steveweast

That would be the case if you allowed detrirus and other debris to collect in the bioballs and rot in there....but....the bioballs themselves did not raise your nitrates. They're only plastic afterall....no different than your sump, pipes or your tank. Lack of maintenance was more likely your issue. Most traditional reef setups (large or small) have no need for bioballs....but, in other type of systems, they are a necessity.....like FO or coldwater. Bioballs are great in these systems and redundant in others.

I don't get why you all think that bio balls are bad.....afterall....they are nothing but a place for bacteria to colonize. If kept submerged, they are no different than your glass, your rocks, your sand, your pipes, etc. The main function of bio balls is to provide additional bacterial colonization sites.....just like rock. Bio balls are most useful in systems where little or no live rock exists.....like a fish only or coldwater setup. I use bio balls extensively in my coldwater system since the native rocks are basalt. They also are great for splash and salt creep control in sumps. Bio balls really only have two negatives: 1) They can trap detritus and must be occassionally cleaned. 2) If used in a dry situation, they can allow the bacterial colonies to rapidly convert NH4 to NO3...... but, that can be said of any media used in a dry situation. There are many uses of bio balls....but, like anything else....they must be used to suit the situation. If kept submerged....and occassionally cleaned...they will have no negative impact on any system and will have a positive impact on systems that lack adequate amounts of traditional live rock.

The problem as I see it (maybe I'm just cynical)......is that the truth is so much less dramatic than the story they printed.....and certainly less dramatic than that nwcn video segment. I doubt they would be interested in printing something that basically says...."our bad, it really was a non event."

That news story is just amazing....it goes into live corals....how to grow them....endangered this and that.....when in reality, it was just long dead coral fragments (which is just what sand is) that is collected from the beach or surf zone. Now, it could still be illegal to import or export with or without the proper permits....but....the media really created a completely different story out of the facts. If that trial is held here, I'd like to get on that jury.

John....you're really missing the point here....this was NOT a live coral shipment. It was a large grained sand shipment. Here's the same story that was in yesterday's Oregonian that has a bit more detail. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1234583704198930.xml&coll=7 Here's a quote from the article: Two shipments reached the Port of Portland last spring, 40 tons of endangered stony corals. The fragments were hard and bony white, many as big as a man's thumb. Again....there's NO live coral...or bags....involved in this story....just reactor media that apparently was illegal to be imported into this country for whatever reason.

The relevant provisions of CITES are: Conf. 11.10 (Rev. CoP14) which contains definitions. Relevant to biologists who collect coral samples which were once alive but in the process of collecting/ preservation are killed, are the definitions of: DEAD CORAL - pieces of coral that are dead when exported, but that may have been alive when collected, and in which the structure of corallites (the skeleton of the individual polyp) is still intact; specimens are therefore identifiable to the level of species or genus. THESE ARE SUBJECT TO CITES and CORAL FRAGMENTS (including gravel and rubble) - unconsolidated fragments of broken finger-like dead coral and other material between 2 and 30mm in diameter, which is not identifiable to the level of genus. THESE ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CITES by virtue of Conf. 9.6 (Rev.) "coral sand and coral fragments [as defined in the Annex of Resolution Conf. 11.10 (Rev. CoP14)3] are not considered readily recognizable and are therefore not covered by the provisions of the Convention." My guess would be that.... PCI ordered a container of coral bones for reactor media.....and that the supplier shipped too large of material without a CITES permit.

That article is very misleading. First of all....the Woodburn importer invovled is PCI.....and the coral invovled is coral bones (used for reactor media) Here's what invovled from PCI's website: http://www.pacificcoastimports.com/product.cfm?sid=97439381V41207141209002W1234659734984P207Y200Y116Y133C73462810L9&p=116&cs=products%2Ecfm%3Fsid%3D97439381V41207141209002W1234659734984P207Y200Y116Y133C73462810L9%26c%3D31%26kys%3D%26pg%3D1 To NOT be covered under the CITES rules, fragments or sand must be under 30mm and unidentifyable. My guess is that the coral bones were too large (as pictured in the link) or still identifyable. But....the article gives the impression that 40 tons of recently harvested live coral was ripped from the reef......when we're talking about very course sand. Anyway....the feds were after the supplier and not PCI.....who, to the best of my knowledge....cooperated fully with the feds.

Fantaseas has them

It took me several nights......and much beer.....before I finally spotted mine......and he was 7 feet long. Have the red flashlight as low as will still allow you to see. They can see the red ligt and will retreat. Look in holes and gaps in the rock and watch for motion....they don't come out into the open often. It's best to just keep things as dark as possible while viewing. No trap will work. They will not leave the safety of the rocks.....and certainly not in its entirity.

He will have a rock as a lair....there is no way to remove him except to remove him IN the rock. I've heard of hyper-salinity driving them out of the rocks though......which means you won't have to break up the rock. No trap will work.....or at least....I've never heard of one working and it never worked for me (they are just too long to completely enter a trap). My advice is to closely watch and determine his home base rock and remove that rock.

Crappy tank....poor video....but incredible fish (even if they are 20K each) http://www.blueharbor.co.jp/factory/devil/blog/flaver/flaver.swf?id=movie39&full=true

Looks like they still do the shark dive. http://www.mauioceancenter.com/index.php?id=6&ss=0&page=shark&content=shark

In hindsight, it was probably not my best moment.....especially when she noted that there was no where to hide and no way to out swim the tiger. I told her....."I don't need to out swim the tiger...I just need to out swim you". On a positive note.....the hotel's couch was very comfortable that trip.

I, too, get to Maui a couple times a year. If you dive, you can dive in the Maui Ocean Center's shark tank....costs about $200.....but, it's quite the kick. They only take 3 people a day....it's usually at opening. It's very different being in the tank looking out at all the people. They give you a bunch of clams to feed the eagle rays in there. There's also an 8ft Tiger shark in there. I took my better half in there to get her over her fear of sharks before we went to Tahiti....and it worked (although, I failed to mention to her about a Tiger being there......I never heard anyone curse under water before). Best snorkel spots in Maui.....1) Ahihi cove south of Makena. This is a mariine preserve and located right on the road for extrememly easy access. Best done at 7am to get the best parking spots.....2) Fish bowl.....a 20 minute walk from the road across a lava field.....but, well worth it. It's a completely protected and secluded tiny cove that has a huge amount of fish in absolutely the clearest water around. It's located about 10mins south of Makena.

John....I can't speak to the second link since , I think, that they are new and hopfully promising......BUT...I've ordered from the second link before and there are hoops that must be jumped through. First...you'll need a minimum order....something around four boxes (or something over $1000). It is possible to tag along on a public aquarium order though....but, you'll wait even longer. Second....you'll have to contract with a broker in LA to accept the shipment....get them through customs....and get them onto a domestic flight. This will run about $100 per box. Finally....after you place an order, your order is collected....and this can take months. My order took about six months from order date to receiving date. Past that....it works just great. You just have to have patients and a big enough system to order that much at once Oh...and factor in DOA's.....it takes about two days to reach you.

http://www.oregonreef.com/sub_coldwater.htm The biggest hurdle is obtaining livestock. Are you a diver who can collect your own stock ? If not, it may be tough to obtain stock. There, currently, is no convienent cold water livestock retailer available.

I do feel honored.....but, sometimes I feel that the boards focus too much of the spotlight on HUGE systems.....when most of the world is doing something a little more modest. While I think the large systems should be occassionally showcased, I feel that showcasing well done small systems is of more value to many more reefers. I do feel that my small cold system is worthy of an article since it is related...but unique. That's why I added a section to my website and allowed TRT to showcase it....but, I'm far too lazy to do much more work past what I've already done for those other publications. My plans for the new system are something along the lines of a tank that is 10' X 8' X 4'.....with circulation mostly provided through built-in waveboxes or surges.... and rely less upon closed loops. I also want to nearly eliminate piping. My old system had WAY too much plumbing.....the amount of crap that was encrusted in those pipes was disgusting....not to mention all the reduced pipe diameters from the hardening of the arteries. I also want to reduce energy consumption with more stategically placed lighting and fewer pumps. Look for it in 2009.

True.... mine was featured in 2002. I turned down two other offers in 2005 and 2007. There was also a guy in Southern Oregon (George ?) that was featured about a year ago IIRC. As for this tank....it's quite nice....although, I'm not too crazy about the river rock masonary or the light bleed from the frontal openings. I would have liked to hear more on the circulation too.

The 250 watt ballast is Sale Pending

A final bump for this before it goes to RC. I would perfer a local sale afterall.

I did not receive any email....and I'm still awaiting a call back from Joel. I leave town in a few hours and have no internet access until Friday. Currently...I have 2 of the 400's spoken for (that are supposedly being picked up next weekend)......which leaves four dual 400's and one dual 250. Priorty will be given to the time of the emails recieved or the time of the phone call (if Joel calls back). These need to be picked up next Fri/Sat/Sun since I leave town again after that for an extended period.....again....this deal is for the ballast only.

The dual 250 watt ballast is back on the market. I'll be leaving town Monday and won't return until next Friday if anyone is interested. There are currently five 400 watt ballasts and one 250 watt ballast available. After next Saturday, they will get posted on RC....so, if you're looking for a dual ballast, now is your time.