lanman

No clue - but chaeto is algae... maybe give him a clump of that to play with? bob

Approaching the half-way mark... Half-full... Half-empty... The corals I've put in the new tank already seem happier than in the old tank. And no - that is not aquascaping - that's 'putting the rocks wherever they fit'. I've been soaking everything in EXIT. Quite a few dead flatworms in the soaking bucket. Then I rinse in another bucket of freshly-made saltwater. bob

Fair enough - but if it's really slow growing - it may be a year before we all have a piece I foresee lots of trips to Steve's to check the status of our 'investment'. bob

MY share is going into Steve's tank... I think the first shared frag was inna, Steve, and I. Who's ready to grow a 2nd? Or do you want your 1/3 frag in Steve's tank, also? hehehe bob

It's not even a frag for $40 you get 1/3 interest in a frag that may or may not grow enough to become enough frags for all three of the investors to have one. And once everyone does have their frags - you still have to keep it alive. It really IS like speculating in the stock market. bob

I never spent much worry on my pH until it dropped below 8.0 a couple of times. 'ACID' water just seems like it would be bad for things... bob

Why it sure is! I can even see it turn it's mouth inside out. I guess he won't hurt anything - I'll transfer him along with the rest of the stuff in the tank. Thanks! bob

I once found a great worm ID site, but I seem to have lost it. Any suggestions on THIS guy - found underneath a mushroom rock: Looks pretty harmless, but you never know... bob

I can drop by Steve's house to pay my share. Whatever it's down to now. bob

If I decide to switch to a MAG-9, I may find out the answer to that bob

No kidding - if I felt ready to move up, you would already have received my PM. That's more than a steal - it's armed robbery. 20-to-life! bob

No - the MAG-7 at 4' head should be pumping about 500-525 gph, though - and the water in the overflow only comes halfway up the horizontal durso pipe. The 3/4" pipe is just for emergencies, I hope. Still watching the new tank - I put a couple of mushrooms in there to see how they would do, and they seem quite happy. It is going through a mini-cycle (small, but measurable quantities of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate), but not much of one. Freebie! On the Marshall Island rock I got from BRK there is the remnant of a coral (broken down to a stub), which looks like a montipora digitata or something similar - and it has polyps extended. Of COURSE it is going to turn out to be the most beautiful coral in the universe! bob

You don't want to see MY design... I bought one of those fancy sock holders - and then found out it won't fit between the edge of the tank and baffle I glued in there. But - I hooked one end of my filter sock over the 45-degree connector, and the other end over the baffle - and it just sits there fine! Yes - I will be building a new sock holder. What's strange - I have no rock or anything in that new sump yet - but I already don't get any bubbles. bob

Go for it Inna! Save me from myself... bob

I think he may have hit it... lack of aeration - my return pump is not working well. I don't have the flow I should. Therefore I might have too much Co2. I guess I'll have to try to squeeze in there and fix the problem. Not much room right now with both tanks in the way. And when I get everything in the new tank, well - I'm sure not using that pump bob

Awe some. Very nicely done. Understated. Decorative. bob

I'll split the risk if YOU grow it While my xenia's have done very well - I'm in the middle of changing tanks. That is an ODD looking blue xenia. Most of them are just barely blue, and you can really tell them by the 'sparkles' of iridescence showing through the branches. But I assume 'odd' in this case is 'rare and valuable'. If you/we were successful in growing it and propagating it, I'm sure we could find a few people in WAMAS that would be willing to help defray the cost for a locally-obtained piece. I'll even share my secrets of xenia 'fragging'. AND I just happen to be planning a trip to your place anyhow. bob

I cranked it up last night pointing the length of the tank, and slightly hitting the overflow. It was only moving some of the lightest sand on the far side (and causing a very nice turbulent overflow - skim city). And that was with only a few rocks in it - and none really in the path of the storm. I think with minor prop sanding, it will work fine. I think I'll end up with it on the same side of the tank as the WavySea - that way the area right under the wavysea should be a low-flow area good for mushrooms, etc. This promises to be fun. bob

I suppose I could put some kind of a 'hanger' under the tank stand; but if I can do it with a pad, It will be easier. Is the same mod kit going to fit on the MJ900?? Or do I have to get a new one. I was astonished by the amount of water that thing moves bob

I've read that it is fairly normal for pH to drop over time. Mine seems to be getting a little on the low side (before lights come on). Do others of you have the same problem? Do you solve it with baking soda?? Thanks, bob

Yeah - that's what I was getting at. If you put out a dangerous or low-quality product, word gets around pretty fast. bob

Lights are all set up (except Johnny ordered the wrong plexiglas splash guard - got a 4-foot one, instead of a 3-foot one). So it's basically up and running alongside the 45-gallon tank. bob

Mouse pad sounds good I'll have to glue one to the pump; and maybe add a couple of wire-ties to hold it on if the glue lets loose. I got a filter-sock holder, and it doesn't fit; should have gotten it before I glued in a baffle. I'll be making my own holder. Thanks for the help! bob Excellent - I'll try sanding down the prop if I can't get it to work. I think I will only need a LITTLE less velocity. Thanks, bob

Well, yesterday I finally had enough water made to fill everything up. I have been doing 5-10 gallon water changes from my 45-gallon tank into the 58-gallon tank, plus adding about an equal amount of freshly-made saltwater to it. It finally overflowed yesterday, and I turned on the MAG-7 and the WavySea. Works nicely. I turned on the MJ-12 with mod kit briefly - it started to blow sand around; I will try repositioning it a few times before I give up. I really want good flow, but don't want to dig holes in the sand. Couldn't help myself - I got a couple of nice large pieces of Marshall Island rock at BRK yesterday. When that purples up, it's going to be awesome looking. Questions: 1. The MAG-7 sitting on the bottom of my 40-gallon breeder sump is noisy. Vibrates a lot. Is there something suggested for sitting it on, like a foam pad or something to get it off the glass and cut the noise? 2. Is there something with more flow than a standard MJ-12, and less velocity than the mod kit? 3. How far into the sump water should the 1" pipe from the overflow be? 1" deep? 8" deep? Thanks for any help! bob

I just picked up my 6-bulb TEK T5 fixture from BRK yesterday. It has the new german 99% reflectors on it (unexpectedly). I haven't put the bulbs in yet - but I should get that done today. I have a 4-bulb TEK fixture over my 45. Seems great so far. I have a Current-USA 70w MH fixture over my 24-gallon nano; and it has been bulletproof so far (Dec. 2006). I would assume any brand-name product would be good quality - this is not a hobby where you're going to stay in business long putting out crappy merchandise. bob