dhindry

Hello, I am going to Cairns and Port douglas next week and would like to know if anyone knows of any aquariums / marine shops etc to visit???? I will be taking my snorkeling stuff as well

Equipment page now updated

All going to plan I will put those up tonight, I have the photos, just need to upload them and design the page

Cheers for the spell check

Java removed

Well I have finally got around to getting a little website going with a bit of information about my setup, and a gallery with my photos. :bounce: I will endevour to keep it updated. I am currently working on automating the tank lighting and fans via a linux box I have here, I have got the temperature measurement parts going. Http://myreeftank.co.nz Took all the rocks out today, and washed them all, as they were getting rather dirty, even with a good flow of water on them. Good excuse to rearange how the tank looks. New 250 watt metal halides installed, special thanks to Jetskisteve for the quick delivery

Ph has now stabalised at around 6.7 in the calcium reactor

Yeah, it is all over the place at the moment. I am slowely adjusting it down otherwise I find it jumps too much if I make more than one adjustment an hour.

Ph from calcium reactor between 6.8 - 7.4 Yes found a shop that sells nice shells and purchased one Hermit crab is very happy now.

Just tested my levels .... Calcium 440 - up from 420 two days ago Alkalinity 6.7 - up from 5.8 two days ago Ph now stable with lights on at around 8.2 - was around 7.8 two days ago too. So all in all the calcium reactor is making huge steps in the right direction.

Well finally got my sump running how I want it too. Have built my own calcium reactor and got that up and running. My sumps are downstairs in the laundry underneath the tank above. The first sump has a protein skimmer in, heaters etc. The second sump is really just an overflow, for when the power goes off, it will hold all the excess water from the top tank Main tank no longer has glass anemones as the racoon butterfly has polished them all off. Top Sump Bottom Sump with Calcium Reactor Both

Yes sure does, hangs around under the rock then comes out and cleans the raccoon butterly fish. Comes up at feeding time too.

Another new addition to the tank

It is made from pine tongue and groove. Made my peter at PortNicholson Glass in Lower Hutt. Yep lots more room, just adding things slowely. I have just about finished making my own calcium reactor, picking up the c02 bottle this weekend from auckland

Here are some new photos from the tank. New addition of Raccoon Butterfly fish. Doing really well, eating nicely and giving the aiptasia a run for its money.

What other sort of other problems are you having? My tank has quite a few of these pests, but I have just left them. They don't tend to have a long life. I remove any that get near my other corals, as they can sting, but other than that I am not worried about them. There are many ways of getting rid of them, but my method is to fill a syringe with lemon juice and inject it into the anemone. Hope that helps Daniel

So who is going to australia next? I sure would be interested in a couple

That will be the next thing Need to find some more rock and corals (at the right price) . Coraline Algae taking over quite well, gone from white crate to red coraline.

Thanks, I have had the bicolor now for about two years. Has been really healthy and gets on well with everyone else.

Most probably a bristle worm http://www.chesapeakebay.net/polychaete.htm

Well here it is, been meaning to put some photos up and finally got around to it This tank is my second one, been up and running since January this year. Tank approx 600 litres, with 2 300 litre sumps downstairs in the laundry. I currently only have two 150 watt metal halide lights and two two t5 blue fluros lighting the tank. And as always the camera doesn't do the tank justice

What a cool idea. If you were not so far away I would come and show you how to use it

What would cause a skimmer to produce too much foam? Nothing in the tank has changed, nothing has been added. All levels are within spec and ph is around 8.1. It used to take about three - four days to fill the cup but now it takes about 2 minutes Thanks

Lol, I was only researching all of this today. The most expensive part of the setup is the GSM modem. The frontend of a microprocessor etc isn't the expensive bit. There are already some of these sort of things on the market in new zealand, suited more towards farmers, but thats not say we can't use them for our tanks. Daniel

I would be a little worried. It would all depend on what sort of structure is under the house, whether you are putting it on an internal/external wall etc. From a lot of the older houses I have been under, the wood starts to get a little brittle with age. Also some of the older hosues, the pile spacing was not uniform. Some even used old tree trunks as piles Best thing to do is get under there and have a good look. You may even be able to build a small frame underneath to support the extra weight.