aqua-ed

Any recommendations?

As a brewer myself, I should be able to whip this up with some supplies I have at home already. Thanks!

Excellent! So is the "lid" on top loose fitting to allow air to enter?

I do not have an ATO right now. The diagram above would be my top-off system. Just trying to figure out how to do it without spending too much money or taking up too much room.

That makes sense with the CO2 and aragonite. So any advice on how to properly jimmy-rig a kalwasser doser? Can I use the one shown in that diagram if I can keep it stirred? Does anyone have an example of something that would work? I do great with pictures...

So, I'm going to build this here simple water top-off I found on OZ reef. Here's my question, though, would it be possible to mix my kalk in the water container (figure A)? Or is there to high a chance that the kalk will spike my alkalinity? I know kalk expires after about 48 hrs, so I would have to change it every other day.

The point is, I'm tire of mixing kalk, setting my dripper, blah blah every day, but I don't want to set up a CO2 tank and the works to build a kalk reactor.

What does everyone say?

Nah, I don't have any filters on mine. It could probably use something as I don't have any form of particle filtration on my tank. Something like what your talking about would probably do well.

Does this look like a good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Odyssea-24-110w-Aquarium-Power-Compact-Light_W0QQitemZ320209619516QQihZ011QQcategoryZ46314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm looking for a 24" PC w/ about 96W lighting.

Hood, no hood, needs work, I don't care.

Excellent.

So...anyone reading this who has a spare PC setup for a 12x24 tank that they would be willing to part with for cheap, let me know!

I don't think I'll go beyond softies for now, seeing as I'm on a grad school budget right now (tank before food!)

How do I go about setting up some more PCs (or t-5s)? Is it possible to do it all for under $75? Even $100?

Like I said, its nothing critical, but if I can make it fit in my budget, I'd like to do it.

The tank lid is 12"x24". I would like to keep the PC's, but was hoping to use the casing from the other one to put a new guy. Would that work?

Posted this on RC, too, but I usually get more/better help here.

I have a 30h tank with a 32W PC and a 15W actinic. The PC is one of the smartpaq retrofits that I jimmy rigged onto my tank. The actinic is just your standard "All Glass" aquarium hood light.

My question is, what is the best way to up my lighting? 47W for a 30gal tank hardly seems enough. However, going MH would be too expensive and probably boil my water.

For my PC's, the ballast says "32/40W" so I assume I can put a 40W in there. Which kind is the best? What I have is a "32W 10000K daylight/460 NM actinic" but on MarineDepot.com, they have other combos to choose from. Is dual daylight or actinic better that the mix?

For my standard All Glass 18" guy, is there a way to retrofit something better in there myself? Money is an issue, so I'd rather not buy a whole new kit. I'd like to DIY as much as possible. Would putting VHO's work?

Any suggestions would be great, I'm kind of a newbie at the whole lighting thing. Thanks!

Grainy photo...creeping looking life form...send that picture to the tabloids, dude!

As I mentioned before, I had a mishap with algae taking over my take whilst I was away. Everything is cool now and its looking great. One minor problem, though, is that all of my spare shells (for hermits) are still green. I've taken them out and scrubbed them down, but they are pretty well stained. Any ideas on getting it off?

It's nothing critical, it's just ugly. Nice, pretty shells, make for a pretty tank, ya know?

What kind of coral is that in the bottom picture?

I don't have any "larger" critchers in my sand bed, that is what I am wondering. Do I need some decent micro inverts?

What about the nitrous gases that build up in the bed without one? Those will kill the fauna eventually.

So, I have a DSB in my refugium/ sump (working great to keep down the nitrates(clap)). The problem is, the DSB portion of the refugium is only about 4 gals with the baffles and all. What is a good sand sifter to put in there? A cuke will probably be to big, a goby will swim out, snails climb over the baffles, and stars eat all the goodies. Is there anything else? What does everyone else use?

I have an eclipse II hood (12"x24") just lying around that I would be willing to trade for frags to an interested party. It all looks alright, I drilled 4 small hoods in the lid (for a light I had rigged on) and only one of the lights works. Everything else is fine.

Let me know what you think.

Would any aquarium sponge work? I could probably just pick one up some where around here.

I will keep an eye on them.

The overflow is working great. Thanks again! My DSB has got my nitrates to zero.

Newest development:

The stalk of the xenia is now a whitish color and they are slumping over with the arms hanging out. I'm starting to get nervous...

What can I do?

A side note, the xenia is surrounded by zoos. Could the zoos be knocking out my xenia?

From what I understand, tiger-tail cukes don't deplete the flora of a sand bed. I know sand stars do. I've read in a few places that cukes are the way to go, if you don't mind an ugly terd looking dude in your tank.

What are peoples thoughts on carbon to clear up water? Is it the best bet (beside protein skimmer)? If so, what is a good placement area?