coralreefer

impur--if you don't have white cloud in am, that's your starting point...I would dose 3 ml tomorrow night if you aren't seeing any problems (white cloud) in am... no white cloud in am is telling you it can handle what you threw at it...not to tempt fate, you can cut dose in 1/2 and attack tank with 3 ml nightly...I feel I was very cautious in attacking my tank with vodka and could have been much more aggressive...I was dosing 10ml twice daily and decided to back off as nitrates/phosphates reached zero and now dose 5ml twice daily plus 1 1/2 ml of vinegar/sugar...you will be fine...breathe deep DrMerle

I should have said, "my final thought on group buy"...being married for 25 years, I don't have the final word on anything. Anyway, here we go. As a veterinarian, I have sold products for years...vaccines, flea products, heartworm meds, heart meds, antibiotics, etc...they were a giant part of my revenue. Those revenue avenues are now gone. The internet has taken almost all of my over the counter and prescription business. No one cries for us veterinarians. That is OK. How do I stay in business? By doing what only I can do...1) Perform surgery 2) Diagnose 3) Prescribe... I was trained to do what only a few can do and my ability to accel at it depends on customer service, what I know and how I present it. For the LFS owners....I feel for you...but unless you set yourself apart from everyone else with what you KNOW and what you DO, you'll never do it with what you SELL...unless your service is superior, unless your knowledge is cutting edge and you offer niche services that no one else does, you are just a retailer. The days of expecting people to buy from you because your doors are open and you are a nice guy are over. LFS retailers are going to have to accept that they aren't going to stay in business selling skimmers and fish food when they are cheaper online. They will only stay in business offering what can't be gotten online...help with problems, tank installs, cleanings and knowledge....and you must be able to find a way to charge for that. You've already seen that you help people so they run out and buy online... I am on your side...it has happened to me...adjust, adapt and move on! DrMerle(rock2)

Eric--torch already spoken for...(clap) DrMerle

kilmca--I'm gettin' both... DrMerle

If you've got algae, you've got nitrates/phos... You can test zero for both, but nitrates/phosphates could have been absorbed by your rocks and is now leaching out and is being used by algae... If you had higher nitrates/phosphates in the past, you've improved your husbandry but are paying for past sins...continue with husbandry and see if eventually you can deplete your nitrate/phosphate reservoirs in the rock... DrMerle

I have been dosing vodka for 3 months..does make a great improvement...but you greatly increase the effectiveness if you dose bacteria at the same time...Microbacter 7 from Brightwell, ZEObac from ZEOvit...greatly speeds what you are trying to accomplish and well worth the effort...IMHO... DrMerle

Finch-- I'll take 1) blue tenius $30 2) 5 inch orange monti--no price? 3) 2 purple digitata--$5 4) pink BN with purple polyps $25 5) is that a acan? $5 6) Torch coral for $10 DrMerle PM me

JonBoy--I'll retrack my purchase offer...looks like a sweet one...somebody else can take a shot... DrMerle

Sold...if you don't mind shipping it...PM me... DrMerle

Options include-- 1) Miracle Mud 2) Algae scrubber Do a check on each...you might do alright! DrMerle

GRRRRR!! I just placed an order over the weekend!!! I think I proposed 6 months ago (or more) that we should think about setting preset dates (like January 15th, April 15th....quarterly)....just to see if we could get more people involved, knowing ahead of time there was a group buy coming up...I should have followed through with the idea as it was the single best idea I've ever had in my life!!! GGGRRRR!!!! DrMerle

Bulk Reef Supply's High Capacity GFO... DrMerle

Check out this...MSX 200 on steroids...I got rid of tube for air intake and put gravel vacuum adapter on...yea, I know the upper clear tube is big, but it serves as a muffler...I am still experimenting on muffler designs that cut sound but not reduce air intake or increase resistance...!!! Plus, I took out mesh mod and put in purple pinwheel...positive improvement.! Look at the crap this pulls out of my 135 in 2 days!!! Trip 2 weeks ago to Yosemite....sorry, couldn't help it!!! DrMerle(rock2)

I want to keep this thread going but got to run to work....I'm gonna post some pics that will impress on the MSX200... DrMerle

Snails would not have "devoured" it...Look in the overflow...around the floor...has to be somewhere, probably wedged in between rocks somewhere... DrMerle

Instant idiots need only apply! Looks artificial...looks fake, dead and stupid... Now, any idiot can kill as many marine creatures as they can afford! No more waiting and learning and caring...Just add water and watch beautiful creatures die with an artificial background!! Stupid, indeed... DrMerle

yes...recheck levels daily

I've got the MSX 200, which is a cousin to the octopus...it does a wicked job of skimming... DrMerle

Not good...how long have you had it? Stop handling it and turn lights off to reduce stress... It probably won't eat under these circumstances... Wishing you the best... DrMerle

Check your Magnesium...Balance by adding Ca then try this... If Ca is low then it isn't getting enough CO2 "time"...if pH is low then CO2 is hitting tank too fast... I would first slow effluent down to 1 drop per second...this will "double" CO2 time for media and should raise Ca...this should also reduce by 1/2 the "acid" effect the CO2 is having on your tank... You may need to slow your bubbles down too, but I doubt it. Slowing your bubbles down would only lower Ca further unless you slowed effluent...yea, just slow effluent down... DrMerle(rock2)

IMHO, I would recommend dosing bacteria along with vodka/sugar/vinegar... ZEObac or Microbacter 7...you will be very impressed Improved polyp extension and obvious growth...not big color changes yet DrMerle

Dosing vodka/Microbacter 7 originally... Continuing but slowly switching to ZEObac/ZEOstart... Added a phosphate reactor... Nitrates--0 Phosphates with Hanna reader--0 Now just waiting for hair algae to die off... Here's a link to vodka dosing schedule... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php DrMerle

I love this hobby because I don't like to have money weighing me down...I mean, come on...cash in a billfold? Who needs that full feeling in your back pocket? DrMerle

How about letting her watch you change oil with a hangover?(laugh) DrMerle

I have a used but not damaged skimmer (rated for 180 gallons)...I have upgraded to a MSX200...this is a previous version SuperSkimmer with slide in cup, not screw ring...I am sure that didn't make sense...anyway...it is rated for 180 gallons...no cracks...no leaks...I'll even throw in a brand new, never used, still in the box pump with brand new, never used needle wheel impeller. Only thing that has any mileage (with no damage) is acrylic body. I'll even mod the impeller if you want... Brand new, this unit sells for $150... I'll sell this (remember, never used, in box pump) for $80... PM me if interested... DrMerle:eek: