keeperofthefish

Happy, B-Day! What'd the birthday fish bring you?

You should really calibrate any pH probe monthly. You will be amazed how quickly they drift off. If you're going to spend the money on a probe, spend the money on calibration fluid. If you do calibrate frequently, I think they're equally good. Milwaukees have a lesser reputation than Pinpoints, but I think that is more for the controllers than the actual probes. If you're thinking of getting a probe, it is a good time to ask if you'd like to spend the extra $200 and get a whole controller like an RK2 or an AC Jr. I should add that I'm too lazy to calibrate monthly. But that's what I SHOULD do.

I have an RK2 and love it. They are coming out with software for it this month that will allow tank monitoring via computer (likely via Internet). That said, the ACJr. is also loved by many and already has such software available. Premium Aquatics has their own brand monitor that has a web server built in and is supposed to be pretty good, also. Cannot go wrong with any of these, probably.

Having suffered ich a few months ago (I, also, didn't QT before introducing), I recommend the following for a reef tank infested that you don't want to break down (your situation, now, having put these fish in your frag tank--unless you hypo ALL fish in your tank, and even then, there isn't a guarantee): 1) Feed very healthy food soaked in garlic. Feed a lot. Feed lots of nori to these tangs. Also use Selcon and Vita-Chem on alternative days. 2) Get a U/V sterilizer appropriate for your system and run it. The logic here is that if your fish are healthy (you're keeping them well fed, especially with foods that stimulate slime production and healing--garlic and vitamins) and you can zap the marine ick in its free-swimming phase, you're set. Johnny at BRK has great advice on what sterilizer and flow rate for your system will achieve this. Hypo is best, but many times unfeasible when you've infected a whole system.

Horrible customer service. Just a heads up. Good prices, if you ever get what you ordered.

You've got a serious reef going on there! Gorgeous, healthy fish. Love to see schools of Zebrasoma...

PM sent

For that cost, you're better off going with a good peristaltic pump. The LitreMeter Pro III is the best thing out there from what I understand...

Looking awesome, Howard! Really dig the aquascaping. I have to check it out one of these days in person...

That's scary and could explain why my calcium levels are always low... You think you bought something decent and then BAM--you figure out it sucks. Anyone else thinking about getting a Pinpoint salinity monitor? Seems like it could be a good investment... Or maybe I'll just correctly calibrate what I already have!

T5s should be 3-4", from what I have heard.

Thanks for coming by last night to pick up the fuge and I enjoyed the conversation, Charlie. It appears my Church of the Closed Loop gospel had an effect on you. The best way to prosleytize is to say to a fellow reefer, "Now, I don't have this. And I'm an idiot for not having it; and if I had it do over again..." I have read bad things about Mag pumps run externally. Not to mention their heat transfer... The best bang for your buck and the quietest external pump is going to be an Eheim. Buy the 1264 and you won't be sorry. They beat their head ratings time and again and people have them for YEARS. I am familiar with their products in the freshwater context, where they really outperform everything else, and I have found my 1262 to be a great pump. The prices are decent, to boot. If noise isn't an issue, I'd go with a Panworld pump of some kind. If you want a ridiculously overpowered, quiet and amazing pump, go with a Sequence Reeflo Dart. Definitely drill the tank. This is SO much better than an overflow of any sort. I'd definitely run that back to a Seaswirl or a WavySea. By the way, I have a WavySea and it is ALMOST worth all that money. Steveoutlaw hooked me up with a deal, so it is definitely worth what I paid for it.

Pressure treated 2x2s are a bit excessive but nothing wrong with that. But I would definitely not leave it open top. I actually just built a canopy last weekend and have been researching this stuff like crazy. You want a lid on it to help catch more light. Paint the inside of the whole thing white. If you have great reflectors and you don't mind looking at light leaking out the top, then scratch that and do whatever you want, because it's probably a negligible gain.

Marinap is the right person to ask as the club's unrivaled clown expert. I have a perc and he just likes to hang in his one upper corner of the tank. I think that generally speaking ocellaris clowns (false percs) will host in just about anything, and percs generally only host in ridiculous anemones that don't really survive in captivity. Any exceptions out there? I'd be interested in ideas for my own perc.

I was at BRK on Sunday and as usual John was great. The expansion there is going to be incredible. They had all the dry goods I needed in stock, and a nice frag of zoas for only $10. Now if only they weren't a 45 minute drive from me here in DC... Oh well, it's nice to get out into the country--or what used to be the country before the mad development that has basically encircled Manassas battlefield!

If you have any DIY know-how, I'd go to www.ahsupply.com for PC lights. Otherwise, the Coralife all-in-one units aren't bad. I'd also suggest that you go with at least a 20 gallon long tank. Parameters on tanks smaller than that are too hard to keep stable--with fresh or saltwater--and should really be left to experts. It is kind of counter-intuitive, but the bigger the easier in some respects (not always true with saltwater!). A great book that I recommend is David Boruchowitz's "The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums." This is the best book on the subject for a beginner and you will know a TON when you're done reading.

As you may recall, the great and venerable Eric Borneman lost his incredible reef due to a malfunctioning top-off switch hooked up to his RO/DI. I recommend for that reason that you have an RO reservoir that isn't so large that it would a) flood your house if it stays on b) screw your salinity if it empties entirely. For that reason, I only run about a 5 gallon reservoir--actually just a Rubbermaid trash can. I fill this up about three times a week, and that hasn't been too much of a pain. I just have a cheap DIY top off switch connected to an aqualift, which is a slow rate. You also don't want to add water too fast.

I use the poor man's water jug method to drip kalk and go through 1 gallon every two days on a 75. It keeps the pH pinned at around 8.3, and levels are fairly good. I would love a kalk reactor or calcium reactor, but this does the trick for now and I have seen much better coral growth/color since I started with it.

I've heard only good things about the Eheim feeders. Their other products are so bullet-proof and well-engineered that I think I'll go with one from BRK. BRK because they're great. Not to start another post-off competition, but I was at Petsmart or Petco or whatever the heck it is the other day and they had 7 purple tangs in a 20 gallon--all dying of ich. And they were selling them for $75 each. Do you really want to support that place? Every dollar you give them allows them to do more of that. Every dollar you give BRK allows them to bring us more great stuff and support the club! Anyone else notice the Sequence pump they donated along with the T5 retro kits and who even knows what else?! That's why I'll drive to Manassas.

Just went to Scales last night-- Gorgeous freshwater, plants and cichlids. Decent drygoods. Saltwater will be pretty big and these guys know what they're doing. They had one tank up and running--looked to be cycling it with a few damsels (canaries in the coal mine, perhaps?) and a few turbo snails. Definitely has promise. The place is in OUTER MONGOLIA. I had no idea New Hampshire went that far north. It truly is a hike. If he has great fish, might be worth it. For anyone who lives north of 495, this might also be a good place.

Did you quarantine the fish first or just drop them in the tank? Please be honest. All of the fish you mentioned have huge potential for mortality early on, from what I know. If Roozen's is responsible for poor merchandise, we should note it. I have purchased from there without incident, as have others. They do have a great selection. If you ask me, they have better conditions than the majority of other LFS's I have visited--BRK and Marine Scene aside.

John, What can I say except that you are an inspiration and cemented my involvement with this hobby! Coming over to check out your tanks with Ian was enough to give me a model to aspire to--and a bank account to empty in pursuit of such perfection! I can't wait to see the FOWLR and the two 54s set up! Sam

If you just want the clam info, it's all on the web at www.wetwebmedia.com But I think this is a solid book. Good theory on refugia.

Lee, Would love to take your BTA and some chaeto! PM sent. Thanks, Sam

That's enough for me to say WOW! Very cool. It looks like the doors swing out on the canopy instead of up. Nice feature.