skippy

Wasp, Where are you in Ak? I'm coming down this weekend on Sunday thru to Tuesday. Be keen to get some if you are not too out of the way. How long would they keep out of the tank? Overnight in a jar and polybox? as my dearly beloved is off for a girls night out on Monday night and I have been left to my own devices for the night. Anyone in the Howick area have a reef tank that I can have a nosey at? Cheers Skippy

Woah - that pushed some buttons out there Ok, start from the top: Reef wrote: and Puttputt wrote: OK, elaborate. What size/flow rate and where the hell do you get them (Reef I'm sure you can tell me an excellent supplier ). Also, my Dad (who lives with us and shares our water tanks) is a dialysis patient and would probably benefit the improved water. He uses about 1m3 each session over about 6 hours, three times a week. What sort of $$ are we looking at for that sort of flow? BTW, Northland Health tested our water and reckon it is pretty good (at least good enough for the dialysis machine) Layton wrote: Go for it Layton. I would be interested in your opinion. Everyone else, it is his opinion - let him express it without an arguement. Layton, try and keep it in non-tech speak - you will just confuse the crap out or me if you go too scientific on me Obviouly tel is keen on what you have to say too. Puttputt. Are you saying that there is a separate pump that runs the Ca reactor. Is it a submersible or dry mounted jobbie (running out of room in my sump ) Where is it pumping from? As I understand what you are saying: - There is a suction line from the sump (or tank or whatever) supplying tank water to the reactor vessel. Just prior to the pump you dose CO2, goes thru the reactor, mixes and then drips into the tank (or sump?) How does it get there. Positive pressure from the pump or is there another pump? Does the thing come in a complete unit or do you have to cobble it together? Got any pics of yours? Hazzard wrote: I'm with you Hazzard Cheers Skippy

I don't run a Ca reactor but have been thinking lately that long term it has got to be more cost effective than adding Coral Calcium as a supplement at $50 odd a bottle! Therein lies my problem. Having never run a Ca reactor I am completely ignorant as to what is involved (ie equipment) and how the things work :oops: I understand that it involves CO2 and other stuff but don't know how it all comes together. There is quite some chat on here as to the pro's and con's of all sorts of stuff (the current thread about Red Sea plus or whatever it is called prompted me to start this thread). I have until very recently been operating a fairly low tech, low budget tank (if there is such a thing in marines ) but have spent a big chunk of $$$ on a chiller, Arcadia pendant lighting, refractometer and even more recently Tunze streams/controller (still to get from Auckland and itching to get them in my tank). Figure the next thing to consider may well be a Ca reactor and/or a RO/DO unit. Can anyone explain to me the Ca reactor set up ie what is involved equipment wise, the operation of the things and how it ties in with the rest of the tank (ie dosing, etc, etc) and also what units (manufacturers) are preferred by those using them. Also the old hoary chestnut - what are they worth (for a decent one that will last) to buy and what are the ongoing costs. I don't really want to start a huge debate about the thing (Layton, Wasp and Puttputt ) but be interested to find out more about it. Any comments about the RO/DO would be interesting too Cheers Skippy

You could be right too - I have no idea The name suited him though Anyway, we are off topic and wouldn't want to hijack an excellent thread so back to the "newbie marines" now

Skippy wrote: Rockerpeller wrote: Now I know the techo name Thanks rockerpeller I did have one that would eat dead food. Had him for a couple of years but he's gone to the pod buffet in the sky now May replace him soon though if I can find a nice one as they are very very neat My one was called "Mao" as in the chinese dictator Mao Tse Tung, chinese = mandarin - get it??????? Oh never mind

Hey Krama - good thread idea. Nice to see plenty of folks getting into the marine scene and some neat setups in the making One thing though - your last post you mentioned your mandarin. While being a very cool little fish they really need a well established tank (read at least 1 year old here) to do well. They feed on all the microscopic stuff that grows in your tank over time (not real sure of the techo name :oops: ) and your tank probably hasn't developed a big enough population of them to sustain the mandarin as well as keep reproducing to keep him in food. I would keep a good eye on him to see if he is wasting (ie getting skinny) Just a bit of advice

Chim - you are the edit god!

Jeez gregb What is your problem :-? . You are not actually very funny although you seem to think you are. Do you not have anything constructive or helpful to say? Everything you post is a piss take or slagging off. Get over yourself - you aren't raising the NZ'ers opinions of Aussies very much - actually you are lowering them fairly rapidly Mods - sorry if I am out of line but really!!!!! Check this guys posts Skippy

Puttputt Have pm'ed you Skippy

Aw your making it hard not to visit now wasp. Bit too far out the way for this trip though. Will be back down for a few days at Xmas so might try and visit a few tanks then if anyone is home

Love to Fay. Only problem is Port Waikato is on the wrong side of AK. Wasn't planning on going any further south than Papa2toes. Maybe another time if the offer is still on the table Cheers Skippy

:lol: :lol: Could catch up on the Sunday but probably not able to take any pressies. Heading back up on the Tuesday morning and you will probably be at work. Perhaps another time Toying with the idea of doing a bit of a tank tour. As I said dropping in to see Jetski but have some time to kill. Any suggestions?

No worries We can sort it closer to the time if you want. You will have to give us some warning so we can let the cops know that we DONT actually have stuff growing in the ceiling and thats why our power bill has suddenly jumped Let us know next time you are up. We are coming down 19th - 21st. I need to pick up some tank stuff including my new tunze streams and controller plus a new MH bulb that jetski has offered to let me trial

That must be the ultimate bummer It is every reefers nightmare Bummer mate

Puttputt wrote: Mate, you haven't seen our power bill about $330 per month. If you want to pay it feel free Seriously though, if you want to use the store room, I'm sure we could work something out. There will be plenty of space (i think!) and the room stays reasonably cool as it is all lined. We will let you have visiting rights too Pm, email or phone me if you want to try sort something. I could also come down and give you a hand to shift it if you want. I have a bunch of 20 litre containers and poly boxes (been there, done that a few times). I also have a spare 150 litre tank that is empty at the moment too that could be useful for temp storage Cheers Skippy and Mrs Skippy

Puttputt wrote: Single garage size - no car in it either!

Looking nice Going to be hard to leave it in someone elses hands while you move!

Alois That gobie at the top of this page is very cool What sort is it and are you able to get them? How do they get on with other fish - he looks a bit fearsome (well he probably would if you were a fish) He is stunning!

Reef wrote: Where can I get one :bounce: :bounce: Seems like I have all the fishie eaters in my tank except a blue carpet anenome so may as well have one of those NOT!

Geez Skuzza That is not a mental picture that I wanted :oops: :oops

I know where there is a bait and tackle shop for sale in Kerikeri near the Library Trouble is you'd have to buy it before you converted it to a florist You can give me all the existing stock in the shop if you want to get rid of it Will keep an ear out for anything for lease. Are you interested in buying a shop or just leasing? Oh, got your PM too

Sweet, when is your next road trip. How did your leads on new premises pan out? Any joy?

Aaarghhhh The pressure is on. Easy to spot all the committed sps fans out there OK, we will start with 1 Puttputt. BTW, where do you all get them from? All traded or donated frags? I don't think I have ever seen them for sale in the lfs (or maybe I just had my wavey stuff, softie blinkers on ) Seems like Puttputt and Cracker are the biggest culprits in spreading around the sps love

Wasp wrote: Have recently (end of July) upgraded to an Arcadia 3 Series pendant fitting which I got second hand from Puttputt. It has 3 x 250W MH, Arcadia 14000K DE Fc2, bulbs with 2 x 58W marine blue T5's. I also run 2 x 40W fluoros (1 blue actinic and 1 marine glo) that were part of my original lighting so a total of 946W. Use that blue actinic as "pseudo moonlighting" when everything else has turned off. I recently changed 1 of the MH bulbs as they are past their best by date for a different brand that didn't cost $185.00 like the Arcadia MH bulb but it lasted a total of 17 days before it blew up :evil: However the nice folks at HFF have offered to replace it for nought. Can't afford to replace them all at the same time I like the pics of your old softie tank - i think I might be an old softie at heart :oops: :oops: (sorry couldn't help myself). I have thought about getting some sps but have to admit I quite like the look and movement of the leathers and other softies. I reckon Puttputt might want me to change my mind when he gets up here though. We'll see. Will take a few more pics of the tank tomorrow when it is fully extended as it looks awesome now that it has settled down a bit from the big change. Very pleased with it.

Nah mate, not being hard on myself - don't believe in it. There's plenty of others out there in the big bad world that are all too keen to criticise and give you the bash over what you believe without you teeing off on yourself The results is what the results is. Yeah the nitrate may be a bit high bit at least they are consistent. I reckon that is the key. If parameters bounce around all over the shop the inhabitants cant adjust and stress, etc. At least if it is high but stable they get a chance to adjust and are reasonably happy. Obviously there will be the exceptions My thoughts exactly. No matter how much you spend, how much you learn (or think you learn) and how amazing your tank may be - there will always be someone out there that spent more, learnt more and amazes more people. Be happy with what you have and set realistic objectives for improving it. :lol: