marinebiologist

was this fish in a reef tank or fish only?

Interesting read but sad for the ocean http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2014/08/corals_listing.html

So I worked with Adam to create two special catch basins for my needs. I have 2 50 gallon drums that I keep RODI water and saltwater mixed in and well they are sitting on hardwood floors so figured best to protect the floor with a catch basin. Well since they are in a closet the standard hot-water heater basins I had been using do not fit so I had Adam create me 46 in x 28 in x 3 acrylic basin for these. I also had him make one for my litter box to sit in that way I have an easy way to clean up spilled cat sand and in case my little devils decide to miss the litter box so Adam made me a 24.5 in x 41.5 in x 3in basin for that. I picked them both up Sunday and they look great. Now I just need to empty the two drums via water changes and refilling the ATO resivor and then I can put them in place. As a side note to all you who are going to be setting up new tanks. A similar basin would be a perfect addition under your tank stand to catch any salt creep and water spills so that the wife does not kill you for ruining her carpet or hardwood floors..... Thanks Adam Mike

Support LFS. Then you can see what you are geeting. See the heath. No issues with shipping delay or loss. And best point you are supporting the local small buy not a industrial corperation.

The calcium reactor (or you could use a docer) keeps the alkalinity stable. The salt mix tends to have a low alkalinity so needs help keeping it buffered. And yea it is a higher cost but you are paying for them providing a more consistent and replicable mix of trace minerals. For fish only not as important but reef it is important I used to use IO and had to add stuff all the time but since I have been using TM the only thing I do to keep stuff happy is the CA reactor. And salt is just like equipment and tattoos. A cheap tattoo generaly is not good and a good tattoo is not cheap!!!!!

See all the more reason to support you LFS yea you may save a buck or two online but atleast you get to see the heath and look of the fish and then no worries of shipping delays. And more important you support local then if you need them and have an emergency you have someone to turn too. I have had close customer relationships or even friendships with LFS in all the places I have lived since I started keeping tanks in 1995 and I always buy live stock local and it has saved my tank more than once when I had an emergency. Just my 2cents.....

If you run a calcium reactor I would recomend using tropic marine Reefpro. Thought it needs to have a reactor running to keep the alkalinity in ballance. My opinion a much better grade and mix stuff than IO or RC.....

I would be cautious with the triggers. They are said to be reef safe with caution but know that if you get a Acro colony that has a acro crab make sure to remove the crab before putting it into the tank. I have seen both blue jaw and cross hatch triggers destroy amazing acro colonies to get to the crab. And if you are getting an orchid dottyback why not go for a mated pair? Just my 2cents.

Very nice color pattern. Great fish.

I change mine once a week and always double wash them in hot water in the washing machine. have been doing this for years now and no adverse effects.

if you are using Dry sand I highly recomend washing it. Not due to the dust issue but due to metal fragments. When you wash it you want to hold a high power magnet in your hand and stir the sand. The way most of the dry calcium carbonate based reef sands are created is by running terrestrial deposits of old reef throught machines that crush it down to a fine particle. This means the machines have metal teeth that pulverize the old coral skeletons which regularly chip and flake off into the newly created sand. So if you do not wash them and use a magnet to remove the metal fragments before putting it into your tank then you have possible rust issues leaching into the tank but more importantly if you use a magnet to clean the glass on your tank there is a high probablility that you will pick up one of the metal fragments and then as you clean the glass you will scratch it severly.

I built a storage for my chiller and Ca reactor and when i did this i just went and bought a hard wood front kitchen cabinet from homedepot and destroyed all the back and just used the faceframe and doors. It was a quick easy way to get professional looking doors and face frame since I did not own a table saw and router when i was building the set. Quick easy and then you get hardwood frame pre made. And lots of ones to choose from. Another option to save more money is to go looking at one of the salvage stores and buy a used cabinet. Since you are going to paint it and seal it anyway it does not matter if it is used and discollored. Just my 2 cents

There is no such thing as a Ich free tank. It is a natural thing and most of the time your fish immune system fights it off just fine. Just like you and me with the common cold virus. Right now we have it in our systems but our immune system keeps it under control. So first off take a step back and breath and relax. Just check your chemistry make sure there is no problem there. And just keep an eye on the tang. Feed him plenty of Nori. My powder brown gets a ich break out probably once a month where he goes from fine to head to tail in ich spots and then 2 days later he is fine. I do not know why people freak so bad about ich. Dont worry if your fish is healthy it will recover. And it is probably some stress in the tank that messed with its immune system adn allowed the ich to break out. So do not pull the fish and put it in a QT tank. That will kill the fish. You will take a stressed fish and make it 100 times more stressed. Let it live in its happy home and just make sure to make him happy with good chemistry and stable water and food. Just my 2cents.

Get a very large and I mean very large tank ~5000 galon. and then you may be able to keep one and not be totally curel to it. But in general it all depends on what type of shark you want to keep as to how and what you need to do to keep them and keep them safe and healthy.

Glass holes does an amaxing job. Thats what is on my 120 and I love it