rude944

Man, I love Israeli's. Half the family is from the holy land, and I spent some time there, and they certainly are an innovative bunch. As a certified diver, this should be very cool. Bond used a similar gadget in Die Another Day (on TBS last Wednesday). If that wasn't fantasy I'd be so into getting one! I remember seeing Back to the future 2 with the hoverboards and was really pissed when I discovered they didn't exist!

I have to agree with Miles, however, global warming is contributing to the destruction to the climate. It's certainly from greenhouse gasses and the worlds reefs are not taking to kindly to it.

Cheers, Limey. Have a pint of Guiness for me.

DKH, I would still have reason to worry @ meq/l, right? The test kit says seawater is 2.5, and I just need to get above that. The more, the merrier without alkinality/calcium snowing!

BTW, I have never seen that, excepting when I have brewed kalkwasser. U?

Be sure to setup your backup generators. Future generations are calling on us (and the Wakiki aquarium).

I tested everything yesterday and found that the tank had fantastic numbers. Ph was a solid 8.2, Calcium was at 400 (still!) Alk was close to 3.5 and everything else looked fine too. Many of my corals have started lightening up pretty quickly and the polyps are out in full force. I think this change really put the tank into a good place!

I got my cat fixed a while back, and he came home all wacked out. walked into walls and fell over much of the time. Since then, I've always wanted what they gave him.

I think that one is the same article as the one posted on MSNBC. Whatever the case is, we may be the last generation to know the reefs. Dive now, before it is lost.

Wow, that's pretty messed up! I can't believe I wrote that!

We should do the OCA as an annual trip. I'd like to see the new exhibit.

My girlfriend is taking a photography class as a part of her continuing adult education. She decides to use my old 35mm camera and I supplied her with all that I have, unfortunately, this does not come with a macro lens. I've always been interested in taking some quality macro shots of my corals, and she is also interested, but we do not know where to start searching for a lens. Does anyone know the specifics about what macro lenses are available and what kind of things I would need to outfit the camera with a lens? What would the cost be, etc... TIA

-Seth

This had been going on for at least a month, ever since I hooked up the calcium reactor.

But whatever, it's just a reminder to check all things... ya kno?

So I noticed a whoops yesterday. I finally did some testing on my tank sunday and noticed something. I had low PH (7.8) and my alk was around 2. Calcium was decent at 400, so I knew my reactor was functioning somewhat. Phosphates were on the charts so I replaced my media in the phos reactor and decided to brainstorm about it a little later. I added some ph supplements and topped off with kalkwasser. Figured this would boost PH for the day and look at it later. Finally, I added some c02 with a twist of the dial and figured that would be it.

An hour later, watching some of the Chapelle show, I realized what the problem could likely be. The c02 was exiting the calc reactor as soon as it was entering. It was going straight back into the tank, causing the ph to fall. I hooked up the hose that had come loose in the calcium reactor and verified it was going to the effluent first.

Whoops.

I think the tank will grow a bit faster now. I am excited to know that the tank survived and now will go to the next level! I have read so much regarding accelerated growth rates with higher levels of alkalinity that this has me chomping at the bit! Only one SPS has been not so happy as of late, but I feel that my tank is now finally dialed in.

I'm posting this just to help others problem solve and see what caused me some headache.

Yes, aquaculture is always top of my list. Especially when it comes to the stock that I buy. Aquaculture is hardier and also tends to be in better shape at the LFS then anything wild. The cultured acro's also tend to maintain and have better colors in the end anyway. Fish on the other hand tend to be hit and miss. It's hard to buy aquaculture fish, as there are just too few species.

How come there are no aquaculture operations in the carribean (sp?)? I want to see some of these corals that we are not seeing in LFS simply because they cannot be removed from the ocean. I read that the law around this leaves a loophole for aquaculture, if the ocean floor is leased. Someone could then buy a plot of land (water) and frag off of larger pieces for aquaculture, lessening impact on the reef, and sustaining diversity with the hobbyest. If someone has the startup capital, I want to move to the Florida Keys!

I had a female clown that would draw blood when I attempted to do anything near her anemone. Melanopus to be exact. Mean member of the same family. There is your warning!

Sorry to have to post this, but it is better to be in the know...

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12082349/from/RS.1/

My preliminary thoughts are, can we do something as a group?

Bob, I'll be in town. I'll PM you my cell #.

I only have about 1 inch. No bald spots!

The idea of removing a bunch of pods and critters is relevant. This is why I will only replace a third of it at a time. It leaves plenty of microfauna in the tank to reestablish their populations. I also want the critters gone as nutrient export, along with whatever detritus has built up in the bed. Another added benefit is that sand has the ability to bind some chemicals and dissolve others. Think of it as a poor mans calcium reactor. You dissolve some calcium and trace elements over time and your sand bed becomes polluted with detritus and other crap.

I think I will do this every quarter, as it is time/labor consuming and somewhat expensive.

Well, the DSB for me absorbed too many nutrients. It was a sink for them. I never had any nitrates, and that is a good thing, but I did have p04 and lots of dissolved organics. I think that running a ssb is a bright idea in that you do have some nutrients and plenty of microfauna to break it all down. The diversity of the microfauna ensures that there is some planktonic life in the tank, and it's not completely "sterile" as we say.

That's my 2 cents. That and a subway token, and you can ride the subway.

I had a blue devil that we named Beyonce. As in a survivor. Made it through 5 tanks and 3 moves. Little punk too.

The added benefit that I didn't take into account is a nice pretty sandbed. I didn't think it would look as good as it did, but I'm really impressed with the change!!!

I replaced about a third of my sandbed last night with my bi weekly 25% water change. I am now considering this a part of my maintenance regimen. I would advise others running a ssb to do the same in an effort to reduce dissolved organics. I think this will contribute to the lightening of my corals and still give them the polyp extension that they should have. IMO, this may be the best way.

I think you are doing everything alright. The lightness of the corals is very desirable thing, especially considering the polyp extension. Keep it up.

Wanna share your superman?

Yeah, I'm pretty impressed too.

Ironically I had a Rio crap out in a Pacific Coast Calcium Reactor. Travis did warranty it.

Lesson: There is no perfect product and there can be customer service in this world.

I'm still paid up