reefcam

is it a PFO ballast? (big silver case). If so you can take apart the case and see what ballast it is. Might have to go to an specialty store to get a replacement ballast.

wow... I like the color variation.

If the Blue Tang is still available, I have a 280 tank and will be the largest fish. Maybe my purple tang will leave it along.

I have been using Oceanic since they first introduced it about 4 - 5 years ago. But here's what I have learned from switching salt. And I started with Instant Ocean. Think it is still a good base salt. Oceanic has too high of CA and ALK level. But everytime I switch salt, I typically get wierd algae issue that I have never had and will eventually go away after using the same salt for a while. So now I'm sticking to Oceanic. Plus I like the blue bucket with the water tight seal.

while my tank is going green, my wallet is going black. (scratch)

Oh.. I have lots of DIY. I like DIY stuff too.

yes and no.. my plumbing is 2" pipe so a solenoid to stop in coming flow from the pump will not be cost effective. Also you don't want to shut off the incoming flow or you risk damaging your pump. Thought about converting the HD unit to shut off the AC, but could have bought a relay and shut it off that way too. But this was nicer looking. It's all about looks you know.

I have one too many flood in the house due to overflow box being backed up by one thing or another (myself included as one of the things :O) Since my sump is connected to my house drain, the only way water can spill out of my system is through my return pump and out of my tank. After searching high and low, I found a water sensor that will turn off an AC outlet. Mainly my pump. But they also have other sensors too. So I thought I share this with you. http://www.plumbingsupply.com/prevent_water_damage.html They also have a low water sensor to shut off your pump, but not sure how well it will work in a saltwater sump. And yes, I do have the water sensor from Home Depot, but what good is an alarm whem I'm at work and no one is home to turn off the pump. :p So now I feel a little better. Jim

I have yellow and green ones... works great on pots and pans.. why? Oh sorry... couldn't resists. (nutty)

Try James at Envision Acrylics. He might have some Hayward bulkheads. Or a pool supply shop.

Rocks??? You were supposed to take the Dogs.. not rocks!! You're welcome Roger.. I like the shapes of the rocks when I pulled them out.. just cook the rocks real well. Sorry I missed you yesterday. My visit with Garrett took a bit longer as I saw other cool stuff. What ever happened to those stores with dirty tanks and dead fish??? it'll be cheaper on my bank accout. Call me next time you are up this way and I can show you my setup this time.. much different than when I had it the last house.

yup... used to be Aquaticus

I feel for you man... it's a love-hate type of hobby... but more love cause we are crazy and still doing it. Just a thought on some of you plumbing and equipment (i.e. pumps). You might consider using vinegar to clean them.. it does a great job.. that's what I did to make the equipment back to new condition. And kill off anything you don't want.

yeah... looked into the Vortech 40mpw, but the only place I can put it is close to the top and I'm concern it will create a water funnel and suck air into the tank and now I have to deal with noise from it.. mean, the pump sucking air from the surface. Tanks is 72" x 30" x 30". With an external overflow on the left side of the tank. It was designed for the last house and got lucky with the new house.

just thought of something.. and maybe someone can chime in and say Yes or no... but if you can't get salt, what about using Ammonia remover and Nitrite remover. I'm concern about Nitrite.. No so much for the Nitrate, even though its high... but will likely brown out your corals in the short term. Also, any buddy told me that he bought some live Manila Clams from a local asian store and that lowered his Ammonia... never tried this, but have to be careful from the clam dying. Okay.. hope you can find some salt.

I try to hide all my returns like Steve Weast did when he has his tank running.. Learned many good techniques from him. For the return pump, I have a Dolphin 3600 pump. It was actually the Dolphin 3000/4000 pump, but the flow wasn't there, so I swapped out my 3600 impeller and now I get more flow than before. I also have a CL with out all the outlet hidden in the rocks. The CL pump is a Dolphin 5600. It's suppose to get 6000GPH with 2" pipe. There is a cavity behind the rock work so all my fish like to go hide in there. And I have the CL output blowing any dust or detritus out from the back to the front. I want to get more flow, but don't like the looks of powerhead in the tank. Oh, for the return, it's supposed to be 2 1" SS with upgrade motor, but I dropped one and crack the entire body. Have a box for it, just need to drill it and put it back together. The stock 1" SS didn't do the job and the motor died after a year. My skimmer is a was custom built by Reef Mania (No longer in business). The guy lived in mid-west and flew it out to me to see it get installed. It's has 2 re-circ pumps on the skimmer. I think he said it was rated for up to 750g. I think the skimmer body is 14" across, or basically the diameter of a 5g bucket. He gave me a huge discount so I bought it. He CNC all the parts.

Thanks. It's a 280g built by James at Envision Acrylics about 7 years ago. [language filter] time flies. There are corals in the tank. Really there are. Just didn't show up in the picture.

it's always fun to start over.. even though it's not starting over fresh, but a new start... I just finished over hauling my tank due to lack of maintenance and up keep. Dead SPS, receeding LPS, bubble algae all over the rocks and these green fuzzy algae all over the algae... replaced 75% of the rocks and all gravel, soak and cleaned all pumps and pipes that I can clean and the sump and skimmer. As well as upgraded all my RO/DI unit to higher output rate. Now just waiting for my water sensor that will shut my return pump off in the event water is overflowing from my return pump. My sump is hooked up to my house drain so rather shut the pump down and have it flow into my sump and drain. Lots of work and $$$, but fun restocking and seeing a major improvement in the tank. Keep us posted.

you may still be able to recover by tomorrow if you can find salt locally or ask Steve to borrow some.. Do a 20% water change. If you tank is mature, the Nitrite should be consume fairly quick.. you'll just have to deal with the Nitrate. I had caulerpa issue before, but had salt on hand to do water change and carbon to help absorb some impurities. Now I always have at least 2 buckets of salt around for emergency and 30g of water ready to go. Good luck.

with no salt.. tough one.. do you have carbon that you can throw in the tank? But really a water change would be better. Sry to hear.

Wanted to add that Upscales has a Tiger Jawfish in... so if you like Jawfish.. I would go get it.. haven't seen many around. Would get it, but not sure if my blue spot would like it.

that's why you should have kept your last tank!!! Good seeing your posts again.. Have to get together soon.

here's a couple of thoughts for you and have worked for me. Search for Durso stand pipe. Many have used it to reduce the slurpin effect. You can also use a valve on your drain line to control the water drain rate. I'm currenty using a valve to stop wate flow noise, but you have to be very careful with the valve method as this can also work against you. The valve have to be adjusted to match the incoming flow rate or you will have a flood. I would try the durso method first.

Roger, Yeah, I'm still at this hobby even though I took a leave from the boards for about 3 years. Got my tank sorta back together and moved. I do have some rocks that will be good, but you will need to dry them out and start them out as base rock. I think there's about 75 - 100 lbs as I swapped them out with new rocks. You are welcome to them or I'm tossing them. They have been sitting out in the rain for about a week, so pretty much fried. Had lots of bubble algae that I didn't want to clean out, but if you dry them out and restart them, they should be good. Let me know if you are interested. Jim

ughh... need to put back the goby and shrimp pair so if others are interested. The shrimp will definately become my peppermint hog's snack. He at my Fire Shrimp of 2 days.