Holly

...found this online... (dancing) http://www.hawkfish.org/video/90greef.wmv

I just received this forward from a horse-loving friend. I'm forwarding it to you guys, in case any of you have the room and interest to save a foal (or know anyone who does). Winter has come early in Alberta—and that’s bad news for the mares and foals living on PMU ranches there. No longer needed for the production of hormone replacement therapy drugs, these equines need a place to go, and fast. Because there is not enough grass to leave the animals on pasture, several of the PMU ranchers have decided to wean their foals at the end of the month. Any foals who have not been adopted by November 30, 2006, will be sent to auction—and an uncertain fate. The California-based Animali Farm is working hard to find good adoptive homes for the more than 100 foals and mares facing the November 30 deadline. If you can give one of these equines a second chance, or if you would like additional information, please visit Animali Farm online or email animali@aol.com. You can also call them directly at (805) 938-0174. If you cannot adopt a horse, please forward this email to all of your horse friends. The only way to get these babies adopted is to get the word out to enough people, and we need your help to do it. Thank you so much for caring. http://www.theanimalifarm.com/

My maroon was hosting my sinularia to death until we got her a BTA.

It was the first time we'd been to a meeting. My first thought was that everyone should wear nametags, so the new people can learn who's who. The name tags should have the person's first name with their blog screenname under it (if they blog here), so we can put names with faces. If only the new people have tags, they're at a disadvantage, because everyone can see THEIR names, but they have to ask the names of any regulars that come up to them. Plus, they have far more names to remember than the regs who all know each other. Maybe give blue-lined nametags to the regulars and red-lined ones for new people? That way the new people can see who else is new, too. ..Just a thought... We spoke with several people, and everyone seemed very nice and friendly! We took the initiative and approached people. I think new folks should be greeted, but it also helps if they can take the initiative sometimes PS Our kids had missed their naps and were making too much noise in the play area during the lecture, so I had to dart past the speaker a few times to go correct them. Sorry if that bothered anyone. We soon realized they just needed to go home and sleep, so we left. (We'd tried to get a sitter, but none were available.) Wish we could've stayed longer. We weren't even there long enough to join. 'Do that next time.. (fish)

Thanks you !

Hi! My husband's a SF native (his mother still lives off Portola Dr near Claremont). What brought you to Portland? What do you think of the area thus far? We're very new, too, but welcome.. PNWMAS has some of the nicest people ever, from our new experience

The Seio's working great. Thnx. It definitely added more movement. I'm thinking of getting one more Tunze. I took a load of tests today (including my new LaMotte phosphate test, which seems clearer IMO). Temp 79.5 SG 1.024 pH 8.25 Ammonia - trace (0.1, maybe)* Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Phosphate 0.02 =) Calcium 400 Iodide 0.06 *I suspect I might be having another small cycle because we put in all new water and sand. ? Everything looks great, but I scrubbed all the algae off this morning, and it's already growing back again... Not sure what it's feeding on if my phosphates are this much lower, but I figure it'll work itself out within the next week or two... Thanks everyone!

They already shipped the LaMotte kit, so it's too late to cancel. That's fine. I'm just RELIEVED to have the phos down. It's not even registering 0.3 now. I can't believe how fast it worked!! (clap)

Nice to meet you today (those we had time to meet)! Our kids were overdue for their nap and about to combust, so we had to run out before we could join, but we plan to do so online or at the next meeting. The Phos-Buster has done it! Phosphates are barely traceable now (Salifert)! I should get my lab-quality phosphate test tomorrow via UPS and we'll see, but it hasn't been this low in so long, this is cause to celebrate. YAY @ Phos-Buster Thanks again Lowman for the Xenia. =)

Thanks Lowman! I think you guys are right about the test kits. I have Salifert, but it doesn't seem reliable. Thanks for the head's up on LaMotte, Piero. I checked all the listed distributors and ordered one. (clap) Only Marine Depot had the phosphate test, of the sites I saw. http://www.marinedepot.com/a_tk_lm.asp You guys are muey helpful. Thanks!

I read that on several sites, as well. I asked about getting some Xenia while at Fanta-Seas. Unfortunately, Patrick didn't have any at the time. THANK YOU for the offer of the frag. That'd be very much appreciated!! (dancing)

Wow! That's BEAUTIFUL! Only six months? omg that's unbelievable.. Gorgeous!

Thanks dippin! It's still lingering between 1-2ppm. I'm holding high hopes for the new phosphate remover that's coming in. In other entertainment news, my urchin picks up chunks of macro every time he gets near, pulling it out and carrying it to other areas of the tank. Next step in total tank demolition: a giant horseshoe.

Phosphates are down to 1ppm now. I know that's still too high, but considering it's been off the chart for weeks, it's progress. I put in new Rowa and Phosban.

NU2 - lol @ the smiley beating its head Mike - Good idea, but what can I do with rocks that already have corals firmly attached to them?

It was a LFS, but the rocks and water were perfect for about 4 months. (I tested it all the time, being a paranoid newbie). What can you do to remove it from the rocks other than continue to skim and change water? Eventually, it has to leach out. Esp with the amt of Rowa we've been circulating in the reactor and Phosban in the sock!

Thanks! Not now (phyto), but I did once in August: a tiny drop of both phyto and zoo. Not since then, though. It seemed to be too messy. I feed once a day, about 1/3 of a cube of Mysis (they eat it all in about 2-3 minutes). I only have six small fish. Now we're getting cyano. I went to Fanta-seas today and loaded up on macro (for the tank, not the sump; sump already has some and it's getting full). If the macro starts to take over the tank, I'll just remove some and take it back to Patrick.

Our RO/DI is only about 2-3 months old, and we've only ever used it for top-off. (FS did the initial tank fill-up). The RO/DI water's been phosphate-free thus far. I now test it before adding any

Thanks Vanz! I researched and planned for about a year before we did it; however, no amt of research is equivalent to having reef people you can actually talk to (which we didn't have at the time). Right now we have a chronic phosphate problem. We lost our 3 SPS, an LPS and a soft already. No amt of phosphate remover, water change, or overhaul has helped. I only have star polyps, PPE, sinularia, frogspawn, flowerpot remaining (I'm amazed they're doing as well as they are). Hair algae completely covered my tank, and all the beautiful coralline is gone. Patrick's been trying to help us out. My husband and I did a 100gwater change about two weeks ago, and it didn't help at all. Phosphates were still off the charts. Last week, Patrick came out, and we gutted the entire tank, drained all the water, removed all the sand, put in all-new sand and water, washed off all the original rock, then replaced some of it with new Tongan LR... It didn't even take the edge off the phosphates. No change at all. The tank now looks like a brand-new set-up again--clean and hair-algae-free, but barren. Rowa, phosban, and phosguard haven't helped at all either. It's frustrating to have a chronic issue that we can't get to the bottom of. Not sure where all the phosphates could be coming from. My husband thinks it's leaching from the original rocks, since we removed everything else. Who knows at this point. Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate zero. Anyway, this is the tank, as plain as it is. Pic was taken this morning. (At least my fish and inverts are doing well. Saw a peppermint shrimp loaded with eggs the other day!) =)

PS Manrow - I've already decided that acryllic is BAD for reefs (IMO). Mine's scratched and I spend tons of time removing them. I won't buy anything but glass again. It's all a learning curve, I guess... Flyguy - 'nderstanding women = nailing jello' - HA HA!! great quote Lowman - LOVE the quotes... That's a Scottish flag!.. Love it .. Husband and I were married in Scotland.. My maiden was MacDougall .. =) You guys all sound like a great group! Can't wait to meet you all .. Thanks! H~

THANKS everyone!! We hope to be at the Sunday meeting. Can't wait! I hope/plan to join the club .. =) I never knew there was such a reef group around the area.. It's good to know. Seems like Portland's lucky, compared to other areas, as far as reef resources go... See you Sunday !

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie to the hobby but already hooked. We're about six months into our first marine (reef) tank. I was just introduced to PNWMAS after discovering Fanta-Seas this week. =) Great site!