lutz123

2000 watts (assuming 120 volts total) would be 16+ amps. Wattage divided by volts equals amps. What size is the circuit? What else is on the circuit (not just that outlet)? Bathroom where a hair dryer might be used? Washer/dryer? Those should be counted too. It's really something to have an electrician help with if you really want to be safe. The breaker can fail, as can GFI's. Great questions, and good that you're aware of a possible danger.

1. It's definitely something to be aware of. See what the power draw is of the equipment you are considering and do the math. Reefcentral probably has a calculator. 2. No 3. No.

I agree with "kids are stupid" - especially friends. It's a liability for you as the parent to have something that's known to be aggressive or poisonous. Someone will be tempted. I had my first saltwater at 17 I think - damsels, then a lionfish, then seahorses - at different times. Fresh before that. She could probably start with something interesting or unique without going predator. Species only offer tons of opportunities, and small is better for some fish. Biotopes are cool, and would require some research. I like 5-10 gallons for kids because the water changes are more manageable, and much less expensive. I love my little picotope. Nothing is better than a water change with a 16ounce cup!

My hydroids looked the same - especially the dots along the tenacles. While I don't know how old this baby urchin I have is, it is definitely to a stage where it looks like a very miniature adult. I haven't seen pictures of when they transition between free-swimming and fully formed, but the photo above isn't exactly what I would expect. Go to this link and scroll to hydroids. See if it looks like what you are seeing. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchodds.html

Yeah, looks like hydroids. They will probably disappear on their own. For what it's worth, I have a baby urchin in my tank (probably hitchhiker on macroalgae) and it's perfectly formed and the body is probably half the size of a bb, carrying a tiny little shell on it's back. Super cute.

In case anyone is interested, this basket starfish has turned out to be very easy to feed. It is fine with cyclopeez or even a whole frozen mysis. Coral slurry type foods are okay but I think it prefers larger morsels. I know they are all different so I can only speak for this type, and who knows what it's preference will be if it survives to even half of max size.

I agree with it probably being the acclimation process. 2 hours is extremely long for a fish. Was it acclimated in a bag? I ask because the ammonia spikes once a bag is opened, and I also remember someone saying that something happens chemically. I have bag acclimated with no problem though. My prefence is 30 minutes to get temp and salinity close - then dump. Were the salinities much different to start with?

And now you can use the 32 gallon to try out salt!

I'd ask AWI in the vendor section, or call them...

I agree that stability is going to be key if you are adding more delicate species. The lighting will be challenging in such a small space if you mix coral types with different needs. It doesn't really provide enough room for shade (or flow difference for that matter). Chemistry I think will be fine because doing regular water changes should keep parameters okay, as long as detritus is relatively controlled. I'm not sure about not adding new frags because of a fish parasite risk. Since rocks and corals don't host these parasites naturally, any risk should be if fish were in the tank too, right? Anything is possible though.

Very true, and definitely the best way to make absolutely sure you are in the clear. Do you plan on treating with meds?

Well La-Di-Da! :-) Thai, take advantage!

Funny, I was looking at them on That Pet Place's site today. It looks like they have them on display and in stock. I would like to see the 105.

I didn't add mine. I figured I was fine without it and the unknown made me a wee bit nervous.

I agree that it can be incredibly confusing initially. Unless you have a ton of time to dedicate to research, having someone help the first time will make it much easier. Also, for me at least, it's way easier to understand once it's running than trying to visualize it. There are also some necessary steps to avoid flood possibilities and it's wise to get advice there.

I agree with Orion (and the live brine). If it's just qt, my preference is to run is more like a barren display. I like live rock and a tupperware of sand because it makes it more natural and therefore less stressful in my opinion. I want the fish to settle into QT quickly and be comfortable enough to start eating. Ammonia shouldn't be an issue with one small fish in a ten gallon but I would keep an eye out for a small cycle. The downside is that if there is an illness you will have to ditch the sand and sacrifice the rock. Keeping a couple of pvc pipes in there from the beginning would help if you needed to eventually medicate. It would be easier to leave it up and running with live rock there, but your bacteria won't thrive in numbers if there are no fish so it might need a boost before using it again.

Come on...what are you waiting for? It honestly can be as simple as fresh if you want it to be - especially if you just want fish! There are some great plumbng experts on here, and several members right near you. You will be set up in no time.

Ver cool thread. It sounds like you are getting great advice. What about using a small light to attract them to one end at feeding time? I am anxious to try breeding myself but just don't have the time right now.

Really nice - you must be excited!

I appreciate the offer, but it would probably cost me more in gas to get it from you. I will try the PE Mysis and see if I can find some jumbo Hikari Mysis packs for now. I looked at the Jehmco - looks great. I will keep that in mind if I can't find anything locally. I've heard the PE Mysis has smaller ones mixed in, and I don't remember that being the case with my last cubes of Hikari. This one, however, looks almost pulverized and the shrimp are tiny - less than a 1/4 inch max and I don't see any eyes. I would need a tiny pipette and a lot of patience to target feed seahorses with those. I want to defrost and see shrimp that are about a 1/2 inch, whole, and with eyes, with very few extra "parts". I never had any cloudiness issues in the past. Now I feel like I'm primarily feeding snails and brittle stars.

How exciting! It is fun to play with the rock. If it were me, I would probably ditch the rubble in the front (or hide it in the sump if you want to keep it for later) and leave some open space for your corals. I don't think you need the back center tower (put a softie there instead) or the top rock on the left side either. I only say that because when you add coral it may get crowded pretty fast (and I also love open sand with a nice fat cynarina on it!). I tend to prefer simpler though, with room to grow. I agree that the right structure probably needs a good bit of epoxy. Even if it seems sturdy, it looks like one move and the whole thing might topple.

I picked up some Hikari Mysis the other day and it was tiny and didn't seem like as many whole shrimp. I must have purchased the jumbo Hikari in the past, but I didn't think they were an inch (as advertised), more like a 1/2 inch - with visible eyes. The ones I had before I could target feed individual Mysis and this new stuff just makes a big mess (well, it's much harder to feed the seahorses without making a mess). Since I don't have the previous Hikari cube package, can anyone tell me if I'm guessing correctly, that I got jumbo before? Is PE Mysis bigger? I seem to remember a previous thread about that somewhere. Thanks!

I have one and it's doing pretty well. I was actually worried at first because some parts of it started to turn white when I first got it but it seems fine. I actually think some people might have pulled it out and pitched it at that point but it recovered nicely. It seems pretty hardy. I haven't had it for more than a few months though so time will tell. I had a ball sponge die pretty quickly.

Weird! I'm not sure how that happened! But yes, it was intended for the other thread. Just keeping you on your toes!

That would be good to read. I don't worry about the safety, but there are plenty of stories on the internet of fish coming back to life after being frozen so I wouldn't rule out anything.