Reef Central Online Community - Blogs http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php Reef Central is dedicated to the marine reef aquarium hobby. Learn about reef aquarium setup and maintenance, and view coral and marine fish photos. Visit our online community and discuss and chat with hobbyists of all levels from beginner to advanced. en Thu, 23 May 2013 12:52:22 GMT vBulletin 1 http://s.reefcentral.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Reef Central Online Community - Blogs http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php Suisun City frag swap and sale (free) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=648 Wed, 08 May 2013 04:31:32 GMT ---Quote (Originally by letsmod)--- nice I am in Fairfield, will be looking forward to the next event ---End Quote--- You should check out my...
Quote:
Originally Posted by letsmod View Post
nice I am in Fairfield, will be looking forward to the next event

You should check out my Facebook group

https://m.facebook.com/#!/groups/128...user=806707043


Or this other group that is more local reefers

https://m.facebook.com/#!/groups/330...user=806707043 ]]> mk820 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=648 Phallic shaped membrane http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=647 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:46:53 GMT Please see other post in this section with same name. I have attached a picture. Thank you Please see other post in this section with same name. I have attached a picture. Thank you ]]> India http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=647 Changing Bulbs http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=646 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:19:11 GMT I created a thread a couple of days ago indicating that I was 'angry with my tank'. The last several months have been very frustrating, to say the least. One of the responses questioned my lighting. While I'm sure I have plenty of 'watts per gallon', it did get me thinking.

When I first set up the tank, I used Radion LED's. I really didn't like the color or growth under them. As a result, I sold them to a fellow reefer (who loves them BTW) and purchased a Hamilton Belize with 2x250 MH 14K MH and 2x54w T5 actinics. About four months ago, I switched out the Hamiltons for Ushio 20Ks. In previous tanks, I always ran 20K Radiums so I thought...why not.

I just ordered 2 15K XM's and 2 14K Phoenix. I think I'll try out one pair for three months and see how it goes. If things are great, I'll just sell the others. If things are still questionable, I'll try the others. Going to start with the XMs.

The only reason I'm doing this is because it seems that my blue SPS are having more difficulty than my reds. Perhaps (although I don't think so) it's a spectrum issue. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks to all who read this miserable excuse for a blog. ]]> Stolireef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=646 Tank blew a seal http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=645 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 02:48:57 GMT The title says it all. I was sitting on the sofa with my son; he was watching a cartoon, I was dozing, and the sound of gushing water brought me... The title says it all. I was sitting on the sofa with my son; he was watching a cartoon, I was dozing, and the sound of gushing water brought me fully awake. The bottom front seal of the tank blew, and water was spurting and pouring out at an unbelievable rate.

My husband was home, doing some work at his computer. I yelled for help, and he came running. We threw hoses in the tank to drain the water as quickly as possible into the sink and a large bin, and once we had the water out I removed the coral and rock to bins, adding powerheads to keep the water circulating.

I was in a state of near shock, I couldn't quite believe that this had happened; the tank is less than eleven months old. I spent a lot of time on the phone, going between the retail store that sold me the tank and the company that manufactured it. They're honouring the warranty, but we weren't able to get the replacement tank any sooner than the store's next scheduled delivery, which happened to be exactly two weeks from the day that this disaster took place.

So the fish are in the QT (which actually made this process more bearable), the corals are in a large Rubbermaid bin, and the majority of the rock is in another, even larger bin. As of this entry it has been 12 days, and everything is okay; we lost our urchin, an emerald crab, and a number of Stomatella snails, but the corals all seem alright and the rest of the animals are still alive as well. Even the macroalgae is fine; it's in a ball at the top of the rock bin, under a desk lamp.

The day after the chaos, our apartment absolutely STANK. The carpet was soaked and despite wet-vacuuming it, the dampness created a lovely wet-dog/old carpet/bacterial nastiness small that was still nothing in comparison to the smell coming from the tank itself.

The rock and coral recovery effort and carpet cleaning took most of the day, the rest I spent on the phone, and as a result I left the sand to rot overnight. Yeah, don't do that. Pods, bacteria, worms, and whatever else died in the sand and holy moley does that ever make one hell of a stink. The sump had quite a sponge population, and draining the sump left the sponges high and dry; each one was small, but collectively they created an ungodly stench when they perished.

Because I was tired, sore, and also had to work, it took me a couple of days to fully clean everything out. I tossed the sandbed, rinsed out the tank and cleaned it as best I could, and then removed the sump and plumbing. I tossed it all in the bathtub, filled everything with hot water and a LOT of bleach, and let it sit. A bit of scrubbing and rinsing, and the sump almost looked like new!

Once everything was out of the stand I took the opportunity to climb inside and clean out the dust, salt creep and spiderwebs. I washed down the outside of the stand, which was covered in salt from the day the tank burst, and then put the clean sump and plumbing back inside the stand. Now everything is ready and waiting; as soon as the new tank gets here, we'll be all set to hook things up and start again.

I decided I'd like to try going barebottom with the tank this time around -- it's easier to add sand than remove it, so if we decide we're not happy we can always toss some sand in later. It took me ages to find a source for HDPE cutting board material in this city, and once I found it I had to buy small sheets and cut them to size on my own, but I enjoy a bit of DIY so I don't really mind. We bought a small pull saw and after measuring and marking the boards, I cut the quarter circle for the overflow and the end off one of the boards so the length was right. I need to get another board to make up some space at the front of the tank, because the sheets we found aren't wide enough, so we're doing that tomorrow.

We have hired a friend who happens to be a contractor to move the old tank to the store and bring the new tank home. He has built a type of cradle/carrying rack for it that will prevent any possible twisting motions during transport. We need to pick up some glass-movers suction cups from a rental place tomorrow, and the next day is moving day.

For anyone following along, I plan to take some pictures and post everything from the move to the Starboard installation and re-build of the tank, re-introduction of the livestock, and (I hope), our smiling faces at the end of it all once it's gone off without a hitch. Stay tuned! ]]> ACBlinky http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=645 Build lesson #1 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=644 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:46:10 GMT Dont build tank stands until you have actual confirmed measurements. Yep thats right a 60 cube advertised 24 suare is in fact not 24 square more... Dont build tank stands until you have actual confirmed measurements. Yep thats right a 60 cube advertised 24 suare is in fact not 24 square more like 24.5X24.5X24.75. The bad part is I'm sure I could have found this out somewhere on RC or the net. Plan/Confirm/Read/Re-plan/read again.



Re-building stand frame this weekend. ]]> CRMangrove http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=644 Reefs balanced on the head of a pin... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=643 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:43:47 GMT As I noted in my first blog entry, I've had my share of ups and downs in this hobby. Someone one described me as a builder rather than a custodian (in the caretaker rather than janitor usage). I think many of us in the hobby fall into my category. In my experience, the result is that we struggle to keep our hands out of the tank. We fiddle, we tweak, we adjust, etc. with few if any noticeable benefits.

I was thinking about my second successful reef tank this week as I was looking through some old pictures. That brought up some sad memories of when I had to pull it down for my move to AZ. As is often the case, once I knew it was coming down, my husbandry efforts really fell off a cliff. Oddly enough, not only did things not suffer, almost everything in the tank thrived. I had some of the best SPS and LPS growth I've ever seen. I went nearly four months without a water change, supplement, glass cleaning, or carbon change. To my embarassment, I only fed irregularly.

Somehow, all of this neglect led to a very stable environment. I'm sure if I had let it go much longer, a crash would have occurred but it did clue me in on a simple concept. Sometimes, the most stable structure is not necessarily the neatest. I can stack a hundred bricks on top of each other in a perfect tower and a light breeze will knock them down. On the other hand, I can make a big pile of bricks and it would take a hurricane to even budge them.

I'm seriously considering moving to this approach. Very stable parameters but perhaps imperfect by some standards. Not sure if I'm ready to take the plunge but it is food for thought. ]]> Stolireef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=643 <![CDATA[April's Saltwater Tank]]> http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=642 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:45:45 GMT http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2000378 http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2000378 ]]> bnumair http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=642 My Build http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=641 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:40:31 GMT This tank is a reward for quitting smoking but I have a feeling this may be more expensive. I guess I will start with my story as it pertains to... This tank is a reward for quitting smoking but I have a feeling this may be more expensive.

I guess I will start with my story as it pertains to marine aquariums. This will be my first salt setup but not my first tank. I spent years in frsh water and planted fresh water. I have been reading and researching salt for about 12 years on and off. I have helped others with DIY on reef tanks, frag tanks, custom lighting hoods, sump builds, and other stuff. But with all of this reasearch and experience I am smart enough that this only means I am a newbie and still have no experience reef keeping. I should make this point again.

I am a newbie and have no reef experience!

On to the main build details,
Main Tank: 24X24X24
Mangrove Tide Tank: 24X24X16 rimless
Sump: 24X12.5X25

The general idea is the main and sump will run as normal but every six hours the Mangrove tank tide will change. I know this will take a controller cycling it's feed pump and a multistage overflow/return for this tank. Anyway This will all be housed in one stand aprox 48 wide 72 tall. The mangroves will have about 3' grow room inside their compartment. I will post pictures as I go and I have some other cool ideas/tricks that will be revealed as I go.

I look forward to comments, questions, and guidance of all on this site.

First trip of many to Home Depot. Just to get me started.
10, 2X4X8, $32.40
1, Kilz Paint Gallon, $18.44
1, Box of 2.5" Screws, $8.47
2, 3/16", 4X8' Hardboard , $27.96
1, 22/32 4X8' Playwood, $30.45

A first total of $117.72 ]]> CRMangrove http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=641 My greatest pet peeve in the hobby http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=640 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:14:21 GMT This is a really good thread in the general reef discussion forum. I posted there that the wires associated with all of the equipment we use... This is a really good thread in the general reef discussion forum.

I posted there that the wires associated with all of the equipment we use drive me crazy (I also had a bit of fun with poetry). With that in mind, I decided to take an inventory of the number of wires under my tank and what they are attached to. Keep in mind that I'm running a 110 rimless with a sump and separate fuge. I run a calcium reactor, skimmer and a comination MH/T5 fixture. So, starting from the top...

Hamilton Fixture: This is the biggest of the wire hogs: Five cables from the fixture including one each for the MH's, One for the T5's, one for the fan, and one for the useless moonlights. The MH cables run to two separate magnetic ballasts each of which has their own power cable running to the my first of three Apex EB8's. Total wires: 7

Apex: Wire from Display Unit to Head unit. Wire from head unit to EB8(1). Wire from EB8(1) to EB8(2). Wire from EB8(2) to EB8(3). Power cables from each EB8 to wall outlets. Probe wires for PH, PH2, and Temp. Total wires: 10.

Powerheads 3xTunze 6095 and one MP40WES. One power cable each for the Tunzes and one cable from MP40 to controller and then from controller to EB8. Total wires: 5

CA Reactor: One cable for feed pump, one cable for circulation pump, one cable for CO2 controller. Total wires 3.

Sump Wires: Skimmer, return pump, pump from sump to fuge, sump recirculation pump. Total wires: 4

So, I have a grand total of 29 cables. If you assume that the average cable length is about six feet, I have at least 174 feet of wire in or around my tank. It's probably quite a bit more since some cables are really long.

That's just too much wire. ]]> Stolireef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=640 Test http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=639 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:14:11 GMT This is a test. This is a test. ]]> usmc121581 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=639 Tore it down, rebuilt the rockscape http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=638 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:23:28 GMT There are no fish in the tank ATM, so I decided to fix the issues I've been seeing with flow and light penetration. The large tower on the left side of the tank was too tight, and in quite a few spots some of the rocks were creating too much shade, blocking light to everything below.

We went to Home Depot and bought two 48" fiberglass driveway markers, a 1/2" masonry drill bit, a chisel set, a junior hacksaw, some epoxy putty and gel crazy glue.

Came home and tore the tank apart, and chiseled most of the coral frags off the rocks so I'd have bare rocks to use as building blocks -- I figured it'd be easier to re-glue the corals once the rockscape was finished, rather than trying to build something with the corals in place.

I drilled holes in most of the rocks, then threaded them onto the driveway markers until I had a few columns I was happy with. Then I used the hacksaw to trim the posts to size, and rebuilt the columns inside the tank. I placed some rocks between/around the columns and called it good until the next morning; I needed to wait until the dust settled and I could see things more clearly.
I left the corals lined up along the front of the tank for the night.

After a few finishing touches to the position of the rocks, I started affixing the corals. I discovered that 'fix-it stick' epoxy isn't as sticky as the LFS stuff, but it does work.

I replaced the cover glass with eggcrate and diatom filtered the tank for a few hours, and everything looks happy today :D

The flow is definitely improved; the rocks are all at least 8" off the back glass, and there's much less rock contacting the substrate than before. There are lots of little caves and swim-throughs, as well as the two large holes, and I think the fish are going to like it :D

Pictures!










Please forgive the lousy cell phone pictures, they really don't do it justice. ]]> ACBlinky http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=638 now living with my parents. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=637 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:05:10 GMT I am now living with my parents along with my kids. I will be setting up a tank in the basement here soon and I have started buying the gear I will... I am now living with my parents along with my kids. I will be setting up a tank in the basement here soon and I have started buying the gear I will need. I am a bit geeked out about it. It's going to be a 120. ]]> bigevill1 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=637 My First Blog Entry: A little about me http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=636 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:07:33 GMT First of all, Stolireef does not refer to the Vodka. Actually, it does a little. Stoli was my first dog, a crazy black standard poodle. We named... First of all, Stolireef does not refer to the Vodka. Actually, it does a little. Stoli was my first dog, a crazy black standard poodle. We named her Stoli because all of the other dogs in our extended family were named after drinks (eg. Remy, Baily, Scotch...). My avatar is a long ago picture of her.

I set up my first SW tank in 1997 in Rochester, NY. It was a 40 gallon breeder that sat on an old coffee table in my living room. It smelled really bad, didn't grow much of anything, and slowly became the bane of my existence. Over several months, I developed an expertise in killing whatever I put into the tank (including nearly myself by electrocution). I started referring to myself as the fish assasin.

After a few years of failure, I discovered an LFS that sold both SW and FW fish and supplies. I ordered my first (and to date, my most successful reef, present tank pending) reef tank. It was a 90 gallon drilled. By that time, I had discovered Reef Central and had read about the Jaubert plennum approach. I kept that tank for about five years and it was largely bullet proof. I still think the Jaubert plennum is a good approach and probably should have used it on my current tank.

In 2004, my wife and I built a new house and designed an entire room and basement plumbing for what was supposed to be a 250 gallon starfire beauty. Unfortunately, life intervened and I was so busy at my job, I only had time to keep a 29 gallon bowfront. It too was successful.

Life intervened again when we moved to Phoenix in 2007. At the time of the move, I had neither the time nor the money to set up a new tank. Finally, in December of 2011, I was able to set up my current tank. It is a 110 Leemar rimless.

I've experienced many ups and downs in this hobby but one thing is certain...it is the one thing that keeps me sane in a crazy world.

Anyone in this hobby knows that the foregoing is a greatly abbreviated history but it gives you a sense as to how much I love the hobby.

Watch for future entries. Thanks. ]]> Stolireef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=636 AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=635 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:12:08 GMT ---Quote (Originally by nanotank)--- Coming from a sol white before they made the blue version ran off my profilux controller the new controller you...
Quote:
Originally Posted by nanotank View Post
Coming from a sol white before they made the blue version ran off my profilux controller the new controller you must use for the vega is a joke. Updating to new firmware was the first thing I did too. Going to have to read more and try and figure it out. Why could the controller not be battery operated on top of it all?

Well the controller will be do. Just a learning curve from the GHL. ]]> nanotank http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=635 AI Vega Color/Blue Owners Thread! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=634 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:11:17 GMT ---Quote (Originally by nanotank)--- Coming from a sol white before they made the blue version ran off my profilux controller the new controller you...
Quote:
Originally Posted by nanotank View Post
Coming from a sol white before they made the blue version ran off my profilux controller the new controller you must use for the vega is a joke. Updating to new firmware was the first thing I did too. Going to have to read more and try and figure it out. Why could the controller not be battery operated on top of it all?

Well the controller will be do. Just a learning curve from the GHL. ]]> nanotank http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?b=634