Red Sea Max Owners Club

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=11900855#post11900855

[LaurentSeattle]

jfro:

At $700, I believe this is a good deal. Check out http://superfishstore.com/ : For quite a while, they had the best price on the RSM+Stand combo.

Heat: Certainly will be a problem in Nevada, unless you want to run A/C all the time, you will need a chiller.

[LaurentSeattle]

LOL :) I split the thread...

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

jfro -
I used to live in the "Biggest Little City in the World" north of you many years ago...

I agree with LaurentSeattle, a $ 700 delivered price for everything sounds like a great deal!
I live in south Florida so it was necessary for me to purchase a 1/15hp chiller, a CurrentUSA Mini-Chiller. Figure to add 3-4 degrees F to the closed hood system RSM's water temp above your homes air temp. The chiller brought my RSM down from 82F to 79F from where it was placed in a south facing room. Be sure to PUNCH OUT the chiller port cover for additional ventilation and make sure you receive the newer RSM with the additional cooling fan... a sticker is on the box.

The lighting should be fine for all you may desire except clams....

My RSM was born Jan. 20th... after I spent a month on this thread asking lots of questions! The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to BE PATIENT and post questions!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

:rollface:
:dance: :bounce3: :bounce1: :celeb3: :celeb1:


LaurentSeattle: You did it!!!

How many splits now, Reefmack?
This is another good time to say Thank-you for starting this RSM club and for being here for all of us. :) Thank-you. I have learned so much here from you, and the the other members. It's such a pleasure to see such enthusiasm and sharing within the group. :beer:

About the acans, Brent, what kind do you have and how far apart do you keep them? Are they frags?

[Brent F]

The new fish for my tide pool
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/pajama.jpg
One of about 10 encrusting pink sponges that came on my live rock
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/sponge.jpg
Corals
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/coral3.jpghttp://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/coral4.jpghttp://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/coral5.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/coral2.jpghttp://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/coralclose.jpg
There are more pictures in my WWW link

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Donna -

:beer: :beer: :beer:

and what would be the best regional beer in Alberta?

Caught Eating!... shy but B E A U T I F U L!!!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0268.JPG


Pix of the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and Firefish Goby tomorrow....

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11901260#post11901260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by donna53w


About the acans, Brent, what kind do you have and how far apart do you keep them? Are they frags?

Tongan and Indo Acanths and Micros, Ruby Aussie Acan and redish orange Cyphastrea.

About 3 inches & a ridge of rock between each frag with a 2 - 4 inch high wall behind them to protect the SPS

They are small frags. I can't get a good picture of them. Here are two of them when first put in the tank. They have since been moved further apart
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/lps.jpg

[Howie69]

Anyone have problems with the moonlight going out? After just one week the moonlights are out. I can say I don't use them much but...The unit was missing the cooling fan, Both fans make a screaming noise then start howling until my two dogs howl too... The filter bag supplied with the unit was the wrong size thus getting caught up in the power heads. Are all of you out there for sure satisfied with this $800.00 set up? I'm not to thrilled with the climbing on the chair every two days to rinse out the square white filter. I purchased a Fluval canister unit today but discovered there is no possible way to insert the suction line to the right of the skimmer instead of the crazy black block and white filter. Red Sea Max is out of all parts for the lights/fans. Why the hell do I have to take the light apart to perform this repair one week later. If I purchased a $25.00 fluorescent tube light from Pet Smart/Kmart they would honor the warranty especially after just one week. I work really hard during the day time as I'm sure you all do. Every night now I am fixing the broken $800.00 so called all in one. I had 200 gallon tanks in the 80's that was easier to maintain. Nobody else is having this problem?

[ibscott]

So I will probably be adding my uncured rock (its dry, but they say to expect some die off anyways) to my tank this weekend. I've read so many different things on cycling. I'm thinking about putting all the rock in, leaving the light off, with a bunch of power heads and let it stew until everything is at 0 and the algae (both brown and green) has died off due to lack of light and lack of nutrients. I was thinking about a weekly 15 gallon water change during this process.

What do you guys think? Good idea? Or should I handle it differently?

Also, I was going to add the bottle of nitro-bac that came with the RSM starter kit when I add the rock. Is this enough? Or should I buy one piece of already cured live rock from a LSF and add it with all the uncured rock? Won't all the coraline die off with the rest of the algae due to lack of light and nutrients?

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11901590#post11901590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
Anyone have problems with the moonlight going out? After just one week the moonlights are out. I can say I don't use them much but...The unit was missing the cooling fan, Both fans make a screaming noise then start howling until my two dogs howl too... The filter bag supplied with the unit was the wrong size thus getting caught up in the power heads. Are all of you out there for sure satisfied with this $800.00 set up? I'm not to thrilled with the climbing on the chair every two days to rinse out the square white filter. I purchased a Fluval canister unit today but discovered there is no possible way to insert the suction line to the right of the skimmer instead of the crazy black block and white filter. Red Sea Max is out of all parts for the lights/fans. Why the hell do I have to take the light apart to perform this repair one week later. If I purchased a $25.00 fluorescent tube light from Pet Smart/Kmart they would honor the warranty especially after just one week. I work really hard during the day time as I'm sure you all do. Every night now I am fixing the broken $800.00 so called all in one. I had 200 gallon tanks in the 80's that was easier to maintain. Nobody else is having this problem?

I think the best place to run the hoses for the Fluval is where the chiller hoses would go. Pop that plastic piece out and run them there. That is exactly what I did with mine and ive had no problems with it.

[shramj]

Chris, what kind of pump did you use for the Fluval filter?

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11902494#post11902494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
Chris, what kind of pump did you use for the Fluval filter?

Fluvals are canister filters, and the pump is included inside the canister. They have a siphon starter to pull water into the canister from the tank and start the siphon. When plugged in the canister pump moves the water.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Yep its all self contained, no extra pumps needed. The canister filters have come a long ways since the mid 90's when I had one last. It's a great way to keep your carbon and other additives. It's quick and easy to change, much much much much easier than taking the power heads out and messing with the carbon bag below them.

Shram are you going to the Westside meeting this weekend? If so whatcha gonna bring :D

[Reefmack]

Laurent - congrats on being the thread splitter this time.

Donna - I lost track of how many splits there have been - 4 or 5 ?

[crzy_pig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11901590#post11901590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
Anyone have problems with the moonlight going out? After just one week the moonlights are out. I can say I don't use them much but...The unit was missing the cooling fan, Both fans make a screaming noise then start howling until my two dogs howl too... The filter bag supplied with the unit was the wrong size thus getting caught up in the power heads. Are all of you out there for sure satisfied with this $800.00 set up? I'm not to thrilled with the climbing on the chair every two days to rinse out the square white filter. I purchased a Fluval canister unit today but discovered there is no possible way to insert the suction line to the right of the skimmer instead of the crazy black block and white filter. Red Sea Max is out of all parts for the lights/fans. Why the hell do I have to take the light apart to perform this repair one week later. If I purchased a $25.00 fluorescent tube light from Pet Smart/Kmart they would honor the warranty especially after just one week. I work really hard during the day time as I'm sure you all do. Every night now I am fixing the broken $800.00 so called all in one. I had 200 gallon tanks in the 80's that was easier to maintain. Nobody else is having this problem?

Call the US number listed in the RSM booklet, Ask for Pinky and tell her your moonlights are out and you need the fan upgrades (noisy fans and missing third fan)

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11901590#post11901590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
Anyone have problems with the moonlight going out? After just one week the moonlights are out. I can say I don't use them much but...The unit was missing the cooling fan, Both fans make a screaming noise then start howling until my two dogs howl too... The filter bag supplied with the unit was the wrong size thus getting caught up in the power heads. Are all of you out there for sure satisfied with this $800.00 set up? I'm not to thrilled with the climbing on the chair every two days to rinse out the square white filter. I purchased a Fluval canister unit today but discovered there is no possible way to insert the suction line to the right of the skimmer instead of the crazy black block and white filter. Red Sea Max is out of all parts for the lights/fans. Why the hell do I have to take the light apart to perform this repair one week later. If I purchased a $25.00 fluorescent tube light from Pet Smart/Kmart they would honor the warranty especially after just one week. I work really hard during the day time as I'm sure you all do. Every night now I am fixing the broken $800.00 so called all in one. I had 200 gallon tanks in the 80's that was easier to maintain. Nobody else is having this problem?

Agree with Reefmack.
Usually Red Sea has an excellent customer service and they were always very good in helping us. ok maybe they are out of stock of some items what can happen but IMO they should replace the complete hood as you having issues with the moonlights AND the fans. It is not up to you to repair a new purchased item. What is with the warranty if you are going to open to hood and start replacing parts?

Michael
MAXreefer

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11902904#post11902904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Laurent - congrats on being the thread splitter this time.

Donna - I lost track of how many splits there have been - 4 or 5 ? To answer the question on everybody's mind...this is the 8th split of the thread. :bum: That's a lot of info sharing, great job to all participants. Terry...it truly was a great idea you had on June 19th of last year. On that day alone you had 9 people join the thread (myself and Rue included).

[Howie69]

Thanks guys....

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11903354#post11903354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
Thanks guys....
Howie69
Just a reminder.... This is at the bottom of your posts:
Hobby Experience: 20 years ago I had a very large marine tank. I took a break. I just purchased a Red Sea Max to get back into this "fun" hobby.

Howie.... with 8 splits of 40 pages = 320+ pages on this thread, we are all here to help as fellow RSM owners! So please don't get frustrated!!! I have only been involved with this group of people since December (thanks to an invitation by Reefmack) I have received a "Master Degree" education from all the participants of the RSM Owners Club thread! There is nothing that can't be solved! :D

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

Brent, thanks for the acan placement info and the photo! When I purchased mine, the seller told me that most of them are OK grouped together... except for 1 that I bought, and this one he said to keep to itself. I'm including a photo of mine, too. I had mentioned before that my rock isn't the flat type, making it difficult for placement of corals. I need to get that epoxy ordered!
There are 5 acans in the pic: 3 different orange ones, way down and to the left is green/brown, and over to the right, directly below the blurry 6 line wrasse is a light blue one.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/feb084.jpg



lpsluver: thanks for keeping track. 8 ... wow, that's amazing especially as this just started in JUNE 07!

Y-DesygnGuy: Do you have both hoses for your cannister filter in the same compartment in the RSM?


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/P1080006a-1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/febo87.jpg

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11903655#post11903655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by donna53w
Brent, thanks for the acan placement info and the photo! When I purchased mine, the seller told me that most of them are OK grouped together... except for 1 that I bought, and this one he said to keep to itself.

I was told to keep them 5 inches apart to allow for growth and 2 inches from anything else. Since I have a RSM and not a 250 gal tank I went closer and have rock ridges between them. Hopefully they grow nicely but not too quickly ;)

I figured keeping them on a separate terrace would protect everything else from them. The biggest risk I see from where I placed them is there is a xenia below them. The xenia could grow to their terrace and get stung. I might need to move the xenia rock at some point.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/buffer.jpg

One of the 5 I couldn't get a picture of looks exactly like the orange one in your picture except it is about 1/2 that size.

I got 3 at Golds in Calgary and 2 from Wickedfrags.

[Reefmack]

lpsluver - wow! I guess I really did lose track on how many times this thread has split - 8 times - amazing. Yes - I know you and Rue are one of the "old timers" in here, and it's great to see you and others still hanging around. I've said before - I never imagined how many people & posts would be pulled into this post started last June. It was originally started in the hopes of getting a few RSM owners together to try to optimize the tank and resolve issues with it, and it has done that as well as become a great learning resource on so many non-RSM related things. And don't forget RSMreefers.com, put together by MAXreefer (Michael) - another great RSM information resource! It's all become a bit of a "RSM family" , and the success of this thread is only because of all that participate - the only part of that success that I will lay claim to is starting that first post - the rest of the reasons for success belong to the RSM owners & non-owners that stop in here and participate! I think we all have to thank each other for the learning experiences that we get from this thread - it's been a great GROUP EFFORT, and extremely worthwhile to me!

Howie - as I put in your other post, and as MAXreefer said, I think Red Sea should send you a complete replacement hood, and that's what you should try to get.

Donna - nice pics & nice acans! I hadn't seen your tank in a while - it's now looking great!!! I wish my glass looked half as clean as yours - it's hard keeping up with the coralline growing on mine.

[Reefmack]

Donna/Brent: I think I posted fairly recently that I'd always considered my innocent looking big blue acan a non-aggressive coral, till I found it stinging my brain coral one night. My most aggressive was my frogspawn - it stung a toadstool so many times that the toadstool was beyond repair, killed a neighboring Ricordea, and the sweepers from the frogspawn had once stung a nice "stripe" across the acan - causing a several inch scar right down to the skeleton on the acan. Both the acan and frogspawn were given away not long ago. If you hadn't seen it this is a picture of the innocent looking acan stinging the brain. Acans can be pretty aggressive!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/mackwork/AcanAttacksBrain2.jpg

But my frogspawn was the most agressive.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

donna53w
Your tank is looking G O R G E O U S! What is the coral 'dead center' in the shadow of your LR.... Dragon Eyes? Also, is that the normal water level you maintain in your RSM? If so, what do you use inside the tank to gauge your top off levels?

Brent F -
Great looking corals! Love your "Pajama Cardinal"! I seem to remember them called "Apogon's"(????) years ago and considered a nocturnal fish with their big eyes.

Here is that "Skunk Cleaner Shrimp" I added yesterday.... Just hanging out! :lol:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0269.JPG


Now The Bad News.... I wanted to post a picture of the "Firefish Goby" that I also introduced yesterday.... I haven't seen him since last night under the moonlights when I search for him with a flashlight and he was hiding in the LR! I thought he would be swimming around today but HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND HIM!!! :( Without tearing apart the LR to find him... I am now wondering if he could have gotten into the back compartments of the tank!!! :(
I carefully searched with out any luck!

If he got sucked into the canister or into the main pump compartment the outcome can't be good.....
Hopefully he is just hiding in the LR and getting used to the new surroundings!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Howie69]

Thank you Kent. You kinda snapped me out of it. I love the looks of the tank. I just want all items working. I have a 3 week old newborn and I list and sell Bank Foreclosures here in Michigan. I have a very stressful day job I thought this was the ideal time to get back into Saltwater fish....Thanks for snapping me out of my normal panic state...Where do I send the bill for our therapy session...(add that to your list)...Have a great day..Peace

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - my pajama cardinals also tend to be nocturnal unless I put put food in. Otherwise they tend to stay up in the corners of the tank. At night they're swimming all over the place. I've read they do tend to be more nocturnal - probably why they've evolved those big eyes.

On the firefish, it's probably just hiding in a place you can't see, but Laurent has has had at least one never show up after having it for a while. Give it time & hopefully it will show up. They are known jumpers though, so I suppose it could have jumped into the back compartment.

Howie - send the payment to The RSM Owner's Club - we'll use it towards our next party (just kidding of course). :)

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Donna -- "Y-DesygnGuy: Do you have both hoses for your cannister filter in the same compartment in the RSM?"

I do in a way, I have the intake hose next the skimmer more in that compartment. The return hose is next to the heater or in that compartment. But they are really close together really a few inches apart I would say. The intake hose I left longer so its almost at the bottom of the compartment. To where I left the return hose shorter about 2-3 inches below the water level in the back compartment.

If that makes sense, sorry I am sitting in a really boring LONG meeting and I am posting on the sly! :smokin:

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904169#post11904169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Donna/Brent: I think I posted fairly recently that I'd always considered my innocent looking big blue acan a non-aggressive coral, till I found it stinging my brain coral one night. My most aggressive was my frogspawn - it stung a toadstool so many times that the toadstool was beyond repair, killed a neighboring Ricordea, and the sweepers from the frogspawn had once stung a nice "stripe" across the acan - causing a several inch scar right down to the skeleton on the acan. Both the acan and frogspawn were given away not long ago. If you hadn't seen it this is a picture of the innocent looking acan stinging the brain. Acans can be pretty aggressive!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/mackwork/AcanAttacksBrain2.jpg

But my frogspawn was the most agressive.

Great picture of a sting!!

Frogspawn tenticles and reach about 6 inches. This is a huge buffer zone that they need to be provided making them borderline for keeping in a RSM. One way to reduce this is to keep the frogspawn in a constant current so you only need a 6 inch buffer zone on one side.

Some people will actually go in at night and clip off the frogspawn's stinging tenticles so they can keep other corals closer. I have a hard time with this. If you can't give a Frogspawn enough space get rid of it like you did.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

You should see how long my galaxy corals feeding tentacles are! Puts the frog spawns tentacles to shame at least twice as long on the galaxy coral!

[Reefmack]

Y-desynguy - I've head the galaxys are very aggressive too, and what you said goes along with that. I've also read that some had to remove their galaxy as it was killing other corals. And Brent was right on with the long sweepers on the frogspawn - they weren't always extended, but when they were they had a good long reach to anything within several inches.

[stephensturman]

HELLO,

How has everyone been? im moved into my new house now and im just getting ready to move my tank this weekend any suggestions or tips? thanks!

[Reefmack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904692#post11904692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stephensturman
HELLO,

How has everyone been? im moved into my new house now and im just getting ready to move my tank this weekend any suggestions or tips? thanks!

Congrats on moving in the new house! Don't drop the tank! Other than that I'm not sure what to recommend as I've never had to move a tank. I guess keep the rock at least moist if you can't have it submerged. I would think removing the rock first would make it easier to catch any fish you have? Keep the corals separated & in tank water. I'd be most concerned on whether to take the substrate and take a chance on stirring up noxious things that may be in it, or just taking some to seed new substrate. I'm just making semi-educated guesses. Any other recommendations anyone/

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

OK Guys....
I am still trying to get a handle on all the different corals. I believe I have asked this before, but my first coral purchase had a couple of green mushrooms and Dragon Eye Zoa polyps on it. Is this a problem for either one??? I repositioned it on some dry reef base (on the left) because the Mexican Turbos tend to knock it out of position and the left side mushroom was down in the sand.... I also spotted a small brown mushroom in the rock.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0270-1.JPG

Advice please!
What should go on top, on my wide flat rock, 8" below the stock lights? A Tridacna sp. clam, Flame Scallop, or a light loving coral frag? What less aggressive corals should I consider next? How about a brain coral? Are you all feeding them occasionally?

I guess using frogspawn to host a True Percula may not be a good idea? I am kinda hung up on the idea of using a Haitian Condylactis sp. (have hosted clowns for me in the past) or a Bubble Tip Entacmaea sp. anemome as a host for the True Percula Clown! If the anemone is up top.... lots of light.... good flow, it should be happy right? Is their any way to secure it to a good spot?

Howie69 - No charge for the therapy! EVERYONE here is willing to help! :D
stephensturman - Welcome Back!!!!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904785#post11904785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Congrats on moving in the new house! Don't drop the tank! Other than that I'm not sure what to recommend as I've never had to move a tank. I guess keep the rock at least moist if you can't have it submerged. I would think removing the rock first would make it easier to catch any fish you have? Keep the corals separated & in tank water. I'd be most concerned on whether to take the substrate and take a chance on stirring up noxious things that may be in it, or just taking some to seed new substrate. I'm just making semi-educated guesses. Any other recommendations anyone/
Reefmack & stephensturman -
How about a thorough salt water wash of the reef base of accumulated detitrus from the tanks water as it is emptied... and then follow that with a Bio-SPIRA addition once the tank is relocated?????

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - the SW rinse of the substrate sounds like a good idea.

JMO and 2 cents worth. The flame scallop doesn't require light - filter feeder, and I've read they don't last long in a tank due to their feeding requirements, They can also pick up and flap their way across the tank - like scallops do. A clam might be nice up there, as well as light loving corals such as zoas. I have a yellow fiji leather, and devils hand leather up on top and lost if not all leathers should do OK up on top. A bright neon reen Hydnophora are nice & colorful and I think they don't require as much light as other SPS. Brains are usually on the substrate or low to mid level, so I'm not sure about putting one on top.

Don't worry about the mushroom touching the substrate - a lot of mine are in contact with it, and I have loose ones that sit on the bottom with no base & do just fine.

An anemone will move around till it's happy, and then might even pick up & move again after you think it's found it's sweet spot. No way to tie them down that I know of. They're "free spirits" :) From what I understand you'd do better with a BTA than a condy anemone. It seems like condys aren't the choice of most clownfish. If you do some searching you can find lists of different types of clowns and their preferred anemone type. But overall, I think you'd have a better chance with a BTA. My clows never gave my frogspawn a second look, but I think some folks have had their clowns hosted by frogspawn, and even weirder things!

No charge for my opinions :)

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Reefmack -
Great info as always!!!

I believe I told you that I wrote a paper in college for a "Animal Behavior" course on the symbiosis of Percula's and Anemones. The anemone was a Condylactis and the clown was Ocellaris... readily available at that time. This was of course done in the early 70's before there was the concept, or possibility, of reef keeping!!! Basically a FO tank with an anemone, banded coral shrimp and feather duster worms.

I remember having a Flame Scallop that would move around.... it was probably HUNGRY!

Thanks....

[Reefmack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11905297#post11905297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
Reefmack -
Great info as always!!!

I believe I told you that I wrote a paper in college for a "Animal Behavior" course on the symbiosis of Percula's and Anemones. The anemone was a Condylactis and the clown was Ocellaris... readily available at that time. This was of course done in the early 70's before there was the concept, or possibility, of reef keeping!!! Basically a FO tank with an anemone, banded coral shrimp and feather duster worms.

I remember having a Flame Scallop that would move around.... it was probably HUNGRY!

Thanks....

I think the ocellaris have gotten more picky since the 70's! If that combo worked then it might now. I'm guessing the clowns were mostly likely not tank raised back in the "dark ages"?

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Reefmack -

In the dark ages I subscribed to "Tropical Fish Hobbyist" (?) and the small format magazine was fresh and salt combined! Fortunately it convinced me to try the brand new concept of "protein skimming" with a wood airstone!

I remember articles from early pioneers who were attempting to 'tank raise' marine fish... ie: clowns and damsels. Everything at that time was 'collected' and therefore probably 1 out of 4 survived the stress of the process!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11904964#post11904964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
OK Guys....
I am still trying to get a handle on all the different corals. I believe I have asked this before, but my first coral purchase had a couple of green mushrooms and Dragon Eye Zoa polyps on it. Is this a problem for either one??? I repositioned it on some dry reef base (on the left) because the Mexican Turbos tend to knock it out of position and the left side mushroom was down in the sand.... I also spotted a small brown mushroom in the rock.


Advice please!
What should go on top, on my wide flat rock, 8" below the stock lights? A Tridacna sp. clam, Flame Scallop, or a light loving coral frag? What less aggressive corals should I consider next? How about a brain coral? Are you all feeding them occasionally?

I guess using frogspawn to host a True Percula may not be a good idea? I am kinda hung up on the idea of using a Haitian Condylactis sp. (have hosted clowns for me in the past) or a Bubble Tip Entacmaea sp. anemome as a host for the True Percula Clown! If the anemone is up top.... lots of light.... good flow, it should be happy right? Is their any way to secure it to a good spot?


Mushrooms and zoas are low light and compatible so leave them low. Some people with base bottom tanks cover the bottom glass with them so they are clearly okay near the bottom.

I'd go clam or SPS up high. Scallops are borderline hardy and can swim so might not stay there. Even a clam might jump off the rock.

In general LPS corals are more aggressive than SPS but can live in lower light. They are okay mid tank.

Anemone's are modal so can't be secured in one place. It they don't like where they are they will move. You can place tehm up top but no guarantee they will stay there. They can walk around the tank and sting corals.

Clowns might not host in a frogspawn and can harrass smaller ones. The plus of a frogspawn over an anemone is they are lower light so are fine on the bottom and they don't move so all you need to do is give them a buffer area away from other corals. I have a pair of frogspwans on a rock peninsula in the front of the tank where they are 4 inches plus from anything else.

[snake plissken]

condys are from the atlantic (caribbean) and clowns are from the pacific so as a general rule they do not host

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Brent F & Reefmack -
Thank You Both! Always appreciate your advice!
I would love to add a small 'colorful Tridacna clam' up their!
Can you say.... Showpiece!!!!
I am thinking that if I put small BTA in... I should do it soon, so it can find a 'favorite' spot before I have a bunch of corals it can damage while locating itself! I was reading again about the Haitian Condy's (which some clowns will host) and they can BECOME LARGE!

Frogspawn down on the substrate and when SWELLED away from anything else it might reach?.... maybe in the front left corner.... need to keep it trimmed? Hmmmm?

So brains, mushrooms and zoa's down; and leathers up and maybe Hydnophora... (not so particular)?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[shramj]

[QUOTE]Shram are you going to the Westside meeting this weekend? If so whatcha gonna bring [QUOTE]

Chris, I will be at the Frag West meeting. I am still figuring out what I am going to bring for trade/sell. I have some zoas. I do have alot of nice new corals but I need to let them grow before I can frag them. I will post pictures under the FRAG forum when I figure out what I have to sell

Cool, I think I may have to invest in one of those canister filters. I have been trying to figure out how to keep my chiller (which is in the stand) cooler but I cannot come up with a good way. If I didn't have the tank already setup I would have drilled or cut out a vent on each side of the stand and mounted a fan. I think I am going to build a seperate stand and stain it to match the current black stand. I am just trying to figure out a good design so it looks nice. This will free up my stand for a canister filter.

Also, I have the 150 MH hood for my tank and I just switched the bulb to a Reeflux 10k and I think this bulb rocks, bright white with a nice hint of blue.

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - Brent mentioned that some people cut off the long sweepers from frogspawn, but Kent and I both agree that isn't the answer. Whatever you do, do not trim off the whole top of a frogspawn or you'll kill it! I wish I had taken pics of the extra long sweepers that would come out of my frogspawn periodically - that would make it clearer

snake plissken - good to see you pop in again! I hope all is well with you & the tank.

[donna53w]

Kent:Thank you for your kind words about my tank. Beautiful shrimp!!! Love the skunk cleaner shrimp, too ... it makes me want one!! Your Firefish goby will show up; it probably needs to take it's time to feel safe. Maybe at next feeding time you'll see it.
The coral you asked about dead center in my tank is actually just some (what I think is pretty boring) green & brown buttons. They were my first purchase, I just couldn't wait for anything better to come along. Oh, about the 'Dark Ages', I was there, too! Boy, have things come a long way from the old (then new) airstone skimmers!:lol:

Brent: Great set up with the acans and the buffer zone. I like your ideas!! The large pic of the acan, that I think you have the same one, is an Aussie Coral Snake. I have Flourescent red & green, and Australian Orchid, I forget the name of the green/brown one that needs it's own space. And I have to look up the other one, I forget that, too. doh! I got my acans from FragFactory online January 8, 08 and I was pleased with them. They are growing and healthy.

Reefmack: Thank you for the complliment on my RSM. It still looks pretty plain to me, but I am very slow in adding corals. My coraline growth is slooooow. I do clean the glass with the mag every day, and at least once a week if not more, I get in there with a sponge!!
I really like your idea of using a spoon in the 'corners'.
Your photo of the acan attacking the brain coral is fantastic. It belongs in National Geographic!

About all of the stinging types of corals: They really need to be given some deep consideration before purchasing them. It sort of like mixing predatory fish with peaceful ones. :eek1: I really asked a lot of questions about my acans before I ordered them, and I changed my order a few times until I thought I had it right with ones that are not so aggressive. Only time will tell!
Any kind of anemone in the RSM could spell disaster ... they just move, you can't make them stay put. :eek: And when they move, they sting whatever is in their path. Plus, they grow ! I love anemones, but doubt that I will ever have one in this small of a tank. Really clowns don't need them to thrive. But I do love to see others' pics of them.

Stephensturman: Welcome Back!!! Are you moving far? When we moved (within our city), we removed and saved the water, with LR in water, fish and corals in another container of Aquarium water. We left the substrate, just covered with water, and moved it in the tank. We did all of this as quickly as possible and put it all back together at the new house. We didn't have any problems at all. The real kicker was ... this was a 55g corner tank, and we didn't have a corner for it in our new residence!!!! :eek1: Ended up selling
everything .

[donna53w]

Yikes, I just looked at the length of my last post. :rolleye1: Sorry for taking so much space.

[Reefmack]

Donna - please - no apologies needed for an informative post! Thank for the comments on the pic too - not often you get a chance to take a picture like that, By the way, I took your advice and ordered some ReefPure Marine pH Buffer, I couldn't find that brand at any of my usual online lfs, so I found it on Ebay.

[rob911]

Wow, away for a couple days and there are 4 pages and a split. Great discussion for those asking for help. As for me, I have barely had any time to check but this morning before leaving for work I took a quick peek and found the skimmer with some production but still bubble production as well.

Tommorrow I get to spend a little time with it and I might take a trip to a distant store in Lodi where I might pick up some starting creatures other than my snails and emerald crab.

[Fishy Something]

With people talking about the "Aussie Acan's", I though you may be interested in the discussion going on down here...

Exportation of coral is quite new & has simply not been allowed until quite recently, but with the change in rules & you guys simply willing to pay so much more than what we are used to, the cream of the crop is being sent by collectors, to where they can get the best return.

Makes perfect sense as a collector, but is a PITA as a hobbiest as I am seeing a lot of assorted brown corals here at the moment & anything with a bit of colour to it is grabbed in no time flat and at significantly higher prices than we were paying 12 months ago.

[Reefmack]

Fishy Something - that is a bummer that all the good stuff is being exported out of your area, where it originates. I'm guessing that if your reefs start to be stripped of corals that they'll shut the collectors down by banning it again. I was surprised to find that they even began to allow it down there.

[Fishy Something]

Reefmack - They actually have pretty tight controls & in reality I do not have too much of a concern about the reefs "getting stripped".

AFAIK it really comes down to a group of collectors lobbying the Govt to allow export, because a couple of years back they slashed collection limits for them & this is the compromise - allowing them greater opportunity to yield returns on what they do collect.

I think what will happen is that once we get used to higher prices, collectors will send more stuff locally, as it will be that much easier. Then you will get a bit less, demand & subsequently prices will go up over there, so the value in exporting increases again & more will be sent your way.

Don't you love the inflationary cycle...

[donna53w]

Fishy Something: I paid a good premium for 2 of my Aussie Acans. $72 each, with 2-3 polyps!!! Believe me, these were far from the most expensive available. But, oh, how I love them.:rollface:
In Canada, pretty much anything that comes from Australia is called 'rare'!! I don't think they're 'rare' as in ..barely any in the Ocean, but I think it means 'not readily available through LFS, so bring your 'plastic' !'. And, a lot of us pay ridiculous prices, but .... what's a girl to do??!! They are so darn good-looking! I'm certainly no expert in Acans (or any kind of corals for that matter), and they didn't come with a sticker that said 'Genuine, fresh Acanthastrea, direct from Down Under'. :D Maybe they're some shoddy 'knock-offs' from Nova Scotia. :mixed:
You have my sympathies, only brown acans available for you! Would you like me to send you some ... for a small fee???:lol:
Donna

[Fishy Something]

donna - thanks for the generous offer... of course that is the flip side of things... Australia bans the import of all corals/inverts & allows very few fish species into the country as well, so there is talk about lobbying to lift some of the restrictions so we can pay a $*#tload of money for your coral & fish whilst you pay equally exhorbitant sums for ours!

Reality is that the hobby is so small over here (relatively) it will have no effect & nothing will change...

[donna53w]

What is the reason for the hobby being so small there? Is it the prices? Or has it never been a going concern?

[Fishy Something]

It is partly a population thing I think, there are only 20 million of us total & as for LFS, in Melbourne there are probably only 10 - 15 stores that stock marines at all and of these 3 - 4 that I would consider entering, let alone purchasing anything. That is to service a city of 3.5 million.

Also it is expensive. Pretty much all decent equipment is imported and even though the AUD is looking pretty strong at the moment, it is still very pricey.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11907092#post11907092 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by donna53w
Yikes, I just looked at the length of my last post. :rolleye1: Sorry for taking so much space.
donna53w -
Like Reefmack, I always enjoy your posts! They will just have to split the thread again! :lol:

I have a feeling your right.... I am going to have to give up on the idea of keeping a clown/anemone pair if I intend on having a reef tank! I sure hope you are right about the Firefish Goby.... although I fed some sinking pellets today, I attracted only the Skunk Cleaner and Fire Shrimp... No Firefish Goby... :( I just hope he is OK!

Concerning Aggressive Stinging Corals... That's why I posted the question to you guys... so I wouldn't make a BIG mistake!

Fishy Something -
I saw something on 'Discovery Channel' or 'Animal Planet' about an outbreak of a certain starfish that is devastating the Barrier Reef corals??? Am I Correct?
Just for reference, what would a complete RSM (tank, stand & starter kit) cost in AUD's?

Thanks! :D
Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

Hey, you guys, thanks for the friendly feedback on that lengthy epistle I wrote. :fun5: lol

FishySomething: It must take a good deal of commitment and perseverance to pursue the hobby there. In my small city of 75,000, we have 1 LFS that stocks some Reef equipment, fish & coral. It's a full pet store, from dogs to birds to fish, snakes .... so, it has a limited inventory of reef supplies . However it's only a 3 hr drive to Calgary, where Brent lives. There's 3 stores there that I like to shop in. Otherwise, it's done online.
Do you scuba dive?

[ibscott]

So I got my oder in today from Marine Depot and things did not go too well.

The gate is a no go, although I plan on taking it to the plastic shop next door from work and see if they can make me one that will fit how I need it to.

The Maxi-Jet 1200 puts out some serious current, but is just too noisy for my tank. I thought the skimmer was noisy. This thing totally drowns it out.

The Hydor Flo deflectors are also now gone for the exact same reason. They are just too noisy.

So I ended up just using a 2nd Hydor Koralia nano, the Eheim 2222, and the Digital Thermometer from my order.

I got rid of the traitorous, microbubble spewing stock pump that was giving me problems by connecting the return from the Eheim to the nozzle that sticks into my tank. The Eheim doesn't have the flow of the stock pump, but I figure with the other pump going and the two Nanos I'll have enough flow. If not, I may upgrade one the Nanos to a Koralia 1.

I'm off to mix up a new batch of saltwater. The cannister filter drained several inches of water level from my tank. The glass is filthy on the inside with some kind of white scum. I'm going to scrub it down with a sponge tonight. I'm hoping by morning that the additional filtration will have my tank looking clear. If so, in goes the rock!

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

donna53w -
You are my Canadian "Good Luck Charm"! I have my lights set up on a 12 hr. cycle... 10AM - 10PM EST. I just searched for the "Firefish Goby" with a strong lantern flashlight and spotted him wriggling around in the LR!!! :D TURKEY!!! He was hiding out all day! You were right!

You know it's not the money for the fish.... it's the disappointment in loosing the fish!

Happy Guy! Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

ibscott: Well that was a disappointing package for you.:sad2: What will you do with the new things that you aren't using? Can you return them? I didn't realize the Hydor Flo directors were noisy; I was considering purchasing one. The digital thermometer will be really handy. I have a digital Milwaukee Ph monitor and it's a real convenience. When you say you attached the return for your Eheim to the nozzle of the pump ... is the nozzle still attached to the pump? No, probably not. Could you explain that to me please? The white film is from your substrate, it will eventually settle down and filter out. Did you rinse out the carbon, etc. for your eheim?

Kent, I'm happy to hear you found the little scoundrel (Firefish Goby). I know what you mean by 'not the money but the disappointment of losing a fish'. Most of us in the hobby take it to heart.

[MAXreefer]

ibscott
bummer on that delivery.
I have several Hydor Flo and thy don't make any noise at all. They just rotate caused by the flow. There must be something wrong there.

I had also that milky water and white scum. It was caused by the Live Sand I put in there what you are not supposed to rinse.
I cleaned the big black sponge almost every 2 or 3 hours as it was full with that stuff until it was all gone. Be prepared to clean filter pads in the canister filter daily for the same reason. Once the water is clear you can go to a normal maintenance routine.

Michael
MAXreefer

[LaurentSeattle]

IBScott:
My Hydor Flo deflectors do not make any noise at all and are doing a great job at eliminating dead zones. Are you sure that the noise comes from them???

[vanwassup]

I just set up my new fluval 205 filter. I had to remove the tank canopy to get all the biocubes out and put them in the canister. I also reused the carbon I have been using since I set-up the tank. I am so excited not to have to take out those stupid pumps again.

I haven't noticed a problem with microbubbles....knock on wood. I put the intake hose in the heater chamber and the return hose in the far left/pump chamber. I hope to see an improvement in the happiness of my corals/clam.

I am enjoying listening to your discussions...I'm learning just by lurking.

[Fishy Something]

Kent & Donna - Sorry, I had to go & celebrate (I won a million dollar contract at work since my last post!)

Kent, the Crown of Thorns starfish has had a pretty devastating effect in areas of the reef, it basically mows down everything in its path, but it has not been talked about as much here in the past couple of years as much, so the situation may be improving - not sure to be honest.

Re RSM cost, I paid AUD$1,300 for tank & stand in about September I think. On current exchange rates, that is probably about USD$1,180? And that was on a deal from an LFS that I had been supplying clowns to for 5 year. RRP at the times was AUD$1599 I think.


Donna - I did my first dive ever (on the Great Barrier Reef of course...) in July last year when there for a holiday. Would love to have time to dive again/more, but 2 very sporting kids take up most weekends with taxi requirements

Online vendors are here, but mainly for dry-goods & although I could save a few dollars, I would rather support my LFS so that when I need/want a particular critter, I have a relationship to assist in making it happen.

[donna53w]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11910054#post11910054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishy Something
Kent & Donna - Sorry, I had to go & celebrate (I won a million dollar contract at work since my last post!)

Big Congratulations Fishy Something!! :celeb3: Wow, now that is really great news. Way to go!

[ibscott]

It turns out i got a bad Hydor Flow with my order. The other one, which I hadn't opened after hearing the noise the first one made, is perfectly silent. I'm still debating using it though, as it cuts down on flow rate and I'm already worrying that I might not have a high enough flow rate going through the back of my tank where the filter, skimmer, and heater are.

[Howie69]

I'm a happy guy... I just finished with my Fluval 205 install. Quite, Lots of trays for Chemi-pure/more media. I removed the white death pad from hell. Within 30 minutes my water looks like its polished. No mods needed just fed the lines through the cooler ports. I placed the inlet to the left side of the skimmer and the output shared with the heater. I am thinking about an in line heater now conected to my canister pump....Peace. Not a very expensive upgrade guys and no more white pad changing..:)

[vanwassup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11910475#post11910475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
I'm a happy guy... I just finished with my Fluval 205 install. Quite, Lots of trays for Chemi-pure/more media. I removed the white death pad from hell. Within 30 minutes my water looks like its polished. No mods needed just fed the lines through the cooler ports. I placed the inlet to the left side of the skimmer and the output shared with the heater. I am thinking about an in line heater now conected to my canister pump....Peace. Not a very expensive upgrade guys and no more white pad changing..:)

I just did the same thing last night. It feels good to know ya don't have to take those pumps out again...huh?

[Reefmack]

Fishy Something - congrats on the contract! Bummer on the noisy Hydor Flo - I was going to add that mine makes no noise either, but I saw you figured out you got a bad one - maybe the gears aren't seated right in that one or it was just made bad to start.

I put in the "chaeto in a soap dish mini refugium last night". No time to try getting it in the back compartment till this weekend so I just stuck it on the left side of the tank. If it won't fit in the skimmer compartment with the HOB Remora skimmer & ATO sensors I'll have to do some scraping of some heavy coralline buildup off the back wall before I can stick the suction cups on there - a Saturday project when I do my water change.

[abyall]

Has anyone had any problems with there new fansfor the light hood starting to make noise?

[GDESQUIRE]

We received about 6" of snow so far today. That equates to a day off.

[GDESQUIRE]

For all of you who have installed external canisters, I did the same but have the input shared with the heater and the output next to the output side of the skimmer. While some of the water may make a second pass in the filter before it hits the tank, it does an excellent job of polishing the water. I still keep 1/2 ' of black foam over the skimmer pump to trap any dirt before it gets to the skimmer and canister filter. By having the output near the output of the skimmer, it keeps the water level in the skimmer higher than usual thereby helping the skimmer work. I have no problems whatsoever w/ micro bubbles. I have not made any mods for the pumps (extension tubes). I have not ceramic media or rubble in the back compartments. This has been working great for over 5 months.

[Reefmack]

Enjoy the snow day GDESQUIRE! :)

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11910475#post11910475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Howie69
I'm a happy guy... I just finished with my Fluval 205 install. Quite, Lots of trays for Chemi-pure/more media. I removed the white death pad from hell. Within 30 minutes my water looks like its polished. No mods needed just fed the lines through the cooler ports. I placed the inlet to the left side of the skimmer and the output shared with the heater. I am thinking about an in line heater now connected to my canister pump....Peace. Not a very expensive upgrade guys and no more white pad changing..:)
Howie69 -
Alright my brother! :thumbsup: Happy you like your Fluval 205! I am enjoying my Magnum 350 as well.... Now you know first hand that there is NOTHING that can't be solved with our RSM's!!! :D
I'm thinking I would like to 'experiment' with moving the canister intake over the right side of the skimmer behind the gate. The idea is to get the intake close to where larger 'stuff' that over flows through the gate will get sucked up by the canister.... The downside is that it may starve the skimmer pump...(?) I am going to try it temporarily by removing the rear access hood.

:dance: Fishy Something - :beer: Congratulations on the Million Buck contract!!!

Yes! It was the "Crown of Thorns Starfish" that was mowing down the reef... Aussie' scientists were trying to figure out why there was a sudden population explosion and a means of control. I applaud your decision to support your local LFS! I kinda feel the same way with my guys, Dave & Jeff.... a bit more expensive but there knowledge and experience is worth something!!!

ibscott -
My Hydor FLO rattled a bit when I got it... The manual suggested to disassemble the FLO to become familiar with it for cleaning, I did and the rattle stopped! Might be worth a try!!! The FLO offers very little back pressure on the stock pump; it simply redirects flow with it's rotation. I have performed Y-DesygnGuy's Mod and my Hydor FLO is now on a MaxiJet 1200 replacing one of the stock pumps.... innermost one.

vanwassup -
Vanessa.... You Go Girl!!! :thumbsup: Everything is coming along nicely!!!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

My pics are always too large to be accepted by the photo gallery standards. Is there an easy way to resize photos and NOT get them blurry? I use the 'resize' on my software, but it's either pixels or other standard sizes, ie: email, web page, . Any help would be really appreciated.

Do you use an online uploader ie Photobucket or do you use your photo software?

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11912622#post11912622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by donna53w
My pics are always too large to be accepted by the photo gallery standards. Is there an easy way to resize photos and NOT get them blurry? I use the 'resize' on my software, but it's either pixels or other standard sizes, ie: email, web page, . Any help would be really appreciated.
Do you use an online uploader ie Photobucket or do you use your photo software?

Donna -
I have been posting using Picasa2 by the folks at Google, since I also use Gmail. I maintain ALL my photo albums on Picasa2... so the RSM photos are just another album! I find it pretty intuitive to use. Most are using PhotoBucket and Y-DesygnGuy has his own "state-of-the-art" software :lol: But that is, after all, his business!

I will PM you the particulars....

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Reefmack]

Donna - photobucket will resize for you if you direct it to, after uploading a picture - to commonly used sizes. I gave up on the gallery on RC the first time I tried it - life already has too many limitations! Picasa will do it too, but I just find Photobucket so easy to use, and it's a breeze to copy the image link & just insert it into a post. And it stores all your pics as well.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11912622#post11912622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by donna53w
My pics are always too large to be accepted by the photo gallery standards. Is there an easy way to resize photos and NOT get them blurry? I use the 'resize' on my software, but it's either pixels or other standard sizes, ie: email, web page, . Any help would be really appreciated.

Do you use an online uploader ie Photobucket or do you use your photo software?

Microsoft Office Pitcure Manager which comes with Windows has a compress feature that can be done 1% at a time so you can do it without bluring.

I post pictures to Photobucket becuase it is easy to use and doesn't limit size.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11912942#post11912942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Donna - photobucket will resize for you if you direct it to, after uploading a picture - to commonly used sizes. I gave up on the gallery on RC the first time I tried it - life already has too many limitations! Picasa2 will do it too, but I just find Photobucket so easy to use, and it's a breeze to copy the image link & just insert it into a post. And it stores all your pics as well.
donna53w, Reefmack is correct! You can skip the step of uploading to your Reef Central Gallery and simply post from your desktop, 'resized' photo file....

Off to get two new fish: True Percula and a Royal Gramma!
The Firefish Goby continues to want to hide in my LR....
I guess I DID TOO GOOD A JOB creating open rock work and hiding places! Right now it's kind of a :( bummer to only occasionally see the critters...... and hope they are all still OK!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[donna53w]

Thanks for the photo info. I'm off to see if I can figure it out ... you may not see me for a long time. lol

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11913178#post11913178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
Off to get two new fish: True Percula and a Royal Gramma!
The Firefish Goby continues to want to hide in my LR....
I guess I DID TOO GOOD A JOB creating open rock work and hiding places! Right now it's kind of a :( bummer to only occasionally see the critters...... and hope they are all still OK!


I sometimes think of that as one of the plusses of a reef tank. There is so much subtle beauty in them including some shy fish, crabs, shrimp... that occasionally pop out.

[shramj]

ibscott, place some of the extra black foam from the red sea around the Maxi to quite it down. I have some on each side and the back of it.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11912197#post11912197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
I have performed Y-DesygnGuy's Mod and my Hydor FLO is now on a MaxiJet 1200 replacing one of the stock pumps.... innermost one.

Could someone direct me to Y-DesygnGuy's Hydor Flo mod? I know it is somewhere in the previous 300+ pages of this thread but I'm having a hard time finding it

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11914077#post11914077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F
Could someone direct me to Y-DesygnGuy's Hydor Flo mod? I know it is somewhere in the previous 300+ pages of this thread but I'm having a hard time finding it
Brent F -
It's not a complicated mod....
1) Pull both of the stock pumps.
2) If your going to use 3/4" ID tubing extensions.... good time to do it! I have one that is 6" long and the other is 4" long. The problem is that the weight of the tubing can/will cause the inlet plate to separate from the pump. So use a light weight 12" long zip tie to secure the plate, top to bottom on both pumps.... stock and MaxiJet 1200.
3) Insert the MaxiJet in the right/inner position. Cut a 1" thick piece of black foam to wedge behind the pump to press it forward into the tank.
4) Put the stock pump back in place on the left
5) I used the smallest adapter from the HydorFLO to 'press fit' the Hydor FLO to the stock flexible tubes.
6) The flexible pump extensions are screw on for the stock pump.... the MaxiJet is not threaded but the extension will friction fit.... thus the foam to press it forward.
I have not experienced ANY NOISE from my MaxiJet 1200! Very QUIET since I have owned it and rotates the FLO every 12 seconds!
Right now I'm being entertained by a Mexican Turbo that is going for a ride.... round and round! :lol:
That's it!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish:lol:

[ibscott]

Wow! What a difference the Eheim 2222 makes! My water was almost crystal clear after only 8 hours of use. Currently I have the stock media in it (mostly biological), but I did add one bag of chemi-pure to it as well. Later on I may replace some of the bio media with more chemi-pure and phosban, but right now I worry that I may not have enough biological filtration in the tank. I have a rock layout I like, but from the weight of the leftover rock, I only have about 35 pounds of rock in the tank. Hopefully it is enough.

The guy at the LFS has convinced me that I need a MH light. Every coral that I liked he said wouldn't thrive in a low light situation. So it looks like I'm going to go with a hood retrofit from Nanocustoms and get a chiller.

It looks like Nanocustoms has two models for the RSM:

150W HQI + 2 18W PC
150W HQI

Anyone have recommendations on which one I should get? I'm thinking the first one will allow me to mix and match color temperatures a bit which might be more flexible.

Also need to find a chiller with an integrated heater that only need 135GPH to operate.

And, finally, I need to go get a camera as the one in my phone isn't up to the job.

I'm pretty sure my bank account and my new hobby aren't going to be the best of friends any time soon!

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - I'm not sure I understand the Maxijet mod. The MJ1200 will fit next to the RSM pump I assume? And the fitting on the MJ1200 will fit through the hole previously occupied by the RSM pump? And the sponge keeps the MJ in place? I wish I could locate that previous picture of the top view with the pump & sponge in. I'm confused about your statement "I used the smallest adapter from the HydorFLO to 'press fit' the Hydor FLO to the stock flexible tubes." - does the Hydor Flo attach to the MJ1200 fitting poking through into the tank or to a piece of flexible tubing? Pictures would have been worth 1000 words on this mod. I have an unused 1200 sitting here & I'm considering the mod.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Hi Everyone!
Well..... Dave and Jeff had a disappointing day at the wholesaler at 5:30 AM! They only found 5 things to purchase! NO True Percula... No Small Royal Gramma!

OK... Plan "B"! A tank raised 1" Ocellaris Clown and thanks to Brent F, I was inspired to pick up a "Spotted or Pajama Cardinal" for $ 8.00!
Blurry because he floating in his bag.... Ocellaris Clown.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0282.JPG

Same picture quality.... in the bag.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0281.JPG

Acclimating drip....

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0284.JPG

I was amused when David told me that my "Firefish Goby" might be feeling stressed and hiding, BECAUSE he is (was) the only fish in the neighborhood! :lol:

QUESTION: When you feed your fish.... do you guys turn off the pumps for a few minutes?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Here you go

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/sponge1.jpg

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/sponge2.jpg

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/sponge3.jpg

Doing this has kept it snug and in place with no problems!

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11914500#post11914500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ibscott

The guy at the LFS has convinced me that I need a MH light. Every coral that I liked he said wouldn't thrive in a low light situation. So it looks like I'm going to go with a hood retrofit from Nanocustoms and get a chiller.

Either you only like a very few corals, or the guy at your LFS doesn't really know the RSM lighting. the stock lighting is good enough for most things, in fact there are probably only a couple of corals and clams which the RSM wouldn't support well. Now this doesnt mean that replacing the stock lighting with MH is a bad idea, but it is far from *required* for all but low light corals.
If you decide to do the upgrade, I would go for MH + PC to get PC actinics + MH 14K bulbs personally.
For chillers, I have had good luck with the JBJ arctica mini, but I dont know of any real chillers which specify 135GPH as reasonable.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

My RBTA decided to move last night from behind the mushroom rock to in front it!

Awesome color in that corner of the tank now, but it is stinging the rics. :(

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/rsm_rbta.mov

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11914803#post11914803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
NaCl+H2O Fish - I'm not sure I understand the Maxijet mod. The MJ1200 will fit next to the RSM pump I assume? And the fitting on the MJ1200 will fit through the hole previously occupied by the RSM pump? And the sponge keeps the MJ in place? I wish I could locate that previous picture of the top view with the pump & sponge in. I'm confused about your statement "I used the smallest adapter from the HydorFLO to 'press fit' the Hydor FLO to the stock flexible tubes." - does the Hydor Flo attach to the MJ1200 fitting poking through into the tank or to a piece of flexible tubing? Pictures would have been worth 1000 words on this mod. I have an unused 1200 sitting here & I'm considering the mod.
Reefmack & Brent F -
Here you go my friends! A picture IS WORTH a THOUSAND WORDS!

HydorFLO on stock flex tube w/ the smallest adapter.... tight fit! The FLO riding Mexican Turbo also.....

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0285.JPG

MaxiJet 1200 on the right with black foam support in back... stock pump on the left.... both secured with zip ties because of the weight of the 3/4" ID tube extensions.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0287.JPG

Overall view.... hope this helps!!! (?)

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0288.JPG

I find the HydorFLO extending into the tank a BIG benefit....

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Y-DesygnGuy -
You were faster than me in posting your mod.... I DO SEE some differences in interpretation & execution...

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Pretty much same thing though, I just put some over the top of it. You are much more handy with things so yours is cleaner looking.

Here is another shot of the RBTA invading Mushroom Island!!

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/rbta_shrooms.jpg

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/rbta_shrooms2.jpg

[Brent F]

thanks for the pictures. I have a hydorFlo on order and should get it (along with my 40 watt T5 additional light) in the next couple days.

I'm not going to do the MaxiJet upgrade because by grate to the back is at the limit with the two pumps and overflow to the sump already. The MaxiJet could push me over the limit and make the tank overflow.

[Reefmack]

ibscott - I'll agree with Iostream on the stock lights - they are always underestimated by those who don't have the tank. What kind of corals were you interested in?

Y-DesygnGuy - nice movie! Is the RBTA definitely stinging the rics or it it just touching them? Any damage to the rics? thanks for the pics - can you answer any of the questions on the pump mod that I asked Kent (above)?

EDIT - Kent posted pics while I was pecking at the keyboard!

NaCl+H2O Fish - "Plan B" looks fine to me! I have 2 each of the ocellaris & pajamas - they were the first fish I got and they're doing fine. I must have same sex pajamas though as they don't like each other at all! Hopefully the more populated neighborhood will draw the goby out of the rock more often. I normally don't turn off the powerheads for fish feeding, but it's not a bad idea to keep the food in the tank & not going out the overflow (for flake at least). Target feeding corals - definitely best to turn off all the flow for a while.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11914803#post11914803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
NaCl+H2O Fish - I'm not sure I understand the Maxijet mod. The MJ1200 will fit next to the RSM pump I assume? And the fitting on the MJ1200 will fit through the hole previously occupied by the RSM pump? And the sponge keeps the MJ in place? I wish I could locate that previous picture of the top view with the pump & sponge in. I'm confused about your statement "I used the smallest adapter from the HydorFLO to 'press fit' the Hydor FLO to the stock flexible tubes." - does the Hydor Flo attach to the MJ1200 fitting poking through into the tank or to a piece of flexible tubing? Pictures would have been worth 1000 words on this mod. I have an unused 1200 sitting here & I'm considering the mod.

The RBTA isn't stinging them more touching them and they don't like it.

As far as these questions go...

The MJ1200 does fit right next to the stock RSM pump.
Yes the fitting will fit through the opening of the back wall and into the tank just fine. The fitting is not threaded like the stock RSM is. That is the reason for the sponge I found. The stock RSM pump will allow you to tighten the hose to it and make it secure.
I used the stock fitting of the Hyrdo Flo and some supper glue and smashed it in place, hasn't been a problem.
The stock bendy hose will slide over the top of the fitting from the mj1200 its snug enough as is. It will still bend and let you do whatever you did before with the stock RSM pump this way.

Hope that makes sense and answers your questions?


**Hey you edited your post while I was typing :D **

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

Y-DesygnGuy -
It's a great mod!!!

I was looking at a Silver Dollar size BTA today for $ 25.00....
David told me if your going to do it, do it now while you have very little in your tank... That was kind of my thought, although the tank bred clown has never SEEN an anemone!

He then related a story of an anemone that he kept and stayed in place for 5 years! So one day, it decided to change "neighborhoods", stinging expensive corals along the way!!!

That's enough for me! I'll keep corals BUT NO anemones!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - thanks for the pics! One last question - did you get the RSM powerhead fitting to screw onto the Maxijet - that looked like the RSM fitting in the pic?

Brent F - thanks for the note on the sump. If I go the refugium in the cabinet route, with an overflow, the Maxijet mod may not be good for me either.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Yeah its a chance you take with them. But it is so pretty and adds so much movement and color. Really the only money ive spent on corals are those Rics. Figure I have 37 rics on that rock at an average of lets say $12 a piece. The rest of the corals are all small frags I pretty much get for free or for 5-10 bucs. So its all good with me, I love seeing the tentacles swaying in the water.

I still feel what works for the guy next to you wont necessarily work for you in this hobby. So I don't put to much stock into everything people at Fish Stores tell you. I think its a trial and error to some extent.

[Brent F]

My rule for fish stores is buy nothing that wasn't on my list when I walked in until after I have gone back home and researched it. I want a very low risk reef tank so anything that is even rumored to eat polys doesn't get in the tank.

Reefmax - if you go with the refugium the extra pump returning from the sump more than makes up for the MaxiFlow upgrade (assuming you plan on having the return in the main tank instead of the rear).

Question for everyone adding a canister or chiller. Why not have the water from the canister return to the tank instead of to the rear and get the additional "powerhead" in the display for better water motion?

[shramj]

ibscott, I have the Nanocustoms 150 w/ 18watt antinics with the single moonlight LED strip. I love my light setup. I also have a JBJ Mini Arctica Chiller on my RSM.

Reefmack, the stock RSM nozzle fits on the Maxi1200 but it doesn't have threads. It sticks on pretty good but you can't adjust it like you can with the one on the stock pump. I would say if you had some electric tape (I don't know if you can use that in a tank environment) it would be nice and snug.

I have a question regarding the pump in the Eheim 2222. Since I have a seperate pump for my Chiller, would I be able to hook my chiller from the outlet on the Eheim and then feed that to my chiller and then to my tank or is teh pump in the Eheim not strong enough?

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11915737#post11915737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F

Question for everyone adding a canister or chiller. Why not have the water from the canister return to the tank instead of to the rear and get the additional "powerhead" in the display for better water motion?
To add the return to the main tank, you would also need to draw from the main tank, as I don't think the intake on the RSM can push enough volume for both the stock return pumps and another 200+ GPH for a canister or chiller.

[ibscott]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11915737#post11915737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F
Question for everyone adding a canister or chiller. Why not have the water from the canister return to the tank instead of to the rear and get the additional "powerhead" in the display for better water motion?

This is almost what I am doing. I tried the Maxijet 1200 mod, but the powerhead was much noisier than the stock pump. After looking at the recent mod pictures, I don't think I did it right. I wonder if the black foam acts as a noise/vibration buffer as well. Anyways, I took out the powerhead, hooked up the output tube of my ehiem 2222 to the part of the stock powerhead that fits through the whole in the tank, and then screwed on the default output pipe onto the other side of the glass.

So the tank still looks stock, even though one of the pump returns is coming from my cannister filter instead of the default powerhead.

The only think I can say is that the flow rate of the eheim is not as strong as the original powerhead it replaced. I am currently making up for this by putting 2 Koralia Nano's inside the tank.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11915847#post11915847 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Iostream
To add the return to the main tank, you would also need to draw from the main tank, as I don't think the intake on the RSM can push enough volume for both the stock return pumps and another 200+ GPH for a canister or chiller.

I have a CPR overflow in the back and a Hydor L35 returning water to the main tank. The L35 is rated at 450 gph and the grate handles the flow of it plus the two stock pumps fine.

[Reefmack]

Brent F - I'd never considered that the return flow from the fuge should go into the main tank - I thought it could just go in the back compartment? Your CPR overflow is however in the back compartment - yes? Maybe some day I'll understand this stuff! :)

[Brent F]

Reefmack,

That's exactly what I did. CPR Overflow draws from the back and returns to the front upper right corner of the main display. It gives you way better flow and you don't need the Korilia most people put in the top right corner. Also looks a lot cleaner not having a large korilia in the corner. The grate handles the total volume of all three pumps fine.

Here's the return from my sump. I have an antisiphon in the back to keep it from draining the tank in a power failure.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/return.jpg

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916270#post11916270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F
I have a CPR overflow in the back and a Hydor L35 returning water to the main tank. The L35 is rated at 450 gph and the grate handles the flow of it plus the two stock pumps fine.
That is awesome to know since I am about to plumb an overflow into a refugium/skimmer :)

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Ok so my little sump finally made it in today! 5 weeks later!!! :mad2:
But I can finally use the over flow LPSLuver made for me!! :thumbsup:

It is 12" wide x 12" tall x 16" long, little thing that it is!

The area I have for a skimmer is 7.5" wide by 11" long so I have been trying to figure out what skimmer to get.

Which one of these do you think would be the best bet?

ASM Mini-G Protein Skimmer w/ PC-1000 Needle Wheel Pump
AquaC Urchin Protein Skimmer with Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump
Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002
Aqua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer
Reef Octopus TS 150 Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer
Sump Buddy 40 Series

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11915754#post11915754 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
... I also have a JBJ Mini Arctica Chiller on my RSM.
I have a question regarding the pump in the Eheim 2222. Since I have a seperate pump for my Chiller, would I be able to hook my chiller from the outlet on the Eheim and then feed that to my chiller and then to my tank or is theh pump in the Eheim not strong enough?
shramj -
It's hard to keep up with this fast moving thread! A split ago, I went through this process. I own a CurrentUSA 1/15hp Mini-Chiller and was powering it with a MaxiJet 1200. All worked well!

It occurred to me that I could have a dual purpose set-up: a canister for filter media AND power my chiller! After much research, I settled on the Magnum350 Deluxe for $ 99.00 because of it's 350gph flow. Inlet from the RSM goes to the canister and outlet goes through the chiller back to the RSM. It's all working well and my MaxiJet 1200 is now replacing one of my stock pumps!

Reefmack - I'm unclear about what your asking?
Brent F - I'm not clear with your explanation....?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916722#post11916722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Y-DesygnGuy

Which one of these do you think would be the best bet?

ASM Mini-G Protein Skimmer w/ PC-1000 Needle Wheel Pump
AquaC Urchin Protein Skimmer with Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump
Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002
Aqua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer
Reef Octopus TS 150 Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer
Sump Buddy 40 Series

The Sump Buddy 40 is my bet (I am still trying to decide between the sump buddy 40 + sump separate, or the Protean 400 setup). In all honesty, the skimmer is rated for 180G max, and I have seen several 120G tanks running it with success. It is likely overkill for the RSM, but I like ETSS.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Yeah im really liking the Sump Buddy myself out of all of them, I keep going back to that one.
I had never heard of it before i did a search on Sump Protein Skimmers.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916829#post11916829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
Reefmack - I'm unclear about what your asking?
Brent F - I'm not clear with your explanation....?
[/B]
Question was can you take the outlet to the overflow out of the back compartment of the RSM and have water return to the main tank instead of returning to the back. That's what I'm doing with my overflow.

You could do the same thing with your tank by having the retur line from the canister and cooler going into the main tank instead of returning water to the rear compartments. This would increase flow in your tank.

Hope this helped.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11917080#post11917080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F
Question was can you take the outlet to the overflow out of the back compartment of the RSM and have water return to the main tank instead of returning to the back. That's what I'm doing with my overflow.

You could do the same thing with your tank by having the retur line from the canister and cooler going into the main tank instead of returning water to the rear compartments. This would increase flow in your tank.

Hope this helped.

Brent, How did you plumb that? Did you need to cut a hole?

[Reefer82]

Wow, this place took off quick. Take a couple weeks break and come back to 40 pages of new posts!

Kind of off topic on this one, but what do you guys feed your clownfish? I just picked up a pair the other day and they don't really eat...I've seen them take food and not much of it only once in the past two days. I'm feeding them the exact same brand of frozen brine shrimp the store uses. I'm going to try some cyclop-eeze that I purchased as well. thanks in advance for any tips.

Still working on that sump Terry? Same here, a plasma at work called my name so the sump has not been ordered yet.

Y-desygn guy - Is there enough room in the back of the RSM to continue using the stock skimmer and LPSluvers overlfow? Not sure if I can swing the sump and a new skimmer and I think the RSM skimmer is too tall to fit under the tank.

[martinphillip03]

Your tank looks terrific

Marty



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11915225#post11915225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Y-DesygnGuy
My RBTA decided to move last night from behind the mushroom rock to in front it!

Awesome color in that corner of the tank now, but it is stinging the rics. :(

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/rsm_rbta.mov

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Reefer82 -- There might be, but the stock skimmer is getting tossed! That was the point of the sump and overflow was to get a real good skimmer. I have 5 fish in the tank so I know the bioload is high. The stock skimmer does not do a very good job I feel anyways.

martinphillip03 -- Thanks!

[Brent F]

Kent, No need to cut anything. The hose fits over the top of the back glass of the main tank. The left side of this picture shows the view from the front with the lid slightly open. The right picture shows what you see when you open the skimmer access cover. The red circle is arround the return line from my phosban reactor. The green line is around the main return line from my sump (same line you see in the picture on the left). The yellow circle is arround the antisiphon - a capped tee with a hole drilled in it to keep the outlet from siphoning when the power is turned off.


The line in the green circle comes into the rear throught the oval shaped chiller cap.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/return006.jpg

[JB23]

NACL;
Much thanks for the pics! Quick question! When securing the pumps, you mentioned Zip Ties-can you elaborate? My stock RSM pumps, when inserted properly will, on occasion, drop the lower plastic cover. Thanks-Jerry

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11917370#post11917370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB23
NACL;
Much thanks for the pics! Quick question! When securing the pumps, you mentioned Zip Ties-can you elaborate? My stock RSM pumps, when inserted properly will, on occasion, drop the lower plastic cover. Thanks-Jerry
JB23 -
Sorry for the confusion! I am so used to using these that I forget that some people may not be familiar with them.

See my posted pix for the white band around the pumps....

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0292.JPG

A 12" length is best for this purpose.... but keep several sizes on hand! Very useful for many purposes!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[ibscott]

Sigh. I thought I had the micro bubble issue cleared up. Then I turned the skimmer back on. Micro bubble heaven. Also, the skimmer cup actually collected a bunch of gunk, but it was mainly water. It filled up in a matter of hours. To get less water, do I increase the air supply or cut it?

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11917252#post11917252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brent F
Kent, No need to cut anything. The hose fits over the top of the back glass of the main tank. The left side of this picture shows the view from the front with the lid slightly open. The right picture shows what you see when you open the skimmer access cover. The red circle is around the return line from my phosban reactor. The green line is around the main return line from my sump (same line you see in the picture on the left). The yellow circle is arround the antisiphon - a capped tee with a hole drilled in it to keep the outlet from siphoning when the power is turned off.
The line in the green circle comes into the rear through the oval shaped chiller cap.

Brent -
Excellent!!! Thank You!

A "good" picture of my 3/4" Ocellaris Clown added today:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0291.JPG

Like your wife and kids, I have always LOVED these guys!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[JB23]

NACL;
Viewed the pics! Thanks! My question-where are they from? Plastic bags? I really need some to wrap something similar around my RSM pumps.
Much Thanks-Jerry

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11918042#post11918042 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB23
NACL;
Viewed the pics! Thanks! My question-where are they from? Plastic bags? I really need some to wrap something similar around my RSM pumps.
Much Thanks-Jerry

Almost any hardware store: Home Depot, ACE, Lowes....

[JB23]

NACL;
Thanks for the quick response-Here'my question-OK-Lowes. Home Depot, etc.-where & What do I Look For??
Thanks-Jerry

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11918263#post11918263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB23
NACL;
Thanks for the quick response-Here'my question-OK-Lowes. Home Depot, etc.-where & What do I Look For??
Thanks-Jerry
Ask for "zip ties" or cable ties.... print out the picture. They will know what they are.... hardware section.

[JB23]

NACL;
Much thanks again for the quick response-I wish you Continued Success!-Jerry

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11918263#post11918263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB23
NACL;
Thanks for the quick response-Here'my question-OK-Lowes. Home Depot, etc.-where & What do I Look For??
Thanks-Jerry

Radio Shack, The Source and Circuit City would carry them too.

[ibscott]

Are all skimmers meant to be run inside a sump or tank? Is there any way i can hook up the output of my cannister filter to one that just sits in my stand?

[Reefmack]

Reefer82 - my clowns didn't eat for a few days when I first got them, but after they got adjusted they now eat flake, pellet, mysis - anything I put in the tank. It's not unusual for newly introduced fish to not eat for a while.

JB23 - you'll probably get a better response if you ask someone for cable ties. I got a package with several different sizes in it from Lowes. I found it on my own, but I can't remember what section they were in.

[Reefmack]

Y-DesygnGuy, Iostream. You had me interested in The Sump Buddy 40 Series for when/if I put the fuge in the cabinet. However the dimensions are 4"x7"x24". Will that 24" height allow it to fit in the cabinet, plus be able to raise & lift off the cup for cleaning?

[Reefmack]

I'm starting to lean towards a cannister filter. Any opinions on this one that also incorporates a UV sterilizer?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~JB4317.html

Thanks

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11919352#post11919352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Y-DesygnGuy, Iostream. You had me interested in The Sump Buddy 40 Series for when/if I put the fuge in the cabinet. However the dimensions are 4"x7"x24". Will that 24" height allow it to fit in the cabinet, plus be able to raise & lift off the cup for cleaning?

Here is the info from their site, good question about the top. I will have to go re-measure the inside of the stand to dbl check.

http://www.superskimmer.com/SumpBuddy40.htm
Designed with a very small footprint of only 4x7" and no valve or stand pipe needed.
It has a base box height of 12" and will work submerged in up to 11" of water.
Overall height of 23" fits all stands. Only 1" extra height needed to remove the cup.

That canister filter has UV built in! I wish I would of bought that one! I have a separate UV filter I am going to use now as well. I dont see any problem with that choice Reefmack.

**edit** just re-measured the inside of the stand its 24" even I believe. So I don't know if that skimmer would work or not. It would be a very tight snug fit for the cup to come off!

[Z-ReefKeeper]

ibscott:

The link below has a sumpless skimmer. Might be a bit overkill for the RSM but should work for what you are trying to do.


http://store.acicorp.us/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TERMINATOR%2D2


Reefmack:

Nice find on the canister filter. One thought though, I have read that UV sterilizers will kill pods. Might be worth looking into.

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11917803#post11917803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ibscott
Sigh. I thought I had the micro bubble issue cleared up. Then I turned the skimmer back on. Micro bubble heaven. Also, the skimmer cup actually collected a bunch of gunk, but it was mainly water. It filled up in a matter of hours. To get less water, do I increase the air supply or cut it?

hm... ibscott,
I have definetely one of the skimmers that loves to produce bubbles as I experienced in my first setup. Still working with the same equipment in my second setup NO more bubbles at all.
I got a little bit lost in all the postings here (yes I was gone for one day yesterday and when I came back last night 4 pages to catchup!!).
Could you please just briefly post how all your equipment is setup at this point? This way I can compare with mine and tell you what is different.

Regarding the skimmer: I can open or close the air valve all the way. No bubbles escaping.
Right now I have the valve (I replaced it with a more precise one) all the way open. When I look into the skimmer body there are tons of microbubbles and because of that the water looks kinda milky. There is a lot of real dark gunk sticking on the inside and outside of the skimmer neck. The water in the collection cup is not very dark either. Looks like tea. I clean the skimmer cup once the neck is completely covered with the dark sticky gunk.

Michael
MAXreefer

[Reefmack]

Y-DesygnGuy - always check out the dimensions on equipment before getting an unfortunate surprise when they arrive. :) Was that 24" in the cabinet with the shelf in place or under the shelf? I need to go do some measuring myself to see how much height I have available under the shelf, and next to my ATO reservoir.

Z-ReefKeeper - thanks for the UV/Pods information. I'm not too worried about it as the only ones I've seen lately are in the now empty skimmer compartment - I guess I might kill the small number of mysis shrimp I've seen swimming in there, but it would be worth it to avoid keeping media under the pumps.

[stephensturman]

good morning everyone! well i got to where my tank has been for the last couple of weeks and can u say cyano and hair algea. looks like i have a fun couple weeks ahead of me! but besides that everything looks great and ydesygn-guy remember when i cut up the ricodia! now i have 5 because where i pulled it off the rock there is one there now! but everything is doing great! how are u liking your hood?

[shramj]

NaCl+H2O Fish, thanks for the info on not having to use a seperate pump for the chilll with a canister filter. I am going to figure out if the filter ibscott found ( http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~JB4317.html ) will work with my chiller setup. I really want to ditch the pump I have for the chiller. I like the idea of the UV filter.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11919947#post11919947 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Y-DesygnGuy - always check out the dimensions on equipment before getting an unfortunate surprise when they arrive. :) Was that 24" in the cabinet with the shelf in place or under the shelf? I need to go do some measuring myself to see how much height I have available under the shelf, and next to my ATO reservoir.

Z-ReefKeeper - thanks for the UV/Pods information. I'm not too worried about it as the only ones I've seen lately are in the now empty skimmer compartment - I guess I might kill the small number of mysis shrimp I've seen swimming in there, but it would be worth it to avoid keeping media under the pumps.

Oh i've measure and remeasured I just wasn't sure this morning when I woke up. I do have the shelf in place so that 24" is from the shelf to the top of the inside.

Stephen good to hear your tank is alive and kicking. Hopefully the algae goes away soon for you. Good to hear your ric did ok after its operation. I really have grown to love the fixture, did you get one? Are you going to the Westside meeting today?

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11920208#post11920208 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
NaCl+H2O Fish, thanks for the info on not having to use a seperate pump for the chilll with a canister filter. I am going to figure out if the filter ibscott found ( http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~JB4317.html ) will work with my chiller setup. I really want to ditch the pump I have for the chiller. I like the idea of the UV filter.
shramj -
You are most welcome for the info.... :)
The JBJ looks like a VERY GOOD canister for $ 135.00.... BUT, just remember that it is only rated at 250gph! Fine if your running it the way it was designed BUT you will have the added plumbing of routing it through the chiller. My Marineland Magnum 350 Deluxe ( $ 99.00 delivered) is rated for 350gph. My thought was that the combination of the additional tubing necessary to set this up added friction to the flow; not to mention the chiller coils and the media in the canister... JMO! Reefmack is intending to use the JBJ for it's intended design only.... a canister filter!

Am I crazy? UV sterilizers become popular back in the days when it was only possible to keep Fish Only Tanks with primitive filtration systems... Certainly before we had the capability of supporting LR and corals. Seems to me that a UV sterilizer is not as important now! Good water parameters, well fed fish and a cleaner shrimp should be all that is required! (?)

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[shramj]

Kent, what type of media do you run in your filter? I think I would have to go with the one you got or one close to what it does in gph. Also, where did you order yours from?

[Reefmack]

shramj - we had the same thought - I posted a link to the JBJ a few posts above yours!

Kent - I'm not sure if UV is still as important as it once was or not. Supposedly it will kill off green algae and pathogenic bacteria being pumped through (as well as good bacteria of course). They even recommend turning the UV off in a new tank till the good bacteria develop and the cycle is done. Once that's over the bacteria you want should be situated and colonizing the live rock & substrate so losing a few in the water should be no biggie. It does have a switch to easily turn the UV on & off, so that is good.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11919164#post11919164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ibscott
Are all skimmers meant to be run inside a sump or tank? Is there any way i can hook up the output of my cannister filter to one that just sits in my stand?

Look for a Hang On Tank (HOT) skimmer. There are quite a few brands. Here's a picture of the 220 gallon rated skimmer and the Zeovit reactor on the back of my RSM. Skimmers like this one can hang on the back lip of the RSM. Mine is lower because it is hanging on the lip of a sump inside my stand. It is too big to fit inside teh stand so I had to hang it on the back.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/skimmer002.jpg

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11921676#post11921676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
Kent, what type of media do you run in your filter? I think I would have to go with the one you got or one close to what it does in gph. Also, where did you order yours from?
shramj -
My decision to purchase this filter was a tough call!
Factors involved:
1. Affordable Price!
2. 300gph+ flow, for OUR PURPOSE!!!!!
3. User reviews about their experiences listed below!
4. QUIET OPERATION!
5. Ease of maintenance!
6. Reliability.... a 3yr. manufacturer warranty from Marineland, well known aquarium equipment supply company....
7. Finally, overall performance!

The tough one was it's design! It does not use the more traditional media basket trays! Instead of a top to bottom filtration design, it is a outside to inside circular filter design!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0251.JPG

A basket inside the canister covered by a blue mechanical filter sleeve.... like a sock!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0249.JPG

So here was my problem! I wanted to run ChemiPure Elite... How do you use the bag in this kind of system? My solution (not endorsed by ChemiPure) was to empty the contents into the basket and top it off with the RSM's stock carbon. All I can report is that everything is working GREAT! If I were to do it again, I would have put a 1/2' layer of high quality carbon in FIRST, then added the ChemiPure Elite and THEN top that with more carbon! You could also add other combinations.... like Phosban. The 11.75oz. bag of ChemiPure fills the basket about 3/4's of the way. Hope all this helps?

Remember if this design does not suit you, there are Eheim's, Fluval 405, Marineland C-360, and my close 2nd, the Cascade 1200 or 1500... Just more $$$$$$

purchased from Beavercreek, OHIO:
http://www.petsolutions.com/Magnum-350-Deluxe-Canister+I47433504+C20.aspx
A+++ service and the BEST SHIPPING & HANDLING costs I have seen on any site! Fair and reasonable!!!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Brent F]

Kent, I've used a variety of Marineland filters over the years and have been happy with their products.

[Reefmack]

OK, we've just seen Kent's Magnum 350 cannister. It's not the easiest thing to get dimensions on these things, even on the manufacturers' sites. The JBJ that I was most interested in is pretty big - 11.4" square by 17.5" high - it would barely fit below the RSM upper shelf, and might be hard to plumb as my ATO reservoir takes up at least half the space in my cabinet, plus I have my timers & outlet strips to find a place for - maybe relocate to the top shelf if I can find a place to store everything else (older picture - every square inch of space is now filled):

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/mackwork/ATOReservoir.jpg

There's a smaller JBJ, still a footprint of 11.4x11.4, but, at a reduced height of 15.4" it only has 2 media trays. I'd really prefer at least 3 media trays, so I can put in mechanical filtration, layer of rubble, and chemical media types, and keep them separate for easy rinsing and/or replacement of just one layer.

Question: 1) What brand/model of cannister filters are you folks with them using? 2) How many media trays are in yours? 3) If you could get me the dimensions (approx. base footprint & height) that would really help me try to make a decision.

Thanks,
Terry

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11921700#post11921700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Kent - I'm not sure if UV is still as important as it once was or not. Supposedly it will kill off green algae and pathogenic bacteria being pumped through (as well as good bacteria of course). They even recommend turning the UV off in a new tank till the good bacteria develop and the cycle is done. Once that's over the bacteria you want should be situated and colonizing the live rock & substrate so losing a few in the water should be no biggie. It does have a switch to easily turn the UV on & off, so that is good.
Reefmack -
Most all of us know that a "catastrophic" situation can quickly develop in our 'seemingly healthy' RSM's! Otherwise why would Brent F, among others, consider use of a quarantine tank important!
I feel like a UV sterilizer would be most useful to use as a treatment for an outbreak of ICK or other bacterial disease..... but not for constant use in a healthy thriving system because of the negatives you listed... JMO! My preference would be to use a UV sterilizer on a quarantine tank..... although I am not intending to start one..... Might be a big mistake in the long run!!!! :(

The Magnum 350 is 13" tall floor to top BUT the manual wanted a 5" piece of tubing cut to for use up to the 'separation valves'.... I guess for flexibility...? That made the total height now 22"!!! I honestly don't see why that tubing couldn't be shorter.... I just followed the instruction manual!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0296.JPG

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Reefmack]

NaCl+H2O Fish - good comments on the UV sterilizer, but why wait for a disease outbreak before resorting to the UV? It would seem to make sense to get it before it happens? Plus killing green algae cells & spores sounded like a good idea. Pros & cons to everything - it can drive a person crazy! :)

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11923306#post11923306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
NaCl+H2O Fish - good comments on the UV sterilizer, but why wait for a disease outbreak before resorting to the UV? It would seem to make sense to get it before it happens? Plus killing green algae cells & spores sounded like a good idea. Pros & cons to everything - it can drive a person crazy! :)
Reefmack -
So what's new!!! :lol:
Angel vs. Devil, Yen and Yang, and Pro vs. Con!

Can't disagree with UV as a 'prophylactic' device to prevent disease! Prevent it before it starts!
For those who have been following.... remember that many of the popular canister filters are available with UV as an upgrade option!

Brent, Thanks for the Marineland canister endorsement! I am pleased, so far, with mine!

:D Kent

[Brent F]

I had a pair of Magnum 350's on my 170 gal fish only salt tank in the 90's.

[Reefmack]

I'll second (or third) the satisfaction with Marineland products. I've had their FW tanks, heaters, Bio-Spira, media, etc., and always been pleased with quality and their customer service. Not long ago I had the plastic fluorescent light section on one of their 12g tank hoods cracking apart after a year and they sent me a whole new hood. And their Stealth heaters have always been my choice.

[Reefer82]

Same here on Marineland. I have a marineland filter on every tank I own except the RSM and one FW tank. Heaters are great as well. My uncle has two magnum 350's on a 220 FW tank and have been on there for several years. Good stuff!

Reefmack - Clowns did start eating. I tossed in some krill and they finally took to that this morning. I've just never had a fish not eat anything for several days like that.

[Crossbow]

I had a Magnum 350 on a previous tank. You will have amazingly clear water if you run the micron filter for water polishing!

[shramj]

Kent, I am thinking about the Marineland C-360, it comes with media and I think the design is nice. I know it is a little more but Dr. Foster's has it on sale for $159.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11923871#post11923871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
Kent, I am thinking about the Marineland C-360, it comes with media and I think the design is nice. I know it is a little more but Dr. Foster's has it on sale for $159.
shramj -
IMO.... that's a good deal, and Dr's. Foster & Smith are a very reputable and well reviewed site ! I might have done that if I had seen that deal for a 'more conventional' canister with that kind of flow.... 360gph! My issue was I also HAD to purchase a $ 300.00 chiller!!!

Hope your seeing from the posts that the Marineland products are well respected! What are the reviews saying about the C-360 model... or is it too new?

Also check out the Cascade 1200 or 1500 canisters.... great price but reviews were mixed when I was doing my research! I might lean to the Marineland products if that model has a 3yr. warranty... JMO! Please!!! don't make a purchase decision on my opinion only!!!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11923871#post11923871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
Kent, I am thinking about the Marineland C-360, it comes with media and I think the design is nice. I know it is a little more but Dr. Foster's has it on sale for $159.

I have a Fluval and very happy with it. I like the tray system a lot and the easy maintenance.
Others are happy with the Eheim or Marineland. I think all 3 are good products and making a decision depends on previous experience or taste.

Just saw the C-360 at Petmountain for $169 but FREE shipping. I have also a coupon for an additional 5% off until the 25th. I have another coupon with $10.00 off until the 25th also.
If somebody is interested sent me a PM and I will give you the coupon.

Michael
MAXreefer

[LaurentSeattle]

Just too add my contribution to the current canister craze, I am glad to announce that I just ordered the Fluval 205...

Cleaning is just too hard and time consuming in the standard RSM setup.

Hopefully, the canister will solve the problem. I was also impressed with reports of better skimming performance and the disappearance of the dreaded micro-bubbles. I really hope this will work for me too.

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11924410#post11924410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LaurentSeattle
Just too add my contribution to the current canister craze, I am glad to announce that I just ordered the Fluval 205...

Cleaning is just too hard and time consuming in the standard RSM setup.

Hopefully, the canister will solve the problem. I was also impressed with reports of better skimming performance and the disappearance of the dreaded micro-bubbles. I really hope this will work for me too.
Congrats.
Hope you can say like myself "adieu" to the bubbles and enjoy the ease of cleaning now.
But I still want to give credit to Red Sea for making a beautiful tank which we all enjoy and we shouldn't forget the purpose of the RSM: a all-in-one tank. To be honest what choice did they had to find space for the carbon etc.? Maybe a better way of mounting the return pumps would have be an option IMO but otherwise I couldn't come up with a solution.

Michael
MAXreefer

[Brent F]

For me the RSM is an incredibly attractive display tank. The all in one look attracted me but I abandoned the all in one functionality day one.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Totally agree its a great looking tank for sure.

[rob911]

Just wondering if anyone out there is using the Prime 1/15 hp and a cannister filter and able to fit it all in the RSM stand which is what I hope to be able to do. If so, which cannister. I am pretty sure I am going with the Prime due to its dual temp control.

This summer I am sure that I will have to have a chiller as the outdoor temp is usuall 90-100 and the house is usually 78-80 in summer.

[Hodge]

For all the canister owners:

How often are you cleaning the mechanical filters in them.
Do you lose a bunch of water every time or just remove and rinse the filter??

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11924867#post11924867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911
Just wondering if anyone out there is using the Prime 1/15 hp and a cannister filter and able to fit it all in the RSM stand which is what I hope to be able to do. If so, which cannister. I am pretty sure I am going with the Prime due to its dual temp control.

This summer I am sure that I will have to have a chiller as the outdoor temp is usuall 90-100 and the house is usually 78-80 in summer.
Rob,
I have the Current USA Prime 1/15 and very pleased with it. Definitely a big plus is the dual temp control.
Technically both will fit in the stand BUT the chiller (10"L x 11"W x 14"H) needs additional space behind and in front. Current USA recommends 24"otherwise you will have hot air build up in the cabinet which is not good for the chiller. You could use a fan in there to blow the hot air out if you really want to have the chiller in the cabinet but be prepared on a hot summer day to leave the cabinet door half way open even when using a fan.
I have my RSM standing in a corner and was able to put the chiller behind the tank.
I saw pictures from RSM's where the chiller was nicely placed next to the cabinet and to be honest it doesn't look that bad at all.
Regarding the choice for the canister: Some owners have the fluval, other have the Eheim or Marineland. From what I could read in the postings we are all happy with them so I would depend your choice on size, your preference of having trays to hold the media or one without the tray system and power of the return pump. Have a look at the manuals of each and see which one would be the easiest for you to do maintenance.
No matter which one you choose get one where the pump is strong enough to feed the chiller also. This way you save space and money for an extra pump which also would produce additional heat.
The recommended flow for the Chiller 1/15 is between 100 and 350gph.

Michael
MAXreefer

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11925411#post11925411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hodge
For all the canister owners:

How often are you cleaning the mechanical filters in them.
Do you lose a bunch of water every time or just remove and rinse the filter??

I clean mine once a week when I do my 10% water change. I use part of the fresh SW to refill the canister. So technically I don't loose any water at all.
If you don't want to do it this way or more or less frequently you just unplug the tubings from the filter (most have an automatic water stop system), bring the whole canister to sick, empty the water in a bucket, clean all the media and refill the filter with the old water from the bucket.
No loss of water this way also

Michael
MAXreefer

[donna53w]

Last night hubby & I went to the LFS and bought moon coral, button polyps and what the fellow told us is a "Cauliflower coral'. Well, I don't really know the proper name for this whitish/tan coral but I know I have seen it before. Can anyone identify it please? Common name, Latin name? Also, we were told to give it strong light & medium current. It really doesn't look happy, and it has thin threads hanging off it. I don't think it's as big as it should be, but I'm not sure. Do you think it's toxic? Boy! I really don't like it much right now.

What is this coral called?
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/P2230095a.jpg

Moon Brain? Is it??
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/P2230097.jpg

Button Polyps- much prettier in person!
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/donna53w/P2230098.jpg

Thanks.
Donna

[Reefmack]

Donna:

Cauliflower - a type of leather - Cladiella sp. Give it time & it will look better. Leathers are weird - they periodiocally "take a nap" & shrink - or after transport:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=640&N=2

I'm not really sure on the second one. It looks to me more like a type of polyp colony than a brain. Here's a couple guesses:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=672&N=2

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=674&N=2

Maybe when they get adjusted & open up it'll be easier to see what they are.

Really pretty buttons/zoas!!!

[DontXtripNfall]

Does anyone know if the Red Sea Max's hood is escape proof for sneaks like eels? Or any other crevice that an eel would get into? I've been searching google but can't find anything that talks about eels and RSM's.

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927439#post11927439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DontXtripNfall
Does anyone know if the Red Sea Max's hood is escape proof for sneaks like eels? Or any other crevice that an eel would get into? I've been searching google but can't find anything that talks about eels and RSM's.

Well, an eel could make it into the rear compartment, but shouldnt be able to carpet surf in the RSM. So yes, it is escape proof, but you would need to keep an eye on the rear compartment. I wouldn't expect an eel to go back there more than once or twice when it realizes there is no way out and nothing of interest.
You likely are not finding much information because there are very few eels that can live in the RSM long term, and even fewer that would do well in the RSM as a community tank.

[abyall]

donna53w here is what my Cauliflower Coral looks like<a href="http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa307/AByall/?action=view&current=IMG_3386.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa307/AByall/IMG_3386.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[shramj]

I found this review on the c-360, it compares it with the Eheim & Rena. http://www.petfish.net/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=789. Maxreefer, PM sent. Joe

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927809#post11927809 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shramj
I found this review on the c-360, it compares it with the Eheim & Rena. http://www.petfish.net/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=789. Maxreefer, PM sent. Joe

Joe,
PM with the coupon sent

Michael
MAXreefer

[Y-DesygnGuy]

I found a solution to the RBTA stinging the rics while it resides on Mushroom Island. I took an old CD case and broke it into pieces. I then took some of the reef putty with supper glue and positioned it under the ric yet above the RBTA. It made a ledge for the ric to expand on and not get stung at the same time giving the RBTA it's space.

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/solution2.jpg
http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/solution1.jpg

I also took my brain coral out of my 14 gallon biocube this morning. I am having a hard time getting a good picture of it, this is the best I could do.

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/brain.jpg

Thanks Shram (Joe) for the Zoo's yesterday very nice of you, I owe you!
I think they fit in nicely!
http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/thanksjoe.jpg

[shramj]

Chris, I tried to PM you, your inbox is full. Those Zoas look good in your tank. Your camera takes good pics, what kind do you have?

[Y-DesygnGuy]

That d@mn in box is always full, sorry about that. I have a Canon Rebel XT with a few different lenses.

I owe you some zoo's so your more welcome to swing by sometime and take a look. Or maybe I can take one of the loose rics I have and trade you that?

[stephensturman]

damn chris ur tank is lookin great! i havent bought anything lately for mine but when aquatraders gets the lights back in stock im going to buy one! im happy to inform everyone my tank is doing great after the move and no losses!!!! :)

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Thanks Stephen, good to hear your tank did good on the move. I am going to be putting in a small 10 gallon sump this week I hope, finally. Looking forward to seeing your new tank pictures to see how your coming along. I bet things have matured nicely for you. Hopefully the algae will get under control for you.

For all those wondering what the Mj1200 will do for water movement. As well as how to get ride of the film on the surface. Take a look at how my water movement is, watch the Hydro flo push the water up, its on the Mj1200. ( i hope you can see it, sorta small video sorry )

http://www.y-desygn.com/tank/rsm_surfacemovement.mov

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

shramj -
Congratulations! I think you made a great choice! The Marineland C-360 looks to be a very good canister... In the link you posted, there was mention of a BAD LEAK that occurred after six months! IMO, If your rinsing media weekly, you should keep replacement O-ring seals on hand and replace them frequently as insurance against a flood. I am going to inspect those seals for cuts or other damage EACH TIME I rinse the media in my Magnum 350!!!

rob911 -
You may want to follow shramj's lead! I have the Marineland Magnum 350 Deluxe (350gph) canister that both filters and powers my CurrentUSA Prime 1/15hp Mini-Chiller. Because of the additional plumbing and dual purpose, I would strongly recommend a canister capable of 300+gph!!!

donna53w - My Goodness! Your posting some very nice pictures! What did you finally use for software?
Y-DesygnGuy.... You da' MAN - Always beautiful pictures!!! But they better be, or I will NEVER CONSIDER YOU for design of my web site! :lol: By the way with your MJ1200 mod with the HydorFLO attached.... do you ever have a small burst of bubbles during the FLO's rotation? Do you have a tube extension on the bottom of the MJ1200 or the pumps strainer?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[MAXreefer]

I have been asked via several PM how my skimmer is performing having the additional flow with the canister filter and the extension tubes on the return pumps.
I want to share this with all of you and made a quick video with my point and shoot camera.
The vid shows how the skimmer is doing from several views.

Michael
MAXreefer

The video (http://gallery.mac.com/maxreefer#100028)

[DontXtripNfall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927605#post11927605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Iostream
Well, an eel could make it into the rear compartment, but shouldnt be able to carpet surf in the RSM. So yes, it is escape proof, but you would need to keep an eye on the rear compartment. I wouldn't expect an eel to go back there more than once or twice when it realizes there is no way out and nothing of interest.
You likely are not finding much information because there are very few eels that can live in the RSM long term, and even fewer that would do well in the RSM as a community tank.

Thanks that was very helpful. I was thinking of a Golden dwarf moray eel because of its size and is known to be easy to care for, but on another forum i've read about someone keeping 2 blue ribbon eels in a 30gal cube.. I'd assume there is plenty of rocks and possibly PVC piping underneath the sand. I thought 1 might be ok but 2?? The down side on the dwarf is its very rare and very pricey.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Kent -- I do not have any tubing at the bottom of either my power heads actually. I get the odd burst of micro bubbles every now and then for no reason. Not sure what that is from, I blame everything on the skimmer anyways :p :p

MAXreefer -- Great vid showing the skimmer in action.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

MAXreefer -
Thanks for the video!
You posted the link ~10 days ago to the AWT salt assay.... Did you draw any conclusions from the report concerning particular brands?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Reefmack]

Y-DesygnGuy - nice DIY RBTA "isolater"! I wonder if it will make the anemone want to move somewhere else?

stephensturman - great news on the tank move!

MAXreefer - I just ordered the Fluval 205 from Petmountain (I had the coupon). After reviewing everything, and considering the footprint and height of all the cannisters, the 205 made the most sense for my needs.

[Kristian2]

Hi,
Just got my RSM and discovered this massive thread while looking for info... :eek1:

I'm sure fan/pump noise has been discussed earlier, but I think the aggregated noise from these is quite high. I'm wondering whether I have the latest editions of lighting fans and skimmer pump, so that this is as good as it gets... anyone know how to determine this?

Or: Is there possible modifications to reduce noise from fans/skimmer?

Kristian

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11929457#post11929457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kristian2
Hi,
Just got my RSM and discovered this massive thread while looking for info... :eek1:
I'm sure fan/pump noise has been discussed earlier, but I think the aggregated noise from these is quite high. I'm wondering whether I have the latest editions of lighting fans and skimmer pump, so that this is as good as it gets... anyone know how to determine this?
Or: Is there possible modifications to reduce noise from fans/skimmer?

Kristian
Kristian
First things first... WELCOME to the RSM Owners Club!
The newest serial numbers for the RSM will have a round sticker on the outside of the box that says "additional cooling fan included"... If not, call the RSM support number on the back of the manual and ask for Pinky and they will send them No Charge....

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11928979#post11928979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DontXtripNfall
Thanks that was very helpful. I was thinking of a Golden dwarf moray eel because of its size and is known to be easy to care for, but on another forum i've read about someone keeping 2 blue ribbon eels in a 30gal cube.. I'd assume there is plenty of rocks and possibly PVC piping underneath the sand. I thought 1 might be ok but 2?? The down side on the dwarf is its very rare and very pricey.

A RSM is big enough for a Snowflake Eel as a speciman tank. You'd just need to put some egg crate over the rear glass to keep it out of the back chambers.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11928021#post11928021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Y-DesygnGuy
I found a solution to the RBTA stinging the rics while it resides on Mushroom Island. I took an old CD case and broke it into pieces. I then took some of the reef putty with supper glue and positioned it under the ric yet above the RBTA. It made a ledge for the ric to expand on and not get stung at the same time giving the RBTA it's space.



Great short term solution.

My ric island is getting torn up by an urchin. Every morning another one or two rics have been torn off the rock and are being worn as camouflage on the urchin's back. So far this week he's removed 9 rics.:(

[stephensturman]

thanks guys! so lets see some new pics of the tanks! seeing i have been gone for a while!

[shramj]

Michael, I just ordered the filter from the link you sent me. Thanks for the coupon code. I also ordered a Hydro Flo. So the plan is to run the line from the tank to the filter, then the filter to the chiller, then the chiller back to the tank. So I am now going to be getting rid of the pump I currently use for the chiller. I am sure I will not be able to fit everything inside the stand while keeping it cool but we will see what I come up with. Cooling is the thing I worry about the most, especially living in Arizona.

[Reefmack]

MAXreefer - nice video of a functioning RSM skimmer! Too bad tubing mods, a cannister filter, etc. are needed by some owners to get that kind of performance.

---------

Brent F - time to relocate the urchin? I'm sure those Rics would look better attached to rock than on the urchins back! 9 Rics removed in one week - sad situation.

--------

Kristian - welcome to the club. You've found the right place to ask questions! Here's a page with a simple mod that some have used to quiet the skimmer:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11279065#post11279065

Good luck with the tank!

---------
stephensturman - I need a new pic of my tank - I use it for my Windows wallpaper & I'm tired of looking at a picture that doesn't have some of the minore changes I've made. If I get a new one I'll post one.

[donna53w]

Thanks for the help with ID for my new leather coral. Abyall: thanks for posting the pic of yours. Great shot, too!
The more I read about these guys, the more confused I am. Some are said to release toxins that are very harmful to LPS. So, I'm going to try returning it.
Brent ... you posted not too long ago about not buying anything until you go home and research it .... I should have paid more attention. :(

[Kristian2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11929521#post11929521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NaCl+H2O Fish
Kristian
First things first... WELCOME to the RSM Owners Club!
The newest serial numbers for the RSM will have a round sticker on the outside of the box that says "additional cooling fan included"... If not, call the RSM support number on the back of the manual and ask for Pinky and they will send them No Charge....

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

Thanks, I see I have some catching up to do!
Yes, there's an additional cooling fan included. It seems to be slightly less noisy than the existing lighting fans, so I'll see if replacing one of those will help.

[abyall]

donna53w mine has been in the tank for almost a year with no problems.

[abyall]

My tank is getting a little full 29 different polyp's.<a href="http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa307/AByall/?action=view&current=IMG_3390.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa307/AByall/IMG_3390.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[abyall]

donna53w they are not the best looking coral but there is a blue one that is alot better looking.

[Kristian2]

---------

Thanks Reefmack, I'll look into the possible skimmer mods.
I think it might be a pump issue though, so I'll also check if I can install a different pump.

[Reefmack]

Kristian2 - it might be difficult to find a different pump that will work with the RSM skimmer. If you think it unusually noisy call RSM support and see if they'll send a replacement to try. Make sure it's seated properly and not against a tank wall, which might cause vibration. Same with the 2 powerhead pumps - be sure they're straight up and not touching each other or the pump compartment wall, and be sure the fittings are on tight.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11930125#post11930125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Brent F - time to relocate the urchin? I'm sure those Rics would look better attached to rock than on the urchins back! 9 Rics removed in one week - sad situation.


I am considering leaving one ric on the urchin's back and seeing if it would leave the other ones alone.

I've need moving some of the rics to another tank instead of moving the urchin.

[rob911]

Just added some new additions.... 2 True 3rd Generation Tank Raised Percula Clowns. They seem to be happy and immediately ate some frozen brine/plankton.
I also added a small frag of Neon Green Star Polyps.

In the last couple hours, I noticed the beginning of what looks like a hair algae bloom along with another brown diatom bloom. I tested the water and it was still in great shape but nitrates are between 5 and 10. Hope it doesn't bother the clowns. I am brewing up some water for a 15% water change tomorrow.

I think I am going to join the club and get a Fluval 205 tomorrow which might help my microbubble problem.

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11930508#post11930508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911
Just added some new additions.... 2 True 3rd Generation Tank Raised Percula Clowns. They seem to be happy and immediately ate some frozen brine/plankton.
I also added a small frag of Neon Green Star Polyps.
In the last couple hours, I noticed the beginning of what looks like a hair algae bloom along with another brown diatom bloom. I tested the water and it was still in great shape but nitrates are between 5 and 10. Hope it doesn't bother the clowns. I am brewing up some water for a 15% water change tomorrow.
I think I am going to join the club and get a Fluval 205 tomorrow which might help my microbubble problem.
Captain Rob -
I know you have those 24 shifts and may not post for awhile.... but I hadn't really heard an update! Was I correct in thinking your RSM was about a week behind mine? Congratulations on the clowns and frag!!! :thumbsup:
Did I misunderstand your question about canister filters? If you are going to use a 1/15hp Prime chiller and power it with a canister, please consider a 300+gph canister! I am getting great flow through my Magnum 350gph canister + Prime chiller combo! shramj just ordered a Marineland C-360 (360gph... duh!) for that same purpose. JMHO...

Kristian2 -
A more precise air valve and a 15/64" hole drilled into the side of the skimmer cup at low speed, below the cap, for the skimmer's air intake tube to be inserted:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/4835/173937IMGP0231.JPG

The picture shows a blue double valve because I couldn't find a single! I am searching for an even more precise air control valve...
The result.... QUIETER and CURRENTLY.... EXCELLENT "STOCK SKIMMER" PRODUCTION..... MY GOODNESS!

abyall - Great Photo! Is that a 'Bubble Tip Anemone' (BTA) with the 2 clowns? Looks like a coral is touching it..... any problem?

Finally-
My Firefish Goby has been a NO SHOW for 48hrs..... May have become shrimp, Nassarius Snail or Emerald Crab food....
Currently have in my tank and eagerly eating:
1 - Clown.... Ocellaris 'false clown'
1 - Spotted or Pajama Cardinal
1 - Royal Gramma 'Gramma Loreto'
1 - Skunk / Cleaner Shrimp
1 - Flame / Fire Shrimp
1 - Emerald Crab
4 - Nassarius Snails and 5 - Mexican Turbo Snails.... (lost a Turbo!)
1 - Coral frag.... Dragon Eye Zoa's and Mushrooms.

I am getting confusing information on how much to feed! Help?

Kent
NaCL+H2O Fish

[rob911]

Kent - You have a lot more in yours than mine.
My inventory:

2 True Percula Clowns
1 frag of about 10 Neon Green Star Polyps
4 Mexican Turbo's
2 Astrea's
2 Nassarius'
1 Emerald Crab.

With the beginning of the hair, what additonal CUC should I get. I have been looking for some Scarlet Hermits and it maybe time for a cleaner shrimp to attack the algae.
Still bubbles that are driving me crazy thus the desire for cannister to maybe take care of them.

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11931016#post11931016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911
Kent - You have a lot more in yours than mine.
My inventory:

2 True Percula Clowns
1 frag of about 10 Neon Green Star Polyps
4 Mexican Turbo's
2 Astrea's
2 Nassarius'
1 Emerald Crab.

With the beginning of the hair, what additonal CUC should I get. I have been looking for some Scarlet Hermits and it maybe time for a cleaner shrimp to attack the algae.
Still bubbles that are driving me crazy thus the desire for cannister to maybe take care of them.
Rob,
the cleaner shrimp is not going to help you with the hair algae IMO. They usually eat more the detritus and keep the fish clean from parasites.
A good snail for hair algae is the Trochus and as you already mentioned the Hermits will do good job also.

Michael
MAXreefer

[Brent F]

Kent, feed as much as the fish will eat in a couple minutes. The clowns should be fed twice a day.

The shrimp and crabs will eat algae, fish droppings and the food missed by the fish.

The snails will eat algae. If your tank is algae free you can add nori for the turbos.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11931204#post11931204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MAXreefer
Rob,
the cleaner shrimp is not going to help you with the hair algae IMO. They usually eat more the detritus and keep the fish clean from parasites.
A good snail for hair algae is the Trochus and as you already mentioned the Hermits will do good job also.

Michael
MAXreefer
Here's some other snail types and what they eat:

Astrea Snails Turf Algae/Glass
Bumble Bee Snails Detritus
Cerith Snails Diatom/Detritus
Margarita Snails Turf Algae/Rock
Nassarius Snails Detritus/Sand Bed
Turbo Snails Turf Algae

Lettuce Nudibranch and Sea Hares are the best hair algae eaters

[Reefmack]

Not the greatest pic, but I had the camera set wrong. Anyway it gives an idea of my tank without the too-aggressive frogspawn and large blue acan in front. More changes coming most likely. I scraped off a section of coralline on the back left, but when I hung the soap dish chaeto holder there it was blocking too much light from my green hydnophora, so back to the upper left side:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/mackwork/FTS32_24_08.jpg

Lots more coralline scraping needed! The stuff is growing like a weed now! The chaeto has noticeably grown in only a few days!

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11931016#post11931016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911
Kent - You have a lot more in yours than mine.
My inventory:

2 True Percula Clowns
1 frag of about 10 Neon Green Star Polyps
4 Mexican Turbo's
2 Astrea's
2 Nassarius'
1 Emerald Crab.

With the beginning of the hair, what adidtional CUC should I get. I have been looking for some Scarlet Hermits and it maybe time for a cleaner shrimp to attack the algae.
Still bubbles that are driving me crazy thus the desire for cannister to maybe take care of them.
rob911 -
Honestly..... I think your good! I have already lost a Mexican Turbo, now, 5 now from 6, and I'm becoming concerned that they have enough to eat because they are voracious eaters! Feeding Snails???? I have a green coating of algae that is replacing the brown diatom algae.... BUT it's not filamentous green algae like Laurent Seattle has posted pix of!

Personally, I am holding back a bit on hermits because of their potential aggressiveness..... I love the Emerald Crab and my two shrimp.... Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and Fire Shrimp! JMO..
Sounding great!

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[abyall]

NaCl+H2O Fish it is a rose I have two in my tank the one in the picture has been in the same spot for almost a year. It does not hurt any corals that it is touching but thanks for asking.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11931263#post11931263 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Not the greatest pic, but I had the camera set wrong. Anyway it gives an idea of my tank without the too-aggressive frogspawn and large blue acan in front. More changes coming most likely. I scraped off a section of coralline on the back left, but when I hung the soap dish chaeto holder there it was blocking too much light from my green hydnophora, so back to the upper left side:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/mackwork/FTS32_24_08.jpg

Lots more coralline scraping needed! The stuff is growing like a weed now! The chaeto has noticeably grown in only a few days!

Looking good! :thumbsup:

[rob911]

Kent - Scarlets/Red leg hermits are the least aggressive.

Reefmack- Tank looks great. What is the chaeto for? and where do you get the "soapdish".

It seems my microbubble problem might be related to flow. Any suggestions on how to increase flow so the circ pumps dont pull bubbles from the skimmer. I am bouncing back and forth between Fluval 205 and Magnum 350 with the return going where the circ pumps are or the heater might help that. Any other suggestions. Also, all I am running is the 1/2 black foam and white filter over the skimmer pump.

[GDESQUIRE]

rob911 - Get rid of either the black or white pad. Use either the white alone or 1" of the black one.

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11931630#post11931630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911

It seems my microbubble problem might be related to flow. Any suggestions on how to increase flow so the circ pumps dont pull bubbles from the skimmer. I am bouncing back and forth between Fluval 205 and Magnum 350 with the return going where the circ pumps are or the heater might help that. Any other suggestions. Also, all I am running is the 1/2 black foam and white filter over the skimmer pump.

Rob,
PM sent

Besides Rob I am trying to help 2 other owners (in another forum) regarding water levels and flow.
I made again a quick video as this is the easiest way to explain where the water levels are in my RSM after the mods I did.
Might be useful for others also so I post the link here also: Video (http://gallery.mac.com/maxreefer#100040)

Michael
MAXreefer

[rob911]

GDEsqire- Even if I take both white and black out, still lots of bubbles and water level doesn't change.

[Reefmack]

rob911 - the chaeto is a nitrate "exporter". You periodically take about 1/2 out, give it away or trash it, and in the process you're getting rid of the nitrates, etc. that the chaeto has used for "food". It grows pretty quick, and unfortunately uses up some calcium too. It's a mini-refugium. I got the suction cup soap holder ( they call it a soap caddy) at Target - $2.49 was the price I think. I enlarged the holes that were in it, plus drilled a lot more new ones so that the water would be able to flow through it easier. It gets a bit of flow from the left powerhead, plus being a bit below water level gets water movement from surface ripples. I got the idea from Iostream as he had one in his tank at one time (as have others). I'm going to go this route, and adding the cannister, as an alternative to putting a 10g refugium in the cabinet (for now at least). I figure with the chaeto and cannister with proper media, that I'm basically doing what I was going to do with the refugium - control my water parameters and keep them in line. Since I removed the hang on refugium I've seen some nitrates reappear, so I'm trying to get back to zero.

MAXreefer - another informative video - thanks. Are you still keeping the water level a bit below the black rim to aid in surface skimming? It looked like it from the gate level, but I couldn't be sure.

[stephensturman]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/stephensturman/DSC00914.jpg

well here is my tank after the move and i also put 15 more punds of sand in there so i can get a working sand bed!

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11932373#post11932373 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack

MAXreefer - another informative video - thanks. Are you still keeping the water level a bit below the black rim to aid in surface skimming? It looked like it from the gate level, but I couldn't be sure.

To be honest I had the water level everywhere for testing purposes. From all the way to the top of the tank to about 1 1/2 inches below the black rim. Didn't matter NO bubbles.
For the looks I like to keep it just above the bottom of the black rim. No matter where you guys prefer to keep the water level just try to keep it at the same level all the time otherwise your salinity will get out of balance

Michael
MAXreefer

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11932451#post11932451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stephensturman
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/stephensturman/DSC00914.jpg

well here is my tank after the move and i also put 15 more punds of sand in there so i can get a working sand bed!

Stephen looks like it bounced back really good.

[stephensturman]

ya i never want to move again lol

[rob911]

Thanks Reefmack, I will look for some at lfs's and go to Target.

[GDESQUIRE]

rob911- Do you have anything else in the compartments?

[NaCl+H2O Fish]

rob911 -
Are you still planing to purchase a 1/15 hp chiller? If so the Magnum 350 will work well, BUT frankly the Marineland C-360 shramj decided upon might be more useful for media.... Also take a look at the Cascade 1500.... http://www.petsolutions.com/Cascade-1500-Canister-Filter+I30101596+C20.aspx

In hindsight I might have gone with the C-360 or Cascade 1500 because of the media trays...

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11933554#post11933554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob911
Thanks Reefmack, I will look for some at lfs's and go to Target.

Here is a "deluxe" version. Saw it even cheaper somewhere else. The link (http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=864)
No need to get it but it gives you an idea. You can get a small box and a cheap pump for 10 bucks or so.
I have a bigger refugium on my other tank. It is sitting behind the tank so I can't really enjoy it. Besides the filtration effect it is actually nice to watch everything is growing in there, especially the pods who try to escape to the main tank... Big mistake!!! My Mandarin made his house now right under the return....:)

Michael
MAXreefer

[donna53w]

donna53w - My Goodness! Your posting some very nice pictures! What did you finally use for software?

Kent
NaCl+H2O Fish [/B]

I went back to Photobucket. Thanks for the compliment on my pics. I mostly just shoot with the Auto setting or sometimes the Macro setting. It just seems I don't have enough time to explore the options and settings with my camera!!
Donna

[donna53w]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11927008#post11927008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefmack
Donna:
Cauliflower - a type of leather - Cladiella sp. Give it time & it will look better. Leathers are weird - they periodiocally "take a nap" & shrink - or after transport:
Maybe when they get adjusted & open up it'll be easier to see what they are.

Really pretty buttons/zoas!!!

Thanks for the links you posted, Reefmack. I checked them out and I'm still not sure what the heck I bought! Oh well, let this be a lesson to me ... do not buy on impulse, go home and do some research, for pity's sake. :rolleyes: I did ask a lot of questions in the store, but ... the answers weren't knowledgeable ones...
Donna

[rob911]

GDEsqire - Nothing else at all.

Kent - Yes eventually I will buy a chiller when things warm up here.

[donna53w]

Y-DesygnGuy and Reefmack: Your tanks are looking awesome. Reefmack, I can't get over your coralline growth! Your RSM is really 'growing'.

The 'hot' item appears to be adding the outside cannister filters to the RSM. You guys are always up to something and I love to read the comparisons and research you all do. It reminds me of ToolTime and just 'tweeking things up'! ;)

I'm still running with the stock RSM set up mostly, and 'guess I'm lucky as I don't get the micro bubbles ... unless I lift the gate too high and starve the pumps. But, after watching my husband trying to get his hand in the small pump compartment, I've come to the conclusion that compartment was designed for a woman. :D

The way I get to the pumps, is to unhook the 'front' hinges and hold the lid up with a block of wood (my hubby cut that for me). I've had cannisters in the past, and also found them to be a nuisance ... getting it to the sink, cleaning it out, water spills, the amount of space required, having to clean the inside of the dang hoses periodically to free them of algae ...
but here I am, rambling again. Hope you all enjoy life with the cannister, and from all the pics being posted, the tanks are really thriving!!
Donna

[AliKat]

Hello,

New RSM owner here. Like it so far. Just curious... Do you all find that the skimmer works well enough?

Guess I should mention that my RSM is an anemone and clown pair only tank.

[Reefmack]

stephensturman - the tank looks great, especially after a move! Good job!

MAXreefer - on the mini-refugium, those that you linked to would have taken up too much of my tank space. Id considered them in the past, but the dimensions were just too big for me, even with the smallest one. That's why I opted for the small soap caddy approach - it seems to be working well based on the quick chaeto growth. That's pretty cool that the mandarin has made his home under the fuge return in your big tank setup! I think fish are more intelligent than they get credit for!

Donna - yes, the pipes on cannisters do get dirty after a while. I've seen that on my FW cannister tubing. The newer cannisters are however much easier to unhook without losing water than the old types. By the way, your "rambling" is always informative, so ramble on any time you feel like it! :)

AliKat - Welcome to the club. For some the skimmer works well, for others not so well. Lots of mods being done on it. some seem to be very successful. I'm no longer running the RSM skimmer, and not too much of my setup is stock anymore, so I'm not the best at making recommendations these days! But, there is a lot of help available from those that frequent this thread so if you have questions, just ask! :)

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11916722#post11916722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Y-DesygnGuy

ASM Mini-G Protein Skimmer w/ PC-1000 Needle Wheel Pump
AquaC Urchin Protein Skimmer with Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump
Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002
Aqua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer
Reef Octopus TS 150 Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer
Sump Buddy 40 Series Y-D...If you've not made the decision yet then I'll provide my input.
No to the ASM Mini - their redesign of the unit messed it up. The pump is below the chamber so the whole unit needs to be removed to doing any pump maintenance. Height will be a concern.
The Tunze would be good but it is pricey.
Aqua C Urchin is an average skimmer and can be noisy.
No Feedback on the Turboflotor.
Octo NW-150 would be overkill but a good design.
No input on the Sump Buddy.

Look at the Octo NW-110. It is a good size and will fit under the stand. This is what I have. You need no additional clearance to remove the skimmer cup. This skimmer comes with a silencer and can be made even quieter. I can even hear mine even with the cab. door open.

For that matter, any needlewheel skimmer can be silenced quite easily with a pill bottle and some cotton or filter material.

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11935250#post11935250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpsluver
Y-D...If you've not made the decision yet then I'll provide my input.
No to the ASM Mini - their redesign of the unit messed it up. The pump is below the chamber so the whole unit needs to be removed to doing any pump maintenance. Height will be a concern.
The Tunze would be good but it is pricey.
Aqua C Urchin is an average skimmer and can be noisy.
No Feedback on the Turboflotor.
Octo NW-150 would be overkill but a good design.
No input on the Sump Buddy.

Look at the Octo NW-110. It is a good size and will fit under the stand. This is what I have. You need no additional clearance to remove the skimmer cup. This skimmer comes with a silencer and can be made even quieter. I can even hear mine even with the cab. door open.

For that matter, any needlewheel skimmer can be silenced quite easily with a pill bottle and some cotton or filter material.

Thanks Bob! I have not gotten a skimmer yet that was on my list for this week. My foot print inside the sump is 7.5 wide x 11" long so I am a little short on space. I will take a look at the Octo NW 110 for sure!

[Reefmack]

Y-DesygnGuy - do you have a picture of the sump you got? Sump only or refugium also? Thanks!

[Y-DesygnGuy]

I'll snap a shot of it later on for you. I need to get a catalog cover created in the next few hours for a client. Then I am off to test drive a Porsche Cayman!!! Woohoo!!

Oh its just a sump though, no room for anything else. But I think its small enough I could do the canister filter and the sump under the stand with no problem!

[Reefmack]

Y-DesygnGuy - no problem and no rush on pictures. It sounds like you're on the verge of getting that Porsche you always wanted?

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Oh man I couldn't sleep last night and I was up supper early this morning! 2 more hours and I am leaving. Of course everything has to fall into place just right for me do to it. But if everything works out right, im doing it! I've been trying to wait for a new BMW that is coming out next month. A 300hp twin turbo 135, but I am going crazy waiting!!

I've been looking at:
Audi tt
BMW 135i
Honda S2000
Infiniti G37 ( I already have a G35, not impressed really )
Mitsubishi Evolution
Porsche Cayman
Subaru WRX Sti

[Chorethorious]

Y-DesygnGuy... that 135 is going to be awesome. All you'd need to do is get all the stripes and colors right for some tii action.

[Chorethorious]

-- Also, do you think the 135 would be a better buy than the new V8 M3?

[Y-DesygnGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11935869#post11935869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chorethorious
-- Also, do you think the 135 would be a better buy than the new V8 M3?

Good question, the 135i is actually a M1 from my understanding. The new M3 is going to be sick and wrong! The look of it and power its going to have, woooooo!!! I am a forced induction kind of guy, I love turbo charged cars. I am heading out to North Scottsdale around 10am all the dealerships are there!

Who knows I know I am not going to be to impressed with 245 hp from the Cayman. My G35 coupe has much more than that right now. But a Porsche is a big time goal for me and if I can grab the golden ring, I am doing it!

I could talk all day about cars, lovem!!

Oh and to stay on topic, my tank is looking great with the Brain coral added to it. I tried to frag a Yuma rock I have in my biocube yesterday. It ended up breaking and tearing the on big Yuma I have in half. :( I hope it bounces back!

[Chorethorious]

haha Good way to curb the topic!

The M3 is going to be a sweet 420 HP non-turbo. We'll see what becomes of that with the competitors.

The 135 can't take the M1 name plate due to some heritage issues. So, 135tii is what we're left with. I just look at the price tag of 40k for a 135 and an M3 sitting around 65k... dunno

I currently have a 545 and LOVE it. Super quick and responsive with a lot of push to boot. I wouldn't mind an older 911, but maintenance on those cars can be rather expensive. haha Have fun in Scottsdale.. I'm still in PJ's.. but I would much rather test out the Bentley GTC :P

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11934830#post11934830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AliKat
Hello,

New RSM owner here. Like it so far. Just curious... Do you all find that the skimmer works well enough?

Guess I should mention that my RSM is an anemone and clown pair only tank.

Alikat, welcome to the club.

If you have a low bioload and don't overfeed your skimmer has not much to do and you won't see a lot of dark skimmate. IMO the RSM skimmer works quite well (besides some owners have issues with microbubbles returning to the tank). Maybe it is not the best skimmer on the market but not bad at all either. Most Nano skimmers have some kind of issues as well no matter which company makes them.
To compare: I am planning on a 250/300 gallon in the near future and have been doing quite some research on skimmers. There are skimmers out there in the price range $400-600 which lot of people call " a piece of cr.." and they cost almost as much we paid for the whole RSM tank.
I posted earlier a small video that shows how my skimmer is doing. If you watch it you will see there is quite some dark foam bubbling up which I am very happy about but this is not happening 24/7. Sometimes there is nothing coming out for hours and the suddenly for a couple hours he starts again and so on.
Here is the link (http://gallery.mac.com/maxreefer#100028)

Michael
MAXreefer

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11935250#post11935250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpsluver
I can even hear mine even with the cab. door open.
I did mean that I can't hear mine...Stupid typos and spell checker. They should be able to interpret what I meant not what I typed.:lol:

[MAXreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936009#post11936009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpsluver
I did mean that I can't hear mine...Stupid typos and spell checker. They should be able to interpret what I meant not what I typed.:lol:

Maybe we should invent some kind of detector that is connected from the brain to the keyboard to make this work.
At the other end you might be typing a lot of words that wouldn't be appropriate in the postings here. :)

Michael
MAXreefer

[donna53w]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11934830#post11934830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AliKat
Hello,

New RSM owner here. Like it so far. Just curious... Do you all find that the skimmer works well enough?

Guess I should mention that my RSM is an anemone and clown pair only tank.

Welcome AliKat! :) This is the best place to be and there's tons of information and help available. Take the time (it will take a lot of time) to read through the threads and you'll be amazed at the wealth of info here and the diversity the RSM is capable of for each individual.
How long have you had your RSM set up? How much LR, sand do you have in it? Is it your intention to keep it as the anemone/clown pair only tank? That's great and I'd love to see a pic of it?? :D
I find that my stock skimmer does have an issue with getting the skimmate past the neck of the skimmer and into the cup. Sometimes it works better than others ... I do clean the gunk out of the neck every other day & empty about 1/2" of dark green skimmate from the cup. My tank parameters are all within the desired ranges but I do dose Calc now & then. My water is nice & clear. There have been skimmer mods posted here that have improved the performance, check through the threads.
Donna

[rob911]

Y-Desygn Guy- I am so jealous. As a Porsche lover since being a teenager, I can appreciate your excitement. The Cayman is my new favorite for a new car but my all time fav and hopefully my eventual car is a 96 or 97 (993) Carrera 4S. Also we got my wife a G35 late last year and not only does she love it but so do I. Not bad for a high 30k sedan to be able to do low 5 0-60's with 306hp

[Stuart60611]

Well, I started re-dosing about 2 weeks ago in a modified form. I now dose 1 ml of vodka and 1 pinch of pure organic sugar per day. My livestock is reacting very positively. I am getting a great deal more polyp extention and color out of my corals. Also, as before, my water is transparently clear which I believe is actually making the lighting more powerful which is also contributing to my corals thriving. My nitrates have falled from 10-20 ppm to 0! As far as the algae, it is now definitely dying off. I am very pleased so far with the new dosing schedule. I find that dosing in these smaller volumes with a mix of both sugar and vodka has worked much better. I just need to carefully monitor everything to make sure that my tank does not run too clean. A problem I am looking forward to having!

[masmedic]

How many people are using sumps with their Max? What's the best type of overflow for this? Has anyone heard of lifereef overflows? Do you think this would fit our tank? I've been wanting to add a sump to the cabinet to put in a fuge and a GOOD skimmer but wanted some input first.
Thanks,
Scott

[Iostream]

Well, I took the plunge. The ETSS Protean 400 ('http://www.superskimmer.com/Protean_400.htm') is on the way. While the 400 is too large to fit under the stand, I have a cabinet right next to the stand which will hold it perfectly. I will report back my results since the Protean 300 will fit under the stand, and both of the proteans use a Sump Buddy 40 skimmer.

[donna53w]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936377#post11936377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Stuart60611
Well, I started re-dosing about 2 weeks ago in a modified form. I now dose 1 ml of vodka and 1 pinch of pure organic sugar per day. My livestock is reacting very positively. I am getting a great deal more polyp extention and color out of my corals. Also, as before, my water is transparently clear which I believe is actually making the lighting more powerful which is also contributing to my corals thriving. My nitrates have falled from 10-20 ppm to 0! As far as the algae, it is now definitely dying off. I am very pleased so far with the new dosing schedule. I find that dosing in these smaller volumes with a mix of both sugar and vodka has worked much better. I just need to carefully monitor everything to make sure that my tank does not run too clean. A problem I am looking forward to having!

How long can you run the dosing? Where did you purchase pure organic sugar? What is your Phosphate level at? Thanks.
Donna

[masmedic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936484#post11936484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Iostream
Well, I took the plunge. The ETSS Protean 400 ('http://www.superskimmer.com/Protean_400.htm') is on the way. While the 400 is too large to fit under the stand, I have a cabinet right next to the stand which will hold it perfectly. I will report back my results since the Protean 300 will fit under the stand, and both of the proteans use a Sump Buddy 40 skimmer.

What are your plans for an overflow? I saw a while back someone made a siphon overflow with PVC pipe. Are you doing a similar idea or are you using a premade overflow?

[Stuart60611]

Donna:

You can purchase the sugar at any Jewel or other grocery store. As far as how long you dose, you can dose continually. However, you need to be very careful to watch your tank closely because if you dose too much your tank will run too clean, and the algae in your corals will die. Through a lot of reading and trial and error, I am comfortable representing that the amounts I listed on dosing appear to be pretty safe for the RSM with a decent bio load. You also need to only dose with the lights on (at least for several hours after dosing) and the skimmer running to avoid any sharp oxygen drop in the tank. I recommend that you remove the air valve from the skimmer to maximize water oxygen and also skimmer performance. One of the best effects of dosing is your skimmer output will more than double which I believe results in removing a lot more of the nasties from the tank. The increased skimmer output does a lot to export more nutrients from the tank.

My phosphate is undectable, but that is in imo not an accurate reading b/c I believe I have phosphate trapped in my rock and substate which is supporting the algae.

[Iostream]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936540#post11936540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masmedic
What are your plans for an overflow? I saw a while back someone made a siphon overflow with PVC pipe. Are you doing a similar idea or are you using a premade overflow?
Since I will be pulling the original skimmer and such, I went ahead and ordered the Lifereef Overflow. It will fit, and they seem to have the best reputation for reliability. this tank is in my office upstairs, a flood would likely damage computers or other electronics, and possibly seep through to my bed.

[masmedic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936655#post11936655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Iostream
Since I will be pulling the original skimmer and such, I went ahead and ordered the Lifereef Overflow. It will fit, and they seem to have the best reputation for reliability. this tank is in my office upstairs, a flood would likely damage computers or other electronics, and possibly seep through to my bed.

Did you go with the nano or the single prefilter?

[donna53w]

Stuart, did you remove the air valve from the skimmer prior to dosing with sugar & vodka? If so, did you notice an improvement in the amount of skimmate?

[Stuart60611]

Donna:

Yes, I did remove the air valve from the skimmer b/4 dosing. As a result, I did see a slight improvement in skimmer output. However, the increase in skimmer output from dosing is quite dramatic and definitely not a result of the air valve being removed but rather a function of the dosing. I have stopped dosing with the air valve removed, and my skimmer output returned to normal. When you dose you will get 2-4 times more skimmer output. I get at least about 1 inch or more of dark brown skimate per day in the cup when dosing.