rancor1

Depending on how your tank is configured - you could either create a "safe haven" - a cave or alley where the angel can retreat to and get out of the line of sight of the tang until they settle down. Alternatively, if you can, I would suggest removing all your fish - completely rearranging your rock/decor and then returning them to the tank. This is disorienting for the fish and if the tang is being territorial, it may break him out of it - new territories will develop.

I'm drilling the 40 this week and working out the plumbing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Some times you just have to say what the $%#$ and act on an impulse. Especially for that crazy pricing - awesome. Kudos to the vendor for honoring it - they get more word of mouth for being upstanding and "good hearted". Contrast that with some of the airlines when they have a price mistake and then backout of the offer. It costs them way more in negative publicity than a plane load of $1.99 fares to Europe. I like using Foster and Smith - my only beef is the shipping from multiple locations - my wallet is not a fan.

I've got a 40 gallon breeder I'm converting into a mangrove lagoon to add to my system. I'm in the middle of designing it now - I'm going to use dead live rock to create a rough horse shoe shape in the middle with about 2 inches of sand on the bottom, plus a 9 inch change in elevation, and another bank of sand, held in by the rock. My thought is to use two drains of different heights and two pumps flowing water in from a master sump. The idea is that the first pump fills the first drain. The second pump on a timer surges water in overflowing the first drain's capacity and slowly filling the tank to the 2nd drain level - ideally a little bit above the top sand line. After a flood period, the second pump kicks off and and the water level falls to normal, simulating a tidal surge. I'm going to plant it with red mangroves and was looking at fiddler crabs and other shore line type critters as possible residents. I was considering adding some fish. I saw the idea for this set up in an older aquarium design book - they showed it with mud skippers - but because of the skipping, not ideal for an open top. Also, I'm worried about marooned fish at flood tide - so I was going to try mollies. Interesting, yet not expensive enough that I'm going to cry if they decide to try sunbathing on the beach. I've been scouring the web for ideas on compatible plants and animals that will be content with a 1.025 sg tank.

I'm working my way up from a fish only "reef" to add coral back into my set up. I've got a pile of live rock - probably 200lbs - some of it is "old" (it's been in my tank for about 8 years now) and some of it was dead - rock I got as part of a tank buy out which had been allowed to dry out as the water evaporated. That "dead" rock is in a QT tank right now running to hopefully be recolonized by bacteria and to allow any dead life to rot off. Before I start adding back coral, I'd like to recharge it and add back all the worms and various no-see-ums that were in my rock new. I had thought of putting a small amount to cure into the main tank and the sump to allow it be seed stock. Or should I bite the bullet and buy some more - either pre-cycled locally from a store (at fairly steep prices) or online and then cycle it before adding it. Or am I being crazy? Is there another alternative short of driving to the shore with a bucket and shovel? Also - how much "seed" should I get?

Paul - that looks really great. Is the idea to allow water flow under your rock to prevent an anoxic zone from forming?

No worries - thanks for the reply.

Would you be willing to part with the formerly live rock seperately? My moving up from a 90 reef to crossfingers a 240 - and some recolonizeable live rock would cut my bill considerably.

Glad you're OK - in general - it's a bad idea to get sick in a way that makes doctors go: "Wow! That's a first!"

I have a box of unpowdered medical exam gloves I keep on hand for poop scooping and invert handling. I recommend them.

Post it for free. I'd certainly have taken it. The bubble flow on the sea clone gets set by adjusting the airflow into the pump. There was a little air value that you tighten and untightened to add more or less bubbles to the stream.

Wow - talk about overreaction. I used mine for 2 years and it was adequate for my starter system. It worked fine for live rock, fish, and some basic corals. I'm still using it for a temporary house for some fish in a 29 gallon while my live rock finishes curing for my next tank. So, as a beginner, I wouldn't throw it out. It may not be the greatest ever, but it suffices.

If I have a hard to find item, I'll try them. They've got a wider selection than the chains. LF prices - expensive. I've bought freshwater fish there, but salt is just too expensive.

I actually have gotten some hardware there - they've got a huge selection for virtually any pet right under one roof. Prices were pretty good. I found a protein skimmer there for $10 less than I could online. But, it's a haul and their saltwater livestock prices are on the high side.

Appreciate the advice and offers. I may take you up on some. The tank is brand new and the live rock is curing now...I'm actually going home today to finish up the sump - I'm going to run a refugium underneath to grow forage the tangs in my 90 gallon reef. Anyway - thanks for the advice -