lduncan

You could try warm citric acid. I'm guessing it is some sort of carbonate buildup. Layton

Calcium is generally not the limiting factor in coral growth when it is above 350ppm. Carbon (alkalinity) is a significant driving factor in growth. Layton

To be honest, the tunze ones are good value, they come with a needle valve, which can be surprisingly expensive. Layton

There will be some sort of max flow rate through the regulator, don't know what it is, but the bubble rate is controlled through the output pressure and a needle valve.

Flow rate is measured in "bubbles per minute".

Ingredients could be: Sodium hydroxide..... 001310-73-2.........30-60 % Aluminum..............007429-90-5...........1-5 % Sodium nitrate........007631-99-4.........15-40 % Sodium chloride.......007647-14-5..........7-13 % The green stuff could be a denaturing agent (like the purple stuff in meths) to stop kids accidentally eating it. If the ingredient are as above, nothing to worry about. (But i wouldn't be using it again) Layton

What's the actual name of the product on the container?

The label gives it's concentration. 542 grams per kilogram.

That would be the wrong stuff. I'll try and find out what the green stuff is, but it may not be good. If the label says 542g / Kg then it is only 54% sodium hydroxide. The stuff white blowing around is harmless, just carbonate dust (same composition as sand). I'm worried about the green stuff, typically copper compounds are green. I'd be running some carbon in case it is. I'll see if i can find what the green stuff is. What brand did you use? 100% Sodium Hydroxide Draino is completely white in colour. I typically use 0.1 to 0.2 mL per aiptasia. Layton

Draino is safer for fish than kalk paste.

Did the container say "100% sodium hydroxide" ? What colour is the mixed solution? You may get localised precipitation of carbonate due to the high pH. The clouds of white are not high pH or damaging, like they are with kalk mix. It's won't kill the fish unless you squirted them directly. (Tank alkalinity takes care of it pretty quickly.) Layton

Chimera look for zone 3: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

A mineral acid or base would do it. But not something you want to add to your tank in significant quantity. Time is the best way. Interesting about why people generally keep alk high, i think it was Eric, who said that it was to try and keep the Redfield Ratio (ratio of Carbon to Phosphorous to Nitrogen) more desirable in higher nutrients tanks. Low nutrients (in N and P) tanks should have normal reef levels. Layton

Hey Chimera, what are your water params like?

Maybe your water is too clean for the xenia's liking?

It sure is, but the law is the law, and if nothing is produced by this review, then nothing will be allowed in. It will kill a whole industry and hobby. And the deadline seems very soon 15th of October! It's a LOT of work to get done. Layton

That's another thing which needs to be looked at, and handled somehow. We should at least be able to get dry base rock. Layton

Pies, this is from the letter here http://www.fnzas.org.nz/letter/ : So it looks like we can submit species from a Genus which is not currently on the allowed list. Is that correct Warren? What are the risks in doing that, if any? The lionfish may be covered under another restriction (venomous animals or something like that)? Layton

You should check your facts their Cookie.

Actually he is. He closed a thread when people were asking about DSB and algae issues, and he posted this picture of his tank.

That's what I'm saying, the tank doesn't reflect his knowledge on corals. Clearly it doesn't mean he knows nothing about them. So you think photos are proof of someone's knowledge? Clearly not. Layton

Have they explained why they are doing this. Or is it just a matter of they are doing it because they can? Layton

There is not much on the allowed list which hasn't been in at some point in the last 10 years Brian. Pictures shouldn't be a problem. Layton

Well my point is, I would not aspire to a tank which looked like that photo, there are problems with it. But I still respect what Eric has to say, why? Because most of what he says makes sense. It's a shame that a couple of people on here see me as a "know it all", when I explain things which they have never heard, or never thought about, and back it up with facts. I'll comment on things I do know about so others can learn, and i'll learn from things I don't know about by reading others comments. So no need to get personal when I give some info which you don't want to hear. Layton

Warren, do you know how MAF are going to deal with the coral issue? It is virtually impossible to identify most corals down to the species level, by sight. Not even professionals who study corals for a living can positively do this. How do MAF expect us to achieve this? How do MAF propose to check this? Fish of course are no problem. Layton