingroom and that seems pretty impossible to do in my case.

Humid air sinks to the ground I think so maybe the intake could be behind the tank next to my cold air return?

WOW I shutter to think of what that weighs dry,such a small contact point with the block you'd best be hoping that slab is at least 5'' thick with lots of rebar. Jesus that got to be 8000lbs without a footing I think you should call an engineer or at least do a core sample to see how thick the concrete is.
P.S that tank looks and will look incredible

your tank
 

Nice tank!!!
IF you don't mind me asking, where did you get that tank from and how much was it for the tank alone?