Any Rockford, IL area reefers out there?

[SHowald72]

I'm looking to find anyone in the Rockford, IL area that has a reef tank and wants to talk, trade, buy or sell corals. I live in Freeport and have only met only a handful of reefers in the area. So, anyone with a tank to show or advice to give, feel free to drop me a message. I always enjoy seeing other tanks and I always have a coral to trade. Happy reefin, Shawn.

[reefman77]

I live in Naperville, IL but all i have to trade but a dieing mushroom coral and and a dominoe damsel that wont leave the other fish in the tank alone

[SHowald72]

I have several things to trade/sell. Several SPS coral frags, soft corals, frogspawns, mushrooms, polyps, clams, plants and live rock. I am going to try and thin things out a little before I move in the spring, so I am more than willing to sell if a person doesn't have anything to trade.

[vessxpress1]

SHowald, I might be interested in some of your softies. I'm in Savanna, IL. I've only got a 38 that's getting a little full but I wouldn't mind seeing what you have, if you're offering some good deals. I'd be interested in your frogspawns and other softies. You don' t need a turbo snail or any crabs do you? I got 5 turbos for my tank not realizing how large they are and how much they move. I've got some zoanthids I could trade besides the snails and crabs, but I could also throw in cash. I'd also consider cutting a piece of my pulsing xenias if you're interested. They'll probably grow out of control anyway. I might consider trading you a harlequin star if you wanted one too. Let me know. Maybe you could e-mail me some pics/ prices/offers. Thanks.
-Scott

[SHowald72]

I just cut some yellow finger leather frags and a kenya tree frag. I have some small frogspawn frags. Some small toadstools. Prices would really vary because I have a ton of different sizes and other corals also. It would be easiest to tell you over the phone or show you in person rather than doing a mile long response here. I will trade or sell depending on the deal. Send me a phone number or I can give you mine. I will try and get some photos up also. Thanks for the interest, Shawn.

[craftytony]

I'm just starting up, but you guys can keep me in mind when i have trades available! ;)

[SHowald72]

My sister lives in Sycamore. Let me know if I can be of any help along the way. If you need live rock or anything else let me know I have plenty of extra goodies to get a guy started and I would be much cheaper than the pet store.

[craftytony]

Sweet, thanks SHowald72, that would be awesome! I will definitely keep you on my buddy list...thanks man!

[uzzer]

>>thanks man!

So, thank you!

[craftytony]

showald...you got any VHO white lights...i may need some spares soon ;)

[SHowald72]

yeah, what size

[daytriper]

I live in lombard I would like to know if their are any local frag meets,I would like to learn about as well as raise hard corals.

[SHowald72]

I would be interested also if anyone knows of any local frag meets.

[ahuxman58]

hello there s howald i live in rockford and have a reef tank or two i am always in the market for advice and livestock, give me a shout when you can . merry christmas a.huxman

[SHowald72]

Hey ahuxman, a little xmas advice, "Don't eat the yellow snow!" You want livestock and I have plenty of it to sell ya. I can shout right now, "Aaaaaaa........!" All this eggnog is making me a comedian tonight. Well, seasons greetings all.

[derrikd]

i have some family in freeport, well really Red Oak, i think thats it..

[SHowald72]

I know where Red Oak is. It is just a couple of miles outside of town. You will have to look me up if you are in town.

[derrikd]

i will..

[vessxpress1]

Hey Shawn. How's it going man? Everything I got from you is doing great. The frogspawns are really taking off. Everything's grown quite a bit and doing well. The GSP's and the candy cane are about the same but doing good.

I may be interested in a few more small corals pretty soon. It's getting full but I've got a couple more spots for stuff. I wish I would have bought more!

I just got a nice colt coral and a nice sized whitish-peach colored finger leather from the pet shop in the QC. Christmas gift certificate.
I might come up and get some more stuff from you this month some time. Just let me know a good weekend.
Happy new year.
Later.
Scott

[SHowald72]

I'm glad to hear everything is doing great. I will be around pretty much all month on the weekends. Since you last stopped, I have got some really nice softies from a friend that are pretty big that I am looking to move if you are interested. Look forward to seeing you soon, Shawn.

[vessxpress1]

Hey Shawn. Quick reply. I might come up the 14th. That's a Saturday. I'll give you a call that morning, unless you won't be around.
Again, I'd probably be interested in most anything. I really wish I would have bought one of those yellow leathers. I really want one now. I'd get that little devil's hand too if you still have it. They're pretty cool. I'd be interested to see what you have.

If you still wanted some of my xenias, I'd be glad to bring some. They've grown quite a bit. I've never cut anything before though. I've got a rock to put them on. Would I be ok just cutting a couple stalks and rubber-banding them to a small rock? I'm sure they'd grow on it. Whatever you'd prefer for them. I also have a very small frag of zoanthids. There's only a handfull of them on a little rock but I have multiples of them in the tank. They have red skirts, dark blue middles and white mouths, if you'd like them.
See you soon.
Scott

[SHowald72]

I should be around that morning. I just got two more types of xenia, so I probably don't need any more now. When you get here I will show you some simple ways to propigate them. Bring some polyps along and I will take a look at them. When it gets a little closer give me heads up to remind me that you will be stopping so I don't forget. Later.

[Ereefic]

I'm just north of Rockford in Janesville, WI. Nothing to trade at this time, but will in the future.

[examiner]

I'm in Rockford, looking for tank raised SPS frags...pm me if you have anything like that. Thanks.

[SHowald72]

I am always looking for new trades. Keep in touch guys.

[Ereefic]

This might be of some interest to some of you. :)

The Madison Area Reef Society would like to cordially invite you to the second annual MARS frag swap. It is scheduled for Sunday, January 22nd, 2006 at the Sun Prairie Public Library (5 miles east of Madison). The swap will run from 12:30 to 4 pm. All members of reef societies and clubs are encouraged to attend.
The library is located at 1350 Linnerud Drive, Sun Prairie, WI, 53590. Here is a link to the library website:

http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/sunprairie/getacard.html

There will be no admission however a suggested donation of 5.00 (or a coral frag!) is requested to help stock and fund the library's new 120 gallon reef.

This link

www.madisonreef.com/index.php

will have updates as the date approaches.

Traders/sellers are encouraged (not required) to register by posting in the swap meet thread on the MARS site.

[SHowald72]

I will see if I can make it. I have to work that morning but I will try.

[synofreak]

Hello Showald. I live in Rockford and just got into SW(FW for years). I don't have anything to trade SW, but am in the market to buy some beginner corals. I got Peacocks and Synodontis if you keep FW. Let me know if you have anything available.

[SHowald72]

I have plenty of things to get a guy started. Just let me know what you might be interested in, mushrooms, polyps, soft corals, LPS, SPS and I even have plenty of live rock if you need it. I also have lots of extra used equipment if you need anything. Like everyone in this hobby, I seem to accumulate lots of extra stuff over time. I definetly need to get rid of some of it because I know I will be buying more.

[synofreak]

Cool. I guess I'm in the market for polyps, softies, and maybe a cool shroom or 2. Also looking for a descent hob skimmer. Shoot me a phone number if your available this weekend.I'll come by and check it out. Thanks Steven.

[SHowald72]

I have plenty for ya. I will PM with my phone number and we can get in touch. Thanks, Shawn.

[synofreak]

Cool. That would be awesome. I'm free on weekends. I bet that 180 is very nice.

[SHowald72]

I need to put some pics up of it soon.

[synofreak]

Hey bro, I never got a PM from you. The wife got some shrooms , I just never seen them, so I'm good on them(don't like much,so will see how they [4] do). I did get 1 piece of coral this weekend. Its zoos(100 polyps or so) and frogspawn(2 I think) on a 3"x4" LR. Very cool(could not resist for price). I love the zoos. So zoos(more colorful) or polyps, and possibly some cool softies, and also a HOB skimmer(better than my skilter) is what I'm lookin for. Let me know. I do concrete and were not stoppin this year, so weekends/nights are best for me. I can also PM you with my phone# if preffered. Hit me back.

[SHowald72]

thats odd, I sent it but I will send again.

[vessxpress1]

Hey Shawn. How are the fish doing you got? Did they all make it? The six-line and the strawberry gramma were pretty stressed by the time I was acclimating them. They were very lethargic. I put them in the tank and they seemed to be alright. But than the next day, the gramma was out, lights had been on for a few hours, six line was not out. I tore the tank apart looking for him. Couldn't find it. I was mad. Put everything back together. About an hour later, to my amazement, the six line came out darting around!!! lol I was sure it didn't make it. The gramma nips and chases him. It ended up catching some ich spots. They seem to be gone off him for now but his tail is a little beat up. I've been using triple doses of reef vital DNA which is suppose to prevent the things from sticking to the fish. Both of them are eating and doing well. I'm relieved for now. I was just wondering how yours did.
Got a couple bottles of that B-ionic. I really like the stuff. Talk to you later.
Scott

[SHowald72]

Everything I got is doing great. The two I was worried most about were the blond naso and the powder brown tangs. The powder brown started to eat flakes the next day and I finally found a plant the naso will eat last night. Andy had a type of algea that I didn't and he brought some to me to try. The naso seems to like it, now if I can only find something else that he will eat. Wait to you see the goby in my tank, awesome!!!! He has some incredible color that I didn't expect. Let me know how everything turns out and you will have to come see the new additions some time. Later, Shawn.

[vessxpress1]

Hey Shawn. Would have responded earlier but our computer isn't at our house right now. They're both doing great now. The gramma rips frozen foods out of the water column like a little dinosaur and the wrasse is doing much better. The spots haven't come back, his tail is in much better shape and he has a great appetite. The wrasse eats pretty much anything I throw in. The grama doesn't bother him as much anymore either.

Glad your fish are doing great. I bought a really awesome toadstool leather from the pet shop. I was hoping they'd have what I was looking for and I got there and both big tanks were full of them. All aqua-cultured. Neon green polyps exactly the same color as the GSPs.

Did you ever find out if you could get some Current, PCs? I want a 10,000 K day light and a dual 420/460 actinic, straight pin 96 watt configs from those guys. In that fish place, they only carry the square pin ones which are 30 to 35 a piece. The pet shop in the Quad Cities would order a couple for me but they want 65 bucks a piece for them! What gives? Shipping isn't that much. I'm looking for a phosban reactor too, like the one you have. I have a new cell # by the way. I'll have to give you a call.
Take it easy. Later.
Scott

[SHowald72]

I should be able to get the stuff for you, I will check into it tonight. I had one hell of a disaster yesterday. A snail plugged up a return line to my sump and overflowed my tank in the basement. This happened while I was at work and it drained my sump totally. Well needless to say, all the corals I had growing in my sump are now dead. The halides cooked them all without any water. I had never seen black leathers before. The shrooms all looked like those melting clock pictures. The LPS are all gone also. I wanted to cry when I noticed it. I am guessing that little snail cost at least a grand. I have got to go have a pitty party for myself now. Give me a call later, Shawn.

[vessxpress1]

Oh man!. I'm sorry to hear of this disaster. That is a real shame. I know they're not as much but did the plants make it? The fish? Did it do anything to the tank upstairs? I guess I don't understand how that sump could completely empty without the tank upstairs going empty. You going to make any changes to it (screens) to avoid that happening again? I"m almost afraid to ask but do you think one of your new snails was the culprit? The last I saw, you had a ton of snails. Mine haven't done anywhere near that kind of damage but I dont really care for mine that much anymore either. Especially the Turbos. The da*n things crawl up out of the water and squirt water out of the tank on the floor. I had my dad make one of those hangar things like you got on your tank for growing frags on and they just keep knocking them off to eat the algae that the magnet won't get.
Well, I'm sorry again for your loss and I hope some things made it (some silver lining) out of it. Talk to you later.
Scott

[SHowald72]

A snail was the culprit. It took a lot of self restraint to not smash him when I got him out of the return line. Pretty much everything in the sump died. The tanks were alright because they have overflow boxes so they won't drain down. The snail must have crawled into the return line to the sump (from the sump side) and gotten stuck. That caused my frag tank to overflow because the water could not return to the sump. So eventually all the water was pumped out of the sump and on to my basement floor. The light over the sump then cooked everything that was exposed. I was ready to give up then but I have since regained my desire for the reef. Things will get better, it just cost me alot of money but I will make more. Thanks for the concern, Shawn.

[vessxpress1]

Yeah, you just might have to give it some time. I came home today and the six-line was laying inside my stand, dried up. It jumped out too. I keep it covered at night so it jumped out sometime today. I can't keep wrasses in the tank. Gotta go.
later. Scott

[SHowald72]

I know that feeling. After the grieving for the fish is done you look at the fish on the floor and feel as if it were a pile of your money burning in front of you. Let me know if you need anything because I am heading into Chicago next weekend. Later.

[vessxpress1]

Yeah, exactly. I need some stuff but I can't get it quite yet. I have a laundry list to give you very soon though. I'm sure you can probably beat my catalog, especially if you let me know when you guys are sending an order in so I can save on shipping too.

I won't get another wrasse for now. I'm pretty happy with the 4 fish I've got now and it seems more tranquil. The gramma is still doing well. What makes me mad is, I went to Home Depot a couple weeks before and had bought a roll of that metal mesh that I was planning to make a cover out of so the light could still get through during the day but nothing could jump out. I finally made it 2 days after the death so the gramma can't fly out and it will spare me from being really pi$$ed. It took about an hours worth of cutting with the dremel, but I finally came out with something to cover the tank. It's doesn't look the greatest but it's very functional for my setup. I like your hoods a lot better. That's the way to go. Well, I'll talk to you later.
Scott

[SHowald72]

Hey everyone,
A buddy of mine is starting a saltwater business in Rockford. He got sick of having to pay pet store prices and he wants to help out fellow hobbiests. He has his business license and tax I.D. Now he is just waiting on some paper work from the Department of Agriculture, then he can start selling to the public. He is a hobbiest and not looking to get rich. So, his prices should be good because he mainly wants to just cover his costs and help others afford this expensive hobby. If anyone wants more info, let me know and I will get you more details.

[SHowald72]

Anyone in the area looking for some frogspawns, xenia or other corals? I am looking to thin my heard before I move in May. Anyone who has seen my froggies, knows how nice they are. Trade or sell, I will leave that up to you.