USCG CWO

Take it from a noobie you did the right thing. I look at the LFS as the expert. I would much rather you be truthful and up front with me then just sale me something to make a buck, and have me fail or unable to maintain it. Will I be disappointed, probably, but if you refer me to something else it usually takes away some of that disappointment. Truthful and upfront = loyal customer!

I just ordered live rock from Doran and I have to say I am positively mesmerized by the amount of live critters running around on it. I think I like the hitchhikers more than I like the rest of my tank. Thanks Doran, you will be seeing me again.(rock2)

Doran,

If you are talking about the picture I took have at it.

Shane

What kind of shrimp?

Thanks guys. Wife and kids think it's cool. I don't really have anything in the tank right now except my rock, sand, couple snails, emerald crab, tiger cowrie, and cleaner shrimp, so for now he'll stay. Later it may have to go though.

Okay I found a new hitchhiker this afternoon when I got home from work. I believe it is a small, about the size of an M&M, starfish. It has four legs and they are short and thick, not long and skinny. The top looks gray or brown, underneath is white.

I guess two questions: (scratch)

1. Is it a Starfish?

2. Should I get him out while I can? I am planning on going full on reef and I understand some of these guys are not reef friendly.

Shane

The water level of the overflow box should about an inch or two below the top of the overflow. This will help prevent the waterfall effect that both creates noise and bubbles.

 

Here is a picture of a modification to the durso for when space is a factor:

 

 

+1 This is the Stockman Version of the Durso. It is what I use as I have limited space in my overflow. If you Google Stockman you should find the DIY pretty easliy. My overflow sounded like a toliet flushing, but since installing this version all you hear is the water cascading down the pipe. I also went from 1" pipe out of the overflow to 1.5" back to 1" where it connects to my sump.

Andy are you still looking for a 70? I have one that I use to mix the water for my weekly water changes. If you have a similar pump or something that would do the same job I'll trade you. Let me know.

Shane

Thanks for the ID guys. Still new to this but I am learning a very fast rate.(drooler)

I know the pics are bad, but it is in the back, down between two rocks. Would mushrooms grow under generic flourescent bulbs? I'm still in the cycling process and I haven't purchased good lighting yet.

(scratch)Can anyone tell me what the red flower looking thing is? I found it in my new live rock. Sorry I can't get better pics.(scratch)(scratch)

I have duty this Thursday, but as long as I don't get called out I'll be there.

Thanks All

Thank you everyone for the invites. I will try and make it to this Thursdays Meet and Great. I am on duty but should be able to shoot down there for a few minutes. I am attaching pictures, just know I don't have my lights yet and I do not have all the rock I need. This makes the second day with live rock and ghost feeding. PARAMS are as follows:

Nitrates: 0

Ammonia: .25

Nitrite: 0

PH: 8.2

Calcium: 380ppm

KH: 143.2

Salinity: 1.023

Temp: 80

Phosphates: .5

Not sure why my ALK and Calcium dropped. I was at KH: 169.1 and Calcium: 420ppm. I added Kent superbuffer-dkh and Liquid Calcium. So hopefully it will come back up. The water I get from WINCO is pretty neutral and requires a lot of buffering before I add it to the tank, and I did have to do a top off this morning. My wife doesn't know this yet but I'm already wanting a bigger tank and I haven't even really started yet. So here's my tank, tell me what I need to do differently.

Hello,

I'm a long time lurker among many cites since I started this hobby and finally thought I join a few. I am very new to saltwater, but have been maintaining freshwater aqauriums on and off for years. Finally decided it was time to give it a try. My name is Shane and I am in the Coast Guard and stationed in Portland. I am married and have two beautiful daugthers.

Anyway, tank is 55 gal. glass, megaflow #1 sump (hard piped to the Esopps PF#300 Overflow with Stockman stanpipe) My overflow was gurgling so loud and after MUCH researching the Stockman and hard piping were the only things that helped, a Coralife Super skimmer, a Rio 2100return pump, and for circulation an aquaclear 70 (which will be replaced soon with two hydor koralia's a #2/#3). It has been running for three weeks with nothing but 40lbs of base aragonite.

I wanted to make sure I could maintain the PARMS before I added anything living. On the 15th of August I removed some of my base substrate and mixed it in with 30lbs of live sad and 30 lbs of live rock. I have finally begun something I have always wanted to do and just never had a chance. I am ghost feeding it to speed up the cycle time, but still won't put in a CUC for another three weeks or so.(highfive)

I just wanted to say hello and I'm looking forward to learning and who know's maybe passing on some knowledge as I go. (waving)

If any of you live close to the Hazel Dell area I'd love to get together and chat. I live over by Columbia River High.