Sol

Guess it's time to update this... A couple new corals have gone into my tank, mostly SPS. Well, I know these threads are useless without pics, so here goes: First off is the beige acro colony I got at the meeting from fanta-seas: And also from fanta-seas, a green-with-purple-rim cap frag (not much to look at at the moment): And then two corals from Upscales: an orange cap, and a yellow acro (ID anyone??) And a pic I really liked of my frogspawn (not a new coral, but a new pic) Hope you guys enjoy. Sol PS mods, maybe this should get moved to the member tanks section now that that's what it is about...

Where can I buy some weld-on in Portland? Or, does anyone have an extra bit lying around? -Sol

Wrasses are out because the tank is open-topped, and I don't want any jumpers. -Sol

Changing out a regular outlet for a GFCI outlet is very easy. Maybe 20-30 minutes work at the very most, more like 5-10 if the outlet is easily accesible and you're handy. Just make sure you kill the power before working on the outlet (via the breaker that controls that outlet's circuit.) Simple directions can be found here: link -Sol

I thought I'd keep this thread updated as a sort of journal of the development of my tank. I added the first two corals today, bought from WAVES marine. Great service and products BTW (Waves, will you give me free coral if I shamelessly advertise you? (whistle)) The first was a green with purple tips frogspawn: And the second was a colony of really cool looking zoathids: If these corals look happy, I hope to add a few SPS by the end of march. Anyone selling frags at the meeting next week? Hope you enjoy the pics. -Sol

I found it through the MASNA website. -Sol

Hey guys, Does the chat feature ever get used much? I'd love to meet some of you guys in chat which is at least a little more personal than forum talk. And who, BTW, is going to the meeting on the 18th? -Sol

I've read that Anthias have to be fed multiple times per day, which is deterring for me. Is this not true? I think I'll ditch the purple tang plan, and maybe wait 15+ months for the mandarin. No yellow tang though; if I'm going to get a second tang after the tomini, it'd be a purple. -Sol

It's the 6 bulb fixture. -Sol

Don't forget the Tek t-5 lighting and the Tunze streams I'm hoping that the hair algae will just go away on its own. Wishful thinking maybe. Thanks for the compliments all, and I hope to meet some of you on the 18th. -Sol

Thanks for the advice guys... I'm using RO/DI water for top off, and it has a TDS of 0 so that's not it. Maybe I'll get a blenny. -Sol

Thanks for the compliments guys. I tried to aquascape this tank in such a way that there was a lot of swimming room for fish, and a lot of room for large coral growth. I am physically removing lots of the algae. I'm also running my strong skimmer, and phosban, and cheato in the fuge, so I'm not sure how the hair stays alive... Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphates are all 0. SG is 1.025. The skimmer pulls out the amount gunk shown (about 2 measure cups, or a pint) every other day. -Sol Edit: R-3, sorry we posted at the same moment so I didn't get to answer your questions. The tank is braceless, and has starphire glass on the front and sides. It's 1/2" glass all around. I'm not sure who made it; I got it used. Hope to meet y'all at the metting.

OK, a picture of the tank in all its hair algae glory. Don't laugh (laugh) And I'm not sure why I took this photo, but here's some of the gunk the skimmer pulls out of the (Unstocked!) system: -Sol

I already have my cleanup crew. Turbo and cerith snails, scarlet hermits, a few peppermint shrimp, a couple fighting conchs, and a serpent star. Thanks for the input on the fish guys. -Sol

Tank will be mixed reef, but SPS dominated--I'll be new to stoney corals so I'll start slow, but torts are the corals I find most beautiful and that's where I'd really like to be headed. Also some interesting micros and other LPS should find their way into this tank. As for fish, I plan to stock heavily, and have a huge skimmer in preperation for it (an ATI bubblemaster, a new skimmer to the market, basically a bubble king clone). I also might get an H&S if I find the bubblemaster isn't powerful enough. I have a topic discussing fish lists here Thanks for the warm welcome guys, and hopefully I'll see some number of you on March 18! -Sol

Hi guys, My 90 gallon long (5'X18"X18") is coming to the end of its cycle, and I'm starting to plan out my fish list. It'll be mixed reef but SPS dominated. Here's what I'd like (in no particular order): Tomini tang pair of true percula clowns 3X blue-green chromis sand-sifting goby of some sort (input here??) lawnmower blenny After 6 months-a year POSSIBLY a mandarin (input?) if I'm not fully stocked by now, POSSIBLY a purple tang (input?) Am I overstocked? Do you all have any advice where I asked for input? Thanks in advance for that and any other advice you might have. -Sol

Hi all, Just wanted to introduce myself and my aquarium. My name is Sol, and I'm a student studying at Reed College here in Portland. I have had a 29 gallon softy tank for about 6 months now, and decided it was time to go a step further into the hobby, moving into stonies and eventually SPS. I was moving out to go to college, and it seemed like a good time for this transition. This decision was finalized when I was fortunate enough to come accross a used 90 gallon long (5' X 18" X 18") for sale. Well, fast forward about two months and way too many dollars. My tank is coming to the end of its cycle, and I'm battling a serious hair algae bloom. Pictures to come soon. Anyway, now that I'm coming close to ready for corals, I thought I'd meet some of the hobbyists in this part of the world. I look forward to meeting you all. -Sol PS, is it OK just to show up the pnwmas meetings? I saw there was one next week, but wanted to know if I need to somehow register before just showing up. Thanks much for any input.