LanglandJoshua

agreed, that is what I am doing on part of the sump system I will be puting in my new stand. Sadly not a 90 gallon though...

The idea is that the rubble, or small peices of live rock create areas that your fish cant get to. So that means a safe place for pods, reefpods, copepods, in otherwords little marine bugs that live and grow nearly everywhere in the tank. Many marine organisms live with their entire diet being pods. Some wrasses, Dragonets and other fish only eat them. Meaning that they can decimate the population of the "pods" in a small tank, and sometimes even a big one. So having a safe place for the "pods" to reproduce and maintain the population levels keeps these fish alive. It is the most simple way to suppliment levels in an aquarium. I had a tank crash a couple months ago, and I purchased 6.5 lbs of live rock rubble. The little pods and small inverts that "hitch-hiked" on the rubble restarted the populations in my tank and boosted them. It only took a month for me to go from not being able to find any pods in my 75 gallon tank, to seeing them EVERYWHERE. So basically your making it so that there is a place that your fish cant eat the pods("bugs") and making sure that the fish cant drop the poplation so much that it causes problems. Since the pods moev about alot some of them will at any given time venture out of the safety and be available for food. Its a natural way to provide relatively healthy supplimental food source that nearly any fish can enjoy. Ive seen my six line wrasse go nuts for them(a given since that is its favorite food), my royal gramma will pick them off when it sees them and seems to enjoy it, the engineer goby at its 7" length still enjoys the tiny treats. Even inverts will take an opertunity to feed on them. Here are a couple links that describe pods in more detail than I have http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copepods http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/pestscopepods/a/aa061200.htm I hope this helps

well done! Looking forward to seeing these in LFS.

agreed

Bump, I've been wanting to get into that field for a while.

Haha, hijack away. I'm curious too. I'm about to go to home depot to get supplies for my stand we are building today. My only hitch is I made it so I have room for six 4-5 gallon refugiums. I know how I am putting water in, but not out yet. I really want to make an overflow that would drain to a hole in the tank. But were not sure how to make a 1/2 inch hole in 1/4th inch tempered glass...so the refugiums won't be usable for a few days...this is why I was testing and asking about reactors. At this point I'm just going to leave open space for them in the stand.

I have had to get some tap water on occasion. I am working on getting an RO unit. But as of yet I dont have one. I have been using the Marine Scenes water for the past month, I only added tap for 5 gallons once. Just to avoid burning out motors when i ran out of RO water. I am today going to get some supplies for a stand, I am planning on the refugium being about 50 gallons. So that should dilude it. Sadly I cant remember the salt I use, I got it at Centerville Aquarium its in a small box. But I always dump it in a 5 gallon bucket and toss it. Is it possible that my levels are being read incorrectly by my test kit? As I said before I had been told that Phosphates can mess up Calcium and Alkalinity tests.

ummm...wow, nicely done I wish my 75 was that consistant on temperature...

Ok, here are my results. I know I need some Cheato algae to get rid of my nitrites, and I will replace my phosban tomorrow. But I have no explenation for the Calcium and Carbonate. I have been told high phosphates can lead to incorrect testing for the calcium and carbonate. PH- 8.4 Ammonia- 0 Nitrite-.25 Nitrate- 0 Temp.- 78.5 Salinity- 1.0265 last digit is an approximation Calcium took 52 drops, which is about of 1040 ppm Carbonate took 16 drops, which is about 16 dKH or 280ppm Something seems off with the last two, as for the cheato algae I have to get a refugium first... But I did dose with B-ionic a few days ago. I put 50 ml of each part(1 and 2). So I guess, Im just confused as to how the calcium and kalk reactors would help. Or if they would at all, and how to get the levels into normal ranges. Thanks for any advice.

I am about to do some tests. But I have about 20 some frags in my tank, and I would like them to be able to grow as best as possible. I know it will take weeks and months, but I want the tank healthy and to not have a lack of nutrients. Even if my levels are good now, would it be a good idea for me to get a kalk and calcium reactor? I will be making up drawings for my custom stand within the next month. It will include a large sump(30-50 gallons), refugium(30-40 gallons), and all my filtration. Since my ultimate goal is breeding I want alot of refugium space, and I need more live rock, so the sump is a must have. I am thinking since my total gallons will be at the max 175 without piping, I would want a 200 gallon skimmer. I want to eventually get rid of the canisters all together. So basically I have to plan for a mature tank. I think the best question here is what equipment would you suggest I get?

I agree, Ive seen them split. Anemone's have two ways to reproduce. 1.) they can split in half turning one into two. Some aquarists actually cut them in half to speed up this process. It is very risky, and done wrong will needlessly kill the animal. 2.) like many marine organisms they can release sperm and egg into the water, if there are enough of this organism in the area and with a bit of luck the eggs and sperm will meet. Any individual anemone can release sperm, or egg, or both. So it is possible that one anemone could fertilize its own eggs. I beleive that the eggs attatch to a solid object and mature there. However i could be wrong. Over all, even though it is very risky the only propegation I am aware of in captivity is splitting, or a forced split. Congratulations on your anemone splitting, your doing something very right

I have a 75 gallon tank that I am setting up as a reef tank, but I want to know what reactors I should have? I am planning on a Kalk reactor, but what is the difference between that and a calcium reactor? Do I need any other reactors? Where would you guys suggest that I buy them. I would be buying a large skimmer at the same time, so i would love to get a bulk discount. Also, what are your opinions on Ozone reactors and UV sterilizer Thanks all

umm wow....there should be a sticky of things that could cause allergic reactions and poisons involved in this hobby.(if there is already i have not seen it) Maybe make it printable for paramedics, or make checklist so we can mark off what we have for the paramedics in an emergency. I am glad that it was not worse...as bad as it was to begin with.

I have a Royal Gramma, its not very agressive. The only time I see it open its mouth is when my six line wrasse gets too close. The wrasse tried to attack the gramma and control the tank, wrasse lost a chunk of flesh...is very peaceful now. But the gramma only acts threatening when another fish tries to bug it, there has never been an issue with it and my baby clowns. Also the Royal Gramma looks much like a Dottyback, except it actually has a dot or false eye on its dorsal fin.

Yes, all my massive knowledge(nothing compared to the people here). The thing is my financesxare tie-in getting my 75 set up for breeding clowns...

I emailed an old teacher of mine (she is the reason I got into this hobby). I asked if she would be interested in any donations from the culb. The reply was, "I can always use any donations and help with my tanks". From memory, she has four marine tanks. If anyone has a spare filter, it would help her alot with her 85 gallon tank. There are several others. Filtration and waterflow were always issues. If anyone is interested in helping please let me know.

wow, great catch. my heaters were running almost 11 hours when they blew...Im glad that didnt cause any major damage!

that is an idea, but I would have to make sure it was large enough for them. Dont want to give them something super tiny. But I could contact them. once it does get large enough to hand over.

Those lights should be great for you. But you may not want to try to get SPS, or adult clams(which wouldnt fit anyways). And if you havent noticed this hobby grows on you. I started out in gradeschool with the freshwater fish and snails from a science class project, they lived in a small plastic dog treat container for months. They did great, then it was a 3 gallon aquarium, then 5 gallons, then 20, then saltwater 55, now 75 gallons reef tank in the making...and Im planning on getting a 30 gallon tank for my baby black oclaris clowns. Be warned, the tanks just get bigger, and the fish just get more complicated. Best of luck with the 36 gallon, I may be getting a different 75 gallon tank soon. Who knows I might have mine for sale soon. this club "enables" the urge to grow your hobby

gotcha, at that point then I would prefer to pass it on to someone with a bigger tank...Hes in great health to be molting as he is. But your right, there could be any number of hitch-hickers. I would definately like to find someone with a large enough tank who would welcome "Bruce".

Oh I know it wont hurt anything, but it was just neet to see. I will try to get some pictures in. Its kindof like my Horseshoe crab that I continueally think is dead since it stays burried so long. I just found another molted shell....the first molt was about 1.5 inches long. Now the second one is almost 4...I have no clue how large this guy is now!!! But I will have to sell or send him to a better home in a few months when he gets too big. I did not know it would molt and grow so fast. I might just get a trashcan and acclimate it to water levels of the chesapeak bay...but we will see.

I added pics a couple days ago, and yet no response...does anyone have an answer??

Wow, the color on that is great

Does it have to be flex PVC? You might have an easier time finding PVC hose, the Marine Scene has it.

Because I had low calcium and alk, then dosed with B-ionic. Before the dose the red algae was starting to grow back within a day. Now it is not growing. Its actually falling apart.