coralreefer

I was diagnosed a few years ago and haven't slept one night without my machine...I even take it camping... As Bob said, it takes some getting used to but you will feel better...I quit breathing once a minute... My wife is happier as her elbow doesn't hurt anymore (from elbowing me 20 times a night due to gagging and snoring)... Use the machine! Fight it til it is your friend....I had a friend die in his sleep of sleep apnea... DrMerle

Garlic doesn't do much to xenia but works best on werewolves... DrMerle

Fusion of corals is a sure sign of reefer addiction...OMG, I've obviously run out of room!!!! DrMerle

I switched to Gettanked #2 salt because I was tired of "variability" of what was coming out of buckets...this stuff is hand packed, no anti-caking agents, leaves no residue, spot on parameters... DrMerle

I'll take big size Armour of Gods... DrMerle

I run 1/2 cup GFO and 1 1/2 cups of carbon mixed TOGETHER in tlf reactor and change out once monthly...have had great results in my 135... "the enemy of a good plan is a perfect plan"... DrMerle

People....I have tried everything for years...1)peppermints (true peppermints)--they did nothing 2) Copperbands--wouldn't eat and died x 2 3) Joe's Juice 4) Boiling water 5) Lemon juice 6) Burning rock 7) Kalk paste 8) Drano 9) Vinegar 10) Aiptasia x 11) Berghia nudibranches I WILL NEVER OWN A REEF TANK NOW WITHOUT A KLEIN'S BUTTERFLY FISH! These fish are amazing! I have had 3 over the years...practically bulletproof--they minorly pick at corals for couple days...by then they are eating anything you feed them...they ignore all other fish and inverts--constantly patrol for food... At one point 3 years ago, I had over 500 aiptasia in my 135, I was treating with above treatments 2-3x weekly but there were always more the next day...ready to throw in the towel...got a Klein's--within 5 days, they were all gone...!!!!! They work mainly at night...inexpensive fish and not horrible to look at... DrMerle

lokani? DrMerle

Shawn--I'll take purple tipped stag for $35... Merle

I wash them myself...go through one every 2-3 days...wash in hot water with bleach, no soap!! Let air dry...turn inside out when you wash to get crap off... DrMerle

Bob--I need pics--I am interested in -- OK... I'll take the big acro 5" colony + milli + Christmas favia + ORA tricolor DrMerle

Frank--if that pic is of the frag, I'll take it...PM me... DrMerle

Allow me--- First of all, there is no such thing as a small flea problem...they are relatively easy to kill, very difficult to control...if you are seeing fleas, they are WAY ahead of you.. Second, normally I don't see much in the way of flea issues till September or October...over the last 3 weeks, that is all we are seeing is FLEAS!!! The "no-show" winter, wet spring and hot kick off to summer has caused an explosion. Third...Advantage "used" to work a couple years ago but fleas have become resistant specifically to it...voodoo control methods like "water" and "lights" --"plug-ins" and "garlic" keep me in business, sorry so say... The animal is the dinner table, the house is the nest...treat the pet, focus on the house!!! RULES- 1) Treat fleas smartly, not cheaply--if you are seeing them or they are causing pets to itch or worse, they are jumping on you, prepare for war. In these scenerios, the cheaper you go the deeper you go... 2) You cannot bathe your way out of a flea issue... 3) Keep the grass moved short and little more needs to be done to the outdoors 4) FOCUS ON THE HOUSE... It is already a bad flea year and we've got months and months to go... DrMerle

If it is only gonna be a few days you shouldn't have an issue...maybe do a water change halfway thru time period to help...even that is probably not necessary... DrMerle

blue snow coral Merle Marks--coralreefer Available for pickup probably this weekend/Wednesday early afternoon/Thursday afternoon Blue snow coral

I'll take snow blue coral... DrMerle

I'd like a 2" frag and a purple digitata frag please... DrMerle

Gill--you are doing fine...as long as they consistently get roughage (spirulina) they will do fine...a little mysid etc will keep things interesting...they can have digestive problems if they don't get enough veggies...if they consistently eat like pigs then they aren't having issues...they look plenty healthy... DrMerle

ah, what the heck...I'll take green digi, both birds nest too... DrMerle

Dibs on cali tort...where do you live? DrMerle

check the nipple where the air intake hose attaches to the venturi...if it is clogged then air won't suck thru into pump and mix with water... DrMerle

As any good noncommital scientist will tell you, we cannot with assurity blame the wrasses deaths on the biopellets...however, seems logical at this point to do so... As a veterinarian, it find it interesting that only wrasses have been mentioned. What occurs (sometimes) when these pellets are introduced? Well, it has been noted that a quick bacteria proliferation can occur, sometimes in just a few hours. Well, what then happens? Well, a drop in pH can occur due to a drop in oxygen. Well, that could explain the resp distress of the wrasses, but wouldn't that occur to all fish? Why are wrasses different? How are they different? Well, certainly some wrasses bury themselves in the sand for rest or to elude predators or stress...yes. And, does anyone wonder how they can breathe and not suffocate under that sand, when most certainly anoxia must exist where they are? Well, if they can glean oxygen from under the sand in low oxygen conditions, shouldn't they be able to better survive low oxygen conditions out in the tank, say better than angelfish or tangs? I would think so...unless they are now in an environment that is different, say more acidic??? I don't know...all I can come up with is the lowered pH effects wrasses more due to a difference in respiration...perhaps their body mucus is different, allowing them to obtain oxygen under the sand but condemning them to death should low oxygen and low pH occur simultaneously. You tell me...you are of course, THE UNDRTKER!!!! DrMerle

Update--1) I spent the last 4 days reading the Reef Central Thread of the Month (1700 posts) on NP Biopellets 2) I started Biopellets in my tank over the weekend--I will try and condense what I see and what I read... I placed 500 ml of NP Biopellets in my sump, in TLF reactor with MaxiJet 900 fluidizing pellets...from all the videos I've seen, this combination (I lucked out) created the perfect tumbling rolling motion to the pellets--critical. I innoculated the pellets with Microbacter 7 and Zeobac and continue to do so every other day so far--not critical. I drip kalk and pH is stable during day 8.0-8.2 and at night rarely drops below 7.9-8.0. Within 2 hours of starting the pellets, pH dropped to 7.7 and stayed there for 4-6 hours before gradually rising back to normal range. No cloudiness was noted. NOTE--A healthy, eating fat Ornate Christmas Wrasse I had had for 8 days developed respiratory distress and was dead later that day. No other fish developed any issues and I cannot say with assurity that the pellets caused his demise, but obviously seems so. Bacteria clouds and pH drops have been reported with use of these pellets and is often heavy nutrient related (high nitrates/high phosphates)...the higher the nutrient level, the worse the reaction COULD be. The next day, my water seemed unbelievable clear and clean (almost uniform result of pellet use). Another very common response related is increased polyp extension and improved color of fish and corals...usually noted by week 2-3. I have not seen that yet. Prior to starting pellets, my phosphates had been zero/nitrates between zero and 5...alkalinity steady at 11, pH 8.1, temp 78, Ca 450, MG 1350...I am starting the pellets to prevent live rock absorption of excess phosphates/nitrates...I am also doing 10% water changes once weekly and running GFO/carbon in a separate TLF reactor. I am running a modified MSX200 skimmer with Bubble Blaster 3000 pump. Summarizing threads from Reef Central--1) 2 other people had wrasses die after starting biopellets 2) contrary to what I had posted earlier, this product should be run in a reactor with adequate flow to cause a gentle tumbling rolling action 3) too many pellets initially or too low flow causes an increase in breakdown of pellets and cyano outbreak 4) too many pellets and too high flow can trigger bacterial bloom. I would suggest positive comments versus negative comments came in at 8:2 ratio...it also appeared that negative situations were correctable in most cases and pellets have difficulty bringing down nitrates from greater than 80 and above. Appears that nitrates at 20-30- pellets had no trouble reducing to 5 or less. Outflow tube positioned at intake of skimmer provided best results. Positive points...1) Nitrate reduction 2) Obvious increase in water clarity 3) Difficult to overdose 4) Drastic reduction in maintenance required 5) New pellets added as old ones as used up 6) Moderate phosphate reduction Negative points...1) gauging quantity of pellets needed 2) getting flow correct 3) reactor and pump strongly suggested 4) initial high cost of pellets 5) bacterial bloom/low oxygen reaction exists Because nitrate reduction with these pellets is greater than phosphate reduction many posters were running GFO simultaneously with pellets and also it seems a few were weaning their systems off GFO because of pellet benefits. My overall impression (and one poster impressed with this point) that this process COULD simulate ZEOvit process, without all the expensive additives. Allowing for a lower nutrient system while increasing alkalinity COULD spur great, impressive coral growth without shelves of additives and rigorous dosing schedules. Bottom line is we don't know yet how this will prove itself...I am loving my tank right now, mostly because I am able to sit and look without CONSTANTLY having to do maintenance. These biopellets may also take things to the next level...only time will tell... DrMerle

upgrading to what? M

SOLD Brad!!! PM me... DrMerle