Bob

Hi Jan, Just my $.02! I started with power compacts on my 150 gal tank. While things went well in general, I was not happy with the intensity of lights. I switched over to T-5's and I am fairly happy with the results. If you are starting from scratch and want the very best lighting possible....... and have the ability to vent (because of the heat) and dont mind the possibility of having to get a chiller. Going with metal halides is the "best" lighting in terms of being able to grow almost any corals and not having to upgrade at a later date because you cant grow acros or your wild anemone needs more lighting or etc. etc. etc. If I had it to do all over again and considered lighting fully in the begining, I would most likely have gone with the MH lighting. Good luck whatever your choice..... Bob

I recommend you use the white vinegar, not the cider vinegar. Also, Giant, Safeway, Shoppers and most other grocery stores carry in gallon and half gallon sizes. Very cheap!! I always keep a gallon or so for descaling power heads, glass tops and about once a month to clean my coffee maker. Just rinse well with regular old tap water. Happy cleaning........Jeesh, I feel like hints from Heloise! Bob

From my reading and research...... Synchiropus Splendidus (Green or Stripped Mandarin) do not seem to make flatworms a regular part of their diet. Synchiropus Picturatus (Spotted or Psychedilic) {spelling] do regularly eat the brown (not acro eating flatworms) flatworms as a part of their diet and can be used to help control flatworm growth and multiplication. Naturally, I bought the wrong one before researching. Good luck Bob

Scott, I purchased a single lyretail anthia about 2 years ago to see how she would do before attempting a school. I never got the school but my single has done very well without any additional feeding or attention. She is in a 150 reef with a lot of other agressive larger fish and while she isnt fat like the other fish, she is very healthy and has great vigor. She eats frozen Marine Cuisine, mysis, brine shrimp etc. She appears to like to chase food. I am sure she picks pods off living rock as well. I only feed my fish once per day. I think its a crap shoot.....if you have a very well established tank I think you will have luck. However if you are planning a school or group; you may have to pay more attention to a different feeding schedule than I use. Bob

Agree with what everyone else says...... Several of my tangs do battle/skirmishes with my Hippo tang and frequently show welts/scrapes etc. I find they generally disappear in a day or two. Continue to watch for ICK or other possible causes. Bob

I had a similar problem with a Powder Blue Tang that infected my Hippo as well as others. Not willing to break down my rock structure, remove fish etc. I did a 4 prong attack. #1, I bought Rid Ick and wound up doing 3 complete treatments over about a month period. #2. I installed a 57w. UV system (in 150 gal/200 gal total water volume.) #3 I started feeding garlic on everything that went into the tank. #4. I lowered my salinity to 1.00 over 3 weeks and remained there for total 6 week period then slowly raised back to 1.05. Having the UV working continuously has given me some peace of mind and in almost one year no reoccurance. Good Luck.....Patience, Patience, Patience. Bob

Thank you everyone. Rocko, I think I bought some of your "greens". I also bought a jug of Carib Seas Miracle mud stuff that is supposta mimic the mangrove substrate. Since my new NAGA fuge is to narrow/tall I thought it would be interesting to do a deepish bed. About 4" of "Mud" topped by one inch of tank sand. I am starting with 14 ppm ? of nitrates. I will update over time. Bob

Morning everyone, I am making my monthly trek (or so) today to BRK to get salt, bulbs and to see what other temptations John has. I just finished filling my new fuge (my Christmas present) and was wondering if there was any chance of someone else going to BRK this morning that might be in need of harvesting some calp or chaeto? I am anxious to start farming for nitrate reduction and to supplement nori for my tangs. I am hoping to hit there by Noon. I know its an off chance, but hey worth a try. Happy Holidays to everone! Bob

I have found attacking the bubbles with then end of my siphon hose during water changes helps. I have been told that if the bubbles are broken they release the insides (spores? etc?) that help it spread. By puncturing the bubbles and sucking up their insides and most times scraping the bubble off the rock etc. the spread seems to be greatly minimized. Any bubbles around overflows/inlets I try to pick off the bubbles whole and dispose in the trash. I had a greater number of bubbles earlier, but this method seems to minimize the spread and any new outbreaks. Neither emerald crabs or any tangs seem to eat this in my tank. Hope this helps. Bob PS...... If you have a lot of bubble algae, more frequent water changes to remove bubbles is a good thing all the way around!!!

Jumping on your post here...... I just got a flowerseller RBT.... He has moved quite a bit, from near top of tank to a depth of about 20" he has elongated and looks like he is reaching for more light. Why he just dosent move up is beyond me. My question is however; where he has attached is the back side of my rock work and is nowhere near where I can feed him. I have decided to just leave him alone and hopefully he will cooperate so both he and I feel better. I absoultly refuse to dismantle my reef structure to a creature who will probably move again just to spite me! LOL Any suggestions for feeding him since I cant seem to target feed him? How long can he go without direct/target feeding?

I have run out of the Alk part of my 3 part additives. Until I get more; anybody have thoughts on me using Seachem Reef builder (Raises carbonate alkalinity) to maintain Alkalinity until I can get my normal additives? I assumed I would reconstitute with distilled water and use in place of normal. Can I mix a whole bottle ahead and not worry about one or two week shelf life? I assume everybody has bunches of old stuff (chemicals and additives) they dont use anymore or have discontinued using over the years. I guess I am trying to be thrifty and a run to LFS does not seem to be convenient at the moment. Thanks for your thoughts Bob

The Marine Scene has as many or more dissatisfied customers as they do happy ones. While they do have expensive stuff their livestock is always top notch. What is problematic is their quirky style and their rules and regulations which at times seem arbitrary. (Read old posts on Marine Scene) I for one am just very happy that BRK and other top notch stores exist that offer superior customer service and make us feel valued as a customer.

Picked up a sweet lil' guy @ BRK. He is eating well and little to no squabbles w/ my hippo, sailfin or pink tail trigger. Didnt find a lot specific on line about this fish except he is not seen often for sale. Anyone here have any experience w/ this fish?

Its really OK... brand new, tight fit, dry gasket, dried on kalk.... etc. After I got it open and figured out how. It loosened up.

GOT IT. Tap, tap, tap, with a rubber mallet and small piece of wood.

Help please. Cleaning and filling for the first time an aquamedic 1000 kalk stirrer. I can not for the life of me get it open. Instructions say turn left..... I am not a wimp here. Suggestions?

Seems to be a normal thing for this fish. My Hippo has moved locations several times as he/she has grown and is unable to fit into previous spots. It is surprising how such an aggressive fish at times can also be such a wimp over such small things. Mine also hides when I turn off the main pump to feed. He eventually comes out and frantically eats........

Same here; I have a large Sailfin tang, a medium pink tailed trigger and a medium hippo tang. Between the three of them they eat 4-4inch squares in an evening. I have always used the plain roasted nori from any oriental supermarket or the red algae sheets from John @ BRK. No problems w/ roasted. Fish have been eating for more than one year and are fat and happy. Just quarter fold and sometimes treat W/liquid garlic or Selicon and add to 2 clips. To me roasting should have no effect. Bob

I posted a while back to ask people how they cleaned the debris out of their sumps...... since mine is on the floor I cant get much suction to get it really cleaned. It seems a lotta (s#%t) sticks on the bottom of mine. Well, I found the answer at Home Depot. I bought a 2.5 gal. wet/dry vaccum on sale for $17.00 plus tax. It works fabulous. I think I will eventually figure out how to reduce the hose diameter because itt sucks out 2.5 gal very quickly. I emptied the sucker twice and had an empty and CLEAN sump. Yea!!! bob

Similar situation here. I have had a good stand of Xenia for almost 2 years. About 3 weeks ago it just started melting. I am now down to two humble pieces that dont look happy. I did however put a clump in my frag tank and it is doing well. I may reseed in the future. I have heard tales of unexpected, unwarranted die offs. Don't know why.... Bob

I have picked up shells and other things from the beach that I have picked up while @ my parents house in Florida and also from the keys. I think u should treat as another live rock and give it a cure before putting in tank and go for it. Bob

Would any of you "old salts" recommend a brand of test kit to replace the Salfert brand? Thanx Bob

Thanks Scott. I went ahead and ordered express. Its interesting to note though..... This seller is out of the magnesium test kits. Something is going on w/ Salfert. I wonder what? Appreciate the help everyone, thats what makes the club so good. Bob

Wouldn't you know. I have been trying to purchase a new Alkalinity test kit (prefer Salfert 'cause I am used to them) and it seems everyone is out. There seems to be a manufacturing problem. No store I have visited has one, several say they are on back order and nobody seems to know when they will become available. I just got a new kalk stirrer and need to do some frequent testing. HELP! Anybody have an extra kit to sell or loan or does anyone know where there might be one available???? Thanks Bob