Pies

The same could be said for 13k/14k/16k. Looks like 10k is 'real', 20k is real. But the 'blueness' of a bulb has nothing to do with the actual kelvin rating. 20k Radiums are no where near as blue as 14k arcadias (or at leat the ones I have). Pie

Well the tank is going really well. Got home late last night and watched the boxing shrimp spawn again, the tank was loaded with little shrimp about 1mm long. I suspect they are all dead now. The tanks size is having a positive effect on the animals, as is the low fish stocking levels and little intervention from me. I try and have my hands in the tank no more than once every 2 weeks. I think this is making a huge difference. Did some water tests last night as well: PH 8.3 (pinpoint) Calcium 420 (salifert) Mg 1320 (salifert) Alk 8.2 (salifert) Nitrate 0 (salifert) Phosphate 0 (salifert) I have a small deadspot at the front left of the tank, and notice that I get poo buildup, forcing me to syphon it out every 2-3 weeks. Not a big deal but a little unsightly. I going to try and reposition some streams to get some current into that corner. Also going to add another 400 watter. Really happy with the 20k bulbs, but could do with more light, the 20ks just don't provide enough light. So going to mix it up with a couple of 10ks as well. I miss the bright daylight effect, even though the deep water effect is nice, more light is essential. Pie

I think skuzza may just be confused. A calcium reactor is different to kalkwasser reactor. Often people call a calcium reactor a kalk reactor, which shouldn't be confused with kalkwasser. Pie

DiverJohn. I have details of my sump/overflow etc in the saltware section, my thread 'first look at the new setup'. I have a single 40mm overflow, which I pump over 7,000 litres an hr through, no problem. My other tank has 25mm overflow and handles about 3,000 litres an hr. My old tank (similar to IRAs) had 15mm overflow, which is fine for about 1,500 litres an hr. 1M head just about any 'real pump' can do this. I would look at an ehiem 1060/1260/1262 or IWAKI or similar, the 1250 (if memory serves me right is just a small pump? I would look for larger). Depending on if you want submerged or external. Pie

I have 3 pistol shrimps that I know about. Alois has had pistol shrimp/goby combos in the past. Pie

Well the last of the clownfish babies went last night, about 2mm long, no color just opaque/silver. Chromas can actually be quite stunning fish under the right light: Love the Blue Tang: This Acropora colony is hidden away and until it grows larger this is the only way I can see it! Things like this are possilbe with larger tanks: Just a look down the length of the tank showing contrasting colours: 3 Tangs working together accross the top of the 'reef' in search of food. There are 4 tangs in the tank and them seem to enjoy schooling together: Plans for the next few weeks? First off I have another 15kg of sand to add to the tank, may do this today. Adding another 400 watt light is definatly going to happen. Lighting will be 20k-10k-20k-10k-20k + T5s. See how things go with a burst of white on the tank. This light will only be for 3-4hrs a day max "high noon' period. Getting the collar made and installed before the end of March is also a priority. I also need to buy 2m of 40mm pressure piping to finish off the return pump and make it 40mm the whole way. So a few minor things planed buy mostly be leaving it alone. Pie Pies

RIO pumps have a bad reputation from what I have seen, no experance with them myself but have been warned of them by others. Pie

RIO pumps have a bad reputation from what I have seen, no experance with them myself but have been warned of them by others. Pie

Ehiem. Last for ever, very quiet. PM JetSkiSteve he has some 2nd hand ones if you want to save some $. Pie

Cool! I want one! A few of those clams are quite big Pie

A sump is a great idea for fresh or saltwater. As well as what IRA has said about being a good place to hide equipment etc any system that inreases your water volume is going to have a positive effect on the health of the tank. Pies

Cheers Pete, they look like coral food to me. Pies

RnB maybee I could borrow the book from you Caryl - Its not a matter of if I can or not, its a lot of work, particularly food. If any survive it will be the will of god Pie

Clown baby update: Well the clownfish are still trying to rare their yong. There appear to be a lot less that what they started out with, so I guess some have died, detached or been predated. The babies a visiably much larger than before with obvious eyes. They are still attached to the rock. Not sure how long this lasts, I suspect not too much longer. Both parents are still protective and fight with any fish stupid enough to come into range. Pie

Thanks for the info Al, great fish, quite odd. Got worms? Got cardinals? Pie

This tang is a 'hitch hiker', abandoned by another reefer it has found a home in mine. No idea what sort of Tang it is, but its crazy. It changes its colours often, this is a picture with its rare brown/black/yellow, often its white, white tailed or grey striped with yellow tangs, plae brown with white stripes and a white tail etc. Odd: Pie

Rocks just in there because its in there. All I want the refugium to do is increase overall water volume. Growing calurpa, fags and pods is just a 'bonus'. More rock can't hurt, but again its just 'spare' so its in there, not part of any great design. I belive the best way to keep a healthy environment is a hight volume of water per fish. Shouldn't be a seceret but I almost 2500 litres of water to 16 fish total. A good average and a very healthy environment. Bigger is better. Pie

Macro Alge (calurpa), some coral frags (30ish), calcerous algae, a 2 year old sand bed, snails, worms, pods etc etc. Its also lit with 250watt MH and 4x 4foot T8s. Pie

Mine is driven by a IWAKI RXLT30. I also have 2x TUNZE 3000lph power heads in there for additional circulation. Not sure if it matters? My fuge appears to be working, but then again pretty hard for it not too? edit - Mine is 740 litres. pie

I am not going to argue it, but I don't belive either of these things to be particualry true: I wouldn't be afraid of the sand bed, there are some examples of them crashing, however I often wounder if the sandbed can truely be to blame, often its in a tank that is a 'toy' in that it is consistantly played with. EB has tanks with sandbeds over 15 years old, still going strong. Pies

Temprature? Some refractomoters don't compensate for temprature? Calibration soultion? You mean distilled water? Suspended material, bubbles on the reading surface can all make a difference. Do you have another tank to check it against (that is another refractometer). Nothing wrong with .028. I am not sure what the ocean water is here, been so long since I tested. All that matters in the end is the salinity of the tank water So unless you are doing MASSIVE water changes, you should be fine. I only assume mine is right, I have never tested against another. Stability is more important I think. Pieman

Phosphate removing resin is the easiest. Buy it, put it in a sock and clip it somewhere in your sump or overflow. Macro algae is a great option but requires more work. Zeovit, well its zeovit. If it was me, I probably wouldn't use anything until I get my tank under cotroll (cycle). By then you may decide if its worth the effort of phosphate export (your skimmer does this, and may do it very well depending on overall size of the tank vs. the skimmer). Newbies (sorry you know what I mean) often make mistakes around adding to much livestock, overfeeding etc. If this is you the above systems became far less effective. Think of them as 'finishing moves' but not essentials. Good luck Pie

To continue my death to the modem users, more pics: Not a great photo of the Pulse Xenia, but I do like that big purple acro in the background. Purple montipora digita with brown polyps. Same piece of coral as above but a better capture of the true colour of the coral, out of focus i think because of the stream thats about 10 inches away giving it full blast. Acro anyone? Frag from SteveA, very nice coral doing well, easily 2x bigger than when I was given the frag. Growing nicely! I love being able to see this everyday. I started off with 4 of these, now I have zillions including several colonies like this: Pie

Uber, very cool link. I have that coral (as much as I can tell) and its a very quick growing staghorn, brown with blue/purple tips. I have taken some photos but thats got me inspired Pie

I don't really see too much controversy, to me it breaks down like this: Dude invents product that gives stunning coral colours, people use product and works exactly as described, other people want to know what is in said product, inventor dude refuses to disclose product secerets, people get angry because inventor dude won't budge, inventor dude is labelled as evil lier. Users of zeovit have stunning coral colour regardless of all the drama. The ends justify the means. Bottom line product works as described, that is follow the instructions and awesome coral colour is all but garanteed. Pie