tHEcONCH

I've only ever heard of wild-caught freshwater species like Daphnia transfering disease - Most of the 'danger' stories I've heard about marine shrimp relate to the spikes on their exoskeletons harming (becoming embedded in) the fish's digestive tract - some commercial foods make quite a to-do about the fact that they have processed their shrimp in such a way as to eliminate the spines. The problem is that you can't be certain what else you are transfering to the tank - some bugs will obviously be OK in both fresh and brackish water.

Feed them and keep the water aerated - that is about it. As far as diseases go, that's a bit of a lottery.

It doesn't seem to like temperatures above 27 degrees - maybe your tank was a little too warm?

If they are flashing less, then perhaps whatever was causing it is on the wane already. I'd hold off treating them for now.

Seems to like that 20 cent piece

Yep, as a general rule (there are exceptions) avoid anything with varigated (multicoloured/patchy) leaves, anything that looks like grass, and anything you've seen in a garden. Swamp plants will survive underwater for a while, but they will eventually start to die and foul your water. As Spidersweb says, Cabomba is a good place to start.

So I thought I'd give RO a try and see what difference it makes - nothing like a totally unscientific experiment! Can anyone recommend a particular unit (or ones I should avoid)? Its just for the RSM, so volume/output rate isn't too critical.

About the same as a common plec.

Meh... I'm feeling antisocial. I generally spend the whole weekend mountainbiking anyway (that is my real passion), and most of the more interesting corals only come out to play in the evening anyway. Maybe Wilson can get you an autograph or something... :lol:

It depends how fine the grill is on the undergravel filter, but generally about 4-5mm (so water can flow through it and carry waste to the filter). Anything much bigger and you'll have difficulty anchoring plants.

It started out that way, but the Council ended up having to do the whole street when they found out how much water was leaking from the system(the Council is finally fitting meters to all of the mains in Christchurch, so I guess that means charges are on the way...) Anyhoo, if a chap were to consider buying an RO unit for his marine tank, what sort should he buy? I assume like everything there are good ones and bad ones - what do people recommend?

Any change?

You've left out the biggest impediment - THE WIFE! The main reason I want to do a big tank is to get depth / perspective. Pretty much all the marine tanks I've seen look like a row of corals and lack a 'third dimension'. But yes, they are all good points that you make, which is why I'm investigating a more 'modular' system built into a frame that can be partially disassembled / moved with a crane. Perhaps not suprisingly, most of the BIG tanks overseas are converted swimming pools and use equipment adapted from other applications. Luckily I work for a firm that specialise in costing out projects and building things, so it makes it a little easier and / or depressing, depending upon how you look at it. Even if I could get a viable project together, there is still her indoors to convince. A project this size would require a humungous anount of compensatory shoe shopping :lol:

But can you fit it to an RSM.... Hmmmm......

No, its not right. Gas exchange (oxygenation) happens at the surface of the water - so long as that keeps moving all they'll be no problems. A lot of (misguided) people think that airstones work by 'forcing' bubbles into the water; they don't, they cause the surface water to move which allows the gases to exchange.

Yep, only the front panel will be transparent (probably glass) - the rest will be solid and heavily insulated.

Yep, that would be nice - I drop $350 month on power.

Infinite - water is free in Christchurch.

Oscarboy, take this offer

I keep them in a community tank so they can eat each other's babies...

First of all you need to decide what fish you like the most. If it is Oscars, get rid of everything except the Oscars and 1-2 cats. You'll still need a big filter. If you don't want to buy a big filter, get rid of the Oscars and keep the Angels etc. Don't make me get out this emoticon again!

First of all you need to decide what fish you like the most. If it is Oscars, get rid of everything except the Oscars and 1-2 cats. You'll still need a big filter. If you don't want to buty a big filter, get rid of the Oscars and keep the Angels etc.

PARTY AT WILSON'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't get an eel, or anything else until you've sorted your filtration out