elbowdeep88

Nice. Gives a good sense of your tank. I forget the purpose of the bottles. Do things live in those?

????

Paul, nothing but props, but I was called out once upon a time so I gotta say: just like the last thread you started, this feels more like an add than an inquiry.

What's the lens?

I think the sheet is a good idea. Some stores might even be willing to distribute them with zoa/paly sales. I explained to my wife what it is and put a tab on the appropriate page in one of my coral books, but I totally agree that it's way easier to say "If I need to go to the hospital after working in the tank, grab this and bring it."

Isn't at least some of the entry fee prize money for the winner(s)? The initial coral has to come from somewhere, and absent a donated colony, the source of the coral should be compensated-be it a forum friend or a store. I don't see why anyone should feel compelled to participate if they object to the terms of the contest. This thread is just for gauging interest and for determining general direction. Sounds like a fun idea to me.

Id go with mushrooms. Some encrusting "LPS" that will *help* cover rocks, will not overgrow your euphs, but MAY (likely) induce warfare: Favias (dragon soul) or chalice. Or a maze type like platygyra or Oulophyllia. Or a Favites like war coral-those grow fast. But if you really want a fun war go with galaxea-cool coral with lots of movement like you enjoy. Just extreme sweepers which will terrorize your small tank. Really you should just give the corals you already have room to grow. Last I saw they are already plenty close enough.

It's not really about covering. It's about thinking about how gravity and water interact. If there is the smallest opening in any cover you make, water will still be able to run down those wires and into the (transformer?). Water has a way of 'sticking' to surfaces (adhesion) and can often run around shields. If you position the electricial junctures HIGHER than the water, or at the least create drip loops, you are in better shape. If this is not an option, liquid electical tape, applied liberally in several coats, can be your friend.

"Human Sandpaper" = favorite quote

I had a small one in a mixed reef 29 biocube for about 2 years no issues.

I find pencil urchins to be the best algae munchers of the commonly available varities (longspine, pincushion, tuxedo).

+1

I think the blue is a type of Clavularia ("aussie/japanese blue clove"). These are tiny baby blue polyps that spawn and spread and grow everywhere, though the color is attractive. Whereas true Sympodium (blue/green and blue/green/red as described above) grows on little mats (kinda like gsp). Both are Octocorallia (some would say you have to go all the way up to Class Anthozoa), but based on my understanding, VERY different taxonomy and growth. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2114911 Vs http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+1464+3082&pcatid=3082

Sorry for the double post. This makes a lot of sense. Thanks Paul.

I tend to agree with your approach. I have years of experience in the hobby but have been dry for a while and am now planning my next tank. In addition to feedi g fresh foods (especially clams and blackworms), what would you recommend to someone who will be starting "fresh" to build the immune responses of healthy fish? That's what made me think of the dead fish idea.

I was thinking about your theory about gut bacteria and small exposures to disease while healthy to help build immune system (like flu shots for humans right). Would you ever ask your LFS (or Petco) for a few recently dead marine fish and chop them up and feed to a healthy tank? Assuming the fish died of disease, do you think this would help yours, or just be Russian Roulette?

I have been following along. You have persisted in ways that most would not. Maybe not the best plan/execution, but you are learning from mistakes. I am still hoping for the best, but thank you for your willingness to share your journey with us either way. It would have been easier to keep it all private, so thanks for your humility that allows us all to learn together.

What are those first three?

Congrats! Your book was on my christmas list but i didnt get it. So I will have to get it for myself soon. Really looking forward to it.

So graceful. Love the ray too.

If you have ordered a lot online and have some memory of how various things are packaged, the advice above may work just fine. But shipping isn't always as intuitive as you may think without a lot of experience (via observation or trial/error). Ratio of water to air; how many layers of bags and other stabilizers; how to pack the box; difference in technique between corals, inverts, and fish; how many heat packs to use etc all require some knowledge. If you are just shipping a few zoas or hermits you might be fine, but if it's much more and you don't have much experience w packing/unpacking I think you are wise to find a store that has unpacked hundreds/thousands of bags and boxes.

Seriously? I think the pics are pretty dang good for your average reefer. I just don't know my zoas.

I have been looking forward to this for a while. I have been dry for almost two years now but your ecosystem approach and diy projects keep me pondering new ideas for my dream tank. The book will surely be my new evening literature.

Paul. Can you give us the title/link for your book?