fishface

Hi F&FMgr: I've met Ganzanfar, and he talked about your store. I had hoped to have made it to that sort of "open house" that you had in the summer. Let us know if you plan to have another. Oh, and if you drill tanks, mention that somewhere. We can always use professional tank drilling service. Regards, FF

Sorry NeOoN, I don't. But post pics later when you are set!

Eric Bourneman spoke at MACNA and talked about a variety of things. I think it boiled down to staying with the basics. (It sounds like you are). He was saying how even low light tank can grow corals that you wouldn't expect. So keep cool sans stay the course! However, practically the last thing I can quote from him is "if you have too much algea, then add more herbivores until you don't." Got Crabs? I think Howard and Chips spend quite a lot of time in solitude with theirs. If I recall correctly they have posted some advice on their favorite nuckles. And if I am not crediting the right people (apologies to those omitted) do a search on WAMAS and it'll pop up. FF

Gosh people somebody must've beat this post with the silly stick. But last I heard, either method is reprodution, but the type of reproduction is via self cloning, not sexual reproduction. That takes two separate individuals, or did y'all skip out on your Sex Ed class in high school?!? 'Course I imagine when you can clone yourself then the religous conservatives of all faiths would find a way to be equally offended by a heathen amenone that doesn't believe in monogamy, nor the missionary. Gosh, how did I fit anemone, monogamy and missionary into one sentance? That's tentacle twister!

I've used it a few times. When my Rio blew and I needed an abrupt water change (and I didn't know that you were supposed to avoid Rio's like the plague) the Vienna aquarium told me that the tanks that he services all use that and it's muchh better than a mix. 'Course someone posted on RC or wherever that there is no way to keep those bateria alive in the container.... And apparently the Catalina water was tested and was not benficial for the inhabitants health (disclaimer - I don't recall where the comparison was made, so research it yourself before taking this as fact.) Anyway, where can we get these at a reasonable price though? FF

This sounds very interesting guys, thanks for looking into this! FF

Astounding!! That flies in the face of needing a mature tank for this kind of think to happen. Do you think that something occured the precious day and this was stress-induced? Congratulations, Papa!

There's one off Sterling blvd for one. I think it was near West Ox when I went in March.

Bump This was a reply meant for anyone in the area that might want to carpool. FF

I was at the aquarium right after they were returned. I spoke with a really nice guy who was working on the display tank -it's called a "Look Down tank" by one manufacturer. The ORA exibit was like it only smaller. I asked the nice guy about bubble tip anemones and why they often lose their bubbles. I asked him about his experience and wanted to discuss an article on it and hope to meet the author. Turns out I was chatting with Charles Delbeek, the author! Cool...

For specifics, after 7 months you probably have developed an excellent sand bed!!! The sand sifting star exists soley on 'pods and will decimate the happy diversity the you let develope. I bought one, thinking that it only shifted, but then read that it's an eating machine and will strip the bed. And for the mandarin and scooter-they rely it too so you need caution. Here's a quote from WetWebMedia, which is a great reference: I find that they don't pull punches and state things accurately. There are exeptions to any rule ie what species normally will normally co-exist. But there no point in testing Whatever other writers have stated, Mandarins almost never accept enough of anything other than live foods that are omnipresent in their system to sustain themselves. A nutrient rich live rock reef tank, read that as one heavily populated with hard substrates, with substantial interstitial crustacean and worm, and other small sessile invertebrate life of about 100 gallons will support one individual. And this assumes you have no similar food-competing tankmates. FF

In some places in asia you can buy them to eat at the local market!

Let try not to strip the oceans bare within our kids lifetimes! The same way the gov is suddenly talking alternative fuels like it's a good idea, and not anti-american to conserve gas.... the main issue with breeding is that is has to be cost effective. Right now collection is cheaper to the distributors, even though up to 70% dies before it reaches us. So even that math is skewed, since captive breeding has a much higher survival rate. Once the cost of import is high enough, it becomes a better idea in peoples minds to buy bred species. True, there are species that are not yet cultured, but for the ones that are, we should only buy those and not wild caught. Seahorses are a great example. The bred ones are healthier, hardier and easier to keep. FF

jorge gomezjurado He is or was the Seadragon keeper at the Baltimore Aquaruim. DracoMarine is his new company. I can't wait to see his ideas come to fruition. He intends to bring captive bred Seadragons to the home aquarium! FF

Thanks reelsteel! I don't know whether I can go at this point. But if you are in Sterling/Herndon/Dulles and might want to carpool, then mail me. FF

Hey Ocean-Tech: What do you say a few of us head over there and stick the SOB's head into a vat of uncured Live Rock? Maybe a Mantis will crawl up his nose. Teach him some manners! FF

I've gone by Super pets because 3 years ago I worked in Alexandria and I have Freshwater too. A year ago I decide to look again, this time at the SW livestock. I was at the cashier with a really great looking shrimp that I didn't realize was the dreaded Saron Shrimp. Maybe some people don't have a problem with them, but on the whole, they prey on Zoos, softies and even Tridacnas. I think the cashier was the manager filling in, and he asked me whether it was going into a FOLR tank, because he personally had one wipe out half of a mushroom colony in his own tank overnight. If he wasn't there to stop it, that would have made a mess of my reef. And my 6 inch Derasa. I'm voting, I stay away. I have to admit, even my preferred LFS has not always screened it's customers, or checked that the customer equipment or tank is proper for the eye candy on display. But I focus on how they handle me and my tank issues, which is always with expertise. FF

Yep, that's nerdy! The dome idea, nice. Aside from the fact that the stone ages of aquarium thinking has not moved forward - you'd think that if they can design a cheapo molded aquarium hood at a reasonable price they design a nice one rounded or rectangular dome shaped. I hear a dyi project rattling around!

I'm interested in LED's too and they've come a long way. The main issue is that they are mostly low wattage right now, and were limited in spectrum. However, my opinion is that the corals benefit from light coming from all sides. The LEDS are like lasers and have replaced some in laserprinters. They emit coherent light, that is, the light waves are literally parallel from the source. That would be unnatural to them. But they may find way to difuse it... FF

Hi Alex: I'm glad to see that your dream project is becoming a reality! Congratulations General question for all- and not highjacking this thread -I'm interested in upgrading my 75 to a 125. I called Glass cages, and got some information. The last thing mentioned is that the glass tank should be placed on a sheet of styrofoam to to accomodate any unevenness in the stand. Any thoughts or experience anyone? Opinion on thickness? They will supply it free or at minimal charge. This could apply to Alex's next step... (Also, if I buy or make an acrylic tank, would that also be necessary?) Thanks FF

That's really coll. Can you post again with normal light so the polyps and the form will be clearer? Thanks.

I think that they shouldn't sell anything that breathes whether with gills or otherwise. The staff turnsover constantly, and the ones that stay, well, one look them and you start to wonder. I believe that the corporate office must put out bid requests and go soley with the lowest bidder. This means that some of the aquaculture and collecting companies that choose to bid to sell them sells volume at a cut-rate and they could care less, and Petco clearly doesn't care how many of these animals never make into a cage, tank or whatever. To the accountants, it's just a loss factor when ordering these to stock a store and sell whatever doesn't die. And if (disclaimer coming) this conclusion is incorrect, then what does explain the obvious mortalities? For fish, they can't scoop and flush them fast enough. You alsways see corpses. My kid is 3 , and Petco was kind of fun to take him while eating out in herndon, and keeping him occupied while dinner is being made. But once he start realizing that there are dead ones, it's got to confuse him. I think it's important to vote with our dollars. Let the big stores supply the dry goods that they can't kill. Let the LFS and e-tailers with the knowledge and concern sell the livestock. I don't like paying higher prices, but I do feel that along with a critter or coral, if you get experience and information then it's worth it. Otherwise, you are just....:wall:

I tried the cam from work but didn't connect. Maybe a firewall issue. Sorry that you went thru a leak situation. FF

Yes, if mushrooms don't get enough light, they will stretch themselves to reach for it, and appear to have grown amazingly large in a short time. This is misleading as it can be mistaken for growth and happy parameters. There are those who are suggesting a "cloudy day" here and there is beneficial though. But this is for resting, not growth. Make your judgments of their health based upon an average size with decent lighting over a few days time. I'd like to design a system like Calfo did, where it was in a cool climate with natural sunlight. Dr. Mac has apparently done the same thing in his new place. I think that natural sunlight would be a great improvement over existing lighting. I'd like to see whether my BTA gets it's bubbles back. If I could, I'd put a tank up and use a solatube skylight or two, rather than and entire sunroom. FF

Congratulations Ben, it's great stuff! I bought the Walt Smith calcium at MACNA, while you are working out a reactor purchase, you might try that when your supplies run out. I'm interested in trying this because the guy explained that it provides a better mix and includes traces minerals, etc, rather than a single component. I'm starting to add it, even though I have a reactor. I'll let you know if I see an improvement. I understand that clams under 2.5 inches or so need supplemental feeding, so verify that soon. Clams/corals don't have fat reserves.... FF