Jason Rhoads

You can use Xenia for nutrient export, but the key will be to harvest them (take them out of the system and trade or discard them). It is similar to using aptasia for export in a nutrient raceway (I think Calfo wrote about that in "The Book of Coral Propogation").

I like the "clean" look of using pipe. But to each their own.

I don't think there is anything wrong with recycling used gear. Often in this hobby people upgrade and have perfectly good equipment for sale that will operate for years to come. Time for a new pump maybe, but the skimmer body is probably still in great shape.

I replaced the impeller in mine and had to do another break in period. No clue why, but it is what it is.

I use an old MJ 600 to mix (I mix in a 5g bucket). It gets everything clear in about 30 min, but I let the water stand over night to allow everything to stabilize.

Totally normal for a toadstool. Breath easy, it looks like it is doing well! You will see them (and some other softies) do that from time to time. It will extend polyps in a day or two.

Yep, I think you will be happy with that combo. It wont be too blue. I do 2:1 RB to white (a 50/50 mix of 4500k and 6500k). I also have reds and violets in there and it looks great (to me )

I was just at Petland last week, and their SW section was looking great. All the livestock I saw looked healthy (fish were lively and eating, and corals were bright with great polyp extension). The employees in the SW section really knew their stuff. I would buy from there again in a heartbeat.

@ treesprite, have you been stung by Frogspawn? I didn't realize that it could sting humans.

I think it sounds like a really neat project to try. While I have not used resin, I have done DIY rock with concrete and guess the process would be pretty similar. I say go for it and tell us all how it turns out

I would put it on a float switch. That way it only runs when you need to refill from evap. That is how I have mine set up.

Captain Ron is right on. You want the clear saturated water to be what is used as replacement for your evaporated water. The reason you want to add it slowly is to keep from shocking your livestock with the dramatic PH swing. Some people do dump slurry directly into their systems and I don't think it will hurt anything as long as it does not land on any coral (dump it into the sump). But, then you would have to deal with the precipitate building up in your sump. If keep all that in a kalk stirrer or other delivery method you it makes cleaning out the precipitate much easier.

I second what everyone else has said to this point. I too think it is that air line.

That is a great shot. I had a similar battle that occurred between my hydnophora and a birdsnest frag:

The writeup the pic was with said it is a mens 13

Yeah, when I saw that video I had to find out what the PH looked like. I have read about people using trolling motors in tanks for water movement, I wonder how this compares as far as cost/newton of thrust (or even gph).

That is a great video thanks for sharing!

How long did it take to get them to cover that rock?

I am pretty sure this thing would blow the front glass right off my aquarium!

Looks like it is a no-go for any type of a discount on the pet fees: "Jason, Unfortunately, we are not able to negotiate the pet fees. We have make to be fair and consistent and charge everyone the same for pets."

Good points. My "system" is around 4 years old (same stuff over 3 tank upgrades).

+1 to what Coral Hind said. Also, that is a really pretty monti! Great buy

I actually just sent them an email I will let you know what happens.

Without a picture of the tank I would suggest aiming the 1400 at something. You could put it near the bottom of the tank and angle it upward aimed at the front glass, or a rock. That should help keep it from blowing the sand around, and it would be keeping waste going where you want it (up into the filter).

And then all your CuC will starve to death. Please consider that you should scale your CuC gradually and take into consideration their needs post-outbreak. I only have 3 hermits and 3 turbo snails in my 90g currently (plus an Algae Blenny and a Yellow Tang). I have very little unwanted algae growth and I don't use RO/DI water. I will be adding more once I move, but not because the algae is so bad; I just like having hermits and am prepared to feed them.