jamesbuf

Having four 400watt MHs will surely put a hurting on your bill. I assume you have a chiller also with that much heat production? The bulk of your bill will still be from your AC running and your hot water heater though.

Reminds me of the Chappelle's Show skit "Popcopy". Poking fun at how its impossible to get help at Kinkos. Once the pet store goes to the "mass ordering" kind of store, the customer loses any kind of personal touch that is offered at the smaller stores. The crazy thing is that the more the store buys and sells, means they should be getting the inventory cheaper, which should translate into cheaper prices for the consumer. Not the case from what I've seen (Aquarium Center, House of Tropicals). Even if I spend a couple more dollars on an item, I prefer to have the "experience" of visiting the smaller stores (I learn something new everytime I visit BRK, and don't get me started on Sean). I know I'm just restating the obvious, but its better to support the smaller stores than feed the greed of those superstores. Quality over quantity!!!!

What does MARU stand for??

I couldn't agree more. I shopped at F&F last week, then hit up BRK yesterday. You know the prices are good when you don't even need a WAMAS discount. I think I'm scarred for life after seeing the $5.99 cerith snail.

Why does everyone hate Superpets?? I've never been so I'm somewhat curious.

I figured charging$5.99 per cerith snail deserved at least one "not so nice" comment. Besides, I was looking out for a fellow member I can concur with the expensive LR. They were charging $10 per lb for the "established" liverock. They did have some really nice pieces in the newer LR section. There was a flat piece that measured about 18"X18". Would've made a really nice shelf, but at $7 per lb it was probably around a $140 piece. Jeez. And no discount on LR

So I decided to take a trip to House of Tropicals today after class. I was looking forward to checking out a new store, and as it turns out its only 20 minutes from my school, so I was definitly hoping to have a good experience. Great selection of fish and corals.......but whats up with the prices???? Let me first say I'm not bashing the store, just giving my honest OPINION of my experience. A small colony of maybe 6 yellow polyps for $50?? Medium sized carpet anemones over $100?? A small green bubble tip anemone for $99?? They wanted $30 for a scooter blenny! Their invert prices were ok. 12 blue legged hermits for $8, not bad, but get this..... $5.99 for a cerith snail!!!!! Yes, $5.99 for ONE cerith snail. But like I said, their fish selection was GREAT. Never seen so many Blue Jawed triggers before, but $89 for just one small trigger? Didn't Johnny offer a pair for that price? Have I just been spoiled by BRK, F&F, and the other closer stores?? Either way, after seeing their prices, not to mention dealing with the complete frustration from the staff of 14 year olds, I don't see myself going back there any time soon. I'll definitly give them another shot because who knows, they could've ordered from a new distributor or something. I've learned from my experiences that I shouldn't boycott a store because of one negative trip.........but come on!!!! $5.99 for ONE cerith snail!!!!!!! I hope you boycott that store Johan!! James

I noticed that you had a pair of cross-hatch triggers. Is it possible to breed them in captivity?? Just curious.

Wow, thats pretty funny. And somehow I'm the one who gets reprimanded for putting up "non-family" material on the site. I guess its all in the interpretation............

Now that I have your attention, I have to say I am so jealous of you guys because of the LFS in VA. You guys not only have BRK, but Fins and Feathers too. I stopped by Fins and Feathers today and Sean lived up to more than the hype. Very knowledgeable and very personable. I watched him take time with a woman who had absolutely no idea about fish tanks (but supposedly she had a 100gal) and explain everything he could to her. When I first showed up he was talking to her, so I checked out the inventory and went next door to get some coffee. I came back and he was still educating the woman. I can't think of many places that would spend that much time educating the consumer like that. At a couple of the Maryland LFS you'd be lucky to get an employee who knows the difference between saltwater and freshwater(don't have to mention names, but we all know who I'm talking about). I even found a 20" PC light so I can fill the gap in lighting over my tank. Unbelievable experience!! Now that I have a Civic and not a gas guzzling Cherokee, I definitly see them getting some more money from me in the future. Consumer Rating: 5/5 stars!

Welcome to the club. Not sure of any stores close to metro stations. There is a pinned message showing many of the LFS in the area.

Tiger Jawfish are the species that digs tunnels in the sand, correct?

I paid a visit to the store today. Very impressed with what I saw. They accepted the 10% discount and even gave me a sea hare for free. I met with Andrew and he assured me that the saltwater selection will be going through massive expansion in the coming months. Definitly glad to say that this store is only 25 minutes from my house.

I just used the suction cup mount that came with it. I currently have it mounted on the back with the flow directed behind my rock, which is pretty good at stirring up debris. Tons of stuff got kicked up when I first put in on. I have it setup to only come on with my lights right now since its so much current. Gives everything time to chill when the lights are off.

Sea Hares will eat hair algae correct??

noooooooooooooo. darn Saturday class. I would've definitly bid higher. At least its finding a good home. If deepblue backs out I'm definitly down.

I got the kit from www.mjmods.com and I just finished modding a maxi-jet 1200. WOW!!!!! Just one increased the current in my tank easily 4-fold. Anyone looking to do this, I would suggest doing two MJ 900s, giving you more freedom in where you would like to angle the current. Two 1200s would be too much. I guess it depends on the size of your tank. I'm defninitly getting at least one more 900 for my tank. It was amazing how much debris the current swept up. I've already cleaned my overflow sponge twice. Well worth the money and an awesome DIY project. Thanks to mjmods.com James

Glad to hear that all the fish have found a good home. If there are any other animals that need homes please let me know.

If the "blue striped fish" is a blue hippo tang I have a 125gallon waiting for a new member. Just let me know. James

You might want to post pics of what you have to encourage buyers. I might be interested in the tank and some of the accessories. you should also name everything you have.

Finally put some fish in I see. Whats the word on on the other fish you had?? I didn't realize you were selling all of them. If you still have the blenny when that bulk order comes in, I'll be down to get him if he's still available. I have to come out that way to pick up my order anyways. Also, what are you doing with the 55 stand and canopy?? I know they weren't finished, but I might be interested in it anyways. Just let me know. James

Should I cut back on just the daylight bulbs or cutback on everything, including actinic??

I've added several softies in the past week so I'm not sure how this might be affecting my water. I just went down and turned on the RO/DI so I should have 50gallons to do a water change tomorrow. I also turned up the flow on my ETSS evolution 500 so its skimming wet right now, dumping into a 22gallon tub. Its not very dark skim coming out, but it is frothy. I've added aroung 30 snails in the past 3 weeks too. All my zoos, zenia, and frogspawn all seem to be doing well though, even growing...weird. Is what I've read about kalk helping phosphate precipitate out true?? I don't really have any sps so I've always thought kalk was too advanced for what my softies need. Thanks again guys. James

I know alot of people say that using chemicals to treat aquarium issues is wrong, but I'm at my wits end with this hair algae. I cleaned all the rocks off about 3 weeks ago and alot of it has grown back. I took most of the pieces out and scrubbed even. Its back!!! My nitrates are around 10ppm, pretty good. I bought a phosphate test kit about 2 weeks ago and sure enough I have around 1.0ppm of phosphate. I bought a phosban reactor with media and have had it on for about 5 days. No change. I was told by a couple members that phosban worked pretty well. Still waiting. Which leads me to my question. Which phosphate remover has anyone had success with?? I know there is the Kent phospate sponge, PhosGuard, and Phos-Zorb. Has anyone had luck with these??? I don't plan on using it forever, just to pull the existing phosphates out. I started the tank last summer without a RO/DI filter, so hopefully after one treatment of phospate remover, the RO/DI, along with proper feeding schedule, will help keep the phosphates in check. Thanks everyone. James P.S. I only have 4 small fish in a 125gallon, so I have plenty room for more fish. Would getting a tang of some sort help? Or maybe a foxface rabbitfish?? Frustrating!!!!!

why are flatworms so bad? don't they stir up the sand??