jnguyen4007

I have a phosban reactor running in mine right now, and the problem is still there. So I don't know if phosphate is the cause of this thing if it is the same problem as mine. This brown dusty stuff cover just about everything including rocks and corals. On a daily basis, I have to use a turkey baster to blast them off of my pumps and rocks and corals. James

I can't tell from the picture, but does it also have what looks like small bubbles or embryos attached to it? If it does, it might be cyano. Or from what other folks been telling, that's what cyano looks like. James

LOL You guys are NUTS

The Deltec skimmer uses a pinwheel design. How often does that pinwheel need to be replace or should be replace and what's a typical costs of a replacement pinwheel? James

Yeah, I'll say. That is great information. Thank you. James

Chip, I sure did misunderstand it. You scared me with that huge price in utilty bill. My wife would definitely have me hanging by my you know what if our bill increase that much. James

Thanks Brian.

I've heard of downdraft skimmers and needle wheel impeller skimmers and I think at least one or two more different kind. I was wondering when it comes down to it, are there much difference in term of performance as well as operating cost of using them? In the instance of a downdraft skimmer, does it require a larger pump to run it than a needle wheel skimmer, so the electricity cost be higher to run. James

I found my Mg level is around 1020. I read in the two part section that we should add Mg only after you're done adding the two parts and I believe they said something that it's best to add a little at a time because too much at one time can be a bad thing. From your experience, how much do you normally add that is consider safe amount to your tank? I have a 30 gal tank with a 20 gal sump, my total water volume probaby around 30 gal or less. I've been adding about 4 tsp a night and the next day, my Mg reading is still the same. I considered adding more, but not sure if I would do more harm than good. James James

Did Cycle do anything for you? I find it didn't do anything for me. A lot of folks from another site also said it didn't do anything for them either. James

It sounds like his tank is already good to go to take off the wet/dry if his nitrate is down to 0 or close to 0 and his phosphate is negligible. I would take it down for a day or two and monitor the ammonia and nitrite level. If they remain at 0 even after several days, then you know that his tank is cycled and he's good to go. JMO. James

I used carbon in all my tropical fish tanks except for my discus tank. It polishes the water as well as absorb any fish tank odors. Following Yauger's advice, I'm now using it in my phosban reactor as well. James

Mine eats whenever there is food in the tank, regardless of what they are. James

LOL Yes, it is. As frustrating as it is for me to see these ugly things in my tank and having to clean them off every few days, I still love my quiet time sitting in front of the tank and looking at them. James

Patience is what I'm noticing that this hobby requires. Thanks everyone for your input. I'll take your advice and try them out. If one doesn't seem to do the trick, I'll move onto something else. Maybe it's the combination of all of the above to get my tank back to where it should be. Thanks again. James

The water changes is something that I'm guilty of. I didn't get around to changing the water in this tank in over 3 weeks. I need to get back to doing it once a week like I used to. I however did do a 30% water change couple of days ago. But, I will go back to doing water changes weekly if it will help. As far as silica goes, not sure where that would come from. Food perhaps? I do appreciate you guys help in pointing out what you think this is. At least I am one step closer to figuring out possible solution for it.

I'm not sure how I can do more filtration unless you think my nano skimmer isn't up to the task and I need something larger. I've cut back the amount of food I give to the livestock to once every other day. I suppose I can cut back to once every 3 days. I currently have 3 MJ 900 running inside the 30 gal tank, I could replace one of them with a koralia 3 pump to see if that helps. On a nightly basis, I've been adding the equal part of calcium and Alk to the tank. I can increase the amount and see if that will resolve it as well. Thanks. James

OK. How do I get rid of them? Using UV sterilizer?

All, For the past couple of weeks, I'm slowly seeing something in my tank that I don't know what it is and hoping that someone recognize it and perhaps know how to get rid of it. I first noticed a stringy, brownish thing that at first I thought was brown algae on top layer of my sand. Then I noticed that it also formed on my overflow box, then on my rocks. On a daily basis, I would scrub them off of the overflow box wall as well as the underside of overflow box. I then used a turkey baster to blow at that sand to break up whatever it is that's on it. Tonight, I took a closer look at the brown stuff and they contained what looked like miniscule air pocket or some sort of embryo. They were everywhere. Again, I had to use the turkey baster and squirt at them to knock them off of the rocks and sand and scrubbed down the side wall of my overflow box. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, please let me know. Thanks.

Are there much difference between the reeflo pumps and that of the panworld in term of performance, wattage usage, and durability? I am still months and months away before I upgrade, but I'm already making plans for my wish list of items I want to get. I would like to get a pressure rated external pump to be used in a closed loop system. The three criteria for me are: It needs to be quiet, doesn't consume that much electricity, it must be durable. James

WOW. That looks really nice. What size pump will you be using in that? James

I think it's the name that made it expensive. Not that it's not any good. the dual autotopoff that you're looking at is the same one that I currently use in my DIY autotop. I can't say if it's any better or worse than anything else. James

I had the same problem with mine, and needless to say, it was quite frustrating. Even after I replaced my bulkheadd with two heavy duty, they still leaked. As it turned out, the advice people so often give about how you're supposed to tighten the bulkhead with your hands only is not altogether accurate. The reason why they suggested that was so to keep you from over tighten to a point where you would crack your tank. I used something similar to a monkey wrench to tightened mine and I made sure I did it a bit at a time and not put so much force into it. The leak went from a trickle down to a drop or two per minute. I learned from Dan that that was fine because salt creep would fill the gap and stopped the leak altogether. A couple of days after I tightened mine, the slow drip stopped altogether. James

Good job!!!!!! And you didn't think you could do it.... James

I heard from one of the members that your tank needs to be at least 6 ft long in order for you to have a mated pair and another one or two clowns in the same tank.