xeon

Like you I didn't have much room either. My "free" space was a footprint of about 10 3/4" x 22". With my space the only tanks that would fit would be a 10, 15H and 20XH. These are tanks that have a 10x20 footprint. I went with the 10 since it was the most readily available but will upgrade one of these days. The way that I decided to feed the fuge was via my return pump. It was too much for my display tank overflow by about 200-300ghp, so I added a t fitting and ball valves on the return and now have this "extra" flow going through the refugium. The return for the refuge is via gravity back into my sump. I built a short stand to raise the refuge above my sump so gravity could do its thing. If you want to do something in glass and figure out what size you need or want the folks at www.glasscages.com are going to be coming to Manassas in Feb. I believe. They could do something odd sized for sure. Their prices are very reasonable and I've heard they do good work. You can e-mail them at Twinoaks02@aol.com or give them a ring at 615-446-8877

Building a skimmer is very doable. You can even do a "ghetto" skimmer completely out of PVC that will work. The question at hand would be what kind of skimmer do you want? What ever you build it's nice to have some access to the right tools. In my case I decided I personally didn't have the right stuff to do it right. If you have the capability to build one, the answer is generally yes... it is worth it. If you decide to build one, I have a plan for a "spray" skimmer I never made. I also have a template done by Darin at ReefWerkes to use for making flanges on your riser/collector tubing.

I bought most of my rock (Marshall Islands) from these folks and a small bit from the Reef Tank. http://www.oceanlife-int.com/ It's $2/lb., but it is pretty bare and definitely cured. Don't expect any hitchikers with these rocks. Shipping is pretty reasonable too if you have it shipped air freight. The airlines will charge you for a min. of 100 lbs., but that's like ~$50. If you get more than 100 lbs. it is still comparably cheap. Also you should call them if you order, they will ask you what kind of sizes, shapes and etc. you want.

75 gallon display tank with ~25 gallons in sump/refuge. 100 gallons total

The way I found it was to go onto homedepot.com and call the stores with the sku code to see if they had it. Here is some info and some stores that seem to have it. I know Fredricksburg generally has it.. its where I bought mine. I know of a guy who drove up 95 from NC to Fredricksburg to pick up this aragonite "gold". LOL SKU# 578-819 UPC code: 0-210026-16865-5 Model# 420-100 Baltimore, MD Germantown MD Rockville, MD Annapolis, MD Ellicott City, MD Fredricksburg, VA Springfield, VA Fairfax, VA outside the D.C. beltway, on Merrifield Rd Fair Lakes, VA

It is certainly cheaper to DIY. With a small system maybe we're talking $30 or so which you might deem a wash given your labor/time. On the plus side of this you can make exactly what you want, which is one reason I have DIY lighting. Wiring the ballasts and end caps are easy.

Another good source for PC's is www.ahsupply.com If you want to DIY a nice ballast to buy would be the Fulham Workhorse 5 for a 2x36W setup.

Mantis shrimp get in your tank by hitch hiking on your rock. Do you hear any popping sounds in your tank at night?

Did you check overflows, the floor and so forth? I had a clown die once and it wasn't terribly hard to find. It was covered with some clean up critters, but there nonetheless. Sounds fishy to me... pun intended. If it truly disappeared without a trace in a days time, something had to eat it or at least that's what I think. What kind of cleanup crew do you have?

I don't know why I haven't done it sooner but... call me a member now.

Can you tell me a little more about your cable system? My tank is in my wall and I have my hood hanging on two chains that go through two loops on each side. So when I mess around in my tank I just shorten the chains up to raise it... I've been looking for something else though. I'm wondering how easy the cable system you have would make it, otherwise I think I might go with two pulleys or something like that.

I think in the world of clownfish, 2 is a good number to go with. I bought two juvenile Ocellaris and they paired up rather quickly. I think this is how most people get their mated pairs if they don't buy them mated... they buy two small juveniles. I got one that was slighly larger than the other since I believed this would tilt the scales a bit. I think if they are existing closely and peaceably together, that is a good sign they may have paired up. I watched my two go through some mini scuffles and clown wiggle dances for a few days. Now they stay close together and even sleep together. Three fish IMHO would only extend the power struggle for top dog, (the female), second fiddle (the male) and finally the left over third wheel. Three or more can exist I think, but it makes the situation even more complicated as I already said. To complicate things even more at some point the third wheel might try to make a move in the hierarchy which I believe would lead to a death... most likely the odd "person" out. My $.02

James, That sounds excellent, I am planning on going to the Vienna meeting though. However is something happens sooner.... before the 17th, I'm PM'ing you my number. Must be a nice commute going the other way to the metropolis of Culpeper. LOL

Since my four year old blurted it out the other day and I had to carry it in tonight to stick with my stack.... I got a bucket of salt, LOL. My wife just couldn't carry it and my brother left before she could get him to do it. So put me down for a bucket of salt so far.

I have a yellow tail also. It was the first fish I had. I thought about removing it, but to date it has not harassed any other tank inhabitants. That would include a yellow tang, pair of false percs and a mandarin. As far as damsels go, I think they can be fairly peaceable as far as damsels go. I don't know about a school of them though. I do think they do well in small groups of their own if you wanted to add more. I do know one thing though I'd make sure I wanted damsels before I loaded my tank with them. I've heard some stories about people trying to catch one... let alone a bunch of them.

BB, sounds great to me.

Sent you PM.

These folks not only know what you need, but will also have it on hand... or they should. Acme Plastics in Alexandria. Read Plastics, Rockville Commercial Plastics & Supply, Jessup MD

Culpeper, VA

Snapper, I am actually in need of some sand to seed a new fuge that is fairly new. So some caulerpa's and sand would be great not to mention some frags if you have any left. My only question would be what area are you in? I seem to be the most "unlocal" reefer of all the reefers I've met to date.

Just so you all know xeon doesn't have a decorative bone in his body and his lovely and talented wife did the tree all by herself while Mr. X sat on the couch and pointed to holes that needed to be filled in. written by the wife :D

No the flowers are fake and a few years old to boot. This is one of the best trees I believe I've ever had... not bad for a tree bought from a local church in front of Wally-World for $20.

Phil, I thought you might like to see the Xenia's in their new home. FWIW my wife loves them, they are cute when they pulse and of course the color is right, LOL

I think I've decided that getting a good picture of a Christmas tree is kind of hard. Maybe I need to read the novel of a manual for my new digi cam sometime, but oh well.

On 12/10 it appears to be expired. Was going to get a MAG7 and some IO.