lduncan

I wasn't ignoring you wasp been overseas for a few days. Cost wise, you're looking at around US$399 for a three channel, similar to the Tec III? But it's easier to use, and a little more flexible. For a two channel, you're looking at around US$299. The prototype is just a two channel, (because I only got two sample pumps from Japan). Sounds interesting. What lab? Do they do testing for EU and FCC too? Layton

Software is virtually done, the hardware is working. But still organising cosmetic stuff, and regulatory testing which will take a couple of months. Overkill for just driving a calcium reactor, but great for 2 part dosing ;-)

Sounds awfully complicated just to add some calcium and bicarb. Why not use the dosing pump to dose calcium and bicarb directly? ;-) Layton

Deltec and Euroreef are quality skimmers, and therefore cost more, and perform better. Berlin and ASM skimmers will become worthless the day you buy them. Deltec and Euroreef (not common in NZ) have respectable resale values if you ever come to sell, while the other two you'd be lucky to give away. The long and short of it is don't think about skimping on a skimmer. It's your only nutrient removal tool, it's got to be good. Live rock isn't necessary. Personally I won't use live rock to start a tank, for a number of reasons. More often than not it's just expensive and nutrient loaded. Keep it simple. If you design your overflow system properly, you don't need the elaborate baffle systems some people come up with. I have no baffles, and absolutely no micro-bubble problems, with a very small sump. There is really just one main criteria for how to setup the flow in the tank. That is to play around with it until you get to a point where you can keep as much detritus suspended as possible. This means you're getting the crap in the water so that it has a chance of being skimmer out of the tank, rather than sitting and rotting somewhere in the tank. Also, look at Tunze nano streams over the standard freshwater style powerheads. Layton

I just double checked and Herpolitha is the correct spelling, according to Veron's taxonomic reference.

Yes, all of the above are, or have been in NZ at some point. And just a small spelling correction. Herpolita should be Herpolitha. Layton

Dunno about craze. From what i've seen the prices over in the States range from around $50 for indo ones, up to $150 for cream of the crop Aussie and Japanese ones. I wouldn't call that through the roof. There are a few LPS I personally prefer over Acans. I like the goniastreas and montistreas, favias. Basically the less "fleshy" ones.

Isn't speed in aussie? Acan's are really common over there. A lot of the nice acans showing up in the States are from Australia, since they started exporting some corals recently.

cool

Either look into importing bulk bags of Instant Ocean which come palletised(designed for public aquariums) Or all NSW.

Not a trick guestion. Although not 'lost', you would get various precipitates formed during evaporation which would not be soluble on re-hydrating it. It's probably quantified somewhere. I've never come across it though.

A photo really would help. It would give an idea of where and what the algae is, which would give an idea of where the nutrients which are fuelling it are coming from. Is it slimy? Hairy? Crunchy? What does "all the water tests are fine" mean? What tests? What brand test kits? and what are the numbers? Layton

Mine before it decided to play Russian roulette with a stream:

Nope. If they were, they would no longer be for sale ;-) Just some pieces from around the web.

A few more... Some lepers: Some aussie acans: Some nice favia: And a REALLY nice goniastrea: Layton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugium It's more or less an arbitrary classification of corals based on the size of their polyps. (LPS = Large Polyp Stony, SPS = Small Polyp Stony) When people refer to SPS they're usually talking about Acropora spp. and Montipora spp. LPS are the rest of the stony corals. Then there are the rest of the corals which people call "soft" corals. Could be a number of reasons, to isolate troublemakers, a place to introduce new fish and get them feeding without competition from existing fish... Layton

I didn't think so Looks to be a pretty nondescript coral, but I like to give some things a punt. That's how I ended up with a superman monti in the past. I considered getting that other piece but it's not totally what i'm after. I'm really looking for goniastrea like this: and Platygyra like this:

Wasp, I saw that one when I was up in Auck. last week, before it ended up at Hollywoods. I've only got one at the moment. Don't know exactly what it is, possibly an favities, acan, or maybe favia hard to say, I haven't really had a good close look at it. It's one of those corals i've picked because I think it has "potential". I think it might end up a purplish colour, at the moment it sort of a muted purple / grey / brown color The pic's crap (i've tried to sharpen it a bit), but it's in a difficult spot to capture. Layton

That morish idol looks in great condition!

Yeah, some acro's are easy, others are fickle. Some LPS are easy, some are harder to keep at their best than some acro's LPS brown out just like acros do. I think their structure is a lot more interesting than many acro's too. Especially some of the Agariciidae corals.

A couple more which are a little harder to get hold of... legally

I've got a grand total of one at the moment. I'm on the look out for more. I remember Eddy at Petworld used to get some really nice ones in years ago... they don't seem to come in that often now. Everyone's either after acro's or the basic soft corals and euphyllias. Time to bring back the faviids! I'll get a pic up tomorrow of my one at the moment. Layton

Like they say, gotta be in to win.

Acro's are yesterdays news, old school LPS are in this year. A nice selection of favia, favities, acans, montastrea, and goniastreas: Layton

Honestly what ever you budget for, you're realistically looking at $3,000 to $4,000 absolute minimum for a small setup including some livestock. Anything less and you're looking at high maintenance and / or high livestock mortality = waste of money.