JasonH

I think unless they state that they DO photoshop (or otherwise edit) their photos, than it is inherently dishonest - not a case of buyer beware. If someone posts a picture and says that "this is what my product looks like" than that is what the item should look like - not an intentional and knowing misrepresentation.

Wow - that's massive. I especially like the way he's struggling not to drop it while you sit back and hold the camera (laugh)

I'm going to see if Joel is still building tanks

Wow - you do like the short tanks. I'm going either 24 or 30 inches (I've already got dual 400W galaxies and 20K radiums in the box).

Thanks. Now I just have to hope that he doesn't develope a taste for SPS. Although, if he starts eating zoos, I'll love him all the more. Although, I think owning him rules out clams - and I was hoping to get one of those eventually.

Yeah, that's why I want to go with a deep tank. I always saw the really long and skinny tanks with LR pilled up to 6-12 inches from the front glass - and the fish would just swim in little laps all day - like sad little inmates pacing in front of the cell bars. It seems to me that a shorter, deeper tank gives them more room. But I'm totally guessing there - and I'm grateful for the input.

You think? I think room is room - really, I think being able to swim in 3 demensions would be better. But I don't really know.

Current tank is just a 29gal. I've been getting ready (okay procrastinating) to upgrade to a ~150 - 48Lx30Dx24/30H (haven't decided on height).

Pics updated

As tempting as it is - don't correct too quickly. Rapid changes are worse than bad conditions.

looks 'shopped to me.

These things are rabies factories - and losing a fear of humans is a symptom of rabies, so don't get too close!

I didn't think Mandarines got picked on much in general - isn't their skin toxic?

Unfortunately, probably not. It's my favortite fish, so I want to try. My hope is that finding a juvenile will help - but that's complete conjecture on my part. I've never seen a juvenile available, so I jumped on it.

Blue Girdled (Majestic)

my new fish: Now I have to get serious about that tank upgrade.

FYI... I do not believe that TMPCC kills red bugs. I treat with both Coral Revive (TMPCC is also a good choice) and Interceptor (separately, BTW) before introducing corals.

1-800-petmeds sells interceptor without a prescription. Sorry to hear you got the bugs - but they are very easy to get rid of. Just be sure to follow the recommended treatment of three weeks (once a week for three weeks). And remember, it will likely kill all other crustaceans - crabs (including hermits and acro crabs), shrimp, and most of your pod population. So plan accordingly and remove what you can. Read this link, great info: http://www.melevsreef.com/redbugs.html

wow - that was quick. I need a 250w ballast - any left? What's the retrofit kit, other than ballast?

(sick) ( insert 10 characters here)

My complaint about the naming convention is that so many people have taken liberties with the names that they no longer actually mean anything. Someone mentioned Superman Monti - which is the perfect example. The Superman monti is just a blue-based monti with red polyps. It's an unusual, but obviously not rare color combination. However, there is only one "Superman monti" that is version that originally came from Tubs/Bruddah. But people have simply decided that any blue/red monti danae is a superman monti. So you get blue-ish / red-ish montis that are sold as "Superman Monti" and you have no idea what you're getting. I think it's funny when I see someone list a Tyree Superman for sale - you know that person is just slapping the Tyree logo on something. I recently spoke to a LFS that had XYZ coral - a still hard to get LE coral. I asked where he got it and he said he had gotten it in a wild trans-ship. Than it isn't an "XYZ". You may think it looks similar, but it isn't "XYZ". The theory behind naming corals is that you know what you're getting, and what the coral has the potential to look like (obviously, that can still vary wildly). The problem (IMO) is that so many people take liberties with the names, that it no longer means that - now it just means that people are trying to sell corals for more money. (steps of soapbox)