cowrie

We are in Mclean (near Flowerseller). Bob and Tamie

There is a scarlet cleaner and three peppermints.

After our 35g reef hex split, we cleaned out and placed all animals in our "prison" tank. No casualties! We had already ordered the Midas blenny from Liveaquaria so we added him a couple of days later. While we are replacing the tank (going up to a 42 hex-drilling it, painting it, modifying the stand, etc.) we noticed about 5 white spots on one of the three PJ cardinals (there is also a cleaner blennie and a firefish). Ich? As I work with Invertebrates I am not familiar with treating fish diseases. Can you give me some "expert" advice? I am not sure if it came from the new fish who looks completely clean or from the stress of the move. Tamie

She thinks that may be too small.........

A volunteer at the Reptile Exhibit here at the Zoo has a soft shell turtle that she needs a 75 or larger tank. It just needs to be a plain aquarium to hold water. She bought the animal in Colorado and was misled into thinking it was another species. Upon further research she realizes that it is going to be a large turtle! (At least 2 1/2 to 3'). Tamie

Does anyone know a good source (preferably local to N. Va) for gray or black 3/4" and 1/2" pipe and fittings for use in the tank? The problem is that we need intakes and outputs for refitting a system with SCWD and closed loop circulation. Need Tee's, elbows, pipe and glue. Could only find 3/4" electrical conduit and limited fittings at Home Depot. Bob and Tamie #703-276-8316

We have two show tanks of: 75 gallon w/25 gallon refugium/sump 100g 35 gallon hex w/4 gallon refugium= 39g and two in the basement: 55 gallon grow out/prop tank= 55g 30 gallon "prison"/quarrantine tank= 30g (and a 225gallon freshwater hot tub refugium for aquarists--does this count?) TOTAL=224 gallons salt water (AND NOT GETTING ANY MORE!!!) Bob and Tamie

Jessie, As of yesterday the parent colony near where your segment was sectioned has yet to recover from the trauma of the fragging so I am not a bit worried that yours have not come out yet. Like Michael said; light and gentle to moderate water flow. Also remembe rthat they were fragged just a few hours before we gave them to you. Bob and Tamie p.S. See you tomorrow morning at the Zoo!

Mike, Talk to Gary (Keeper Aide in Inverts at Zoo). He just joined WAMAS but has been away on vacation, and I know he is looking to se up a 75 gallon that he has. Call me at work and I will give you his info. Tamie!

Alberto, We enjoyed looking at the pics on your system and we are sorry to see that you had a "spill." We are getting ready to set up a system similar to yours and we are positive that we cannot troubleshoot for all the possible snafu's that may occur. We have had minor spills in the past with blocked tubes and back-siphoning and so since we know this will happen to us we would like to feel better about it at this point and we know that Robie can make us feel more secure. Should we pick them up or do you want to deliver them yourself, Robie? Bob and Tamie

That is great! I want to buy some. Happy to contribute for the "club's benefit." Just wanted to get dibs on a bag!

I wrote to both yesterday also. I watched the video on Reefcentral.com. The literally "poured" the bowl of fish into the newly set up aquarium.

So sorry to miss the "party" but we were out of town. We are very interested in getting some, though. Did you freeze it in sheets so that it is breakable to feed small tanks (75 and 35)? B&T

David, If I understand the origin of this thread properly, any discussion of T. crispada (lettuce leaf, Brysopsis-eating) "nudibranchs" being of any use is a moot point. We got the brypsis-eating "nudibranchs" (Tridachia crispata) that we gave you and Robie at Carolina Biological. With shipping they came to a little under $8. I had a little difficulty finding someone there who knew what I was talking about until I found a Marine Biologist there who is fantastic. If you ever need to talk to someone there, I can give you her information. The sea slugs (I don't think that they are nudibranchs) worked for us with the Bryopsis (along with plucking with tweezers), but did not show any interest in other algae. That is why we gave them away. Our Bryopsis situation was cleared up and we didn't want them to starve.

So sorry! I know the antibiotic and steroid lesson too! Got zapped by a HUGE elegance coral while in the coral tank at the Zoo last year. Pretty nasty infection set in. Had been getting in there for years with only a farmer john so I am not sure what was different that time. Can we see a picture of the evil predator? Or does anyone know the name of it? Tamie

Michael, In Key Largo I recommend Cpt. Slades. We did our Smithsonian Scientific Diving training with them, and have used them recreationally too. Bob and I just went in December. If you need more info let me know (my brother lives in Miam so we go down a lot). Eric, I enjoyed Cozumel diving. Fast drifts but exciting. Lots to do on land like take the ferry over to Playa del Carmen and rent a Jeep for a day to see the ruins, or rent a moped and go around the island including the lighthouse with all the iguanas. Tamie

Jamie, It is a 75 gallon established reef tank with 7 fish and lots of live rock. I assume it is getting enough to eat from the sand since we feed fish and corals rather heavily (per Bourneman's suggestion)! The frag is beautiful! We feed it daphnia, DT's black powder, frozen spirulina enhanced brine shrimp and mashed formula one and two and Eric's suggested shrimp/scallop with Zoecon mixture. Looking forward to trying those pearls!

Jamie, Thanks for the response. We have had the star for six months or so, so don't really think that it is due to acclimation. It has been slowly going on for about two months. Any other ideas?

After hearing Anthony Calfo (again) at the CMAS meeting yesterday and learning that our food was too big we are very interested in setting up a phytoplankton culture and eventually rotifers. We do not have a clue as to what equipment and system we will need. Can anyone point us in the right direction?

We have a sand sifting sea star about 2-1/2" diameter which has three remaining arms, one of which is dissolving like the other two already did. At first we thought it was trauma from one of the other tank inhabitants when it lost the tip of the first arm but now it is obviously progressing, and we fear the worst is yet to come..... Does anyone have any ideas how to stop the spread? Can we dip it in kerosene or insecticide to stop this creeping crud? Just kidding. We were wondering if Iodine or fresh water (RO or DI) or a dip in penicillin or tetracycline or erythromycin might work. Hope someone can help!