'Ric
-
Posts
653 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Store
Posts posted by 'Ric
-
-
I could try the second one since I just got a metal halide & CF combo fixture for my tank. However, I'd prefer to defer to someone with a more proven tank, though, if they are willing to step up as well.
'Ric
-
In all honestly I did not verify which way the joists run when I put my tank where I did. I now don't even know which way they run.
I wonder what the building code is for how much weight per square foot a residential floor must be able to hold. If we can find that out, we can certainly calculate how much weight per square foot a 75 gallon tank with a 30 gallon or so sump will have.
...
Table R301.5 in the 2003 International Residential Code specifies a minimum of only 30 pounds per square foot for a "sleeping room" in a residence. 40 pounds per square foot is for non-sleeping rooms. Your county may require higher, though; especially for multifamily buildings.
A cubic foot of fresh water weighs approximately 62.4 lbs, while a cubic foot of salt water weighs approximately 64 lbs. Plan to have continuous base solid all the way around your tank rather than just "four legs." Don't forget diagonal braces or diaphragms to counter lateral forces to make sure your rectangular base doesn't become a rhombus. Do you know much about structures / "triangulating the forces" so to speak?
The joists are most likely perpendicular to the outside wall, running in the shorter direction of the room. Verify it by going to the room below and use a studfinder on the ceiling to find the joists if the subfloor is too thick. Also, a bearing wall on the third floor will be over a bearing wall or large beam on the second floor. If there is a wall on the third floor that has nothing under it on the second floor, it's likely not a bearing wall.
'Ric
-
Houston, we have a problem. My fedex location won't accept dry goods, Fedex doesn't deliver on Saturday and I can't receive packages at work.
Will anybody be home to receive the package during the day or could have it delivered to work?
I'll send you a PM...
-
... Right near 95 & 695.
695? There's a 695?!
That must be outside the beltway!
-
Ok, the frags are actually going to be 47.00 each. Here is how it breaks out:
Subtotal: $220.00
Shipping: $59.49
Total: $279.49
Everybody chime in if you are still interested. I spoke to Eric and he said he will give us the 2 biggest he has and said they are both over 2-1/2".
Again, let me know.......if I don't have a definate "yes" from everybody for $47 I'm just going to order 1 frag.
STeve
Yes - lmk where to send payment.
'Ric
-
I'm in for $40.
'Ric
-
Let me know my share - I'll PayPal it to you .
ditto!
So with lletellier this makes four of us! He has a potential tank set up, too. Do we want to frag the first frag in 1/2 and then 1/2 again once each piece grows? (also gives us a back-up in case one doesn't survive)
'Ric
-
I'd go in on the cost and depending on what you guys think i could clear a place in my tank. I'm sure you guys have much nicer setups though. I saw this stuff on the site and thought it would look awesome and w/ 3 people only $30
Good idea - I'll chip in 1/3!
'Ric
-
My McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, eyeing me hungrily.
Nikon Coolpix 8700
+ lots of patience & retries.
-
Zoas On Tour
Courtesy of my mighty-strong urchin!
'Ric
-
Sending PM!
bob
Hey I'm curious, too!
-
Not feeding for a week I would worry about a problem that if they don't starve, their behavior might change; e.g. some "reef-safe" critters might not stay that way.
Last time I traveled, I got a bunch of those daily pill cases and filled them with the proper portions. Take the time to walk your friend through the feeding process and what to check on, with instructions that "if x happens, do y and/or call me at ..."
If you usually feed your fish a couple times a day, you could set up an automatic feeder for one time (morning) and then have a friend come in the evenings and feed them, and check on the autofeeder, too.
'Ric
-
The Coral Banded Shrimp may also be aggressive toward the other types of shrimp, especially in a smaller space.
If this will be a reef tank rather than FOWLR, note that Camel Back Shrimp are not reef safe.
-
Will Bubble Tip Anemones sting/hurt corals? Where I would like to put one is within tentacle reach of a nice muchroom and coral. It may not stay put, either. Is this something to worry about?
Also, are BTA's known to knock things over or move stuff around?
I have a small Helfrichi's Firefish - would he be at risk from the BTA?
'Ric
-
Test strips are notoriously innacurate and I would not recommend using them for anything other than pools, spas and hot tubs. Mass market "wet" kits such as AP are better but are also off the mark quite often. You're better off (IMHO and IME) chunking those and going with higher-end test kits like Salifert.
What should I look for in a good/higher-end test kit? Are the chemicals used as reagents different?
-
Where are you?s What size?
'Ric
-
... Here is an excerpt from a very long thread on the topic at RC:
...
THANKS!
Very good advice and the rather long discussion in that RC link touched on everything. I wish I had found that googling prior. My paramaters - at least the ones I can test for - have rebounded. I'm not sure about my Nitrate readings anymore at all. I found that when I test with two different brands of dip-sticks, I get 20-40 as a result. But last night I tested with two different wet kits and the resulting color was a perfect match to the "10" color. The wet kit reagents don't expire until August, so they should be good. Since it's a more complex process, should I assume my wet kits are right and my dip-sticks are wrong? I'm not sure I can read my Alk right either.
Date TempF Salinity Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Alkalinity PH
4/15/2007 81 1.027 0.00 0.00 35 300 8.19
4/20/2007 82 1.026 0.00 0.00 35 300 8.15 (dosed->)
4/21/2007 80 1.026 0.00 0.25 30 240 7.83
4/22/2007 80 1.026 0.00 0.00 20? 300 8.19
-
I would add an airstone or two and do whatever I could to increase oxygen levels in the tank but not try to make any adjustments until the bloom clears up.
Ok- I just fired up my "emergency" battery-powered air stone and will let it run for a while.
I hope after all this my nitrates finally get reasonable!
Thanks for the advice,
'Ric
-
Sudden cloudiness of tank water is a common condition when people first begin dosing sugar, caused by a rapid bloom of bacteria feeding on the sugar. Supposedly this is harmless other than greatly reducing oxygen levels in the tank and it should disappear in two to three days.
THANKS!
Any thoughts on the pH nose-dive? I just dosed Kent Marine Superbuffer-dKH at the recommended dose for my tank size. Now I'm wondering if I should hit it again or wait?
'Ric
-
I change 5 gallons of water in my 40g tank last night. The new water was the boxed natural sea water they sell in Petco. I tested it prior, and it had no am/nitrite/nitrates. PH fine, and salinity around 1.022 - which was good because my tank had started to run a little high at 1.026.
Prior to the change, my am & nitrite were 0, but nitrates were about 30 or maybe even 35. Temp was a little high at 82. Because of the high nitrates, I thought I would try boosting my anearobic bacteria in my sandbed by putting in some granular natural sugar. I don't have any Vodka (if I did at this point I'd drink it.) Less than a teaspoon, though. Everything else is normal (for my tank)
What gives?? I have an order that includes a delicate clam coming in on Tuesday, so I have to fix this ASAP if it will hurt it!
'Ric
UPDATE: I tested my tank, and my pH is fell from 8.15 to 7.83 overnight:
Date TempF Salinity Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Alkalinity PH Post Test Notes
4/14/2007 79 1.026 0.00 0.00 35 300 8.19 ~4gal
4/15/2007 81 1.027 0.00 0.00 35 300 8.19
4/20/2007 82 1.026 0.00 0.00 35 280 8.15 ~5gal
4/21/2007 80 1.026 0.00 0.25 30 260 7.83 Cloudy?
-
To be a blatent noob:
What keeps small non-clown fish from getting stung and eaten? Just relying on the fish to know not to go near it?
-
This months contest could get ugly.
Consider it a challange!
-
The toothpick held it for about a week, but it never stuck on it's own. It just eventually worked the pick through it's bottom.
The superglue worked for a few days, then it got loose from that too, breaking off a new SPS frag in the process.
Are there other ideas for getting this guy to stick?! I don't think plumbers' putty will work with a softie, will it?
'Ric
-
I participated in the March 12 Group Buy, and as Alok indicated, they didn't go out of their way to accomodate us. I was one of two of us who ordered a green ricordea. So even though Alok had told them they were for two seperate people, the send a couple small polyps on one rock to fill the order for two seperate ricordeas.
I also ordred a 10-pack of Zebra Hermit Crabs. I received 8 live ones, one that looked dead for quite some time, and a completely empty shell. I did not save the dead Zebra hermit pieces, but I did save the shell and the empty shell that was missing a hermit. It's not worth spare change in credit to deal with sending back tiny little hermit parts, and an empty shell wouldn't 'prove' anything to them. The requirement to send dead stuff back is just plain bizarre.
My overall impression is that the employee who filled our order did not care enough to even look to see that the ten shells he/she grabbed out of the tank were in fact living hemit crabs. Putting multiple orders into the same bag, or especially on the same rock, also suggests a lack of concerm about the needs of the customer. I would just get the word out not do business with them anymore. If you did business with them, it appears that they respond to Better Business Bureau complaints. They've had 20+, but many say they were resolved.
'Ric
How to find out if a floor will hold my tank
in General Discussion
Your county permitting office will have copies of the plans submitted for permits, which will show the orientation of the framing members and the loading criteria used.
'Ric
(Registered Archischmuck)