after being down and dry for a couple months this time, (the LR relegated to plastic trash cans and aerated), we tried it again.

In late '98, it was fired up in it's current configuration and things began to actually look up. More corals were sent from CA and for a short period of time, it looked like I could finally start to enjoy the tank.

That's when the 'SPS' bug hit.

At first, I tried to make it work with the lighting and equipment I already had but my success was very limited. As always, I turned to books and begrudgingly tried making a few changes minor changes but I can't say I fared much better. Then I had a visit from Gregory Schiemer, who was an acquaintance of one of the LFS employees I knew. His tips and advice were invaluable (Actually, a lot of it was exactly what the books had been telling me all along but hearing Greg say it PLUS seeing photos of his reef at the time was just the push I needed.). So during the following months I purchased a larger skimmer, got a calcium reactor, and upgraded the lights to the 250s'. Greg had recommended 400s' but to do that would've required the complete dismantling of the hood (because of the heat) and suspending the fixtures from the ceiling.