MadReefer

I'm a fan of macro's too, but macro is a bit more complicated. Suppose you have zero phosphates and 100ppm of nitrate, your macro still won't grow. Doesn't help to remove the nitrate at that point.

 

Mangroves grow so painfully slow they are nothing but decorations IMHO.

 

I have had tanks with large amounts of algae and still nitrate problems. JME Here is a shot of one of my old tanks, nitrates would not go below 40ppm, ever. There was a 20g sump filled with cheato on this thing too.

 

 

That's why I don't use phosphate remover.

 

In that algae tank with the high nitrates, I would wonder how the nitrates are getting in.

 

My last setup I used a little plant fertilizer to kick start things, although I probably shouldn't have done that. But without water changes I watched nitrates go from 40 to 0 as the chaeto grew in no time. Then all the micro algae dried up and the whole setup looked kind of like a desert, except for all the corals and fish looked good.

Maybe it's just because the setup was less than a year old. I can't seem to let a system run for longer than a year before I want to rework it or I move or something. Or maybe it's because I have lightly stocked my tanks so far.

Mangroves work, they are just slow. They can't grow without taking nutrients out so I know these have removed some to grow like this.

I have yet to have a DSB stop working, I like fine sand and I am still somewhat of a newb.

Mangroves are slow and steady, not the best nutrient export, but very stable.

Macros, mostly chaeto, for the win, IMO. This has worked for me. It seems very logical to me, I feed and then remove algae, it's a circle.

I look forward to reading about your NO3 reactor. I have read they work great.

My NO3 tests at 0 because I love macro algae and DSBs. Mangroves are cool too, but not as cool as macro.

Merry Christmas!

I thought it was the common silvertip and just grew different under my light until I found this- http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2803&pcatid=2803

It grows like a weed and it's a great low light alternative for clown fish. I would gladly frag you a piece. It will take a couple weeks to get a nice little frag on a small piece of rubble. I'll let you know.

I like these buttons. I'll have to get a better picture tomorrow.

Some of my favorites.

I sold a bunch before the move to lighten the load. Put all the fish and corals into bags and then into a cooler. I filled buckets with water, rock, and sand. Then I drove all day and unloaded it. My back hurt but everything lived through the move. Since then I've had two fish jump and some bad luck with a heater. I think everything is happy now.

check out this deal on Koralias-

http://shop.bhg.com/product/reptile/206822/koralia-koralia-pump-power-head.html

What snails have you added?

Just thought I would post some new pictures because I moved some stuff around today.

This is the 20 gallon tank.

this is the 60 gallon tank.

My wife vetoed this purchase.

My goal is to get more light for my clams and I don't really need another tank.

Maybe Christmas will change things, and I'll then want this tank, I'll let you know.

I might be interested in parts of the 29, maybe all of it. Is it still available?

Let me know if the MH is available. I would like to take a look if it is.

I'm new here. My wife and I just moved to Oregon. I'm from Utah.

My tanks are kind of a mess right now. The move from Utah was rough and I don't know when I'll be moving again. I have more tanks and equipment that are in storage until I find a job and a place to live. I'm doing my best to wait until I settle in to buy more fish and corals.

Anyway, I have 3 systems running at the moment.

29 gallon with a 20 gallon fuge sump.

20 gallon with a 10 gallon fuge sump.

60 Gallon with a 5 gallon mangrove bucket, this is a real mess right now, it's where everything went the night we moved and it's still on the floor.