WDLV

http://www.aquaculturetanks.com/

http://www.fiberglasscreations.com/aquariums/tanks.htm

There are a couple ways I had considered doing it way up north here. No matter which you decided on there would be two factors you'd have to consider. One is that you need a Southern exposure. The other is keeping a low nutrient load and or a lot of algae grazers. You can use skylights, solatubes, a full greenhouse or whatever method you like. The problem you'll have with natural sunlight is the intensity and length of the exposure through the seasons. You will have longer days than a natural reef in the summer and shorter days in the winter. I don't know if the corals can adjust but I imagine that they can as there are sub tropical reefs that exist in places like Lord Howe Island. Which, if memory serves is approximately the same distance from the equator that we are. The other option is artificial light supplimentation in the summer months. ctenophore can probably tell you how necessary/unnecessary supplimentation is during the winter months.

Thanks for the quick reply. I know it's an old thread. I'm trying to come up with ideas to how I might be able to keep a tank full of them with the lowest possible maintenance and this gave me a couple ideas. Thanks!

I didn't take the time to read the whole thread. (Sorry.) I just wanted to know about the roses. Do you have any problems attributable to them not having a place to anchor? Like, I'm sure they wander. Have you taken any steps to keep them out of the pump intakes?

I think you're covered under the responses posted previously but if you still need any reassurance, I ripped one in half too exactly as you described and had no issues with it healing up. I've had them go through closed loops and survive too. As long as it was healthy to begin with, I think you'll be OK.

I've had 'em smoke on me before too but not as bad as you described. I now have my heater and thermister probe zip tied in place so I don't accidently pull them upward. I also keep them flat on the bottom of the sump so that my return pump would suck air before it would get exposed. I'm glad your home is safe.

I took the day off work Tuesday, drove up to TFP and bought a chiller. At 106F my home AC was only able to maintain about a 20F offset. Problem solved. I called the HVAC guy thinking my AC was broken and was told: 1. That when AC units are sized for a home, that they are only sized to be able to control the temp to within about 20F. 2. That the little box that BGE recently attached to my compressor was adding to the problem because during times of higher electrical usage (100+ degree weather) that my compressor would be cycled off for longer durations than if there were less overall power consumption in my region. It did it's job though. My utility bills usually range $400-$500 per month. Last month's bill was $250. It's been pretty comfortable in the house on days when it's been below 95F. I have long resisted buying a chiller. This was just time for me to take that plunge.

IME some of it has to do with the kind of tangs you have. Clown tangs powder browns and other tangs with the rabbit fish like body and rasping mouths do a bang up job on it as to zebrasoma types like purples and yellows. But tangs like blue hippos don't do much with it. I have two 100 gallon sumps side by side on the same system. The one with the blue tang looks like a barbershop trash can. The one with the clown tang is bare. Competition can also encourage them to eat it more. Most of them will not bother with it once it gets more than a quarter inch long.

I already paid for two of these but have been unable to pick them up. If someone has a truck and you're local to Rosedale and plan to go to BRK or live near BRK and plan to make a trip to EA, I'll give you $30.00 for your gas tank to drop them off to me. I didn't realize I would keep running into logistical problems with picking them up. My apologies to John. Alternatively you can buy them from me and just pick them up for yourself, but it needs to be soon for John's sake. If this is your preference you can either pay me in advance of picking them up and I'll tell John to let you have them or you can just pay John for them and he'll reimburse me. John, Sorry I have not been able to get these out of your hair. Regards, Walt

HaHa! I'm not afraid of them but I am allergic to them. They sting the crap out of me and make my fingers swell up if I don't wear gloves while handling LR. I have seen them spawn several times with no ill effects. I think one of the coolest things is watching mini brittle stars stand on the ends of their legs and get carried across the tank by current... by the hundreds.

I don't know your history or if you've lost clowns, but I would list the haddoni carpet as a suspect. If you do not have any sort of nightlight in the room or a moonlight over the tank I would be even more suspicious. S. haddoni is notorious for catching and eating sleepy fish that bump into them at night. Adding a light source will go a long way toward protecting your fish if the haddoni is the culprit. If you have heard clicking or popping sounds then perhaps a mantis. It could also be a bullying fish. There are not always fin nips. Some fish can be starved by mere intimidation.

Don't forget to let your kids track Santa with the one of the most advanced radar tracking systems in the world... NORAD. Have fun and a very merry Christmas! http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

There's nothing wrong with landscaping/snow removal. I had a business when i was young and cleaned up. Me and a friend were pulling in $150-$250 per yard in the nicer neighborhoods. I have a neighbor who bought a car outright for his 16th birthday. Good money in that if you target the right neighborhoods. I also used to clean the algae off boat bottoms for $50/hour in my late teens using my SCUBA gear. Good money.... and you never need a gym. you can only imagine how difficult it really is until you've done it. Run out of air and you learn to hold your breath. Alas, I digress. Oh yeah, this was back in the 90s so you could probably get more these days.

Here's some pics from this year's trip. Enjoy. http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e92/walt...mview=slideshow