OUsnakebyte

That's a good point - I have a few clams on the sand that sure appreciate that bright light from the 10s. What if I did go with something like a 14,000K? Is there even a 14K 150 HQI? Or are those just in single ended bulbs?

Okay, it's time to replace the old MH bulbs, and I am considering a switch. First, the setup: 75 Gallon w/ 2 x 150 DE HQI - magnetic ballast (currently @ 10,000K) 2 x 4' VHO (currently @ 50/50) Now, I am thinking of switching the MH's to 20,000K, since it seems that color temp will bring out the best colors in my sps (at least, from what I've read...). So, if I did that, I don't think I'd want my VHO's to be actinic or even 50/50 - I think it would be too blue. Should I get new VHOs at 10,000K or would 50/50 be a good idea? This seems a bit backwards from what most others do... Next question is in regards to acclimation. I know since they are new bulbs, they will be a bit stronger, and thus I need to acclimate my current livestock to them, but is there any issue in switching from 10,000K to 20,000K since they have been growing under the whiter bulbs...? Finally the last is on bulb brand suggestion. I was looking on hellolights for some bulbs. I have NO idea here. Ushio and XDE are the only ones I see in 20,000K - any comments are appreciated! Thanks all!!! Cheers Mike

Me me me!!! What stop should I go to...? I'll be there at or before 1:30. Thanks Glenn!!!

For the shrooms, you can cut the base near the rock with a pair of scissors. Then take it out and place it on a paper towel, napkin, whatever. Take a razor blade and slice the shroom into pizza wedges. Try and cut through the mouth if you can. Depending on the size, you can usually get anywhere from 4-8 slices. If it is your first time, I would just cut in half until you get some experience, but it's up to you. Now, here comes the tricky part - getting them to stick. The most reliable way is to cover the slices with a piece of bridal netting, plastic lace, pantyhose, etc. Something see-through (and obviously non toxic) that you can tie around a piece of rock so the shroom can't get swept out by the current. Secure it to the rock under the netting (I use fishing line) and place back in the tank. It will take a few weeks for it to heal and attach. I have also done this by just cramming the shroom in the crack of a rock and placing something (like a small piece of rubble) over it to anchor - although this is a VERY easy way to lose one or all of your slices. Also, it's gonna slime, so you'll want a small bowl of tank water to rinse the shroom(s) in. HTH, Mike

Hmmm... good question. I would think that since they are clones, you would have two Annies... Congrats!!!

I'm amazed at how efficient I've become at wasting time at work. I can kill an hour in what seems like five minutes. I'm getting quite accustomed to the old Alt/Tab combo I use to flip back to Excel or my Inbox when my manager walks by... :p So, while cyber window shopping a few sites today, I saw this coral I've not seen before - a yellow colt coral. I saw it on The Marine Center (scroll down to soft corals...) after following someone's post in another thread. I was just clicking around (mostly the sps) when I found it. The pic looks just like a 'normal' colt coral would (I have the 'regular' pinkish color phase that is outgrowing my tank) except it is yellow in color. I did some searches here and on RC and couldn't find much info. So, has anyone ever seen one in person? Are they really THAT yellow, or is this a nice Photoshop job (or worse yet, a dye job)? Are they just as hardy as the regular color phase? The Marine Center is quite proud of them...$49 for a 'medium' and $59 for a 'large'. I am actually trying to move to an sps dominated tank with only the occasional LPS and softie, but if these are really nice, I'll certainly consider trying to track one down. If they are legit, anyone up for group ordering and fragging it up...? Cheers Mike

I think it's a great idea. Not only is it a great way to meet the members and have a face with the name, but also a tank with the name and face!!! I must admit I'll be a bit embarrassed for all the trained eyes to see my tank (it's easy with all my friends who ogle in front of my tank commenting on all the pretty 'plants' I grow in there...), but it will be nice to take some suggestions. Be gentle please!!! I'm in!!! Cheers Mike DuPont, DC

Puff Fishy? Or is it now P Fiddy...???

Have to take mine in two parts, well three maybe: OU - Oklahoma University, my alma mater for both undergrad and grad school. Sooner born and Sooner bred... (both parents and my grandfather, as well as a large majority of my family that I won't bore you all by listing, are all Sooners). I transplanted here to DC just last June... snakebyte - reptiles, snakes in particular, are/were my first passion (before I entered into this money-sucking obsession we all so blindly refer to as a 'hobby'...), with a sort of 'emphasis' in herpetology as an undergrad. The 'byte' part is just as in computer byte and is meant as a play on words... instead of snakebite (of which, yes I have received a few...), since it's my electronic name... Boomer Sooner!!! Mike

I am in for 1/2 block of cyclopeeze; don't need any mysis yet, still workin' on it. Thanks Mike! Cheers

Do you want this guy for your mantis...? I can bring him to the social on Saturday, if you are going...

Oops, I guess that was xeon who posted the link - my bad... Also, I grow chaeto in the sump, and have TONS of pods roaming in there. Do you think he will decimate the population...? Thanks all!

Hey Mike.... how did you post that link? I tried that last night, and when I went to preview my message, it said there was an error and that I couldn't post that type of link...? :rock:

Click on Gallery at the top of the page, then scroll down to Hitchhikers. You'll see the pics (5 of them) in there. Last night I dumped the fella in my sump. Anyone have a trigger or puffer they want to feed? Cheers Mike

The rock is mostly Fiji, some Kaelini (sp?). I have no idea how long it's been in there, but I haven't had anything go missing on me yet. I guess it's just a matter of time, huh? :rock:

Well, I got home and was scanning as usual, when I saw one of my green monti caps sliming more than usual. I looked and saw this little fella under the front edge of the cap. Now, I did just stare at him for a few minutes, and cannot say that he definitely destroying the coral. To my knowledge, I have nothing missing. At first glance, I thought it might be an emerald crab. I have had them before, but the last one I had alive in my tank I remember seeing some time last fall, and he was not nearly this size. This one is about 1.5 inches long by about 1 inch deep. I also looked for the characteristic flattened ends on the tips of its claw, but they both look pointed to me. I uploaded 5 pics in the gallery under hitchhikers. They are labeled What's this? Does anyone know what this sucker is...? Thanks! Mike

I hate Ebay... If we were all communist, the gov't would just control all the ticket sales, and I would have a chance to buy some... or maybe not, since I'd probably be waiting in a three hour line for a loaf of bread that isn't there... stupid free market economy... :p

Okay, how do I get 'em for the July 3rd concert? Ticketmaster sucks. I am just looking for the cheap lawn seats. I hesitate to use ebay just yet, b/c I don't want to support those who bought them just so they could turn around and sell them at a higher price. Thanks! Mike ild o]

DuPont, D.C. Cheers Mike

At the risk of showcasing my ignorance... I don't know. Upon closer inspection, it looks like it is probably a sleeve (just by guessing what a sleeve bearing would look like - again, more ignorance...). It has been a very quiet, effective fan - which is why I have liked it. The first two computer fans I bought sounded like I was running jet engines under my hood. It is just one of those clip on desk fans that I took the guard off so it would fit next to my halides. For the next one I buy, I will specifically check for ball bearings. Thanks!

Nah, I don't either. I got home today and added a drop of olive oil (all I could find in the cabinets) and it sped right up. I wiped off all the excess I could, but I am letting it run outside the canopy for a day or two. I'm just gonna keep it as a back up in case the new one I buy ever goes out. Thanks! Mike

Well, one of my fans that sits in my canopy has started to freeze up. It would take only a little WD-40 to fix it, but after doing a search on RC, I'm starting to think it would be a bad idea. After all, it's a $10 fan vs. all my livestock... Anyone have any experience with this? Any 'reef safe' alternatives...?

Forgot - on the Sun coral... "normal" colored, not green or black. Mike

1) Large Sun Coral (tubastrea) 2) Blue spot squamosa (3-4 inches) 3) Any pink/blue/other multicolored zoos (not orange or green) -Most interested in the first two Thanks! Mike

Hmm... I am doing the survey right now, but what do you think they mean by. "Have you ever done research on the specimens you keep in your tank?" Do they mean academic research in a lab setting or looking $h!& up on the internet? (Looks like that block works... ) Also, what about "Have any species reproduced in your tank?" I assume they mean sexual reproduction and/or asexual reproduction (like the splitting of a bta or a shroom... what about xenia) right? Not me breaking off a piece of sps and gluing it to a rock and producing a new colony...? Anyway, just wondering...