The Official Asylum Reef Tank Thread

[Blueface]

What are "denitrators"? I use algae removal from the refugium, I think. Does the skimmer remove nitrates? I know they get metabolized into plants. I never have seen significant (or even barely detectable) levels in my tanks unless something bad happens.

Skimmers won't do it.
The jury is still out on refugiums but if if it contains live rock in it, I would argue it functions as a denitrator to some degree.

A denitrator needs no light, very low oxygen and extremely slow water flow.
You can have it contain rocks or it can contain any type of media that has nooks and crannies for the bacteria to form. It is a different type of bacteria than what thrives in your typical tank filters.
Not too many companies make them.
I experimented with the one pictured below in black, on the left side of the photo.
After a year of it functioning, the nitrate levels were quite low in this system, which is not typical in a fish only tank that needs water changes to lower the nitrates manually.
About a year after doing this installation and a couple of others, I got out of the business due to having to travel so much for my primary job and frankly I have not stayed up with the technology but I can tell you this one worked well.
I also built my own one time using large PVC with end caps. I filled it with media, ceramic type cylinders, and ran water through it slowly. I worked well until it ended up getting clogged.
What I do for mine is I have many bags of media, stuffed tight, sitting in my wet dry, right below the bio balls. Since the media is packed so tight, water flow is quite slow through it. Since it is in a dark enclosure (furniture), seems to help me quite a bit but then again, I have not tested my nitrates in 5 yrs.:r:r:r

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0032_2.jpg[/QUOTE]

[BC-Axeman]

Deep in the live rock and the live sand probably does the job in my tank, based on your information. I stopped measuring when I stopped getting readings.:) I still check calcium levels, though less often, to make sure my calcium reactor is dialed in.
I have a downdraft skimmer about twice the size of the one in your picture. I wish I could hide it somewhere.
It's far to clean under that tank in your picture. I have dust, salt creep, tools, fish bags...

[Blueface]

Deep in the live rock and the live sand probably does the job in my tank, based on your information.

Absolutely!!!
That is why a reef is so self contained. Those nooks and crannies in that rock are natural denitrators. I would only use one like I did in fish only systems that don't have that natural effect you do.

I stopped measuring when I stopped getting readings.:) I still check calcium levels, though less often, to make sure my calcium reactor is dialed in.

Absolutely. Great regimen.

I have a downdraft skimmer about twice the size of the one in your picture. I wish I could hide it somewhere.

I have an ETSS twin tower on my system but I built the stand very high enough to fit it in there.
The bigger the skimmer, the better!!!

It's far to clean under that tank in your picture. I have dust, salt creep, tools, fish bags...

In time, mine did too.:D

In bold.

[shilala]

I think I've decided to go with no refractometer.
I'm worried it'll talk me into doing really dumb ****. :)

[Blueface]

I think I've decided to go with no refractometer.
I'm worried it'll talk me into doing really dumb ****. :)

You know what I use?
A cup.

[Blueface]

You know what I use?
A cup.

Have to run so don't want to leave anyone scratching their heads.

I use a cup and a 5 gallon bucket of water.
A heaping cup, two times, with 5 gallons of water = 1.019 salinity.
Want less salinity? Do two level cups and you get 1.016-1.017.
Want more, like 1.023? Easy. Just do an extra half to 3/4's cup.
Very scientific.:r:r:r

[shilala]

Have to run so don't want to leave anyone scratching their heads.

I use a cup and a 5 gallon bucket of water.
A heaping cup, two times, with 5 gallons of water = 1.019 salinity.
Want less salinity? Do two level cups and you get 1.016-1.017.
Want more, like 1.023? Easy. Just do an extra half to 3/4's cup.
Very scientific.:r:r:r
I do the same thing when I mix my water, but I have a dip tester thingie.
I try to keep it in between the lines. :D
I've always tried to keep it in the middle of the lines, but I'm going to start keeping it on the upper end from now on.
It's been a little high for a long time and a little low for a long time and I've never noticed any difference in anything at all.
If a little more salt will help the corals, I'm sure it won't hurt anything else, so I'll give it a shot. I'll probably have to add a cup of salt.

[taltos]

Scott, as an after thought to this conversation, I agree with Carlos on recommending the good Doctors. I do not keep an aquarium at this point in time but I have relied on the Doctors to keep my cats healthy going back as far as when I was breeding Himalayans and also showing them. I still rely on these folks for products for my strictly house cats. The products are as they state and you can actually get a real person on the phone if you have questions. The final straw is that shipping is reasonable and quick. This post might be off topic and in that case, I am sorry but these are my 2 cents on suppliers to the home pet keeper.

[shilala]

Scott, as an after thought to this conversation, I agree with Carlos on recommending the good Doctors. I do not keep an aquarium at this point in time but I have relied on the Doctors to keep my cats healthy going back as far as when I was breeding Himalayans and also showing them. I still rely on these folks for products for my strictly house cats. The products are as they state and you can actually get a real person on the phone if you have questions. The final straw is that shipping is reasonable and quick. This post might be off topic and in that case, I am sorry but these are my 2 cents on suppliers to the home pet keeper.
I agree about the Doctors, I use them all the time.
The picture of the refractometer on their website is a lesser quality model than most any of the ones I saw on ebay (aside from the cheapest junk).
The refractometer I linked to was the nicest one I could find online anywhere, quality-wise.
I decided to do without and keep doing what I've been doing for lots of years. Kinda talked myself out of creating problems where there weren't any. :)

[BC-Axeman]

I just got back from the LFS withe some critters. A couple of peppermint shrimp, a cleaner shrimp and a dozen snails (so the hermit crabs will have something to play with). I traded in a clump of Xenia, a candy coral frag, three green hairy mushrooms and a leather coral. Snails never seem to last more than a year, but a long as it was part of a trade I'll try again.

[Blueface]

Snails never seem to last more than a year, but a long as it was part of a trade I'll try again.

I use to have a Harlequin Tusk that was cool to watch with snails.
He would flip them over and nail them with those tusks.
I wish I could say they lasted a day.:r

[BC-Axeman]

Great fun to have a "violent" tank. You could have your mantis shrimp fight with lobsters and see which one the trigger got first, etc. :D

[Wolfgang]

I want an Aussie tusk. Correct me if im wrong but arent tusks semi reef safe only because thye will eat inverts not so much coral. I sure do want one.

Would it be a problem with any of my stock?

Maroon Clown
Kole Tang
Flame angel
Zebra Moray
Clown Goby

[Blueface]

I want an Aussie tusk. Correct me if im wrong but arent tusks semi reef safe only because thye will eat inverts not so much coral. I sure do want one.

Would it be a problem with any of my stock?

Maroon Clown
Kole Tang
Flame angel
Zebra Moray
Clown Goby

Not at all a problem.
They are quite safe for reefs as long as you don't have crabs/snails. Man do they love that stuff.
They have a tendency to go blind with time. I saw that in at least 10 in various tanks. However, the ones in reefs faired much, much better and remained more vibrant in color.
It is well worth the money to find a New Caledonian one. Much deeper color than the Aussies. Their teeth are also a deep bluish color. Really, really cool looking with more of a maroon color rather than the more common orange like.
Had one for about 5 yrs. before he went blind. Hand fed him for about another year and then ended up losing him. Miss that fish. Loved the way he would run from my big angels and at a certain point, he would do a sudden stop, turn around and open his mouth huge wide to scare the crap out of them with his teeth. Very docile overall although I would occasionally find one of his teeth embedded in one of my angels. They deserved it.:r Would fall off them. He would grow another. They would do it all over again.

[Wolfgang]

Thats what I thought. The Aussies are ~$200 I ant imagine what a Caledonia would cost. Im a collage student lol. Ill probally settle for the more common one anyways. But that will be a while since Ive already added too many fish this month. Gottle let everything stabilize then WC then Ill think about one of those guys and that would be My final addition. Much prettier than a Hippo Tang :-)

[darb85]

Sand in! Water in! Whoo...

http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/20337/2109943170084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2109943170084512725EHzrxv)

Cycling the sand

Cure tank:

Ammonia 0.25
Nitrites 2
Nitrates 5
PH 8.4
Salinity 1.023

Thats it for now. Oh and walking out of meijers with 30 gallons of water gets you massive funny looks.

Brad

[Wolfgang]

Looks Awesome! Congrats on the setup! Let me know if you would liek to upgrade the lighting.

Im looking to sell my 20" sunpod will accommodate up to a 24" tank. 150watt 14k Halide. New bulb. Asking $200. Used less than 6 months.

Reason for selling: Upgraded from the 24 gallon tank to a 90 gallon tank. Tearing down the 24 gallon.

PM if interested.

[darb85]

waters clear! :D Got a bunch of bubbles on the side, but the flow with out my Powerhead in there is a bit lack luster with the stock pump. rated for 250GPH but i doubt its pushing 100GPH. but I have a Koralia 1 so that issue will be fixed! :D


on another note, does anyone have a powerhead they want to get rid of? I need one more for my cure/quarentine/hospital tanks, doesnt need to be fancy or pretty looking but just need one, if you have one PM me!

Thanks

:D

[Blueface]

waters clear! :D Got a bunch of bubbles on the side, but the flow with out my Powerhead in there is a bit lack luster with the stock pump. rated for 250GPH but i doubt its pushing 100GPH. but I have a Koralia 1 so that issue will be fixed! :D


on another note, does anyone have a powerhead they want to get rid of? I need one more for my cure/quarentine/hospital tanks, doesnt need to be fancy or pretty looking but just need one, if you have one PM me!

Thanks

:D

Use to have a bunch of them.
You are about 9 months or so too late as I cleaned out and threw out.

[BC-Axeman]

PMed

[shilala]

I'm impressed with myself.
This whole thread has only cost me a mere $20 so far. :r

[shilala]

I just looked over and my buddies are hungry. They're all up at the top of the tank looking over the chair so they can see me.
That's their "feed me alarm". They're a trip. :)

[Blueface]

I just looked over and my buddies are hungry. They're all up at the top of the tank looking over the chair so they can see me.
That's their "feed me alarm". They're a trip. :)

That is what they do 24/7, eat.
I don't think they know what it is like to be full.
If there is food, they will eat.
Signs of healthy fish.

[BC-Axeman]

I've been picking anemones out of my tank at about 50 to 100 per day since that last picture and it's starting to make a difference. I take out a rock or coral, hold it it a bucket of water and go at it with a plastic picking tool I made. The problem is that there are over 1000 in there and they divide rapidly. If I don't pick for a month they repopulate. There are some I will never get.

[shilala]

That is what they do 24/7, eat.
I don't think they know what it is like to be full.
If there is food, they will eat.
Signs of healthy fish.
Remember me complaining about that Lunare Wrasse throwing water out of the tank? I fixed that and didn't have to flush him down the toilet.
Instead of throwing the food on top of the water, I pinch it between my fingers and soak it, then let it go below the water level so it sinks.
End of problem. :tu
I'm glad cause Kerri didn't want me to get rid of that fish.

[shilala]

I've been picking anemones out of my tank at about 50 to 100 per day since that last picture and it's starting to make a difference. I take out a rock or coral, hold it it a bucket of water and go at it with a plastic picking tool I made. The problem is that there are over 1000 in there and they divide rapidly. If I don't pick for a month they repopulate. There are some I will never get.
I have just a few tiny brown anemones on my live rock. They must not be the same kind because they don't spread.
What does spread at an alarming rate are the little with tubeworm fans. I have literally thousands of them in my tank and everything is covered with the little curlique calcium larvae thingies.
They're cool, so I'm okay with it, but they'd easily qualify as a scourge. :D

[BC-Axeman]

I have just a few tiny brown anemones on my live rock. They must not be the same kind because they don't spread.
What does spread at an alarming rate are the little with tubeworm fans. I have literally thousands of them in my tank and everything is covered with the little curlique calcium larvae thingies.
They're cool, so I'm okay with it, but they'd easily qualify as a scourge. :D
My anemones started out as a couple of innocent little things. At first I thought they were cool, as they were not aiptasia. Aiptasia are slender funnel shaped and semi transparent with delicate tentacles. Majano are button shaped with more stubby bi-colored tentacles. Aiptasia will spread quickly from small pieces if you disturb them but die easily from injection. Majano divide readily but do not spread from pieces, They are resilient against injection. If you think you have majano I would get rid of them asap.
The little tubeworms stay in dark placed in my tank, like in the plumbing.

[shilala]

My anemones started out as a couple of innocent little things. At first I thought they were cool, as they were not aiptasia. Aiptasia are slender funnel shaped and semi transparent with delicate tentacles. Majano are button shaped with more stubby bi-colored tentacles. Aiptasia will spread quickly from small pieces if you disturb them but die easily from injection. Majano divide readily but do not spread from pieces, They are resilient against injection. If you think you have majano I would get rid of them asap.
The little tubeworms stay in dark placed in my tank, like in the plumbing.
Mine are tiny and they've stayed tiny. I just went and looked and couldn't even find one, but I remember them being the same as the Majano's you described.
A bonus is that I found a coral that I thought was lost. It's a blue one, one that Steve (Fissure) sent me. I was really bummed about it cause I thought it was dead.
I'm going to the store right now to buy super glue gel.
I had been using the two-part epoxy and although I got some of the corals to stay put, it really sucks for the most part.
I have two corals that need stuck good and tight, and then this whole recent coral gathering adventure will be all done.

Hey, what are the little string fingers called that come out of my live rock everywhere?
They're real long, thin and spooky. They stick way out, feel around, and then disappear back into the hole in the live rock.
There are so many things on my rock that I could go on an expedition for a year and never identify them all. Just noticed a whole colony of tiny red centered fans, too.
I'm almost scared to let the corals grow for fear they'll cover up all the cool stuff. :)
Oh, I found another big orange sponge and a new yellow sponge that'd starting, too. :)

[BC-Axeman]

Hey, what are the little string fingers called that come out of my live rock everywhere?

If they are more wormlike they are probable just borrowing worms that live in the rock and unroll like socks to eat detritus when it's quiet.

Sometimes it's good to trade some of your live rock in for new pieces just to get some new critters. You just have to be careful not to get any baddies. I have lots of bristle worms so I don't care about them, unless I find one by accident. Never seen a mantis shrimp, yet. I got a drilling snail once. It drilled holes in the shells of other mollusks to eat their insides.
I keep a flashlight and magnifier on the tank for exploring.

[shilala]

If they are more wormlike they are probable just borrowing worms that live in the rock and unroll like socks to eat detritus when it's quiet.

Sometimes it's good to trade some of your live rock in for new pieces just to get some new critters. You just have to be careful not to get any baddies. I have lots of bristle worms so I don't care about them, unless I find one by accident. Never seen a mantis shrimp, yet. I got a drilling snail once. It drilled holes in the shells of other mollusks to eat their insides.
I keep a flashlight and magnifier on the tank for exploring.
I have zillions of bristle worms. They eat all the detritus and keep my tank nice and clean. I have tons of tiny shrimp, too. Don't know what they are.
When the lights go out the tank becomes a whole new world. Crabs and hermits and worms and shrimp are all over the place. It's incredible. Fun to watch, too. :)

[shilala]

Guys, I have a question on this super glue gel/sticking frags thing.
Can I apply the glue to the frag and then stick it in the water and onto the rock or do I have to take the rock out, dry it a little and apply it?
I was hoping I could do the whole deal underwater, but if not I can remove some water and pull the rock and do it right.
Should I place the rock in a bucket (with the water I've removed from the tank) and let it cure a little bit?
If I do it that way, should I throw the water away that I used to cure the glue?
Never used super glue gel ever, let alone to glue frags.
Thanks!!! :)

[BC-Axeman]

I use epoxy stick. Cut off a piece, squish it a bit, mold like putty, put back in tank. I'm curious about the super glue.

[Wolfgang]

I will make an instructional video and post it on youtube tonight. The easiest way is to take the grad out and put it in a tupperware with enough water to cover it. Then take out the rock you want to glue it onto (dont take out big pieces of LR).

Another way with the superglue GEL (absloutly MUST be the GEL kind) put about the size of a small marble of super glue on the bottom of the frag the quickly place the frag where you want it i your tank. press firmly against the rock and twist back and forth.
Reason for this is when the super glue GEL hits the SW it forms a skin or layer on the top of it and by rotating the frag the skin breaks and lets the glue underneath adhere to the rock.

let me know if this helps. I am big into fragging.

[shilala]

I will make an instructional video and post it on youtube tonight. The easiest way is to take the grad out and put it in a tupperware with enough water to cover it. Then take out the rock you want to glue it onto (dont take out big pieces of LR).

Another way with the superglue GEL (absloutly MUST be the GEL kind) put about the size of a small marble of super glue on the bottom of the frag the quickly place the frag where you want it i your tank. press firmly against the rock and twist back and forth.
Reason for this is when the super glue GEL hits the SW it forms a skin or layer on the top of it and by rotating the frag the skin breaks and lets the glue underneath adhere to the rock.

let me know if this helps. I am big into fragging.
That helps HUGE. Thank You!!!
I imagined it just like you said, I'm gonna go give it a try.
I got super glue gel. I have tons of super glue but never used the gel. That's why I figured I better ask before I kill all my fish with it. :)

[shilala]

I use epoxy stick. Cut off a piece, squish it a bit, mold like putty, put back in tank. I'm curious about the super glue.
I've used it. It sucks.
If the rock that the frag is on is not big enough then I can't work the putty up around the edge to hold it.
It doesn't "stick", it just hardens. For little frags it's worthless. For big frags it's worked pretty good. I just had a big frag fall off that's been stuck for a month, so I'm done with epoxy altogether. I'm gonna see how the gel does. :tu

[Wolfgang]

That helps HUGE. Thank You!!!
I imagined it just like you said, I'm gonna go give it a try.
I got super glue gel. I have tons of super glue but never used the gel. That's why I figured I better ask before I kill all my fish with it. :) Not a problem. Glad I could help. :-D

[shilala]

Not a problem. Glad I could help. :-D
It worked great. I stuck the two frags to surfaces that were all uneven and they stuck with no problems at all. If they're still where I put them after the snails come out tonight, I'll be a super glue gel believer. :D

[BC-Axeman]

I've heard of using it on softies like shrooms, which I always put someplace they will just settle.

[Wolfgang]

lol The super glue gel is the only thing I have ever used. Its a wonderful thing.

[Wolfgang]

Just playing with photoshop and merging pictures together. in this one picture I actually took 4 then spliced them together. What do you think.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/90gallonpan.jpg

[shilala]

It looks really good. :tu
You gotta get that purple stuff to grow. :)

[Wolfgang]

My tank is growing mostly green coraline. The LR is only ~6 months old itll be a while. :ss

[shilala]

My tank is growing mostly green coraline. The LR is only ~6 months old itll be a while. :ss
What the heck is green coralline? I get a bunch of green algae that grows on the glass and all over stuff that doesn't have any purple coralline, but the purple eventually displaces it.
I used to get a lot of that brown algae, but it was because of my lights. With the new t5's little of the brown stuff grows, usually none at all.
I never heard of green coalline though. I thought it was just algae.

[Wolfgang]

coraline algae can come in many colors from green to white to purple. the majority of mine if green. Look at the overflow chamber those green circles are actually green coraline that is growing. I wish it was purple! :fl:fl:fl:fl:fl

[Blueface]

coraline algae can come in many colors from green to white to purple. the majority of mine if green. Look at the overflow chamber those green circles are actually green coraline that is growing. I wish it was purple! :fl:fl:fl:fl:fl

I have seen it in various colors while red is prominent, with white being a far second and so on.

Simple rule I always followed. If you can wipe it off or brush it off or if you can get it to partially dissipate in the water via a brush, coraline it is certainly not. If it doesn't even budge, coraline it is.

[Blueface]

Just remembered one of my posts on here regarding the B-11's.
Power just went out not too long ago for about 3 minutes or so.
Nothing to fear.
The second it went out, my B-11's kicked on.
When it was restored, they went off.
I never even budged.
That is the bet $10 x's 2 that I have ever put in that tank.

[shilala]

Carlos, I got my B-11 today. I need to get a hunk of tubing because they only sent about a foot. I'm pleased with the quality, I'm going to be glad I got it, I'm sure. :tu
Thanks for letting us know about them!!! :)

[Blueface]

Carlos, I got my B-11 today. I need to get a hunk of tubing because they only sent about a foot. I'm pleased with the quality, I'm going to be glad I got it, I'm sure. :tu
Thanks for letting us know about them!!! :)

Yeah, forgot to mention that "tubing" thing.
I have no clue who they made that for as it is so short indeed.
I bought my own tubing and cut it to the length I needed for my tank.
Also, forgot to mention.
Pick up some spare air stones.
Get the package that brings a half dozen or so as cheaper that way.
You will need them as in time, they clog due to algae build up and need replacement.
Best thing you ever bought for your tank.

[BC-Axeman]

I was picking anemones this morning and this worm volunteered to cycle out of the tank:
http://130.94.224.229/share/ouch.jpg
It was scrunched up to about two inches in the photo. It could stretch out to about six inches.

[fissure]

That's just a baby:D Wait till you find one the size of your pinkie finger, and scrunched up it is 8 inches long. Threw that one in my sump downstairs.

[BC-Axeman]

I think I've seen parts of worms like that moving through the rocks, but never in the open. Worms that big can take out small fish and snails. I've found these guys by accident too many times. I end up as bristly as they are. The bristles dissolve in vinegar, thankfully.

[shilala]

My bristle worms are red and little. Maybe an inch long and real skinny.
If they were 8 inches long and scary like that one, I'd be afraid to sleep.

[Blueface]

God I hate bristle worms.
I hat the itch!!!

[BC-Axeman]

My bristle worms are red and little. Maybe an inch long and real skinny.
If they were 8 inches long and scary like that one, I'd be afraid to sleep.
I think the grow up into these big ones. Maybe not. There are a lot of different species.

[shilala]

I think the grow up into these big ones. Maybe not. There are a lot of different species.
They've been in there for a long, long time. I watch the critters at night all the time, I leave a flashlight near the tank. If there was a Bigfoot in there I'd have discovered him by now. hehe

[Wolfgang]

There are a couple different types of bristle worms, or fire worms. First there are the normal ones you see in your tank that are red have hints of blue. They can be anywhere from 1" to 7" then there are what is called polychaete worms that can grow much longer and fatter. Eucinid worms are more of a night time predator than the bristle worms that just scavenge for the most part.

A word for the wise, If you do get stung by a bristle worm get a large bowl and fill it with tap water. Then heat the water to as high a temperature as you can handle. The heat of the water will dissolve the spines as well as the poison. Their poison is a heat soluble protein that if exposed to high temperatures soon enough will lessen the effects. Although you bay stilll be tingly for a few days.
(this technique also works well with lion fish stings too. But it still hurts like a mo fo)

[darb85]

NEW LIVE ROCK!!!! :D :D :D

Old stuff reading bubkis on parms, moving that over to the main tank tonight, new stuff in main tank as well, was fully cured already. :D:D

[Wolfgang]

Awesome to hear! Make tore to transfer the rock quickly to avoid any more die off. Sponges when exposed to air almost always die because air gets trapped inside them. I will be ecpecting a picture of your rockscape.

[sikk50]

My tank has bristle worms that are orange and you can see a blueish vein that runs down them. They're pretty fun to watch at night. They never harm anything, but when I'm cleaning and see them I generaly pull them out. They're quite the clean up crew though, when my shimp shed, they eat the shell. When a fish dies, they eat the body.

[fissure]

NEW LIVE ROCK!!!! :D :D :D

Old stuff reading bubkis on parms, moving that over to the main tank tonight, new stuff in main tank as well, was fully cured already. :D:D


Is this the stuff you got shipped? If it wasn't submerged you might still get a little die off. Give the tank a week to be sure testing every couple days. Getting close!

[Wolfgang]

My tank has bristle worms that are orange and you can see a blueish vein that runs down them. They're pretty fun to watch at night. They never harm anything, but when I'm cleaning and see them I generaly pull them out. They're quite the clean up crew though, when my shimp shed, they eat the shell. When a fish dies, they eat the body.Yup standard bristle worms are great reef scavangers. In my experience they dont harm anything unless they over populate the tank which could lead to a nitrate problem. But all in all they are a GREAT cuc supplemented with snails (and SOME crabs)

For enyone interested here is an article identifying different types of polychaete worms.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

[BC-Axeman]

Interesting article on fireworms. The picture I took looks like it was the first kind and I also have thousands of the second kind. Who knows what else is in there. I have seen them spawn a few times.

[shilala]

Here's the worms I have. Dunno what they are. Any idea?
I read the article, but I still don't know.
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/bristle.jpg

[fissure]

Regular bristle Scott. Only time I remove them, is if there is way too many or they start getting big. Then they just go down to the basement sump.

[Blueface]

Bristle indeed.
If they are all over, grab them with with something and get them out of there.
They will multiply like crazy.
If not often visible, let them be.
They can itch for some folks.

[sikk50]

Scott those are the same type I have. They never even touched my shrooms, very neat little critters

[darb85]

so funny story time...

Was playing with the LR I just got in the tank and a snail started crawling on my hand. It freaked me the hell out. Freaky little buggers. Jeebus, Kasha is still laughing at me at this was an hour ago! Its not that funny, Ok maybe it is, but still...

Anyways, This is great rock too. Lots of Coraline. :D

Pics to come, but water has to clear up a bits

[Wolfgang]

Yup those are the normal kind Scott. There are quite a few but if you aren't having any water quality issues then dont worry about them. Just don't pet them they don't like that :ss

[darb85]

aquascaped today, but its too cloudy to see in there, pics when it settles, which it should be by tonight! :D

Big cave in the middle, looks nifty. Got my refactometer today as well. sweet.

I have some calabration fluid for it, Pinpoint Salinity Monitor, 53.0ms Calibration Fluid,+-1%@77*/25*C

What should i be setting my refratometer to when i use that to calibrate?

Brad

[darb85]

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/6016/2304683330084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2304683330084512725ftAxsC)

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/40841/2209710780084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2209710780084512725DwCZbQ)

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/4979/2042155250084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2042155250084512725hoidWz)

cloudy pics...better ones laters!

[darb85]

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/43521/2139565820084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2139565820084512725SMpQng)

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/43786/2894922850084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2894922850084512725puXolV)

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43882/2551358660084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2551358660084512725kkMMqZ)

[darb85]

Won some corals this weekend in lansing! A Texas Junk Zoa, and a devils hand. Now I just gotta get my tank balanced... and find a spot for the corals so i dont kill them :(

[Blueface]

Coming along nicely there.

Spent four hours this Saturday cleaning mine.
That is what stinks about the type of corals I have.
They get filthy and are a pain to pull out, bleach, dechlorinate and put back in.
Did a 50% water change.
Dropped the temperature 6 degrees in one shot.
Nobody felt a thing.
Took a couple of photos of Mr. Eel to post but from inside his "man cave".
Will try to get some when I feed him later this week.

[BC-Axeman]

Bleach! I was wondering why they didn't get overgrown.

[darb85]

Coming along nicely there.

Spent four hours this Saturday cleaning mine.
That is what stinks about the type of corals I have.
They get filthy and are a pain to pull out, bleach, dechlorinate and put back in.
Did a 50% water change.
Dropped the temperature 6 degrees in one shot.
Nobody felt a thing.
Took a couple of photos of Mr. Eel to post but from inside his "man cave".
Will try to get some when I feed him later this week.


your tank is awesome Carlos, Id love to do that as well as a reef tank, Both have thier ups and downs but both are uniquely suited for what you want to do!

Brad

[fissure]

aquascaped today, but its too cloudy to see in there, pics when it settles, which it should be by tonight! :D

Big cave in the middle, looks nifty. Got my refactometer today as well. sweet.

I have some calabration fluid for it, Pinpoint Salinity Monitor, 53.0ms Calibration Fluid,+-1%@77*/25*C

What should i be setting my refratometer to when i use that to calibrate?

Brad


Looks like the 53.0ms is 1.0259 so basically 1.026:D

Great looking rock work. Wish I would have know you were going to the swap, I may have went to it then. Anytime you come down to the 'south' let me know. I'll get you some frags and we can maybe we can light one up.

[Blueface]

your tank is awesome Carlos, Id love to do that as well as a reef tank, Both have thier ups and downs but both are uniquely suited for what you want to do!

Brad

Yeah, but you didn't feel my pain in that post.
That was four hours I will never get back, multiplied by monthly.
That type of decorating is a popular thing in Florida but what a pain it is.
I wish sometimes I had just live rock but don't want to deal with the parasites.
Parasites prevention on such expensive fish is the only reason I have it set up that way.

[darb85]

Looks like the 53.0ms is 1.0259 so basically 1.026:D

Great looking rock work. Wish I would have know you were going to the swap, I may have went to it then. Anytime you come down to the 'south' let me know. I'll get you some frags and we can maybe we can light one up.

I actually went down to spend time with Kasha but she wanted to go to pruess and i talked her into spending time at the swap. :D shes pretty dandy, but next time im in the area ill let you know tho for sure!

Brad

[BC-Axeman]

Yeah, but you didn't feel my pain in that post.
That was four hours I will never get back, multiplied by monthly.

I feel your pain, really, pain. It takes me four hours to do a proper cleaning in my tank, too. That involves a lot of scraping coraline off the sides, picking anemones, cleaning filters and skimmers...all while leaning over the tank with one arm in. I pinched a nerve in my neck or back yesterday doing this. Pain.
My wife was at the LFS Sat. and she picked up a little Dottyback, put it in the tank and it seemed to be all right, but the next morning it was totally gone without a trace. ??? I never saw it. I still keep looking but this is the second day with no sign. Tough little fish. I don't think it died from being introduced to my tank. Maybe it found a one way hiding place. I lost a fish that way once.

[darb85]

cave collapesed. :( Rebuilt it, lot more stable now, but looks different. Added one of those wave things too. Tank gets better flow. Pics of new aquascape soon

Brad

[darb85]

readings at 0s for the last 4 days! if still there monday putting in a green chamois or what ever its called, or some other hardy fish. Clean up crew went in today :D

[Blueface]

readings at 0s for the last 4 days! if still there monday putting in a green chamois or what ever its called, or some other hardy fish. Clean up crew went in today :D

Coming along there.

I finally go some shots of Mr. Eel to upload.

[Wolfgang]

Well Where are they!! :ss

[BC-Axeman]

My missing fish is in there, just afraid to come out. The hawkfish chases it. I have been basting food into it's hiding place in hope that it will survive long enough for it's tankmates to accept it.

[Gargoyle]

Some very sweet looking setups there! I would absolutely LOVE to get a reef tank going someday (on my list of "50 things to do before I die"). I need to get a little more disciplined and experienced with my fresh water tank first, as the reef tanks are so much more delicate... and mistakes less forgiving than fresh water.

[BC-Axeman]

Some very sweet looking setups there! I would absolutely LOVE to get a reef tank going someday (on my list of "50 things to do before I die"). I need to get a little more disciplined and experienced with my fresh water tank first, as the reef tanks are so much more delicate
not once they get going
... and mistakes less forgiving
and more expensive
than fresh water.
I started with a 7 gallon nano-reef. Much more difficult to get going than a big tank, IMHO. $20 rock here, $30 coral there, $20 fish, ka-ching.

[Blueface]

Say hello to my little friend, Mr. Eel.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0031-1.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

Carlos, do you feed your pets live stuff or frozen or what? Beautiful eel, looks capable of taking off a fingertip.

[Blueface]

Carlos, do you feed your pets live stuff or frozen or what? Beautiful eel, looks capable of taking off a fingertip.

You won't believe it if I told you.
I only feed them one thing mainly, which is Spectrum granules.
I met the guy that invented that stuff many years ago and got to know him via my son's place of work (large exotic importer where my fish came from).
We all began at that time to use his food exclusively and quickly learned how all fish, even finicky eaters took to it right away.
Since then, that is the only processed food I buy for them.
Even the eel loves that stuff.
He goes nuts every night when I feed the tank.

About three times a week, I feed the eel fresh shrimp and also shred some for the rest of the tank as a treat.

[shilala]

Yesterday I took my daughter to the doctor, and on the way home discovered a new fish store down in Reynoldsville.
The discovery cost me 100 bucks. :D
I picked up a harlequin sweetlips, 3 banghai cardinals and a big purple feather.
My daughter picked out the cardinal. After I got one she said "Dad, you gotta get at least two more so they stick together like that. (pointing at the shoaling cardinals)"
So we got two more.
She's really good at this fish thing. :D

[BC-Axeman]

Yesterday I took my daughter to the doctor, and on the way home discovered a new fish store down in Reynoldsville.
The discovery cost me 100 bucks. :D
I picked up a harlequin sweetlips, 3 banghai cardinals and a big purple feather.
My daughter picked out the cardinal. After I got one she said "Dad, you gotta get at least two more so they stick together like that. (pointing at the shoaling cardinals)"
So we got two more.
She's really good at this fish thing. :D
She's pretty good at the Daddy thing, too. :D

[shilala]

She's pretty good at the Daddy thing, too. :D
She's Pro Series 3.0.
I screwed the first run of kids up pretty good. This one turned out real well despite her Dad. She's Daddy's girl to the max. :)
Definately my pride and joy.

[fissure]

If you get a male/female cardinal and they breed, let me know. I used to raise them and they are super easy to breed/raise.

[shilala]

Monday morning my tank sprung a leak. It was squirting a tiny stream out of a front seam. The floor was soaked and now all my stuff is still in a big rubbermaid tub on the floor.
The tank is resealed, cured, and I'm ready to put the stuff back in.
What a pain in the butt this was. :)
On a good note, I found my blue coral that's been lost three times.
Hopefully this time I'll be able to keep track of it. :tu

[Blueface]

Monday morning my tank sprung a leak. It was squirting a tiny stream out of a front seam. The floor was soaked and now all my stuff is still in a big rubbermaid tub on the floor.
The tank is resealed, cured, and I'm ready to put the stuff back in.
What a pain in the butt this was. :)
On a good note, I found my blue coral that's been lost three times.
Hopefully this time I'll be able to keep track of it. :tu

Exactly the reason why my tanks is acrylic.
That will last longer than the Pyramids.:r

[shilala]

Exactly the reason why my tanks is acrylic.
That will last longer than the Pyramids.:r
I got a good 15 years out of this thing. 3 moves and a freeze-up.
I can't even believe it's still in one piece. :r

[Bear]

OK, so here's my 90 Gal. It's been up and running for about 8 or 9 years.

http://i39.tinypic.com/t8mfbm.jpg


I have had these little guys in there for years and they don't bother me, but what the heck are they? There's probably well over 100 of them in there...

http://i42.tinypic.com/kcdniw.jpg

[shilala]

I have had these little guys in there for years and they don't bother me, but what the heck are they? There's probably well over 100 of them in there...


Gorgeous, Marc. :tu
I'm not from Canada, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are Quarters. Maybe nickels. ;)

[fissure]

Astrina starfish Bear! Great addition for clean up. Had hundreds of them in my 120. Lots in my 50.

[kayaker]

Gorgeous, Marc. :tu
I'm not from Canada, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are Quarters. Maybe nickels. ;)

That's a quarter all right.:D

[kayaker]

OK. This reef tank idea has m y curiousity piqued.

I am potentially interested in this idea, but I would like mine to feature species (fish, invertebrates and plants) that are local/native to my home. These would generally be cooler/cold water species (the ocean near me never really warms up that much), so would colder water species be able to live ok in warmer water, or would I have to keep the tank colder?

Is it generally possible (advisable, viable) to use wild specimen in a home tank? Or would it be best to buy the same species (if they are available) from a reputable hobby store?

Is there somewhere I can learn more about the pros/cons about using wild species in a reef tank?

Thanks.

kayaker

[BC-Axeman]

Cold water species need cold water. There is not as nice of a selection, especially fish.
Most specimens were caught in the wild unless otherwise noted. I have seen some nice cold water tanks. You generally don't have coral in them but there can be lots of invertebrates.

[CigarDood]

This whole thread is awesome. I really want a reef tank now.

[Bear]

Astrina starfish Bear! Great addition for clean up. Had hundreds of them in my 120. Lots in my 50.

That's it. Thanks!

[darb85]

Fish! woot! 3 Green Chromis swimmin about. :D Movement whoo. Added some Zoas too and they have almost doubled in size in the week they have been there. wow.

Also, is Kalk dosing nessesary? my alk holds stable and Calcium does as well...

How is it done?

[BC-Axeman]

I have found that a stable, high calcium level is critical for snails, stars, skelatinous corals, coraline algae and many other tank life. Your levels are staying high and stable because it's not being used up much yet.
Calcium reactors are best, but expensive.
I used the two part solution from B-Ionic before and it works great and is easy.
Kalkwasser has to be mixed and then left to settle out and then slowly added so as not to ph shock the tank.

[Wolfgang]

got a couple new additions to my 90.

A flame angel and a green brain.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0050.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0064-1.jpg

Ive had the Angel for a few weeks and she is a perfect citizen. no nipping at all.

[shilala]

The brain looks a lot like my brain. :D

[Blueface]

got a couple new additions to my 90.

A flame angel and a green brain.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0050.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0064-1.jpg

Ive had the Angel for a few weeks and she is a perfect citizen. no nipping at all.

Flames are perfectly fine for reefs.
All of the dwarf Angels are fine.
It is the big boys that you need to worry about.

That Brain looks awesome.

[Wolfgang]

there was a small amount of necrosis on the rbain but I have been watching it for a few months and it has not gotten worse and it is already eating and inflating. pics in a bit.

[Wolfgang]

Well my Actinics kicked on so here was the best picture I could get. This in no way has been edited.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0077.jpg

[darb85]

Coral Beauty went in today.

that and a tiny cinnimon clown. Like really tiny. He was in a tank with a lion and cowering in the corner, so I had to save him! hes about 1/2 of an inch. Neat little fish. Got him for free.

[Wolfgang]

Sweet! Mind you he will be aggressive when he gets older. But both are great fish the CB is very pretty!

[darb85]

Sweet! Mind you he will be aggressive when he gets older. But both are great fish the CB is very pretty!

ya, Ill probably put him in my fish only when hes a bit bigger. Thinking about getting him a partner thoug

[Wolfgang]

Cool. I would Do the criter cage thing Carlos was tlaking about. Cinamon clowns sometimes are aggressive twards each other.

[darb85]

Cool. I would Do the criter cage thing Carlos was tlaking about. Cinamon clowns sometimes are aggressive twards each other.

good to know, if I can find one, local place never gets them in..

[BC-Axeman]

My little dottyback that I thought disappeared is starting to come out at feeding time. I'm having to overfeed the whole tank just to make sure it gets enough to eat. This type of fish is supposed to get aggressive but it is too small for now. Woe be it to the other fish when it gets bigger. By then, though, they will be used to one another.
I got one of those back up air pumps and I took a thick walled gray PVC pipe about 1 1/4" dia and cut it just a little shorter than the height of my tank. I drilled two 1/2' holes about a quarter way in from both ends in the side of the pipe. I propped this pipe in the corner next to the overflow with the airstone hanging half way inside the pipe so that when the air turns on it creates a current in the pipe. This keeps the light off of the airstone so the algae will not grow on it. I think it would be clogged in two weeks if it were not dark.

[darb85]

oh and just puttin it out there, Im starting a fish only with LR. 110 Gallon Tank I got for free. Gonna run a 2 light T5, Sugar sand of somesort. Canister filter, 20 Gallon sump(gonna need some help here, never done one) Skimmer, 3 Korila 3s. just a little live rock, probably just some base rock.

Im gonna put in a lion fish, a Piccasso trigger(maybe) and a sailfin Tang. Maybe one other fish, but not really sure.

anything else you think I need?

[BC-Axeman]

oh and just puttin it out there, Im starting a fish only with LR. 110 Gallon Tank I got for free. Gonna run a 2 light T5, Sugar sand of somesort. Canister filter, 20 Gallon sump(gonna need some help here, never done one) Skimmer, 3 Korila 3s. just a little live rock, probably just some base rock.

Im gonna put in a lion fish, a Piccasso trigger(maybe) and a sailfin Tang. Maybe one other fish, but not really sure.

anything else you think I need?
What do you need help with on the sump? Overflow into it and pump back to the tank through the filter? Or separate loops?
I would light the sump and fill it with live rock.
Is't a picasso a humuhumunukunukuapoa'a? Don''t they eat everything? Even fingertips? They are beautiful.

[shilala]

Two of my Banghai Cardinals kacked. My awesome green coral didn't survive the tank leak, either.
On a positive note, after the leak fix my tank looks totally awesome. I gotta get new pics up. :)

[fissure]

Bangaii cardinal fish are notoriously hard to keep if they are wild caught. If you can find some tank raised ones, you'll be much better off. Wish I was still breeding them, I'd send you some:D

[darb85]

Devils hand. Bought this, it was about 1/2 this size. You can also see my new Blastomussa
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/39767/2220619900084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2220619900084512725SKJjFp)

Blastomussa
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/43158/2185241070084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2185241070084512725FqhVKk)

Zoas, was half this size when I bought it too, taking off gang busters
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/41771/2753060540084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2753060540084512725pVjTfA)

New Yellowheaded Sleeper Goby
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/37450/2551942040084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2551942040084512725OijePh)

1/2 inch or less Cinnimon Clown
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/29174/2197544090084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2197544090084512725DUHLUm)

[darb85]

whole tank
http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/33235/2831656340084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2831656340084512725KQPUud)
http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43482/2479235680084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2479235680084512725mgzxFa)

Enjoy!

[shaggy]

looks great darb.....wonderful to see the tank come along from start to where it is now

[darb85]

looks great darb.....wonderful to see the tank come along from start to where it is now

thanks!

Lots of Green Coraline algae too, lots. its pretty cool. decent amount of purple.

[darb85]

lost my cinnamon clown :( He went into the overflow and didnt know he was in there, got pulled through the pump, saw him coming out of the output

I feel like im gonna cry over a damn fish. But he was my favorite. he was just so little and cute. gah, need to get a splash guard of some type i guess. poor little dude :(

[shilala]

Believe it or not, I blew another seam on my tank.
This time I'm gonna empty it completely and redo all the seams. I'm tired of flooding the living room. It's getting old real fast. :)
On a postive note, it'll be nice to not have to worry about it again for another 20 years or so. :tu

[darb85]

Believe it or not, I blew another seam on my tank.
This time I'm gonna empty it completely and redo all the seams. I'm tired of flooding the living room. It's getting old real fast. :)
On a postive note, it'll be nice to not have to worry about it again for another 20 years or so. :tu

thats scary...

[Wolfgang]

Scott. When Seams start to blow It may be time to look for a new tank. Save yourself the heartache of waking up to a completely flooded room and fish on the floor.

[shilala]

Scott. When Seams start to blow It may be time to look for a new tank. Save yourself the heartache of waking up to a completely flooded room and fish on the floor.
I was thinking that, but I'll never find another corner 35 like it.
I've fixed seams twice, and those that I fixed are still choice.
I just need to do the whole thing and do it right.
I'd rather have nice thick seams I've done than the factory seams, anyways.
Maybe I'll smash it while I'm fixing it and that'll solve the problem altogether. :)

[Wolfgang]

A nice corner 75 gallon would fit well :-)

[Smoking Dragon]

A couple of weeks ago I adopted a 2' moray eel. I set up a hasty tank for him 29 gal. I am in the process of getting him into a 75 gal tank. I am not sure how elaborate I want to get with a reef and all. I hear that it could be hard to maintain. Any advice I could get I would appreciate. I want Fred my new eel, to have a fun home with lots to swim around.

Sarge

[Wolfgang]

What kind of Moray? I have a 12" Zebra Mora in my reef tank. Reefs just require more waterchanges and more light. Other than that they are fairly easy to take care of.

[Smoking Dragon]

I think that it is chain link moray. From the pics I've seen, it's the closest. Fred looks like a neck of a garaffe. I will post pics when I get home from Army school in a couple of weeks.

[shilala]

A nice corner 75 gallon would fit well :-)
It'd fall through my floor. :D

[BC-Axeman]

I got most of my setup from a guy who gave up after his tank blew apart in an earthquake. He had moved everything to rubbermade containers but he was tired of it so I got a good deal on it and just had to buy a new tank. I have since then spent a lot of money on it but I haven't grown tired yet.

[Wolfgang]

Tonight I decided to goof around with a flashlight and my camera. I have the whole lid of my tank covered in egg crate so I just turned the flashlight on and set it on top then took pictures through the front. Im fairly happy with this little experiment.

What do you think?

Tips and tricks?

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0045.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0047.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0056.jpg

[shilala]

I still have my whole tank in buckets and rubbermaid. :D
The tank should be cured now. It's been sitting for 2 1/2 days.
I'm gonna fill it with plain water and see what happens.
Wish me luck!!!

[Smoking Dragon]

I need saltwater help !!!!!!!!! Does anyone live near Germantown, MD?

Sarge

[Blueface]

I need saltwater help !!!!!!!!! Does anyone live near Germantown, MD?

Sarge

Nope but go ahead and ask as we may be able to help via a post.

[Smoking Dragon]

I am away at Army school until the 28th in the evening. My son says my moray eel, Fred, is lathargic and not eating his normal amount each feeding. I asked him to check the water. My son says that from what he did the Ak and the salt is wrong. BTW my son is 14 and this is our 1st aquarium. Since I am not at home and I would like for someone with experience to look at my tank and posssibly show us how to fix it. I got this info late last night so I have not had a chance to call a aquarium maint company. But I will have to if I can not fine someone to help that is in the area.

[Blueface]

I am away at Army school until the 28th in the evening. My son says my moray eel, Fred, is lathargic and not eating his normal amount each feeding. I asked him to check the water. My son says that from what he did the Ak and the salt is wrong. BTW my son is 14 and this is our 1st aquarium. Since I am not at home and I would like for someone with experience to look at my tank and posssibly show us how to fix it. I got this info late last night so I have not had a chance to call a aquarium maint company. But I will have to if I can not fine someone to help that is in the area.

Eels typically go into "don't eat" episodes and is quite normal.
When you say lathargic, that pretty much describes all eels.

What has changed in the tank?
Is there excessive waste/food collected in it?
If there is, start by asking him to pull all that out.
Your alkalinity could not have changed much if no water change has been done.
Evaporation will affect it but not to affect the eel and can be corrected by adding fresh water.
Salinity will not affect them so rapidly. They can handle a wide range of low to high.

Ask your son if all has been as normal or has something happened?
If the tank is running fine with filtration, don't flip over it.
I have had eels go on hunger strikes for over three months.
Do you have fish?
What are they acting like?
Do they look normal?
They usually will stress before an eel does.

[Smoking Dragon]

There are no other fish in the tank. I did a 20% or so water change about 1 week ago. I replcaed the water with pre salinated water and some purified water. So that the salinity would not rise. Other than that nothing has changed. I say that he is looing lathargic because normally he swims around a bit in the tank, but now he just sits in his house. I now that when I first got him he was stressed form being in a box for about 4-5 days, and he did not eat for a couple of days. Then he started by eating 3-5 silver fish 2x daily. Then he went upto around 10 each feeding. COuld the amount of light be a factor? We have a light which we turn on in the morning and then open it up to indirect sunlight, then in the evening light for about 4-5 hours. SO all togather about 14 hous of light per day.

[Blueface]

There are no other fish in the tank. I did a 20% or so water change about 1 week ago. I replcaed the water with pre salinated water and some purified water. So that the salinity would not rise. Other than that nothing has changed. I say that he is looing lathargic because normally he swims around a bit in the tank, but now he just sits in his house. I now that when I first got him he was stressed form being in a box for about 4-5 days, and he did not eat for a couple of days. Then he started by eating 3-5 silver fish 2x daily. Then he went upto around 10 each feeding. COuld the amount of light be a factor? We have a light which we turn on in the morning and then open it up to indirect sunlight, then in the evening light for about 4-5 hours. SO all togather about 14 hous of light per day.

Light won't affect it or shouldn't, specially if it has been use to that.
If he is the only inhabitant, kind of tough to make a tank go south unless it is very small and hence any minimal change can affect it.
Is there food laying around as result of trying to feed him?
If there is, get that stuff out of there fast as that can cause harmful spikes.
Other than that, I would add some beneficial bacteria and some Amquel type product and wait and see.
Don't try to feed him any more.
When he is hungry, he will let you know
I have personally witnessed many eels, mine and that of my customers, that have for no reason gone on hunger strikes.
As much as three months have gone by and then suddenly, out of nowhere, they want to eat again.
That is quite normal so don't go nuts over it.

If you do some bacteria like Cycle or Bacter Vital and do some Amquel, you pretty much will address any lack of stability in the water.
Salinity can wait for you to return if needs adjustment.
I have taken eels from 23 or so down to 14 and have had no problems.

Let me know about the food as trying to feed and letting that sit can be real bad.

One more thing, silvesides are oily as heck.
Feed him the shrimp you and I buy at the store. Throw him an occasional fresh clam (freeze it first and then thaw for parasites).
That is all I feed mine. Less messy for the tank. Use a clear plastic feeding stick for the shrimp and hand feed him, hence controlling what stays in the tank and what is not consumed.

[Smoking Dragon]

We feed him thawed out frozen silver sliders. When I first got him I tried live goldfish, ghost shrimp. But he didn't touch any of em, maybe from stress of a new home. We keep em frozen and just thaw out what we use each feeding. there is no food at the bottom of the tank since we tong feed him. He will come up to the suface to feed. I used a gravel syphon when I changed out the partial water change, and sucked up stuff that I saw on the bottom. My son says that there is one pile of poop inside his house. I don't allow my son to move the house cause I don't want him to get bit. I just worry that he will be alright till I get home next Sat and for a few more days till I can get the water fixed.

[Wolfgang]

If it was recently cold there and th tank cooled off more than usual eels go into a "winter" mode where they wont eat as much if at all. Also durring this time they dont move around much. Check on your heater make sure thats in good order.

How big is it and what kin of moray is it?

If it is a smaller moray eating 10 silversides It could possibly be "backed up" Also if its a zebra moray or snowflake eel, they are pebble toothed morays and should not be fed fish. These kinds only eat crustaceans such as shrimp, clams, lobsters, etc.

IfIm reading your posts correctly you just moved the eel to a new home? This can be very stressfull for them and they will be lethargic and might take up to 2 weeks to eat again. I would try to feed him every 3rd day. When hes hungry it will eat.

[Wolfgang]

got some more night pictures that I thought I woudl share. :-)


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0091-1.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0091-1.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0093-2.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0093-2.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0073-1.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0073-1.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0078-1.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0078-1.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_LEELA22009.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=LEELA22009.jpg)

[darb85]

Me thinks id trade all me cigars for frags and fish at this point :D

[shilala]

I finally got my tank all resealed and put back together.
I have to move stuff around cause I'm not pleased with how it looks, ,but it's holding up like a champ.
Somewhere along the way my protein skimmer cracked. I glued it up with super glue gel, let it set a couple days, and I siliconed it tonight.
I can't wait for this disaster to be over with. :)

[Wolfgang]

Me thinks id trade all me cigars for frags and fish at this point :D
Ill definitely do frags for cigars. Im going to need about 6 months grow out time though :-) gotta get my Devils Armor, Purple Death, and Neuclear greens growing. On another note I have had the Purple deaths for about 3 weeks and already they have shot off anew polyp yay! Here they go for $40 per polyp but the store I go to was nice enough to give me 3 for $20 :-D

Sorry for the SNAFU Scott. Unfortunatly in this hobby when it rains it pours. I hope everything works out for you.

[BC-Axeman]

It poured. I had a power failure last night. It didn't last long but when the power came back on my downdraft skimmer backed up and overflowed. This kind of skimmer is very sensitive to back pressure and usually overflows a little every time it starts up until it gets going. Something must have changed to cause more back pressure or faster flow and it overflowed the waste container. About two gallons went into the basement. It goes right through the cracks in the hardwood floor. Luckily it is self limiting, as the sump level goes down so does the back pressure. A bigger waste container will prevent this in the future but it will have to be at least five gallons.
Not what you want to be dealing with when you first wake up.

[Wolfgang]

I guess you can literally say you woke up to a sh!t storm :ss Hope all the livestock is well.

[BC-Axeman]

Everyone is fine. I had to add five gallons of fresh water but that is not much dilution to 120 gal. I will check the salt level when I get home. I have a plan to fix this problem, so it won't happen again. It will be something different next time. :D

[Blueface]

It poured. I had a power failure last night. It didn't last long but when the power came back on my downdraft skimmer backed up and overflowed. This kind of skimmer is very sensitive to back pressure and usually overflows a little every time it starts up until it gets going. Something must have changed to cause more back pressure or faster flow and it overflowed the waste container. About two gallons went into the basement. It goes right through the cracks in the hardwood floor. Luckily it is self limiting, as the sump level goes down so does the back pressure. A bigger waste container will prevent this in the future but it will have to be at least five gallons.
Not what you want to be dealing with when you first wake up.

What kind of downdraft to you have?
I have an ETSS and they make a great container that has a ping pong ball and when it fills, it automatically shuts the skimmer down as it takes the air away from it.
Needless to say, it has saved me on many occasions.

[BC-Axeman]

What kind of downdraft to you have?
I have an ETSS and they make a great container that has a ping pong ball and when it fills, it automatically shuts the skimmer down as it takes the air away from it.
Needless to say, it has saved me on many occasions.
It's an ETSS and I have the air tube routed to the waste container so that if it fills then the tube goes under water level and shuts off. Unfortunately, some air can still leak in around the top of the downdraft, as it is not airtight. It had all night to slowly overflow. Drip by drip. I'm lucky it has the other way of being self limiting. There would be one more failsafe as the sump got too low to pump back to the tank.
The trouble is that the pump is directional CW vs CCW. It works better one direction. If the power goes off and back on quickly enough the backflow will reverse the pump. This must have happened before the last time I adjusted it. When the power went off again the flow returned to normal. I am going to put a delay relay on it so if it turns off it delays going back on for like 5 minutes. This will allow the sump to return to normal levels too. Less back pressure to begin with. I could also figure a way to seal the top of the downdraft. Maybe just some electrical tape.
Always something.

[Blueface]

It's an ETSS and I have the air tube routed to the waste container so that if it fills then the tube goes under water level and shuts off. Unfortunately, some air can still leak in around the top of the downdraft, as it is not airtight. It had all night to slowly overflow. Drip by drip. I'm lucky it has the other way of being self limiting. There would be one more failsafe as the sump got too low to pump back to the tank.
The trouble is that the pump is directional CW vs CCW. It works better one direction. If the power goes off and back on quickly enough the backflow will reverse the pump. This must have happened before the last time I adjusted it. When the power went off again the flow returned to normal. I am going to put a delay relay on it so if it turns off it delays going back on for like 5 minutes. This will allow the sump to return to normal levels too. Less back pressure to begin with. I could also figure a way to seal the top of the downdraft. Maybe just some electrical tape.
Always something.

Do you use the waste container from ETSS?

I love BlueLine or Iwaki Japanese pumps.
BlueLine is made by the guy that made them for Iwaki Japan that went on his own.
The American Iwakis are good too but not as good as the Japanese.
Can never go wrong with those guys.

[BC-Axeman]

Do you use the waste container from ETSS?
No, it's a plastic two gallon goldfish tank. The air intake line hangs half way to the bottom, so it should never fill up more than that, in theory.

I love BlueLine or Iwaki Japanese pumps.
BlueLine is made by the guy that made them for Iwaki Japan that went on his own.
The American Iwakis are good too but not as good as the Japanese.
Can never go wrong with those guys.
It needs to be submersible for my setup. Running a Quietone 3000HH (high head). I have both of those other pumps. No difference between them as far as I can tell.
The Quietone is from before the company got bought out. It is high head because of the directional impeller. There is a trick they do to the motor to make it always start the same direction but it can be forced to run backward if the backflow was pushing it that way to begin with. I guess I could build a new sump/refugium with external pumps but this has served me well for years. A time delay relay is very easy for me and ensures that the pump will always start statically in the right direction.

[Blueface]

No, it's a plastic two gallon goldfish tank. The air intake line hangs half way to the bottom, so it should never fill up more than that, in theory.


It needs to be submersible for my setup. Running a Quietone 3000HH (high head). I have both of those other pumps. No difference between them as far as I can tell.
The Quietone is from before the company got bought out. It is high head because of the directional impeller. There is a trick they do to the motor to make it always start the same direction but it can be forced to run backward if the backflow was pushing it that way to begin with. I guess I could build a new sump/refugium with external pumps but this has served me well for years. A time delay relay is very easy for me and ensures that the pump will always start statically in the right direction.

I would really look into the ETSS container. It works real well. None of the ETSS skimmers are air tight in the columns so that is normal. The container goes for about $100 but ever since I did that, never had any overflows again.

[BC-Axeman]

This is only my second overflow. The first was for a different reason. That's why I said that if I fix this it will be something else next time. Murphy, you know.
On a different track, I was watching my tank when the light went off and noticed my tang swimming strangely. Then I saw the cleaner shrimp come out and service her. She opened up her gills and let the shrimp go inside. As soon as the tang was done the hawkfish came over for his turn. Happy fish!

[Blueface]

This is only my second overflow. The first was for a different reason. That's why I said that if I fix this it will be something else next time. Murphy, you know.
On a different track, I was watching my tank when the light went off and noticed my tang swimming strangely. Then I saw the cleaner shrimp come out and service her. She opened up her gills and let the shrimp go inside. As soon as the tang was done the hawkfish came over for his turn. Happy fish!

I love that "car wash" effect and how they all line up for the cleaner shrimp.
Cool stuff.
Too bad I can't have them anymore. With the size of my Emperor Angel and how long it has been since he has seen one, I don't think they would stand a chance.

[BC-Axeman]

i don't think cleaner shrimp should be so expensive. They are almost the same as peppermint shrimp but twice the price. I put peppermint shrimp in my tank but even if they are in there I can never see them.

[Blueface]

i don't think cleaner shrimp should be so expensive. They are almost the same as peppermint shrimp but twice the price. I put peppermint shrimp in my tank but even if they are in there I can never see them.

Cleaners here run around close to $20 each.
That is one massively expensive meal to give my Emperor.

[darb85]

Well that was sweet!

Just wrote a few policies for a guy and I had a bottle of calcium that I had bought sitting on my desk and we got talking about fish and tanks, turns out the guy breeds Percula Clowns. He signed the papers and left like normal, about 20 minutes later he shows up with 2 percula clowns that are 6 months old about 1 inch long or so. hand them to me for free. That was pretty cool!

[shilala]

Well that was sweet!

Just wrote a few policies for a guy and I had a bottle of calcium that I had bought sitting on my desk and we got talking about fish and tanks, turns out the guy breeds Percula Clowns. He signed the papers and left like normal, about 20 minutes later he shows up with 2 percula clowns that are 6 months old about 1 inch long or so. hand them to me for free. That was pretty cool!
That is cool. :)

[BC-Axeman]

They are so much better in pairs. I hope they are true percs. False percs are buttheads.

[darb85]

They are so much better in pairs. I hope they are true percs. False percs are buttheads.

yup they are true percs. Georgous coloring, already pairing up nicely. Ill try to get some pictures of them tonight if i get home before lights out.

[BC-Axeman]

I rerouted my water circulation lines. It used to go: high head sump pump-->chiller-->skimmer-->sump and high flow sump pump-->wave maker-->tank-->overflow to sump. Now it goes: HH pump-->skimmer--->sump and HF pump-->chiller-->wave maker-->tank-->overflow.
This increased the skimmer so much that I have to throttle the pump flow now. Before I had to throttle the return from the skimmer to increase the back pressure. I may be in danger of overskimming the tank, if that's possible.
The wavemaker is a T-shaped device in the pump line that has a turbine that alternates the outgoing flow about once every 15 seconds to opposite sides of the tank.

[Blueface]

I may be in danger of overskimming the tank, if that's possible.


Not in my book.
The bigger, the more, the better.
If there is nothing to skim, great, it won't.

[Smoking Dragon]

I got home on Saturday and have good news to report. All my water tests were good, I think my son misread a test or two. The salinity was really high, 1.028, I added 3 gals of freshwater and now it's back down to 1.021. I found a few fish to use as feeders that will live in the salt water. I am hoping that Fred, my chainlink moray eel, will learn how to hunt again. He is trying but is still a little slow. Thanks for all the advice that I recieved when I had questions.

Sarge

[Smoking Dragon]

I need suggestions for aquarium supplies. I will be getting a 75 gal tank soon for Fred, my eel. It will be for him and possibly about 6 other fish, in time. I think that i will not be doing the reef thing for quite a while. I want to learn about maintaneing a salt water tank first before I get more advanced. Is there a better filter I should get. And what other accessories should I be looking for.

Sarge

[Blueface]

I got home on Saturday and have good news to report. All my water tests were good, I think my son misread a test or two. The salinity was really high, 1.028, I added 3 gals of freshwater and now it's back down to 1.021. I found a few fish to use as feeders that will live in the salt water. I am hoping that Fred, my chainlink moray eel, will learn how to hunt again. He is trying but is still a little slow. Thanks for all the advice that I recieved when I had questions.

Sarge

No wonder the eel was not happy.
That is way too high of salinity.
Even the saltiest of reefs average no more than 23-25.
Even 21 is a bit high if you don't have a reef.
Fish only systems will run like a charm between 17 and 19, limiting significantly any outbreaks of parasites.
Less salt is actually easier on the fish as their bodies are designed to filter the water and remove the salt. They do it first via the slime coat and second via their organs.

Don't forget to get him on a shrimp or clam diet.
Buy them as you would for yourself and share with him.:D
Really cool to see them go nuts on a clam shell.

[Wolfgang]

Six fish and an eel should ideally have more than 75 gallons. Look into a 90 its just a few inches wider.

Look into wet dry sump systems. They will save you a lot of headaches if properly set up.

[Smoking Dragon]

Six fish and an eel should ideally have more than 75 gallons. Look into a 90 its just a few inches wider.

Look into wet dry sump systems. They will save you a lot of headaches if properly set up.

I have seen the 90 gal tanks. They are the same length and with, only it's 4" taller. So the base and cover I am building will still work.

[Blueface]

I have seen the 90 gal tanks. They are the same length and with, only it's 4" taller. So the base and cover I am building will still work.

Just remember, height means nothing to the inhabitants. It only means something to you if that is the look you want.
Fish are happy based on the footprint as that is how they establish territory and as you said and are correct, a 75 and a 90 have the same footprint.

[Smoking Dragon]

Look into wet dry sump systems. They will save you a lot of headaches if properly set up.[/QUOTE]

Any recomendations?

[Blueface]

Any recomendations?

The wet dry filters that are common all around are all pretty much the same, just offer different looks/features in some cases.
Go to your local shop and look around. See one you like and fits your need/cabinet, in a manner you can easily remove it without worrying about removing the tank to get it out.
Then, go online to Dr. Foster and Smith/Pet Warehouse and price it. You will save lots of money, even with the shipping.

The next question will be do you drill it for an external pump or do a drop in?
If you have room, I prefer external. If limited in room, go drop in. Drop in tend to lock up more often than an external will ever.
If you need to drill it, let me know and will walk you through it. Easy thing to do to drill and place a bulkhead.

[Smoking Dragon]

I am leaning more towards a external filter. I will have room in the base that I am building for it. I have been reading that they are easier to maintain.

[Blueface]

I am leaning more towards a external filter. I will have room in the base that I am building for it. I have been reading that they are easier to maintain.

The wet dry is external.
I was referring to the pump.
If you use a wet dry, you can use a drop in pump or an external one, depending on the room you have.

Every set up I have ever sold/installed, I have always used a wet dry. Extremely reliable.
However, if you are going to go via the way of a reef, I would recommend you look into a refugium. It is a wet dry on steroids for reefs. It is a much more modern method and very efficient for reefs.

[BC-Axeman]

I was going to ask if there is a reason not to use a refugium for a F.O. tank but then I suppose the lower salinity might affect it. A refugium is just a sump with live rock and sand with a light on it.
Mine is a 20 gal glass aquarium with dividers and one 2ft. fluorescent lamp.

[Blueface]

I was going to ask if there is a reason not to use a refugium for a F.O. tank but then I suppose the lower salinity might affect it. A refugium is just a sump with live rock and sand with a light on it.
Mine is a 20 gal glass aquarium with dividers and one 2ft. fluorescent lamp.

No doubt a refugium will work well with a fish only system also.
In fact, if I was still installing tanks, would sell everyone a refugium.

I just figured if fish only system, to keep it simple, a wet dry is a great way to go.

[Smoking Dragon]

is this a good filter?


ADHI Refugium Model 30
Refugiums are one of the most efficient ways of filtration in saltwater aquaria today. Not only is it a natural way to filter your display tank but it is a sanctuary for micro-organisms to flourish and reproduce. The Macro-algae used in the refugium will utilize nitrates and phosphates from your water column. These algae?s use these nutrients to grow and thrive. ADHI Refugiums offer you the advantage of using a protein skimmer of your choice. These versitile filters allow you to use most drop in style skimmers, hang on units or simply stand the skimmer of your choice next to the filter.

Refugium Model 30
Rated to 135 Gallons
Dims: 30"L x 14"W x 18"T
Skimmer Compartment 13.5" x 10"
Refugium Compartment 13.5" x 10"
1 - 1" Drain Intake
3/4" Return for submersible pump
1" Bulk Head for external pump option
Maximum flow 1000 gph Recommended flow - 5-6 times aquarium volume Includes 1 x 32w PC Light kit
3 Year Warranty
Fits ASM-G1 & G1X Skimmer


Also with this filter do I need to get a seperate protein skimmer?

[Blueface]

is this a good filter?


ADHI Refugium Model 30
Refugiums are one of the most efficient ways of filtration in saltwater aquaria today. Not only is it a natural way to filter your display tank but it is a sanctuary for micro-organisms to flourish and reproduce. The Macro-algae used in the refugium will utilize nitrates and phosphates from your water column. These algae?s use these nutrients to grow and thrive. ADHI Refugiums offer you the advantage of using a protein skimmer of your choice. These versitile filters allow you to use most drop in style skimmers, hang on units or simply stand the skimmer of your choice next to the filter.

Refugium Model 30
Rated to 135 Gallons
Dims: 30"L x 14"W x 18"T
Skimmer Compartment 13.5" x 10"
Refugium Compartment 13.5" x 10"
1 - 1" Drain Intake
3/4" Return for submersible pump
1" Bulk Head for external pump option
Maximum flow 1000 gph Recommended flow - 5-6 times aquarium volume Includes 1 x 32w PC Light kit
3 Year Warranty
Fits ASM-G1 & G1X Skimmer


Also with this filter do I need to get a seperate protein skimmer?

Will see if I can track that down later tonight to view it.
Get the largest the cabinet will allow as important to handle overflow of water if power failure or when you shut the tank down for any service.
With any under tank filtration, a certain volume of water that varies based on tank size will always kick back and down to the filter until the syphon is broken.
Some use check valves but I have found they always go bad and don't work when you really end up needing them.
Will see if I can find my old handy chart on wet dry size to tank size.

And yes, a skimmer is extra and recommended. That too, the bigger, the better.

[BC-Axeman]

Check valves = bad idea. Unless you want to clean and replace them a lot.
I use black plastic or reinforced rubber hoses for everything as light will make too many things grow in the hoses. Even still, things grow everywhere.

If you start out with your tank full up to the point where the siphon breaks, the power off, and your sump filled to the maximum safe level, you can then turn on the pumps and the water in the sump will stabilize to the maximum level it should be filled with the pumps on. I put a piece of tape that says "NEVER FILL OVER THIS LINE!" at that point. (Unless the power is out, of course).

The specs on that refugium Sarge listed look great if it will fit in the cabinet.

[Blueface]

Check valves = bad idea. Unless you want to clean and replace them a lot.
I use black plastic or reinforced rubber hoses for everything as light will make too many things grow in the hoses. Even still, things grow everywhere.

If you start out with your tank full up to the point where the siphon breaks, the power off, and your sump filled to the maximum safe level, you can then turn on the pumps and the water in the sump will stabilize to the maximum level it should be filled with the pumps on. I put a piece of tape that says "NEVER FILL OVER THIS LINE!" at that point. (Unless the power is out, of course).

The specs on that refugium Sarge listed look great if it will fit in the cabinet.

All great stuff but he needs to make sure he has the right size sump to set that up as otherwise, the tape mark will go on the floor with the water.:r:r:r

I use hardline PVC for all uses.
Have gone away from flex hose but I am good at that stuff and most folks will find the flex hose much easier.
If you take the return piece that sits inside the tank and drill a hole letting water flow out of it, when the power goes off, syphon breaks immediately, limiting the water flowing back to the sump.

Here is some of my radical plumbing.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0063.jpg

[Blueface]

Wet dry/sump side. (before adding bio balls)
That is what you are referring to as to the water line. Here is where I tested the max back up point for the tape/mark.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0064.jpg

[Blueface]

is this a good filter?


ADHI Refugium Model 30
Refugiums are one of the most efficient ways of filtration in saltwater aquaria today. Not only is it a natural way to filter your display tank but it is a sanctuary for micro-organisms to flourish and reproduce. The Macro-algae used in the refugium will utilize nitrates and phosphates from your water column. These algae?s use these nutrients to grow and thrive. ADHI Refugiums offer you the advantage of using a protein skimmer of your choice. These versitile filters allow you to use most drop in style skimmers, hang on units or simply stand the skimmer of your choice next to the filter.

Refugium Model 30
Rated to 135 Gallons
Dims: 30"L x 14"W x 18"T
Skimmer Compartment 13.5" x 10"
Refugium Compartment 13.5" x 10"
1 - 1" Drain Intake
3/4" Return for submersible pump
1" Bulk Head for external pump option
Maximum flow 1000 gph Recommended flow - 5-6 times aquarium volume Includes 1 x 32w PC Light kit
3 Year Warranty
Fits ASM-G1 & G1X Skimmer


Also with this filter do I need to get a seperate protein skimmer?

I just realized, a 75/90 is 48 long.
If this wet dry is 30 long, need to know how your cabinet is set up as you may not be able to manage getting this in there without dropping it down before placing the tank on the cabinet and that can be a problem down the line.

[BC-Axeman]

I did the hole in the water line trick but it caused a lot of salt creep, so I was glad when it clogged.
All great stuff but he needs to make sure he has the right size sump to set that up as otherwise, the tape mark will go on the floor with the water.:r:r:r
Not if you start with the sump full when the power is off. The level will go down from there (into the main tank) when you turn the power on, and will return to that level in the sump when the power goes off. It is so hard to explain things when you know what you mean and others have no clue. With a couple of little pictures I could make it perfectly clear.
I have a spare wet/dry filter a little larger than the one in the picture. Too big for my cabinet. It was just being used as a refugium, so I have no media for it.

[Blueface]

I did the hole in the water line trick but it caused a lot of salt creep, so I was glad when it clogged.

Not if you start with the sump full when the power is off. The level will go down from there (into the main tank) when you turn the power on, and will return to that level in the sump when the power goes off. It is so hard to explain things when you know what you mean and others have no clue. With a couple of little pictures I could make it perfectly clear.
I have a spare wet/dry filter a little larger than the one in the picture. Too big for my cabinet. It was just being used as a refugium, so I have no media for it.

I am surprised at the salt creep. If you drill a very tiny hole and keep it parallel to the water level, going into the water level, there will never be any creep as it is not exposed to the air. You just don't want it exposed. Will try to take a shot of mine for illustration. I have had it like that for 12 yrs and never a speck of salt. Neither on any of my customers' tanks.

As it relates to the backflow, believe me, I know exactly what you are talking about as I always did that and showed customers how to do it.
I was just making light of it that honestly it won't work if your sump is too small. If the wet dry is too small, the tank will most definitely overflow the wet dry regardless of how you try to mark it as it is going to back up a certain amount of water that cannot be controlled as it determined by the tank size on tanks with built in overflow boxes. If you use a hang on overflow box, different story as it can be adjusted to whatever water level you want in the tank.

[BC-Axeman]

My little air hole is just above the water level instead of just below it. Salt has a way of creeping pretty far. I see what you mean about the sump backflow. If you had a 5 gal sump and 4 -5 gal could backflow you could never have enough water in the sump without it overflowing when the power went off.

[darb85]

Is there anyone on the Toledo area that can pick up a fish for me and meet me in lansing or somewhere in between? Ill buy the beer and make it worth thier while. send me a pm if you can.

[Smoking Dragon]

I just realized, a 75/90 is 48 long.
If this wet dry is 30 long, need to know how your cabinet is set up as you may not be able to manage getting this in there without dropping it down before placing the tank on the cabinet and that can be a problem down the line.

I didn't realize that either. I could make modifications to my cabinet. But, I would have to take into consideration the structure of it for safety. I downloaded plans online. It has 3 sections that are 15 3/8" wide each. My son and I are going to build it ourselves, to save lotsa money. I guess I will have to wait till it's built to look for a filter system.

[Smoking Dragon]

P.S. I got a better water tester kit and found my ammonia and nitrates / nitrites were high. I did a 1/3 water change and added stress enzyme. Fred looks better and is more active now, and is eating better. I also got the salinity to 1.018, as per recomendations. I think that is better so that I can place feeder fish in the tank and they will live until he gets hungry.

[Blueface]

I didn't realize that either. I could make modifications to my cabinet. But, I would have to take into consideration the structure of it for safety. I downloaded plans online. It has 3 sections that are 15 3/8" wide each. My son and I are going to build it ourselves, to save lotsa money. I guess I will have to wait till it's built to look for a filter system.

Go to Dr. Foster and Smith and see some of the cabinets they have.
You would be surprised how cheap they are.

If your plans call for three sections/openings on a 75/90 that is 48" wide, that will definitely be a problem with ANY wet dry.
Can't imagine any that will swing that opening.
I would recommend you find plans for a more traditional two door piece that has large doors and as such, limits the dead space in the center between the doors. This will give you more room to work with and specially down the line to service the tank. The worst thing you can have is a system that you can't access.

Believe it or not, that center brace on that tank is not really main support. The support is built around the four sides of the tank which will hold and distribute the wait. That center brace is more for support of the doors. Many ways around this.

Note the photos I just posted of that tank I built. Note how I practice what I am preaching and how it can be done to make for simple access in the future. That is a 300+ gallon tank and the support is strong enough yet allows awesome access to all components, even after the doors were eventually hung.

[Blueface]

In the case of my tank, the center brace is a somewhat of a support but I stil managed to build it with ballroom dancing space. Both sets of doors on both sides swing completely open with nothing to obstruct.

My filtration is more like what your wet dry will look than the one I did for my customer. Mine is 12 yrs old and I did it much simpler than, before I got into the complicated plumbing. I have been updating it here and there through the years but never splurged on a new custom built wet dry as I did for customers.

To give you an idea, that is a 72" long furniture and that wet dry is 36" long.

Note the tape and arrow BC-Axeman was referring to.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0003.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0001.jpg

[Blueface]

P.S. I got a better water tester kit and found my ammonia and nitrates / nitrites were high. I did a 1/3 water change and added stress enzyme. Fred looks better and is more active now, and is eating better. I also got the salinity to 1.018, as per recomendations. I think that is better so that I can place feeder fish in the tank and they will live until he gets hungry.

Great, glad to hear he is better.

Don't feed him feeder fish, specially if fresh water as some folks do.
That is not part of their diet.
Eels by large part eat shrimp, clams, etc in that family.
While he may be eating other stuff (heck, mine eats the regular food I feed the fish - granules that you see in the photo I just posted of my tank), it is not necessarily good for them or the tank.
Feeder fish and things like silver fish are bad for the water chemistry, specially in a 75 gallon system or smaller that has less tolerance for variance.
Some eels like a zebra moray will starve before they even dare try to eat a live fish.
They are not designed for that.
Get in the habit of feeding him once to three times a week, depending on how he looks as far as seeking out food.
The more you feed an eel, the more he will grow. The less you feed, the longer he takes to grow.
Place a shrimp piece on a feeding stick for eels and control what goes in the tank so to limit waste.

[Smoking Dragon]

Yeah I'm gonna stop by the asian store on the way home and pick up a few fresh, live clams for him to try.

[Blueface]

Yeah I'm gonna stop by the asian store on the way home and pick up a few fresh, live clams for him to try.

Freeze them when you get home.
It kills any parasites they may bring that may affect the tank.
I then thaw them in a cup with water, split it and drop the half shell with the claim in the tank.
Once he is done, scoop out the shell.
If he doesn't like it, get it out of there.

He will go nuts for it as he also will for shrimp.
I take a medium to large shrimp and cut it into about three pieces (for the size of my eel).
I then feed him the pieces on a feeding stick.
Mine goes through about 5 shrimp on average, about two times a week.

[Wolfgang]

Hey Carlos,

Just last night When I put some of the shrimpy water in my tank, to let my eel know it was dinner time, My eel went bonkers and swam out in the open all over the tank. Thats my first time seeing her whole body since I bought her 6 weeks ago. I guess she is getting comfortable now. Also when I did my late night flashlight check she was perched on a rock curled up similar to a snake. Man do I love my eel :-).

On another note, lets see some more pictures of CORAL people!!!! This IS the reef tank thread :ss

Ill have pictures of mine tonight after I get my camera from my GF's Im starting to have a nice little collection of Zoos. Today I jsut added some what I believe to be purple people eaters, tubbs blues, and latina lips. I swear I am not making up these names. Check out the gallerys on zoaid.com.

[Blueface]

Hey Carlos,

Just last night When I put some of the shrimpy water in my tank, to let my eel know it was dinner time, My eel went bonkers and swam out in the open all over the tank. Thats my first time seeing her whole body since I bought her 6 weeks ago. I guess she is getting comfortable now. Also when I did my late night flashlight check she was perched on a rock curled up similar to a snake. Man do I love my eel :-).

On another note, lets see some more pictures of CORAL people!!!! This IS the reef tank thread :ss

Ill have pictures of mine tonight after I get my camera from my GF's Im starting to have a nice little collection of Zoos. Today I jsut added some what I believe to be purple people eaters, tubbs blues, and latina lips. I swear I am not making up these names. Check out the gallerys on zoaid.com.

Try this next time.
Dip the shrimp in the water and quickly pull it out.
Watch that eel go nuts just off that.
They have generally poor vision but unbelievable sense of smell.

On the corals request, I asked my wife if I can set up a reef tank with the spare 55 that is in the garage.
Her response was "sure".
That was followed by a pause.
Followed by, "just go ahead and physically switch places with the tank in the garage".:r:r:r

[Wolfgang]

lol. Ill have to try that. I still have to cut the shrimp up pretty small. My eel cant eat a whole one yet.

[Blueface]

lol. Ill have to try that. I still have to cut the shrimp up pretty small. My eel cant eat a whole one yet.

Mine doesn't either and he is large.
I cut a large shrimp in three.
A medium shrimp in two works well for him.

[Wolfgang]

I mean even cut int pieces she can finish thw whole thing, She maybe eats 4 pieces and she is done.

[Smoking Dragon]

I would like to introduce the newest member of my family ........ Fred the eel

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss282/johnmcdaniel1970/Fred%20the%20eel/094.jpg

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss282/johnmcdaniel1970/Fred%20the%20eel/092.jpg

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss282/johnmcdaniel1970/Fred%20the%20eel/093.jpg

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/ss282/johnmcdaniel1970/Fred%20the%20eel/096.jpg

[Wolfgang]

SWEET!!! Thats a beautiful eel right there

[BC-Axeman]

Thanks for sharing the eel pictures, Sarge. I could see why you were worried about it.

[shilala]

I gotta change some water today. I'm so excited. hehe

[BC-Axeman]

The coralline algae in my tank has been going nuts. The two sides and the back are almost totally covered. It's starting to move in on the front bottom and sides. This is going to take three or four hours to clean. I blame the snails. They keep the tank walls clean enough from the soft algae to allow the coralline to grow. The balances are so tricky in this closed system.

[darb85]

update!

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/30533/2714893910084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2714893910084512725UcKtAw)

3 Colonies of zoas right now, just generic ones right now, but some nice color out of two of them, I gonna get rid on on though, not real colorful, a Blasto Merleti, Devils hand, and a water melon mushroom, very cool coloring.

2 Percula clowns, 3 Blue/green Chromis, Coral beauty, Yellow headed sleeper goby and a Coral Banded Shrimp.

This is fun!


That Eel is freaking sweet by the way!

[BC-Axeman]

I spent from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm (with a break for a cigar) yesterday doing cleaning and maintenance on my reef tank. I think the coralline algae is going through a seasonal bloom. Took some pictures:
http://130.94.224.229/share/tank1.jpg
http://130.94.224.229/share/tank2.jpg
http://130.94.224.229/share/tank3.jpg

[Smoking Dragon]

The rocks in the tank, are they the live rocks? Also I was thinking about setting something up like that for Fred. I worry about him knocking them down. Is there a way to attatch them together so they are really stable?

[darb85]

you can glue them together.

And with the pics above, i seriously need to get a new camera! sheesh. puts my pics to shame.

[BC-Axeman]

Those are live rock but in a fish only system they are probably best kept in a separate refugium. If they have light they grow stuff on them and are hard to clean. In the reef tank everything competes until a balance is struck.This balance shifts around a bit.
My rocks are just piled up but they can be glued together with a putty epoxy or gelled super glue.

[marge796]

These pics are amazing! Thanks to everyone who shared them.


Chris…….


:tu

[darb85]

Cant find my firefish :( put him in the tank saw him saturday morning when i fed the tank, and now, no sign! is this normal behavior?

[Wolfgang]

yes. they will be shy for a week or two. Allow up to 3 days before they eat in your tank.

Just think if you moved from a 3' by 3' room into the taj mahal would you want to waste time eating or would you be exploring all the fun awesome stuff?

[BC-Axeman]

I was missing my new dottyback for two weeks. When it finally came out it looked starved. Now it's starting to fight back against the damsels and they better learn some respect as the dottyback will get bigger and badder than them. Damsels can hold their own, though. Wiki says firefish are leapers. I lost a couple of fish out of my nano tank because they leaped out.

[darb85]

I was missing my new dottyback for two weeks. When it finally came out it looked starved. Now it's starting to fight back against the damsels and they better learn some respect as the dottyback will get bigger and badder than them. Damsels can hold their own, though. Wiki says firefish are leapers. I lost a couple of fish out of my nano tank because they leaped out.

ive got the fully enclosed Nano, Dont think he can get out, there are no holes. and if he did, where did he go? i cant find him on the ground.

It must have been the aliens

[Wolfgang]

Updated picture of my eel, L eel a . http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0202-1.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

Nice pic.

[Wolfgang]

thank you, I just noticed all the nice coraline algae on the rocks too. Guess Im on the right road.

[BC-Axeman]

My Percula Clowns finally spawned. I was told it was only a matter of time. None of the offspring will survive, probably, but it's still pretty cool.
http://130.94.224.229/share/clownegg.jpg

[Wolfgang]

AWESOME!!~!!! those are beautiful! Im saving my pennies untill I can afford a snocasso clownfish.

[BC-Axeman]

Talk about your bristle worms:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1165930/Barry-giant-sea-worm-discovered-aquarium-staff-mysterious-attacks-coral-reef.html

[mojo65]

Talk about your bristle worms:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1165930/Barry-giant-sea-worm-discovered-aquarium-staff-mysterious-attacks-coral-reef.html

NASTY sucker!

[darb85]

isnt that a bobbit worm?

[Wolfgang]

isnt that a bobbit worm?

Yep :pu:pu

[Wanger]

Domn you sons of *****es!!!! I've got the itch again!!!!! (and I only read to page 11) I worked at a pet store in college and had a 55gal reef setup. (sorry no pictures,as it was when digital cams were too expensive for a college kid). And then when we were in our townhouse we had a 12 gal nanocube. It was more work that I had time for, being such a small tank. If we weren't looking to move in the next 1.5-2yrs, I'd prolly be setting up one again, or would have done it before. Dammit! How do I scratch this itch now, you arseholes. :D

[darb85]

Domn you sons of *****es!!!! I've got the itch again!!!!! (and I only read to page 11) I worked at a pet store in college and had a 55gal reef setup. (sorry no pictures,as it was when digital cams were too expensive for a college kid). And then when we were in our townhouse we had a 12 gal nanocube. It was more work that I had time for, being such a small tank. If we weren't looking to move in the next 1.5-2yrs, I'd prolly be setting up one again, or would have done it before. Dammit! How do I scratch this itch now, you arseholes. :D

This tread is directly responsible for the fact that I have a reef tank. haha.

and im getting another tank this weekend....

JUST DO IT!

[shilala]

Hey guys, my tank blew up again last week, that was the third major leak.
I gave up on it and bought an extra high 30 gallon cause my light fit it. I'm going to buy a bigger, higher one later when I have a chance. I'll post pics when I get a chance.
Anyways...
Today I had my first coral division deal happen.
This coral used to be kidney shaped. It never occurred to me that it was planning on dividing.
Today I went to feed my fish and noticed the one side was inside out and I could see it has divided into two distinct pieces. It's pretty cool cause my stuff is growing well if it's not dying.
I've had a couple snails die lately that must have gotten trapped between rocks, so my water has been screwed up and I've been changing a lot. It's a pain.
So here's the pic, sorry it sucks. :)
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/dividedcoral.jpg

[BC-Axeman]

Looks good. You might want to try an Emerald Crab in there if the bubble algae gets to prolific.

[Smoking Dragon]

I know that it's not a reef tank (yet), but it's a start for me. I just set up this 75 gal tank for fred, my 2+ ft giraffe moray eel. Below are some of the first pics from Fred in his new home.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/sergeantsmoky/Fred%20the%20eel/100_0317.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/sergeantsmoky/Fred%20the%20eel/100_0328.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll161/sergeantsmoky/Fred%20the%20eel/100_0322.jpg

[Wolfgang]

He looks beautiful........ erm..... hansom? Anyways it is a Tessalata Eel. Very cool my friend!

More info can be found here.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+29+133&pcatid=133

[BC-Axeman]

Wow!

[Smoking Dragon]

A water quality question:

I set the above mentioned tank up on 2 May 09. On 12 May I did my water test and they were all within limits. I just tested the water again last night, and the water quality was better. The nitrates went down. Is that common?

Here are the stats:

76 degrees
1.020
ammonia 0 ppm
PH 7.8
Nitrate 5.0 ppm
nitrogen 0 ppm


I read that salt water tanks like to be a high PH level, like 8.0 - 8.2. If Freds is happy it's at, do I really need to change it?

Sarge

[Wolfgang]

You should. It isnt that hard to raise PH just do it gradually over a day or two. Nitrate tests are often misleading. Are you using a dip stick or the liquid kits? If the liquid kits make sure you shake the second bottle very good. 30+ seconds should do it.

[Smoking Dragon]

I use the liquid test kit. I follow the directions on the test kit as far as shaking and waiting the times indicated. Are the dipstrips better?

[Wolfgang]

nope the dip sticks suck. They will giove you a ball park idea of where your tests are

[sikk50]

I have a question. I've looked around a lot but I have yet to find an affermitive answer.

My Royal Tang has HORRIBLE HLLE. To the point where I've often looked at the most humane way to put her to sleep, even though she seems very happy and has a normal or even above normal appatite. I bought her when she was about the size of a quarter and she is now about half the size of a dollar bill. When I brought her home she was perfectly fine.

So does anybody know how to fix her to look pretty again?

[shilala]

I have a question. I've looked around a lot but I have yet to find an affermitive answer.

My Royal Tang has HORRIBLE HLLE. To the point where I've often looked at the most humane way to put her to sleep, even though she seems very happy and has a normal or even above normal appatite. I bought her when she was about the size of a quarter and she is now about half the size of a dollar bill. When I brought her home she was perfectly fine.

So does anybody know how to fix her to look pretty again?
I just did a quick look and they say it's caused by stray voltage. Here's how to check. (http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/strayvoltageproblems/Stray_Voltage_Problems.htm)
You can clear it up with a new diet.
Here's how one guy did it. (http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=9&gps=198_752_1003_615&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&st=32&zu=http%3A//www.geocities.com/Heartland/Garden/5533/purpletang.html)
I'd check for stray voltage then go get her some new food. Some frozen stuff and some dried brown algae.
I feed my fish tank about 7 different things. I use brown algae, pellets, a tri-flake mix, brine shrimp flakes, frozen brine shrimp, formula one frozen marine food and hikari frozen marine food.
My tang mostly just picks food from cracks and stuff. She eats mostly the pellets I think.

[Savvy]

I really dislike this thread... I'm getting the feeling that I want to set one of these up, of course I got the feeling back in the Jungle's version of this thread as well... Maybe I can make it a while longer. I'm in a dorm in the military, so I couldn't afford anything very big, and I know that a 12-24g tank would possibly be more trouble than its worth. But I definitely have the itch right now...



Thanks a lot guys...

[shilala]

I really dislike this thread... I'm getting the feeling that I want to set one of these up, of course I got the feeling back in the Jungle's version of this thread as well... Maybe I can make it a while longer. I'm in a dorm in the military, so I couldn't afford anything very big, and I know that a 12-24g tank would possibly be more trouble than its worth. But I definitely have the itch right now...



Thanks a lot guys...
One of those 10 gallon nano-reefs would be in my office if I had an office.
You can put so much cool stuff in such a small space, it's relatively cheap, and super cool.
I have been growing my environment for 15 years now and it's just starting to get cool.
Nowadays you can get everything and you can get it anywhere.
I love my fish, but I enjoy all the critters in my live rock even more.

[shilala]

Oh yeah, by the way...
I have a line on a lobster tank. If I can get that, I will have the coolest touch pool anyone has ever created. I'm still trying to wiggle it out of the guy that has it. :)

[Wolfgang]

Just upgraded my lights yesterday form 250 watt compact flourescents to 350watts of T-5 and the difference is amazing!!!

Before

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0269-1.jpg

After

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0273-1.jpg

And Today i finally got around to tearing down that algae infested aquapod. Here it is with fresh rocks and new sand. Still a little cloudy but im looking forward to starting over.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0309-1.jpg

[darb85]

Set this up In december, and heres what she looks like now! Lots of life, Cool little stuff popping up all over the place. Texas trash needs to be cultivated, its starting to take over any ideas here?

Full tank shot. Have to develop some close ups.


http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/9157/2743499900084512725S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2743499900084512725AnRbxY)

[shilala]

Some of my corals are dying while others are thriving.
I'm clueless.
I think it's time for new lightbulbs.

[Wolfgang]

I agree scott. Bulbs will make a HUGE difference. if anything you really like has gone the way of the gorilla let me know Im getting ready for some fragging.

[shilala]

I agree scott. Bulbs will make a HUGE difference. if anything you really like has gone the way of the gorilla let me know Im getting ready for some fragging.
I gotta see when I last replaced my bulbs. It wasn't long ago.
If you get to fragging, let me know. I'm willing to kill anything. :r

[Ahbroody]

Some of my corals are dying while others are thriving.
I'm clueless.
I think it's time for new lightbulbs.

scott whats dying. my buddy and family owns dolphin pet village in campbell ca. he has many prop tanks and been reefing since childhood. by buddy i mean known for years have his cell phone and going to play hockey with him in the fall. He really knows what hes doing.

[shilala]

scott whats dying. my buddy and family owns dolphin pet village in campbell ca. he has many prop tanks and been reefing since childhood. by buddy i mean known for years have his cell phone and going to play hockey with him in the fall. He really knows what hes doing.
Green stuff, blue stuff and green blobby stuff.
The red stuff is doing great and the green wiggly stuff is doing okay too.
I doubt he can work with that, but it's the best I can do. :)

[Ahbroody]

can you snap a picture of the different corals?
You may need to target feed some of them specificaly.
Do you know if they are LPS or SPS?