Folta

Hey all. I'm looking at the air/water/ice website, and they have this unit for sale for 139.00: Airwaterice RO/DI Unit Link Is this a good one? I'm also looking on ebay (or if anyone has a used one for sale, please speak up!) Thanks! Tim

I understand. What time did you want to get there? They are open between 11 and 5 according to their website. My preference would be to get there around 3:30, as I like to sleep in saturdays, however I can accomadate to any schedules.

Good rainy monday morning to everyone! I hear this rain won't last long, and the rest of the week is going to be quite nice. Anyway, I was thinking about the way my tank is setup. The sump I have is one of those premade sumps - the one where the water comes down on the right side, to a square piece of blue filter padding, then to a plate that has a bunch of holes, with a chamber of bio balls in it. The water trickles over the balls, then when it gets to the bottom, it goes through a big sponge, a pack of biochem zorb that I stuck in the sump, then is pumped back out. I know that bioballs in a reef aquarium tend to be a nitrate factory. So I was considering taking them out and converting a part of the sump to a refugium. I assume that macro algae would need to stay submerged, so it wouldn't work to just replace the bioballs with macro? Or is there a type that would be fine with that? I originally left the bio balls in there when I moved the tank to try and retain as much of the bacteria as possible. Now that its been set up over a month, I think it is time to get them out and put something in that will help reduce nitrates. I don't know if I will be able to convert part of the sump to do this, so if not my backup plan is to possibly get an HOB refugium. Does anyone here use one of those? Are they alot of help? Tonight I'll take some pics of the sump so you can see what I'm working with.

We still have just three people going. Anyone else interested in coming along?

Paul, I would but I"m coming from the Maryland side. It's a shame you can't go, but have fun moving the tank - its alot of work

Ok. I wanted to edit the topic of the other post, however it only allowed me to edit the content. So I started a new topic! It seems there is enough interest to go to Dr. Macs that we can get a carpool going on APRIL 2, 2005. Current List of people who are going: Folta (Tim) dbartco (Doug) Keyoke (Jeff) I will edit this first post as people sign up. To sign up, either send me a PM or post in this thread.

Since there wasn't enough interest, I went out friday night and didn't check the board. Sorry to hear that you wouldn't be able to go next weekend, the 2nd. If things change, make a post in the new topic about going to Dr. Macs on April 2nd. Same goes for anyone else, check out the new topic if you're interested in coming along!

So, Saturday April 2nd?

Where are you located?

Wow, I thought there would be at least a couple people who needed and/or wanted to go! : / C'mon people! You know you want to check out the new corals!

Michael, pm sent. Anyone intersted in going? We can carpool to save on gas and toll!

I am thinking about going to Dr. Macs this Saturday. If no one else wants to go, I'll most likely go by myself. However, if other people want to go, I'll definitely go. Anyone feel like taking a road trip out there? We could meet around lanham (where 495 hits 50) so people from virginia and maryland could both go.. just a straight shot east from there (well, one road basically, even though its not straight east lol) So anyone interested in going? ~ Tim

Checked out their site. They are near the intersection of 50 and 495 on the west side. I'm near 50 and 495 on the east side, so its a 45 minute drive still. I think I'm going to drive out to dr. macs this saturday.. I'll see when the week comes near end.

Ok, well that settles it then. I'm going to have to take a drive out there on a saturday, and make a day of it. Maybe a bunch of club members want to all go out there together?

Ok, thats probably what I'll get then. On the plus side, my algae is really getting cleaned up... I have been leaving the lights off for longer, and have reduced the feedings. Only problem is its creating lots of dead algae that I keep having to get out The snails are also doing a good job on whats left.

Haha, I'm sure you're right about spending too much. I know I'd want to spend alot of money once I see the corals, etc. One of the benefits to ordering it.. you tend to not impulse buy as much!

I haven't heard anything about the reef tank yet. So it is a good store? Where is it located exactly? Do they have a website? I would love to come to the next meeting. I'll keep an eye on the meetings section to watch when anything gets posted there. Btw, I'm not sure whos in charge of the website but I noticed 'calendar' is spelled incorrectly on the menu choices :-p Its good to hear about some good lfs's in the area, even if they are a few hours away. I do like the one off of georgia avenue, and they seem to be getting more and more saltwater stuff each week.

I live in Olney, MD, but work in Lanham (east intersection of 50 and 495). Is he open for retail on days other than saturday or just saturday? I see you have the VT logo! I did my undergrad at VT. Interesting school... although I definitely had my complaints about it

I was considering a trip out there later this summer to hand pick a few pieces, maybe on a trip to Ocean City. But for now, I want to add a few pieces that will act as base pieces. These will replace a few pieces that I have so I'm not too worried about picking it by hand at the moment. Hmm... depending on shipping, it might be worth it to just drive out there anyway on a Saturday. I also had noticed another thread after posting this one that they have come to meetings in the past. Do they bring corals/liverock/etc with them when they do? And, when is the next meeting? I was looking at the link above but couldn't tell exactly.

Hi again all! In my tank, I currently have a few pieces of liverock (about 15 lbs) that I picked up from congressional aquarium in rockville. After looking at TBS rock, and Dr. Mac's rock, I feel that the stuff from congressional in no way compares. So I want to get some from Dr. Mac, as he is in MD. Being about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away, has anyone had this stuff delivered? At this distance, can he do same day delivery? Is the rock cured there? (I want to avoid getting any mantis shrimp and/or gorrilla crabs, etc). I plan on calling them, but wanted to post here first to hear any experiences you guys might have had or any other questions I should ask / advice about it. I plan on getting some pieces that are about 10 lbs, probably about 30ish lbs to start. Thanks!

Welcome! :D

Alright, thanks for that info. Any suggestions on a good but inexpensive ro/di unit? How many gallons per day, etc should I look for?

Copperbands will nip at the zoas? I knoew that they were 'reef safe with caution'.. thats a shame, I really want some zoas...

Figured I would post a few more pics This one is of the lunare wrasse that was given to me. He's been sold to an LFS because he ate my cleaner shrimp, not to mention he's not really reef safe and needs more than a 55 gallon tank: Here is a pic of the clowns: another pic of them: A pic of my copperband: And another of him: A shot of the left side of the tank: And here's a pic of my cichlid tank: Please excuse the blurriness of the pics... I just bought a new digital camera last weekend and am learning how to use it! Btw, all but the plant in the top right corner in the cichlid tank are live plants.

Timeframe would be about 3 weeks. I've heard that in Montgomery county, the tap water is really good. Good enough, in fact, to not need a RO/DI unit. What are your opinions on this?