HowardofNOVA

Michael, I interested in the Calcium and Kalk. I just printed out the link that Chip showed and looks good. I plan on doing some landscaping and preliminary MOVING this weekend to my new place. Main move will be I believe on the 11-12Sep. But will try to stop in and catch up on the financial side of my part. Howard QUESTIONS? Where will we be meeting on the 28th? TOOLS: What do we have and what do we need? MONEY: How much do we need for each?

Hey Chief? Sounds good, LMK when you all want to get together for this? Howard

See under Members Discussions: Sticky Subject; Glue 101 topic with last notes on July 02 2004,10:31. I had this problem with many softies and found that rubberbands of various size works. Actually with my Sarcophyton and Sinularia, I used several with a small amount of pressure against stalk. Just enough to keep it in place. In time, a crease will form, but after about 2 wks, the coral should be attached enough to take bands off. With in weeks, the crease will disappear and coral will be your buddy again! Howard

You know, this might actually work? [nana] Hey I got tools too! A Big Sledge hammer Ladder Wheel Barrow Water Hose Hedge Trimmers Weed Wacker I'll bring those too! tng

I think I'm drafted [beer2] Mid Oct works for me! Let me know when your ready to roll & what you need from me oh Chief Wantahockalugee! "nemo" Oog Ga Shocka! Oog Ga Shocka! Oog Ga Shocka! Howard

Mike, IMHO, weeks are no problem, months, maybe a few minutes worth wouldn't hurt, but either, depending on how much your doing at a time. The dilution levels should be extremely low. I have a conductivity meter that I got from Andrey that is Pharmaceutical Grade should let you know what is what. Let me know if you would like to use it? Howard

Michael, Unfortunately, from what I understand, the answer is no! All our sea friends use the minerals especially corals in the water. This is a suppliement that is needed to keep everything in balance. I used the BIonic also and worked great. Chip showed me how he uses a 33g tub filled with Kalk water that runs for his top off water. This way, he kills 2 birds with 1 stone. When water goes low, new minerals are added constantly. I believe his will kick on when the water changes at little at an 1/8" fall. I plan on doing the same with my tank in the future. Other including myself now. Mix Kalk in a dosing container and add nightly when pH drops when the lights go out. This is just part of everyday maint. for your tank, but I believe Chip is on to something with the mix in a tub vs. small container. >less frequency< Howard

Ditto Laura, Welcome aboard! [beer2] Howard

Confirm me for what ever date you folks set? 1 Calcium Reactor and possibly 1 Kalk? Howard

Dave, Great idea to have all tubs filled with water before the storm hits. My 30g last year survived 3 days with out power. Use a 5g bucket and kept pouring water into the tank every few hours during the day. Loses = 0!

I've been looking at getting one for a while now. I know a guy who got one eating dried flakes. I also heard they are nippers on corals, buy I believe Chip mentioned they do not.

Billy, There you go! "she did take his hang out spot" They are married!

Jacob, It's called asking for help I went to Florida for a week and had my landlord just feed them once a day and check the water level every 3 or 4 days. Of course, he didn't check the water and my algae went wild with the salinity skyhigh, but in a week, they survived! I'd ask either a local trusting neighbor or family member who is close to do the same while your gone. Generally, from what I've heard, missing a day or two of feeding, not adding additives or forgetting to check water levels for a "Couple" of days won't wreck your tank. If you haven't already done so, get a timer for the lights! I never used one of the vacation feeders, which I'm sure will work, but that could work in a pinch. Make a list for who ever does this for you with emergency numbers of someone who can help in case a main pump goes down, etc. After the hurricane, my system kept going fine after no power for 3 days, but I was there. Let us know if you need help? Howard

Gary, It's always the same, those young studs just staring into the mirrors way too much! When will they learn! OH, The humanity of it all! [tr]

tng That's what you get for putting your hands near another man's women!

Bill, You will have a kick tail system! You will have 2 1" outflows allowing upto 1200 gph going out (600gph each). The Mag9.5 pumps 950gph to your tank, IMO I would use a SCWD, would probably alternate about every 10-15 seconds if you put one return on each end. So basically your 55g system will turn over about 15 times per hour, giving you alot of movement. As Chip said, he likes it boiling! Use some mesh netting to keep your fish from going down the outflows. Fischers Hardware in Springfield has alot of the fixtures you will need. Howard

Yes it is, I couldn't get beyond the main page, must have just put in online recently. Not a bad store, have some unique items, a tad pricey on some things, but worth a stop in! They just expanded a great deal, things could be changing soon? Pretty cool Pond setups they have for those into ponds. Howard

Mike, I'll be finishing up with my diving lessons around noon. Will try to stop in possible to get you guys started. Give me a call around that time if you will. Howard PS, Did you see the update on the ReefTopia order, Everything is now 20% off...cool! PSS, what that you who wanted the 20 Ceriths and 2 Peppermints?

Dittos on above notes! Being in sales, Marketing is key with show appeal right there! Roozens, Wallys, take notes from Marine Scene! Clean up your tank areas and displays a bit and you could add HUGE benefits to your bottoms line! On Petco and other chains: I seen several in the area, #1 they are a mass sale location with the same policy as everyone else. You buy it, you own it! Most of the fish coming in are coming in like everyone else, the problem is at your better locations, they enter them into the systems in a way condusive to give them a good chance of survival later. Example: MarineScenes holding all fish 1 week in quarantine before they will put them out for sale. I have to give Kudos to Jose at the Tysons Corner Petco: If he is working, talk to him, he will let you know what to buy and what NOT to! When he is gone, other reps have just sold fish right out of the "sick" fish tank! Howard

Billy, I might be wrong on this but all tanks are tempered glass except the smaller sizes and ALL GLASS Products..go figure! Check out Roberts post on glass. Got the straight scoop for you on drilling holes. $15 each over 20g size per hole. 20g and under is $20. You take full responsibility but generally safe. Howard

Robert, This information is all over the website but I just updated above.

Robert, The Reef Tank in Fairfax! www.reefstore.com 703-978-1700 I just talked with Grimm. They charge $15 to do a tank per hole. Tanks 20g or less are $20. Takes more time. NOTE: As Grimm says, ANYTHING, that happens to your tank while it is in the shop, ANYTHING, its your responsiblity! IMO, It's about a 99% success ratio you will be satisfied. IMO, I would drill 2 holes minimum, unless the smaller sizes. Howard

Bill, What do you mean, the outlet is to the side? The bulkheads are for "OUTFLOWS" and are only gravity feed to sump below. Fischers sells a nice black vaccuum hose type to run into the sump. The Mags can be set in your sump for "RETURNING" water to tank and are basically a box with a direct intake in front and outtake goes straight up. VERY QUITE Systems! They have a 3/4" diameter but don't let that worry you, you can pickup 3/4" Inside Diameter tubing at Fischers to run into IMO a SCWD, then splitting to 2 more 3/4" tubing to go to a PVC J setup (use elbows and small hard tubing) to create a hook over the edge to go into the tank. NOTE: Drill a small hole in the elbows near end of hose to break suction incase of power failures...This was a great tip from Grimm at TRT to save water all over the floor. Very basic but very reliable system. I did the same with my 90g using 3 bulkheads and a Mag12 return and get alot of flow. I'm thinking of adding either another Mag12 or 9.5 in a closed loop, but this is more to have something as a backup if the return goes down and all I got to do is take closed loop pump and move to return pump. Howard

Billy, For the difference of less than $5, the 1" would be better than the 3/4" by far and give you more room for error for blockage. Pick up the bulkhead, elbows etc at Fischers Hardware in Springfield. Cheapest around you can even buy PVC piping by the foot! Pretty cool! The drilling cost would be the same either way. I revised my last reply with the figures of the Mag pumps! Howard

The must have recently raised their prices then? Either way, I would still recommend 2! Also, IMO I wouldn't go beyond a Mag9.5, even though a Mag7 would do nicely! A Mag7 would give you over a 10+ tank rollovers per hour and good surface movement. If you want to spend the money, the 9.5 would kick tail. Web site features: The Mag-Drive utility pump is a magnetically-driven, submersible pump. This unique energy-efficient design uses only one moving part - a ceramic/magnetic impeller. Model Flow (GPH) Head (Feet) Watts 250 250 7 24 350 350 10.5 35 500 500 10.5 45 700 700 12.5 60 950 950 15 93 1200 1200 15 110 1800 1800 22 145 2400 2400 28 160 Howard