OUsnakebyte

Okay, tank stuff: 75G ~ 100 lbs live rock and a 2 -3 inch sand bed (not a DSB) - set up for 3.5 years Mixed reef - LPS, SPS, Softies, etc. and a Derasa Clam* (more on this later) I've got room for one more fish, and have been considering a goby b/c I like the way the sand sifters munch through the sand (plus the girlfriend loves their behavior, and anything to make her more accepting of this addiction is easier on me ) So I was considering either an orange spot goby or the golden headed sleeper. So to make a long story short (I know, too late) - here is my question/dilemma: I have quite a few corals/zoos and other stuff on the sand bed, including that nice clam that I love. I plan on adding more zoos, ricordia, another clam and other stuff to the floor. Will the goby cover them with sand? Is it more hastle than it's worth? I am most fearful of fish dumping sand in the clam and it dying (or is this a ridiculous fear?). Also I have a Green Mandarin - do I run the risk of depleting his food supply, or will there be plenty to go around? Who has had experience with these guys? Sorry such a long post, but I wanted to get everything out on the first try... I'm sure I've left something out though... Cheers! Mike

What's the best way to frag your GSPs? I have a rock that will need some scraping in about a month or so, as they are approaching a green sinularia, but I have never done this before. What do ya'll do?

Thanks guys! What size bulkhead do you think? 3/4", 1", etc. Or does it "depend." One last question. Do you think this will add much noise? Since it's in the bedroom, it really needs to stay quiet. I've been pretty successful at keeping the noise level down thus far (both from the tank and the girlfriend... :: ) Nah! I give her more trouble than I need to and less credit than I should. She really does quite well with my hobby. Oh who am I kidding? This is an obsession. At least I can finally admit it! They say that's the first step! Cheers! Mike

Okay, I've got a sump on the 75. Understand 'em and everything. Due to apartment space/constraint issues, this 29 seahorse tank is set up in the bedroom and has no space for a sump. So, I'd like to add a refugium in which to grow Chaetomorpha to assist in nutrient export, pod growth, etc. I've had nothing but positive results from that stuff in the sump of my 75. Anyway, I've never installed a refugium before, so tell me what you think of this idea. Here goes... I was thinking of something simple like a plastic shoe or sweater box to sit on top of the filter. Something about 4-6 inches deep. I would have a small powerhead pumping water in, connected with plastic tubing and seal it off with silicone. This hole would be drilled in near the top of the fuge. The return would be drilled lower, near the bottom, and also connected to the tank with plastic tubing and sealed the same way. I was thinking of installing a 36 watt 10,000K PC light for the Chaeto. Would this be enough to grow it? Also, what size powerhead would I need to push the water through? I assume I could install a valve to regulate the amount of water coming through? What am I missing here? Thanks! Mike

75 reef w/ ~15 to 20 in sump 29 seahorse About 120 gallons Total

Also, if you cannot sell together, I'd be interested in the polyps, cup, other corals, and maybe some of the hardware (skimmer, heater/chiller, etc.) Mike

I bought a 100gpd off Ebay earlier this month for $117 total (shipping included). That also came with the faucet attachment. It was extremely easy to set up. Just attach a few small tubes, connect to the sink, and start making water. I don't have a lot of room in my apartment, so I find places to stash 5 gallon bottles that I keep water in. Every now and then I hear noise from the girlfriend, usually something about there not being enough room to walk in the bathroom b/c there are buckets in the way, but other than that, it beats having water delivered at $2/gallon. Mike

Alas, for me no reef stuff either. The girlfriend refuses to give in to the mistress. She calls the tank the mistress b/c she says I spend more time and money on it than her... I did get a trip to the Sugar Bowl from my sister though! Headin' to Nawlins this Thursday!!! I'm still waiting on Santa to bring me a National Championship. Everyone cheer on Oklahoma!!! Boomer Sooner!

Yeah, thanks guys! Good idea to set that up Lee. Maybe in a few months we can do another one. See you guys around! Cheers, Mike

Well, I'm shopping around for an RO/DI unit, but I wanted to get some feedback first on any good or bad things you all had to say on particular brands, parts, etc. I was looking at a 6-stage, 100 GPD unit online, but I'm not quite sure what I need. I probably topoff 5-10 gallons per week, plus water changes, on a 75 gallon tank. Any thoughts?

I assume you mean Sunday the 23rd at 2:00 pm, right? If so, that's great for me. How many bags of sand is each person bringing? What size? I was thinking of just getting some small ziplock sandwich bags and filling them. I can get the directions to TRT from their website, right? Mike

I just got rid of this canopy last week. I am running a little experiment though. After all that noise about not enough room to walk in the living room (or something like that, I wasn't really listening... ) the girlfriend has not said anything about the missing canopy. I'm gonna see how long it takes before she notices... Cheers! Mike

No kidding about a totally sealed top. The reason I said I would probably get a blue spot is b/c I actually had one before, with what I believed was a "sealed enough" glass top, thinking, "he'll never fit through that tiny opening by the filter." Alas, my $75 beauty went tile surfing. He never quite made it to the carpet. That was a tough one to swallow. Thanks for all the help! Mike

1) What do you guys use to clean the outside glass? Vinegar and water, Windex, RO water only, what? What do you use... paper towel, newspaper, etc.? It seems no matter what I use I always see streaks. Anyway, just wondering. 2) So, it looks like this seahorse tank is a go. I got the all clear from the girlfriend, so I've got the 29 gallon cycling now; it should be ready for its first livestock in about a month or so. Anyway, I've read that I can put the ponies right in after it's cycled, but I think I want to put a jawfish in first to kind of let the tank get settled and then add the horses (captive bred only, of course) a few weeks later. So, I was thinking of adding a jawfish. They seem the most peaceful and least likely to bother/out compete the horses. Do you think a pearly headed jawfish and a blue spot jawfish would fight? Again, it's a 29 gallon, so is this too small for two anyway? If so, I definitely like the look of the blue spot better, so I'd probably go with it. Any ideas? Thanks, Mike

I wish I could have them, b/c like you, I lose quite a bit of water to evaporation every day. But, without the tops, my temp runs about 82, and that is with two fans in the canopy. I put the tops on one day and the temp shot up to around 86-87. (75 gallon, two 150 HQIs and two VHO actinic). So, I am forced to add water daily. I'm not sure if there is a concern with the glass filtering out some of the proper light spectrum. Maybe someone else could comment on that?

Well, I'm not available after 11:00 am on Saturday the 22nd (it's my b-day, and the girlfriend has something planned). I could probably do Sunday anytime. Where is the Reef Tank? I can probably Flexcar there, couldn't I? Sorry to be such a problem. :( Mike

I'd like to sell or trade, but I'm almost to the point that I'll pay someone to take this thing. The girlfriend is making noise about it sitting in the living room of our tiny apartment... :D Anyway, it's an Oceanic 75 gallon wood grain (colored) canopy. I upgraded my lighting about a month ago and got a DIY canopy in the process. So, I no longer need this one. It does have two scratches on the top, but since it is wood and not black or other color, I think it could be easily buffed out. Email me for pics, and I'll send some your way. Thanks guys and gals! Mike

I'm definitely in. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help out with preparation. Cheers Mike

Yea, I'd also have to say awesome and thanks. You know it's a good day when you have to turn down free stuff. I sincerely never though the day would come when I would actually turn away free corals. Not b/c of tank capacity (everyone knows there's always room for one more), but b/c I couldn't physically carry it... Any count on the number of species actually fragged?

Great, thanks Glen! Forrest Glen @ 1:30. Cheers, Mike

Any suggestions? Can I take Metrorail to the end of the line and then hop on a bus? Number? Any other suggestions? I've asked a few others on the board, but I figured I'd post it too. Thanks, Mike

If you could spare a bag, I'd like to use some to seed the bed I'm starting when I change from gravel to sand bed. Thanks, Mike

Yea I could use some as well. I'm trying like mad to lower those nitrates...

Not sure about the tracks. I'll check closer when I get home. I just add a little tank water each week from my 75. What else should I be doing to keep it live? It's got all kinds of detritus in it. Also, how long will it take for the other stuff to become live? Should I be getting aragonite (sp?) sand to supplement the Fiji? What type of sand (brand, etc.) do you recommend?

Actually, I just remembered that I have a twin tube NO with one 10000k and one actinic I'll try to use. It's a 4 footer, but it will be hidden under the stand anyway. As for the substrate, I think I will go ahead and try to switch out the gravel to sand, after I get the bio balls out and chaetomorpha settled in, of course. I like the look of the sand much better. I will go slow, of course, changing a small section of the tank each week. So, about sand. I have a 29 gallon that has about 2-3 inches of Fiji live sand that was going to be a sea horse tank (captive bred only!!!), but that fell through (didn't pass the girlfriend/apartment space issue) ??? Anyway, I have been adding a little bit of water from my weekly changes to it to keep it wet. I thought that would be the best way to keep it "live" instead of letting it dry out, since I couldn't keep it in my tank. I know I will obviously need more, so my question is... If I get some Southdown, or other sand that is not currently "live," is there any way to make it "live" before I add it to my tank? If so what is the best way? Should I put it in the 29 with the Fiji and wait a few weeks? Any ideas??? Thanks, Mike