chimera

just outta interest, how much?

there's a life reef skimmer on trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/Lifestyle/Pets-animals/Fish/Other/auction-17200281.htm

I saw that fish and was very interested, except they arent compatible with my fish (they're mildly aggressive and eat anemone's, corals and other fish!)

Iwaki pumps - how much difference? Well here's a before and after shot of the water coming out the sea-swirl. The first was from my Iwaki 40-RXT, the second is the 55-RLT (the small spray coming out is from a hole I drilled incase power goes off, doesn't drain the top 2 inches of the tank!) Second model is high-head pump. I had to muck around with the timber mount that I originally made so the 55RLT fit, out with the skillsaw etc Sea-swirl outlet from 40RXT @ 9ft head: Sea-swirl outlet from 55RLT @ 9ft head: What a difference!!! Even the height of the water above my overflow has gone up about 5mm (which meant I had to add about 10 litres of water to the sump!!!) I've also ordered a Tunze CO2 regulator from reefonline so the calcium reactor should go in end of next week

dan, as pies says, i have holes drilled in my tanks too so reliability is key. i was thinking about another two iwaki's but they'd have to be the love daddy models which are more costly than ocean runners or mag drives (of course, reliability is why) i love iwaki's coz they're so damn quiet! may consider 2 x iwaki 40's for the closed loops. hard to justify cost right at the moment though and I have already promised RnB that he can buy my current 40RXT once the 55RLT goes in. no drama's, just a matter of saving a bit more!

yup indeedy, even asked the wife to check before i get home! it got held up at customs for the last 3 days - they were all anal about gst etc. re: pumps for closed loops, i was looking for two. either ocean runner 6500 http://bcreef.com/p-ocean.html or mag-drive model 18 http://bcreef.com/p-mag.html i assume both must be made in 240V versions. thoughts?

new Iwaki turned up this arvo, finally!!! will hook it up tonight and post some new pic's what recommendations do everyone have for (quiet and reliable yet cost-effective) pumps for closed loops? (besides eheim) something that does 4,000+ litres per hour. ocean runner?

:lol: :lol: :lol: legendary! it appears to me moderators are playing mum and dad here. i agree from the moderators in that personal insults are wrong and should be banned, however banning personal opinions is a different story. it is just that, an opinion,... IMHO

they are oriental looking! where are they from? (ie: whereabouts is that place you posted above?)

fishguy, this is NOT a personal insult, slander or whatever else appears to be insulting. my question to you is (no sarcasm involved, it's a serious question) when last did you buy a coral from a retail store? You say corals at Jetskisteve/nicks were $60. That is half the typical price I have ever seen a coral go for in retail store. I also believe the $60 you have "quoted" is a fair price - and smaller frags even went for less than half that. I dont expect retail stores to drop to this level, theres not enough money in it for them but sub-$100 prices should be the norm, not $120 - $160. this market NEEDS competition otherwise the retail stores will control the price. take a serious look at product at LFS and think about what you're paying for, IMO it IS extremely expensive. RnB - thats exactly why Steve and Nick are doing what they're doing - and it IS about money. Why do you think there aren't more people in the marine hobby?

got some other cool info on this site too... http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/diseases/diseases.html

holy @#$%!@#$ that is !@#$%!@#$ cool dude!!! consider me your 2nd!

:roll: fair enough.

how about layton continues to pay ludicrous retail prices for livestock and equipment while the rest of us welcome some competition in the market place...

nicely said Pies. completely agreed.

agreed, even with my 4 footer i felt the same. the smaller the tank the less bio-load it can handle too - so less fish (if thats your thing) the literage in my refugium and sump are almost as much as my main tank!

turn the flash OFF otherwise it will ruin your pics (light reflects off the glass and kills the background lighting) if you have metal hallides, your pic's should come out mint (the more light on the subject - in water that is - the better). have your digital camera batteries FULLY charged, you will get better results. put your camera on a tripod or at least on a table to take the pics, stability is key.

blah... i use NSW purely because of lower cost and little effort (as i live close to the beach) if i lived inland more, i'd use ASW. personally, i dont believe there is much difference between NSW and ASW. it's seawater no matter how you look at it (albeit slightly different compounds or potentially slightly higher nutrients/pollutants in NSW vs ASW. but if it's 1 ppm of motor oil in your nsw mix, that aint gonna kill nuttin' :lol: IMO if you have a decent skimmer, dont be too concerned) Way up ASW and NSW as a cost/convenience thing, not "which one is better". to answer the original question 5, so long as your NSW source is RELIABLE AND TRUSTED, it will be fine. if you find there are too many risks involved, then use ASW. simple. do some testing first or contact the council for test results from samples they take (or whoever does it)

awesome pic's dude!

Brian, if possible can you ask him where he gets those nozzles pictured in the back of his tank? Or are they sea-swirls?

each to their own :lol:

solution: move to wellies or auckland

rory, what co2 reg are you using for your setup, where'd ya get it and if i may, how much?

gimme your sand then peter!!! do yourself a favour and learn from my mistakes (and save some money while you're at it too) see here: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=2902&start=0

agreed, gives it persepective i would do a better job at hiding pumps, heaters etc too (this is constructive criticism! )