Ne0eN

I've been running a 100 gpd RO/DI unit off eBay (around $100) for 6 months now. TDS around 4-5ppm. The exact same RO/DI unit at my gf's house where the water pressure is much higher, and the TDS dropped to 0-1ppm. Alex, I hear your finances are tight, so try talking your family into getting a RO/DI unit for the kitchen. Sell them on the idea that it's better to cook with and drink pure filtered water. It's also cheaper long-term than buying bottled water from the store. This way you'll have access to 'good' water for your reef-tank and everyone will be happy. Then start doing weekly 20% water changes until your readings are back to normal. What kit are you using for the ammonia tests? Buy a good one off eBay. In the meantime (like today!), go to your grocery store and buy two 5 gal containers of 'spring water' and use them for your 20% water change. (it's really just RO/DI water) What salt mix do you use? You can get Instant Ocean at PetCo/PetsMart. Drain 10 Gal from your tank syphoning as much of the dirt as you can and slowly refill with clean water (premixed with the correct salt SG 1.024-1.026). Don't move any more rocks!!! Just do water changes for the next 3-4 weeks. And also, make sure noone else touches the tank! Perhaps someone is over-feeding your fish while you're at school... Post a daily status report of what you did, and what the situation is, so we can continue helping you solve your crisis. Patience!!!! -Rob

PM sent!

Alex, One thing you need to work on in this hobby is patience! Without patience you will not have a successful reef. Try to read as much as you can, visit your LFS and ask questions. Experience cannot be rushed - it's acquired slowly. We all made our mistakes and learned from them. My parents bought my first fresh water aquarium (10 gal) when I was in grade school. I have kept fresh water fish for the next 20 years until I moved on to salt water fish. Now I have a successful 60 gal reef tank (2 years now) and except for 2 dead damsels in the beginning I have not had a single fatality Remember - every single fish, snail, crab, anemone, coral is alive and should be given your utmost care. Without respect for life you shouldn't be in this hobby. Believe me - size of the tank will not make your problems go away. It will just make for even bigger problems and issues, not mentioning a huge expense simply maintaining it. 60 gal reef -1 three-stripped damsel -2 false percula clowns hosted in BTA -1 purple pseudochromis -1 yellow sailfin tang -various snails, hermit crabs, shrimps, emerald crab, sea urchin etc... -various mushrooms, polyps, leathers and softies... -small brown monti SPS -Rob

What's the link? I might be interested in purple firefish. -Rob

You can also look for a roll of aluminum at HomeDepot, and make a DIY reflector.

60 Gal reef 10 Gal sump 10 Gal quarantine/top-off tank 5 Gal doser Total: 85 Gal My gf: (which I manage) 12 Gal Nano-reef 260 Gal FO 40 Gal sump 10 Gal top-off tank Total: 322 Gal _________________ Grand Total: 407 Gal

Oh, wow... I've graduated to an Urchin status!

I got one of the big pieces of LR from Jon that was covered with some nasty hair algea. After 5 days in my tank, my Yellow Tang took care of the problem. The rock looks amazing now!!! It has a nice colony of some kind mushroom polyp which is recovering nicely. If you're looking for some nice cured LR, and have a hungry Yellow Tang, I recommend Jon's LR. I'll post some pics, and maybe someone can id the polyps.

That's if you have a glass tank. How about acrylic?

How easy is it to clean this unit? Do you have a drain tube for the collection cup? Thanks!

I was at Roozens last week - purchased 3 Cleaner Shrimps, and 2 Tomato Clowns. All are doing very well in my gf's 300 gal tank. As much as I didn't like the cramped condition that the fish are in, the selection is quite good, prices are reasonable, and the staff seemed pretty friendly. It's definitely a hike from Northern VA, but i think worth at least checking it out.

If there is anything else left I'll be interested. I'm converting from FO to reef tank. Thanks.

...and crash!!!

Just some quick calculations: 42 gal --> 350 lbs of water + weight of the tank + weight of salt + weight of LR + weight of substrate, etc... You're looking to support at least 450 lbs!!! How tall are you planning on making this stand? I would use 4x4 for the legs.

I got my Scuba certification at the 'Dive Shop' in Vienna, VA - $328 (whole package) Unless you think you will enjoy getting certified at a local quarry, I suggest you look for a resort based certification program on your next vacation. Seen them in Florida, Hawaii, Thailand... (Thai was the cheapest one as I recall) Millbrook Quarry sucks - I almost lost interest in diving after going there.

What does 'an almost mated pair' exactly mean?

Can anyone recommend a good algea scraper? I've been using those free-credit-offer cards.