Pies

I am looking for a price on that mega clear glass, some people have called it 'iron free', others called it 'dimantie'. The best price I can find on it is 10mm at $400 per square metre. Someone told me there is 12mm available. Anyone help me? Current new tank dimentions are 2140 (guy has glass this lenth, was originally 2200 long) x 900 wide (mega) by 700 high (if I was taller, I would make it deeper). Help? Pies

Michton - These skimmers have a bad reputation amoungst most marine keepers. I would look for something else, other than being cheap they have few redeeming features. There are some great 2nd hand skimmer around, just keep your eyes pealed (or ask JetSkiSteve). good luck

Pegasus - I am the same as Steve. I have 2 heaters (infact I have 3 as one is programmed to come on at 22C) but its the calibration thats a problem, or at least was my problem. It seems these heaters have trouble with changes in season or something, with tempratue fine until Winter sets in, or summer arrives. You can have your tank set to 24C, and the tank reads 25C and it still comes on. Electronic is the way to go. Should have brought 2! Pies

I've read it, don't own it.

Where is the Zeovit debate at? I am still running it, coral looking great. Will be stopingsoon though, when I move house. Willstart using it again when my tank finishes cycling. 3-6 months from now I suspect. Pies.

New tank design feature: Overflow Box Jump Proof Protection System, which as an acronum is lid. Pies

Chimera - The water temprature in the tropics changes over the year, different places by different amounts. For example when we were in Vanuatu last year the water temprature was 24C, at the moment the water is about 29C. So thats a big swing. I think the point is that on any given day its stable, although their is a shift over the course of the year. I belive the IKs computers can compensate for this and alter the temprature of the tank over the year. Steve said you were picking one up. good luck with it, I am loving mine and I think it should make my 'must have' list with the floating maganet and big skimmer. Pies

Dark! Nah I am having Peter build it for me. I am not allowed to build another! hahahahahaha. Gonna be a biggie this one...

Chimera - Good work! No need to add that stuff to your tank. Don't worry about the cyno, it comes and goes (its comming for me at the moment), but its never a real problem, just looks shite. Syphon it out. JetSkiSteve has been having problems with it for months, no biggie. Pieman

JetSkiSteve was in Wellington for the weekend and brought me down a digital temprature controller. Steve had been having fairly wild temprature fluctiations and found a digital controller device, that does both a chiller (or fans) and heaters. I decided I would get one myself. So Steve and I had a play with it in my tank in the weekend. First thing we learned my tank was dropping down to 23 degrees! Ouch! The second thing we learned was that after havign a single 300 watt heater on for over 30 hrs non-stop, the temprature would not go higher than 24 degrees! Eventually we plugged in another 300 watter, which raised the temprature to 25.00. Where it has stayed. Temprature was something I never really considered. So overall, from my perspective I give the unit 10/10. Its much colder in Wellington, and I am unlikley to ever need the chiller, but can run fans if I need to from it. So another paramater has been stabalised. Steve has one more of these devices if you in the market for one, reccomended by me. I'll update if there are any problems. Thanks for controller Steve. Pies

Tank design is progressing. JetSkiSteve was up for the weekend and it was good to be able to bounce ideas of someone who knows what I am talking about. Confirmed: 2200x900x700 Stand height 850 Steel boxing frame Downstairs sump (in garage) I am now trying to decide on a few things: * Single corner overflow with duel standpipes vs center external overflow box with duel standpipes * Closed loops - How many? 3, 4, 5, 6? Currently considering 4. Drilled through bottom not sides * Lighting - 4x 400watt is where I am right now, I change my mind every 2 days... * Dimantae glass for the front and sides or normal glass? * Paint the back black or blue (currently leaning towards blue) Your thoughts?

I simply don't have the time right now, but will need to do something soon. IRA - I might have a talk to you about that domain space if I can't find anything reasonable local. Chimera - I can get the domain redirected at will for free (friend at comnet). Any help you can do as far as website interface, technology or layout I would welcome the help, I am doing it all myself at the moment, and its not my strong suit. I am in the throws of moving house at the moment, the 2 weeks in Fiji before returning, + I have started a new job so time is precious right now. Ohhhh and I am planing a new tank... Thanks guys Pie

I agree with Layton 100%. I have never tried a small tank in saltwater but it would be very challenging. I know a guy (Barney) with a 3ft tank, and he is VERY good with his routine and testing, I don't think I could do it. There are a few things you will need in addition to Laytons post: * Something to measure Specific Gravity (reccomend refractometer $150ish) * A source of filtered freshwater. Now I know christchurch has very good quality tap water, but its mineral water not filtered. You need some 'ro/di' or distilled water for freshwater top-off $?? * A heater $40+ * Timers $30ea+ * Pumps and/or powerheads for water circulation SUMPS - I don't know anyone who went to the effort to setup a sump who regrets the decision. There are many examples of people who didn't setone up and then realised they needed one. Its 10x harder to set it up after the tank is wet. Do the sump from day one, you will not regret it. Pie

My advice would be to NOT dose 'anti red'. You need to look at whats happening, the cyno is not the problem, its the sympton of another problem. Most of us have it (layton & reef are 2 of the few without it), and its not causing any real problems. Also another way to look at it is like this: What harm is the cyno doing? What harm could the 'antired' do? I suspect the ugly, but easily ignored cyno is the lesser of 2 evils. I just am afraid of adding anything to the tank. I deliberated over dosing 'flatworm exit' for months before actually using it, and I only used it because I saw no other way. Just be carefull. Pies

You forgot to point out that it hasn't been updated for about 6 weeks! The poblem I have is access. Its being hosted at my old work, free hosting. The problem I have at the moment is one of I don't have any new home for my site. So if you know somewhere let me know! Any help to make the site better is appreciated, but I am at least 4 weeks away from working on the site again. New job, new house, new tank, 2 weeks in Fiji make time very precious. Gotta run, if you can help me with the site please do! I know nothing and all I use is notepad. Not a bad effort for my 1st web page though. Pieman

I have brought stock from Redwood, it went like this: Clownfish - Incorrect ID and whitespot Clownfish - Incorrect ID Mandarin - So skinnyu its bones were sticking through its skin (have photos) Coral - Incorrect ID Feather duster wormx2 2x Empty tubes on arrival I have talked to Debbie and her father (bob?) and was appauled with the customer service, attitude and product. Basically I was told (via emails, I still have) that they didn't care, they were doing me a favor anyway and if I don;t like their product than I am free to take my business elsewhere. Also when they moved premisis the first shipment of marine fish they got in was wiped out because they over dosed it with coppy and burned all the fish to death, nice... So thats my opnion of Redwoods. I suspect they are OK from an LFS point of view, but from my perspective "worst pet shop I have every delt with" 0/10. Pies

Id just set my own up! Not all the importers are bad, infact its not really the importers that most of us have a problem with. Its that $190.00 yellow tang retailers that are EVIL AND MUST BE STOPED. Pieman

Aye a million bucks is a million bucks, no reason to give it away!

Layton - Kalk is german for calcium, so Kalk Reactor means Calcium Reactor, Kalkwasser is Calcium Water. So what they are saying is correct. My CA Reactor is a Korallin kalkreactor acording to the sticker on the front. HOWEVER at the end of the million dollar question when you answer it, is says "Correct zooanthids and xenia and sacrophyton are soft corals". Which has nothing at all to do with Calcium, or PH or anything. Odd. I got the $32k question right, its seemed the most right to me, but not sure if the answer is correct. I am not a millionare, I got question 1 wrong for a start...

Heya Ben Not exactly clean about weather you mean the strip that runs around the outside of the tank, or the centre 'cross' brace? If you mean the strip that runs around the out side I am using 50mm and plan on using 50mm for my 'big' tank. If you mean the centre brace, on a tank only 1200 long, 600 high maybee you won't need one? I don't use one on my 1000x650Hx400W. If you do, use a single narrow one, don't want to get it in the way of your lighting. Its hard to clean too. Good luck Pies

I was told a car crashed into the shop and knocked out a corner of the shop (the bit with the marines).

I have a little at the moment, I had it quite bad for a while. I know JetSkiSteve has a problem with it at the moment. Pesky stuff.

Ahem!

Mine are out all day and all night. Mine has also grown heaps, perhapps 3x larger than when I got it... Its not going in my new tank...

I wasn't being hostile, I don't have a stick up my ass, I don't have any pent up hostility and if I was venting at you, you would know it. I was just pointing out that your advice was, in all fairness to it, idiotic. If it has been anyone else I would have said the same thing. So stop crying, pieman didn't mean to upset little widdle Ira.