coralreefer

Bob--you are going to continue this thread as a tank build...you are...right? DrMerle

great---a new tank build from Bob the Builder... DrMerle

everything looks waaaay too clean and orderly...I don't trust what I am seing...couldn't you have more loose cords, stains and dried gunk on things? What are you trying to do? I expect owners of the best tanks to have the "work" area look like a war zone!!! Come on, man!!! DrMerle

will it fit in sump? if it was "poisoned" by chalice, it could still come back...i've had similar incidents where "fried" coral parts look dead, only to come back in a couple weeks...throw a net over it? DrMerle

get ahold of patrick@sw fantaseas... DrMerle

If they stated that they didn't photoshop and they actually did, then I think that is grounds for waving a flag...otherwise, I think it is buyer beware... DrMerle

Jason, I'll buy it...just need to figure out when I can get to Vancouver this week... DrMerle

difficult to beat MSX skimmers...Askoll pump...300a? DrMerle

Bravo!! That is the heart of this club!!!(rock2) DrMerle

Gee, that skimmer looks familiar...looks like it is working well for you...I am pleased...you will be too...keep the neck clean and it will work at peak performance... DrMerle

B--emerald crabs...DrMerle

I'll super glue (lightly) some disks together with zoa disk in the middle...they will spread and you can then snap disks away from center disk...otherwise, use scapel blade to excise zoa off disk and super glue... DrMerle

I'm sure he's probably fine...the longer you have him, the darker he should get from light pigment...expanding greatly will stretch him farther, like almost over blowing a balloon...becomes transparent... If he is fed, he will surround and cover the food...he will expand and invert his stomach to obtain food, then retract stomach and pull food in...seeing if they are eating is very easy actually... DrMerle

While I'm blown away with people who are able to convince themselves to do stuff like that, I personally, would get the same rush on a motorcycle going down that road (and would have brakes...) That guy was one small error away from being dead...(although it was pretty cool when he passed the motorcycle...) this would be my choice of stunts... DrMerle(rock2)

Miles also shipped a colony and a couple frags to me that, despite stellar packing, didn't survive the cold...just bad timing...Miles hooked me up (in person)...thanks for beauty pieces and "personal" service...Merry Christmas!! DrMerle

I did...no super results...no bad results...I think it was just redundant... Once you get bacteria established and are feeding with carbon dose, probably any simple sugar will work, including alcohol... Just this week I switched from sucrose (table sugar) to dextrose...supposedly sucrose has a tendency to brown corals while dextrose promotes colors...we'll see... DrMerle

I vote for nudis also... DrMerle

with a new child and another on the way, I suppose you should be practical and spend the least amount of money...have you checked into what insurance would run on each car? DrMerle

I feed oyster feast, roti feast, phyto feast and mulm off Elos zeoliths... DrMerle

working on pics...I had gotten MB7 from Marine Depot but now I'm sure Patrick at FantaSeas here in town carries it. DrMerle

MB7 is Brightwell's Microbacter 7...it is the first bacteria I used and I have to say blew my doors off. I dosed the first night and the next morning I couldn't believe my eyes...cleanest, clearest water I have ever seen. Brandon...I honestly don't know as it would help your tank...1) you've got few if any, inherited problems 2) you don't have persistent nitrate/phosphate issues 3) you got good coloration and growth. Having said that, I really think the most important thing is "Are you happy with your tank?" "Are you disappointed with your tank?" I also use Zeovit's Zeobac. Three drops every other morning. MB7 I do 3 drops every night. I dose cap off liter bottle of vodka twice daily and 1/2 capful of vinegar/dextrose mixture twice daily. My nitrates are now less than 5 (sometimes zero) and my phosphates are .01...I can say I now see grow in SPS, color changes, polyp extension is improving and brown coloration in my corals are not the default setting. It has taken aproximately 6 months. I cannot tell you the last time I even saw cyano. I know vodka/bacteria can make a marginal tank very good, just with some patience. I honestly believe it can make a good tank great. DrMerle

In retrospect, all I can say is wow!! For those of you with fabulous tanks, congrats...for those of us you have never really been quite satisfied with the "quality" of our tanks, with the colors, with the growth, with poor doers or unexpected deaths...I urge you to take a look at bacteria dosing as a way up!! I had fought nitrates and phosphates for years...one step forward, one step back, one step sideways...you know the tune! I added Miracle Mud...I added a denitrator...I've done a million gallons of water changes with zero TDS RO-DI water...I've spent THOUSANDS of $...nothing great to write home about... Then I started dosing vodka...yes, improvement...added sugar and vinegar...OK, I like it...then I added bacteria!! GHA dying off, SPS LIVING well, no more red slime...colors, growth...WOW! I realize that it is the combo of things getting the job done, but I strongly urge reefers who feel frustrated and who struggle getting their tanks to the next level to look at bacteria/vodka dosing as a possible way up...(don't forget, get the best skimmer you can afford!) IMHO!!! DrMerle

I'm in... DrMerle

temp change is not going to change pH... might try putting airstone and powerhead in there... DrMerle

saltwater is all about the water...water...water...water... stylaster is right...what about parameters...temp, skimmer, alk, pH, salinity? DrMerle