IntoTheMystic

As I hoped and expected, Bert came through with some information and personal experience on this. Don't know much about SPS spawning in closed systems but I believe the Australian Institute of Marine Science continues to have success spawning SPS and other corals under different conditions. Never been but Dr. Tim has and when came back from that trip he was really impressed with this facility and the work they're doing there. I've seen images of their SeaSim lab, where a lot of this really interesting science is taking place. Wotta place! Tim said they pitched a staff exchange idea when he was there. I'd be all over that opportunity if it comes to pass.

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." This is already a showpiece without a polyp in it. Just a beautiful setup. Such is the stuff from which epic build threads are woven....... 🍻

Cheers, Sean! After 21, the thrill is pretty much gone but Happy Birthday anyway, man!

Lots of sage advice and generous souls helping out with this grim bit of business. An Aqualogic temp controller for a heater like that is not cheap but they are pro-grade and bulletproof. I use them on closed systems in my lab and my colleagues use them on smaller-volume systems at the Aquarium. https://www.marinedepot.com/aqua-logic-digital-temperature-controller-single-stage Very sorry that your system is down. I think we've all been struck by that lightning at least once. It's an awful feeling. But props to those offering to help get this system turned around! Polyp extension is a marvelous antidote to the blues. Must be the dopamine........

This is an excellent point that I discuss when I'm lecturing water chemistry with Fish and Invert Health Mgmt. students. However, while chlorides do out-compete nitrites in uptake across gill tissue, this varies from one marine fish species to another. In any case, nitrites inhibit the oxygen-carrying efficiency of fish blood by oxidizing hemoglobin into methemoglobin (Once again, major props and thanks to Dr. Noga.) If the animal is subject to multiple stressors(a very likely scenario if nitrites are present in any measurable concentration,) the "brown blood disease" of nitrite poisoning will likely result in anemia and push the animal past the point of no return. As for this WQ experiment, much respect and many thanks for spending the time and resources to set it up, document the results and sharing it with the collective. While my experiences with bacteria in a bottle are anecdotal rather than scientific, I regard these products with suspicion. In many cases over the last several years, I have observed stubbornly high and sustained NO2 levels in 20-gallon systems kick-started with these products, which were purchased new and very much before their expiration date. This is supposition, not science, but I believe that the genera of bacteria that oxidize NH3 into NO2 out-compete the genera that oxidize NO2 into NO3 for carbonates and other resources and actually retard the cycle. The NO2 concentrations persist even when mitigated by daily and aggressive water changes. Could be that in addition to out-competing Nitrobacter, et.al., for carbonates, etc., the elevated NO2 levels inhibit respiration in these genera, as well. Again, this is experiential and supposition but I've seen it happen often enough that there might be a kernel of truth in there somewhere. Great thread!

Have to say, that's about 16 times sexier than any of the overly pimped-out and ostentatious BashSea sumps I see at trade shows. Look at all that access from the top to work on LSS components and keep this beauty clean. You oughta be smilin', you're stylin'!

Many, many thanks to the folks who go above and beyond to make this community so remarkable. Cheers, folks! 🍻

Two degrees per 24 hours is usually a safe rate. I use that rate for fish and have never had a problem.

True that! He did it all from the buying to the set-up to the grilling to the break down and clean up. Bert really made it happen, which is easy for everyone to believe. Thanks for lunch, man! And thanks everyone for coming. Here are some action shots of the ace grillmaster and photo documentarian of all things PNWMAS: Here you can see the chef is adding some flavor and verve to the burgers while roasting very little flesh of his own! Waiting for just the right moment to go to side two on the burgers. The artisan and his grill. Notice the calm command of the coals and the heat. He even delivers! You can see everyone around him is working feverishly. Right about now, I was feverishly demolishing my burger. In the immortal words of Yoda: "Tireless, he is." Had a wonderful time hosting you guys, as usual. It's a lot of fun for me and i try to make it worth everyone's while by offering something new and different each year. See you folks again in June 2020!

There are usually a coupla adjustment screws on hinges like that and in my experience, they always lose the snug over time. Grab a Philips, find the sweet spot on the close and adjust accordingly. I sincerely hope this fix is that easy.

Hey folks! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! I'll meet you in the Visitor's Center at 1:00 p.m. and we'll head on back for the tour. After a presentation and discussion in my lab, we'll retire to the picnic area off the staff lounge for some grilling and chilling. Those that have things that need to be refrigerated and/or staged for the cookout/feast, please arrive a bit earlier, let the person working the front desk know and I'll come out to tell you how to get to a parking spot much closer to the picnic area. With the construction of the new MSI building, things will look a bit different around campus but getting to the parking lot of the Visitor's Center remains the same. For those who are coming but have not yet been to Hatfield, take the first exit just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge and follow it right to campus. There will be plenty of signage to help get you there. Come early if your schedule allows and check out the Visitor's Center before the meeting, if you like. See you all tomorrow!

And we'll miss your ribs! I still think about those from time to time. Hopefully, you'll be able to come for the June 2020 meeting.

Get ready to be blown away. That facility is fantastic. Get the behind-the-scenes tour if available. It's the kind of place that fish geeks should go by themselves. That way, you can geek out and daydream as long as you like. (Spoken from experience!)

When the stand for a project makes you salivate and want one for yourself, you know the build is going to be something special. Also, the open concept is brilliant. Looking forward to this build thread, f'sho!

You, sir, are very welcome! I don't work with many Cyclones but have when I worked at the Teaching Aquarium. Just make sure that chiller coil is submerged at all times or the refrigerant will freeze in the exposed coil and that sucker will run and run. Great life support component for limited (summertime) applications, though. Probably pulls a lot of amps, though, so make sure it's on a circuit without mission-critical components. 🍻

My chief concern when this happens is the greatly increased likelihood of recurring and worsening injuries to the same eye. As the the critter can't see out of it for the moment, it's much more likely to bonk it against something unforgiving, such as (shudder) live rock, which could make for a ragged insult that would forever luxate the lens and blind that eye. If you're able, consider moving this animal to a hospital tank with few objects that could worsen that eye. The greatest risk there is this animal bolting blind into something during capture. Go easy with this. Depending on the situation, a fish trap might be the way to go. With the Rockfish eye injuries I treat at HMSC, seems like when they have had one, they are much more likely to continue to have them. Good luck with this and please keep us posted. Beautiful animal.

Hey folks! Thanks for the kind words but I must make one correction: I'm not the head director, only the Research Aquarist and manager of the Aquatic Animal Teaching Lab. In many ways, my job's a lot better than the Director's, i.e. many, many fewer excruciating meetings to attend. (I despise meetings and actively cultivate that reputation.) All that aside, looking very much forward to hosting the meeting, seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones. Bert has wisely moved the traditional start time back, which will make it a lot easier for you folks to haul yourselves out of bed on a Saturday, hop in the car and head out to the coast! See you folks in a month! 🐠 Sid

Even though I am unable to make it to most meetings, I am continually impressed by the investment of so many members of this community. Look at any one of the images posted here and you see the work that went into the food, the planning, the set up, the organization, the raffles, the community and professional relations, the clean up and the planning for the next meeting the following month. To those who work so hard to make these events and this community work so well and provide so much fun, you may occasionally think that no one notices all the planning and effort it takes to makes this stuff happen. However, I and most of the rest of us do and very much appreciate your investment in this community. To the officers and everyone else who plan, cook, organize, set up and implement these incredibly cool events, we thank and salute you! Next time you see one of these folks, thank them and buy them a drink. They've earned it. /Cheers, folks! 🍻

This is the essence of invertebrate porn and really nice shots, too. Thanks for posting this! Eye candy, indeed. 🍻

Moral of the story: Support locally-owned and operated businesses. The members of this organization know this very well and walk it like they talk it. One of the many reasons why this is such a cool group of people and one of the primary reasons why ethical businesses like Jeff's can continue to remain open and serve this community. Everybody wins!

Have you considered one of these? https://aqualogicinc.com/product/cyclone-drop-in-chillers/ They can be put on any system when you need it and easily removed when you don't. You'd need a temp controller to govern this component but it's a lot easier and less expensive than some of the other options you mentioned. Drop the coil in the sump (make sure all the metal is covered by water at all times), program the controller and you're good to go. As you probably know, these are professional-grade chillers and they are very well made. Hope this was helpful! 🍻

The tank window is acrylic. Thanks, kilmca!

These are good questions and important information for the listing. Pretty sure the front pane is acrylic but will investigate and edit with info tomorrow. Well done and thank you!

I am looking to liquidate a piece of Hatfield Marine Science Center history. This is a double-walled fiberglass tank, around 450 gallons in volume, that was one of the original exhibit tanks when HMSC was built in 1965. For the last 8 years, it has been a Giant Pacific Octopus holding tank in the back of the house, (hence, the railing and AstroTurf around the top,) but I am renovating my lab and this tank is not part of the plan. This sucker is heavy and measures 53" high, 41" wide and 55" deep. There are two 1.5" outflows in the upper back corners and another 1" near the center. There is also a 3/4" drain at the bottom rear of the tank. As of two months ago, it held seawater without any leaks. This could be a good tank for an aquaponic system in someone's back yard, a big-[language filter] holding tank in someone's garage, or even a reservoir. If you want it, plan on renting a large moving van or flatbed truck. It won't fit into any kind of passenger vehicle. I plan to put it on a pallet and may be able to have a forklift lift it onto or into your truck. Please PM me if you're interested. I will only reply to credible messages with names, approximate pickup times within the next couple of weeks (please plan on late mornings Tues., Wed., Thurs., and Fri.) , and contact information. Thanks for looking!