Burningbaal

not a whole lot to update, but here: hoping to finalize the plumbing this week, out of town for the next two weekends, so hopefully the move can happen the week of the 21st. I'll know for sure tonight, but i think I lost my sea hare...might have starved the poor guy. I've got him floating in a bag with a yummy rock (that was in a different tank) in case he perks up, but I'm 90% sure he's already gone. should be able to make the move pretty smoothly if I can wrap up the plumbing problem. I'm very excited about my 8-bulb Tek light for the display and my two CFL's are growing chaeto and prolifera well in the sump (return pump is off right now), hoping to get some birdsnest, monticaps, hammers and other LPS frags in the next month or three...but it'll have to go slow as budget allows :(

dude, those pink tips are actually pretty awesome!!

Definitely! Very impressive!

(worthless) where are those photos EDIT: j/k, of course...I'm guess you're about to upload them or the upload messed up or something...I am curious to see new pics, though!

I don't remember...was it mostly dry rock? if almost all of it was dry, it wouldn't probably have pretty much any cycle...

ok, the hand is mostly healed, and I got the light worked out. turns out there was actually a hole with a little plug set up just right to take a second cord, maybe the version I got was slightly cheaper for only having one cord? Anyways, I've got it so there's 4 actinics out the outsides on one cord (same ballast) and an aquablue special, two 5600K and a pink plus on the center 4 (8 bulb fixture). I think that'll be pretty good. Working on tightening down all the drain plumbing with plumber's tape and such, then a final leak test!!!! I've got a lot of family stuff this week, but I maybe be ready to make the move either this weekend or next week! I'll get a pic once the light's up and water's in it. I'm getting excited!!!! (clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)

Mostly depends on the nutrients available...now the COLOR of the corals depends on the spectrum of the bulb. realistically, coral's favorite (natural) light to grow in is 6-8000K (sunlight), the only reason we use such weird spectrums is cause it stresses them into producing typically-rare pigments that we like to look at (they're purrrty)...but algae growth vs coral growth is a nutrients, herbivore and water movement question, not really a lighting question...IMO

unreal! I've got some paly's that look a big like those but mine are more like a dark red with faintly green centers...and Jeramy reports wacky color changes of his frag. anyways, I've seen mine close up on my prolifera as it drifts by and it's just a clear film when they open up...weird!

looks intriguing...wonder if I hung 4 ish of these above a 90g (48"x18"x24")...as cheap as theyare, I could probably put 6 of them up and make it look like a supernova...

Looks amazing!

got the sump situated, working on the light to get a second power cord on it for more timing options, prying with a screwdriver and it slipped...a trip to the ER for a cleaning and superglue and a partially numb/very tingly finger/thumb and the light will have to wait to get finished...also need to check that the overflow's bulkheads and drain plumbing are tight...then I'll get to fill it up! hopfully my hand feels normal really soon so I can get going!

G81: I've heard a little of both, there are some very hardy acans out there (I have one thriving under only 64w of light, essentially no equipment and not even a sump), but some are not so hardy, even somewhat challenging. I'd say to start with one or three, asking if there are some that seems more prolific/more hardy than others and see how it goes, JMO

+1 (10 characters)

looks cool, really nice job on this whole project!

Relalized I wasn't clear about your meeting question. Next one is in Eugene/Springfield, non-members always welcome, though there are sometimes Raffles/etc that only members are eligible for. Membership basically works out to $2/month, everyoneexpires December 31st, so yours should cost $16, if you joined about now and I did my math right..

monthly meetings yes, usually in the portland area, though. Garret's super awesome, glad you found him! welcome to the addiction! I'm working on setting up my 90g right now! and transition from a 55. In addition to the bubbles issue you may have from the skimmer and no baffles, you may find that the salinity swings more than you want. as the water level drops (from evaporation), the salinity increases until the top-off switch catches it. with a smaller return pump area, it means the same volume of evaporation causes a greater vertical change, which makes the ato keep the salinity more stable. may not be an issue with your setup, especially with the more hardy corals, but worth considering. looking really good though! you had me confused with half a sandbed, but then I read that you're getting more. I like the looks!

I think som eof the multi-tang fear may be exaggerated...I've had a yellow from Garret for a couple months and just picked up a tomini a week ago. I was super nervous about it, but the tomini was about the size of the yellow (maybe even a tad longer), the were swimming together within 10 minutes and everything seems wonderful seems like individual fish really do vary a lot. Glad your new powder blue's addition went smoothly!

bummer about arredondojason's peppermints, that's sad that they took out all your acans! glad to see your fading sunset, Randy...hopefully the colors brighten up in a couple weeks!

yay! very exciting!

+1 for sure

if I was shopping, this would be mine! that's a fair price if the glass was 3/8, but 5/8 would make this solid, and rimless! and 2 panes starfire to boot...assuming no scratches? bump!

super awesome...I thought about doing a pico...never thought about a coldwater pico...

those look like some palys in my tank, but mine don't grow that crazy...in fact, I've got a pineapple spongse that started growing in the middle of the colony and it's really pissing them off...

that things a beast!

unreal...I think your tank is the dream of most of us...I can only hope!