Bob

I don't know, perhaps just lazy. For years I have dumped in frozen cubes.........mysis, brine, formula one and two etc. I was reading today in a reef book that this is a no no. They say to thaw and discard liquid, and add tank water to feed. Any comments from anyone? Also second thread.....I always turn off my main pump to avoid food getting sucked into return. Is there something different I could be doing? Seems like turning off and back on the pump twice a day is more wear and tear than it constantly running.

Sorry guys. Jumped the gun. It was a great day to drive on Sat and took the trip. Loved the operation in principle and what they do. I was a little disappointed in the stock; Quantity and Quality and Prices. I did buy an overpriced softie and a new Hippo tang. Its a shame I couldn't buy a bucket of salt that I needed. I can now say "been there, done that".

I have been thinking about a weekday trip to Dr. Macs on the Eastern Shore. Ive been off for the summer because of back surgery and now can drive! I figured going during the week would avoid a whole lot of traffic. Anybody interested in going? Willing to drive, share driving, expenses etc. But mostly would like the company. Totally open on day etc however thinking of leaving early AM and returning mid PM.....Mostly to avoid rush hour traffic around DC area> Any interest? Thanx. Bob

When I added Chromis, it was suggested odd numbers 3,5,7 etc. I think when you get above a certain number the schooling mentality is the issue. The weaker hang on fringes and eventually move into the school. I had 2 that were smaller and it took several months before they swam with the group.

Last week I shared sorrow with someone who had a Midas Bleney disappear. A week ago I fed my fish at the normal time and he ate like a champ. I went to bed; couldnt sleep andgot back up and sat and watched the fish and realized that I was missing my Bleney too. For the next several days I checked all the nooks and holes between my rocks hoping to find his body. At least a week passed, it may have been even longer. I certainly gave up any hope of finding him dead or alive. Today I hit BRK and F&F and made several purchases. When I returned home, as I was removing my foam in the sump to wash I saw the bleney in the first chamber of the sump. He looked dark and I was sure dead. There is no standing water in my first chamber of the sump, only the 1/8 of an inch of water that the overflows provide till they drop below the grid. The only time there is water in this chamber is when I turn off the main pump (as I always do when I feed nightly.) I took a screwdriver and took the lid of the sump figuring I was going to be able to give him a proper send off. THE BUGGER WAS ALIVE. I put him a drinking glass to evaluate him to decide if I could put him back in the tank. His fins were all fine, no tears, ragged edges or anything. The center third of his body however looks kinda black and blue with a few scrapes along is body. I put him back in the tank and after an hour of resting he took mysis shrimp and I think he is gonna make it. The only possible explination I can come up with is he swam down the water return when the main pump was off. How he survived, I couldnt tell you.

Having used up just about all the space in the upper regions of my tank I am beginning to read and look for both stony and soft corals that will prosper in lower light conditions. I am running 600 watts of power compact assorted bulbs for about 9 hours a day. I am having great sucess with monipora, leathers, mushrooms and zoas. While the accroporas are doing ok; I just dont find them growing as much as I like. ( I really wish I had gone to metal halide lighting) but, I am committed at the moment with current lighting conditions and would like to maximize my potential. Any recommendations would be much appreciated I have 30" from lights to sand bed.

I have been given a 3.2 Megapixel camera and I want to start taking some fish photos. Any really elementary advice for a rookie? Any need for concern for flash upsetting fish? How to reduce reflections etc. Any quickie simple advice would be very welcome; I promise to share my results on the boards.

Chris, please add me to your list for the 24th. Looking forward to seeing your tank. Bob

From The Washington City Paper: News of the Weird. An alarm indicating an overflowing tank went off in late December at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth England, but when marine biologist Sarah Leaney arrived to check, water levels were normal. As it turned out, a sea turtle had become unusually flatulent following a special Christmas meal of Brussel sprouts, and the resulting bubbles tripped the overflow sensor. Thats it.... my sailfin tang loves spinach and broccoli, but have decided against trying the brussel sprouts

I also have firefish and Royal Gramma together in a 150 gal. tank. The firefish are a trio, or better, a pair and a single that only occasionally squabble a little. The RG seems to leave them alone. The RG will occasionally bully a new fish, but once everyone settles down and get used to each other there is peace.

Thanks Dave, I run about 600 watts of compact flor. mixing atinic, daylight and combo atinic. He has always stayed put and never traveled. He still seems to be barfing even though he has eaten nothing in several weeks. His bubbles have gotten lighter in color (pale yellow green now, original darker green) He completely deflates several times a day but never fully inflates any more. I am not sure about stickyness or loosing firepower, he just does not seem to want to take any food. My tank is 150 g. I do 9 gal. water change once a week. I dont think location or lighting is of any negative factor.

My BTA that I purchased around Christmas has been doing spectacular until lately. I last fed a much larger piece of defrosted Orange Roughy than I would normally feed (about the size of 5 quarters stacked) some two to three weeks ago.He seemed to handle it ok, although it took some time for him to get his mouth around it. He proceeded to barf (excrete) several times over the next several days and has since not fully extended or taken any food. He was never agressive about feeding but would always accept food. LOL..my clowns wont have anything to do with him and he seems very sensitive to any touching by anything. (a passive BTA?) I have told a friend that if he wont come around in a week or so I will give it to him rather than see him waste away. Any suggestions? He was so beautiful and happy and settled in my tank. I hate to admit defeat. temp 79, PH 8.1,NO2 0, No3 0, Alk 4.0, SpG, 1.022, Calcium 460,Po4 .1. The only thing I can come up with is SpG low and the buffer I have been adding over the past couple weeks to get my PH up. :(

LOL...Tang I have lived here for 23 years without problems. Its all perception. However, having to drive to the Boonies for aquatic life is a drag. (Frankly, 270 and 495 is more frightening to me)

Welcome Aaron, Bob here. I live near U Street/Convention Ctr. I am @ 10 months with my 150 g. reef and have many of the things you are planning on growing. Willing to add any moral support, shared trips to fish stores, meetings etc. and especially mistakes I have learned from

Hey All. I am at 10 months with my 150 gal. reef. Keeper of fish for many years, sorta kinda new to salt h20. I got rid of 4-55 gal and several assorted smaller tanks during my 23 year renovation. The new salt system is my reward at the end of the game. I live in DC and despite a couple of near fatal disasters and some stupiditity and bumbling along the way my tank is doing darn good. Appreciate all who post........lessens my stupidity!

I am afraid I have to add my displeasure with MS. I am not new to fish having had up to 7 tanks (mostly fresh) for more than 30 years. During the last 10 years of my renovation (yes its finally done) I gave up all my fish and equiptment promising myself when I finished I would reward myself with a big reef system. About 18 months ago I started shopping. Not wanting to transport and set the tank up myself I was looking for an accomplished store to do business with. Moving forward I spent arount $9800. for my 150 gal reef. including set up and all the necessary stuff to have a successful reef . Well. so much for service after the event. I have called, begged and pleaded and threated Tom to do a follow up. I have a few problems, and lots of questions. It is always some excuse, he fired one service Mgr. lost a second service Mgr. But along the same time he cant find time to answer my questions. My chiller pump died within 7 months, the pro heat 2 heater went out within 8 months and I didnt have any instructions for my RO system or skimmer. Of course there were no warrienty sent in.............. Basically, I think the problem with the store is a problem of ego and attitude and not a whole lot of follow up service. Finally, I still shop there. Their live stock has always looked good and have been healthy in my experience. As for purchacing anything else from them.......GET REAL. On line orders or a trip to Lancaster (The Pet Place) seems to be the way I go now. I like the staff at MS. I have a problem with Tom and the way he treats his customers. Allbbear P.S. Nov. 2007 I just wanted to add months later that Tom told me he didn't want me in his store because I was a mean person.