YHSublime

As soon as I posted this, I just went to amazon and found what I was looking for and bought it. Used to be you could find obscure stuff like that at Michaels, etc. I kept it up in case anybody else is looking and happens to come across this thread!

Hey WAMAS, I found some big rolls of filter pads in my basement, I’ve been cutting them to the size I need, and I’m nearly out, and have no idea where I got them from. Amy ideas where I can buy them?

Yeah, that's my speculation, just checking with others who have maybe seen this before and have had the same experience.

That's usually the way it works, it drops! I'm already seeing some aggressive coraline growth. Truthfully, I struggled keeping my alk up in the bigger tank as I had the same issue you currently do. In the new tank (current) it's seeing rapid SPS growth, like 1/2 growth in 1.5 months. I don't know if that's standard, but I've never had that. Yes, this is a reef tank that was taken from 80 gallons and put into a 30 gallon. No visible cycle, everything has been doing great. Everything IS doing great, but my alkalinity consumption started very heavy, and then slowly dwindled, by almost half. My speculation is nitrates are much lower now (I've halfed my livestock and I'm feeding less.) 480 and 1300, so yes!

Hello WAMAS! Quick question, that I think I might have the answer to already, but wanted to see what others have maybe experienced. First, I use ESV bIonic for 2 part dosing. When I swapped into my new tank, I was pretty much dosing 50ml a day in an overgrown 80 tank, into 35ml a day into a 30 gallon tank. For about 3 weeks my alk held steady, and I started testing x2 a week vs every day. When I would go back, I'd find that my alkalinity had slowly been creeping up, pretty much a whole point (from 9 to 10) I've slowly been dialing back, and as I do this, my alkalinity will hold steady for a few days, and then I'll find it creeping back up again. I've been playing this game for the past month and a half, and now I've gone from 35ml of each solution daily down to 20. I suspect that what's happening is that my nitrates are not bottoming out, but getting very very low. From a visual observation, my SPS is doing reaaaaally good, and my softies and torches are still doing great, but not peak. This has been a 180 from the old tank.

Another banger

thanks, Pedro! So were 9 days out of 14 in. I will do a 30% water change this upcoming Monday. the corals are visibly happier. I still have not put my skimmer cup back on, although they say you can after day 3. The many years ago I used it, I remember the tips turning white, and dramatically wilting algae away. This time it’s not as dramatic, but it is working, the algae is simply disappearing. the tank looks clearer, the water looks clearer, and nothing seems to be effected except for the algae. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix!

For whatever reason, that frag tank keeps popping up with algae. I've broken it down, and scrubbed everything, and set it back up again. I've added a giant CUC, and I've even done a skimmer and aggressive water changes, and added an MP10 for flow. No matter what, it always starts to take a hold again. So I've started a fluconazole treatment. It doesn't look like bryopsis, but at this stage, 100% natural has not been working on this particular tank. It's only been 3 days, but I'm going to keep my skimmer offline. No visible differences yet, other than the coral seem to be "brighter" or more opened up. This tank also grows coraline really well.

Wow, next update everything will will be out of the water

Thanks! I have a little frag tank (11gallons) as well, but there’s no plan for it.

Wish I had some for you. i think it’s still like the good ol days where you can get it for free, at least i hope so!

I bought some orphek lenses for my iPhone. Took a bit of messing around to get what I wanted, and not there yet, but brats breaking out the DSLR…

I’m in Hyattsville. About a mile from the NE DC line, and college park the other way. Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring is probably closest, but I only buy food from there. I’m still a big coral guy, I’m down to a 33 gallon tank, so I’ve got 2 ORA clowns that I’ve had for a decade, and a captive bred cardinal fish.

My new tank is setup for filter socks. They seem to be doing a wonderful job, but are also the bane of my existence. Two questions: If you have a roller mat, how frequently are you having to replace the roll? Does the cost outweigh the maintenance time? Changing out filter socks isn't really that hard to do, and once they clog up, my sump gets very loud, letting me know it's time to change them. I could essentially spend another $60 or so and have enough socks on hand to only have to clean them every two months or so. I guess I'm wondering if the roller mat technology has gotten to where it's worth it, especially on a smaller tank.

Expensive is relative. You're going to pay more for QT'd, especially prophylactically treated fish. I honestly don't know how anybody can do it properly with a brick and mortar overhead, and make money. - I agree with Miggs, Reefescape is doing a great job. Visited the store for the first time last month, and it's one of the cleanest shops I've been to in a while. - Capital Exotic Fish is in the process of breaking down all their saltwater stuff in DC, might check with them and see if they have any fish left. - Exotic Reef Creations I think has slowed down/possibly stopped all together on their fish. As far as I know, they were the only local place that was doing a 100% proper QT. I also don't know very many hobbyists that properly QT everything that goes into their tanks anyways, don't know how important that is to you. - Blue Ribbon Koi, but I have not had much interaction with them since I moved to MD 5 years ago. - Supreme Reefs does fish, but I have not had much interaction with them since I moved to MD 5 years ago.