HELP! I need 8 heaters!

[OUsnakebyte]

First, if this is violating a forum rule, please delete the thread.

 

 

Okay all... I'm desperate. Earlier this week I finally received the protocol for rearing this year's crop of Elkhorn coral larvae, A. palmata - for the SECORE project, secore.org. But hey, that's better than last year when I received it WHILE I WAS IN PUERTO RICO...

 

Things have changed up a bit this year - last year I only had three tanks to deal with, so I was able to float them in the grow out tank (90 gallon, with 40 gallon sump). This year, as you can can see with eight 10 gallon tanks, I have a lot more to deal with.

 

I've worked with our HVAC guys time and again, but I just don't trust that in the 6 days I'll have them in settling tanks that the temp won't drop too low. To compund the problem, my supervisor is out of town, and I have no idea what our money situation is like - I've also been told that we are out of spending for the year and won't be renewed with money until October. I've called other units in the Zoo (Amazonia is the only other who would have any small heaters) - nuthin'. I know... boo hoo me... So, what I'm looking for is this.

 

Do any of you have a heater that you would be able to lend me for just a little while? Obviously the better quality ones are what I'm looking for - these larvae are not very tolerant of swings - but I'll take what I can get. I need a total of 8, and I'm looking to keep each 10 gallon at 26 celsius (~79 F).

 

I leave Friday the 15th of August and return the 27th. The palmata larvae will be in the 8, 10 gallon tanks for 6 days, after which I will transfer the settlers to the grow out tank and will be done with the heaters, which I will return to you.

 

As for getting the heaters to me... I am closing this weekend, which means I can leave work at 6:30pm, after which I will head to the wamas meeting at NADC. I can pick up the heaters there if you will be at the meeting (or have someone drop them off for you).

 

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Edited August 7, 2008 by OUsnakebyte

[mogurnda]

I have a few I can lend.

[Leishman]

I have 2 of the WON titanium ones you can use

[Brian Ward]

I have definitely 1, maybe 2 of the glass jager heaters. they need to be calibrated before you use them though. I'm in DC but I'm leaving town Sat morn. I can meet up with you either tonight or tomorrow night.

[Integral9]

I think I've got one I can lend you. I use it in my 5g QT, but I haven't QT'd in a long time. I'll bring it to NADC with me.

[OUsnakebyte]

I have a few I can lend.

 

Awesome. Will you be at the meeting?

 

 

I have 2 of the WON titanium ones you can use

 

Excellent. I'll take both. Meeting? And, I'm going to take back what I said about you on Reef Central...

 

 

I have definitely 1, maybe 2 of the glass jager heaters. they need to be calibrated before you use them though. I'm in DC but I'm leaving town Sat morn. I can meet up with you either tonight or tomorrow night.

 

Great, I'll take it. I'll PM you about details.

 

 

I think I've got one I can lend you. I use it in my 5g QT, but I haven't QT'd in a long time. I'll bring it to NADC with me.

 

Sweet. I'll see you at NADC after 7pm Saturday.

 

I'm making it official - this club rules.

 

Cheers

Mike

[mogurnda]

Awesome. Will you be at the meeting?

Yep. Can I expect a palmata frag for my trouble?

 

One can dream.

[ROBZ]

I have a couple too if needed!!!

[jason the filter freak]

I've got a Jager 50w and a hydor 50 watter I can lone you how long is short time?

[davelin315]

I also have a few, I believe some new as well. Need any tanks to go along with that?

[OUsnakebyte]

Yep. Can I expect a palmata frag for my trouble?

 

One can dream.

You don't want it - it's brown sps...

 

 

 

 

I have a couple too if needed!!!

I'll take what you have got. Are you going to the meeting this Saturday?

 

 

I've got a Jager 50w and a hydor 50 watter I can lone you how long is short time?

I'll also take them. Meeting Saturday?

 

Short time...? Well, I want to have everything set up and tested out before I leave on the 15th (Friday). I'm back on the 27th and will acclimate the larvae that afternoon. Depending on how the protocol is written, that day (Wednesday) will be day one or Thursday the 28th will be day one - I'm not sure yet (about MANY things, not just this...). Then, they are in settling tanks for 6 days - so, at the latest, done on September 2 (Tuesday). Given work constraints, I can hope to start getting them back to people that following weekend.

 

If I get heaters from everyone thus far on this list, I should be good. I'll take some extras if I get them, which will give me options.

 

Thanks again - everyone.

 

Cheers

Mike

 

I also have a few, I believe some new as well. Need any tanks to go along with that?

 

I'll take 'em! Meeting Saturday?

 

Re tanks - Believe it or not, I actually think I am good for tanks. I am using some of our beetle larvae tanks that I have rinsed and scrubbed. I had to re-silicone three of them, but for now... they are seaworthy.

 

Just so everyone knows - I will label all heaters appropriately so none of them get mixed up. If they are to break, I will replace.

 

 

Anyone feel like filing down 1200 (that's not a typo), round ceramic frag plugs to squares to fit egg-crate? I know what I'm doing the next few days!!!

[Leishman]

 

Anyone feel like filing down 1200 (that's not a typo), round ceramic frag plugs to squares to fit egg-crate? I know what I'm doing the next few days!!!

 

 

dremel or wet saw? I have both if you want to borrow them

[davelin315]

Ha ha, bring them to the meeting and we'll pass them out to everyone as they come in and have them file them down as we speak. I'm sure the NADC won't mind cleaning up piles of ceramic off the floor afterwards!

 

Kidding aside, what are the shapes of the frag plugs now that they don't fit into egg crate? Are they simply too large? Might be easier to just take sheets of plastic and use a drill press to drop 1200 holes into instead...

 

Also, if it's in your budget, there are parabolic egg crates that have 5/8"x5/8"x7/16" cell sizes, but they cost about 4-5x the price. Here's the product number for McMaster-Carr: 1624K27

[OUsnakebyte]

Kidding aside, what are the shapes of the frag plugs now that they don't fit into egg crate? Are they simply too large? Might be easier to just take sheets of plastic and use a drill press to drop 1200 holes into instead...

 

Also, if it's in your budget, there are parabolic egg crates that have 5/8"x5/8"x7/16" cell sizes, but they cost about 4-5x the price. Here's the product number for McMaster-Carr: 1624K27

 

They are the standard round plugs, just ceramic.

 

HA! budget?!?! What's that? That was eaten through loooooong ago.

 

I'd love nothing more than to make this easier, change the plans, etc., but we have all standardized what we are doing, and I can't change it up at this late hour - experiment has to be the same for everyone. With any luck, next year we will have most (no way all) of the kinks worked out.

 

Cheers

Mike

Edited August 8, 2008 by OUsnakebyte

[jamal]

dave will take it. he is the keeper of brown corals. also pm sent

[scott711]

Mike I have a few heaters too if you need them.