JoeBlog

Really, is that all it takes?! :roll: I wonder why it takes 4-5 years after 4 years of undergraduate study to get a PhD at any respectable North American university? We must be REALLY slow writers. How many have you "optained" then? mail order doesn't count!! A reputable PhD degree says that you do have an expertise in your specialized area. I would say that Bomber's qualifications would make him an expert. However, no matter how much of an expert anyone is, their statements should be questioned. If not to only further your own knowledge, but also to possibly further the knowledge of the field entirely. And as Layton pointed out, Bomber encourages people to do that. If a “proper†hobbyist can read, I would hope that they would have as much knowledge as the experts of the 90's. However, this does not make them an expert, but may make them think that they are. Just as in any science, there is a progression of knowledge. The difference between knowing what was cutting edge in the 90's and knowing what is on the edge of science today is the factor that distinguishes an expert.

Completely agree.

Is anyone on this forum an "expert"?! If so, I think we are using the term pretty loosely.

Bomber uses the Socratic Method to get people to think for themselves. I believe that he’s just an old academic for which I am sure this has become the norm. Being an academic myself, I’ve found that this line of discussion doesn’t do well in the “real†world since “normal†people take offense, my wife for one!!

With a properly run BB, you won't need the Caulerpa to absorb nutrients. The high flow will get the detritus in the water column, over the overflow and to your skimmer for export before it becomes a problem. For the heavier sediments that accumulate on the bottom, you can set up your flow so that it accumulated in convenient little piles for you to vacuum out. => no need for additional nutrient uptake by a refugium. This is excellent advice, but don't limit it to only DSB discussions, i.e. Anthony, Ron, etc... Look at them ALL (DSB,SSB, BB, remote DSB, etc...)and make an educated decision on how you want to run your tank. Probably the best information is presented in the BB threads since this is where most of the debate takes place. I don't believe that these threads are entirely biased towards BB either. You do have your "off comment", but read beyond that and focus on the information offered. This is not true at all. I don't know of ANYONE that is anti-DSB. Some of us have just chosen a different methedology predominantly because we have SPS dominant tanks. I think Layton is basically doing everyone a favor by trying to provide information on how DSB work, which I would certainly want to know if I were to have one in my tank. Also like Layton previously mentioned, quite a few BB people (including Bomber) also have DSB's in other systems that are LPS and Softies dominant.

I use a 40 watt UV sterilizer just prior to the skimmer. After installing it, the output of the skimmer greatly increased. I plan on getting another 40 watt system to work sequentially with the one I have.

I wouldn't leave that bag in there for more than a day without cleaning it. It can turn into a nitrate factory very quickly. I plan on getting some from MD as well, but only use them when I blow off my rocks and remove for a washing a couple hours later.

This is so true. There are HEAPS of people on RC that complain that going BB actually made their tanks worse (i.e. “explosion" of nitrates, etc…) but they also typically had piss all flow, didn't cook their ages old rock, have a way undersized skimmer and/or poor husbandry (i.e. didn't blow off their shedding rock, hardly ever siphoned out the detritus piles, etc...). I didn’t cook my rock and going BB has been more work than when I had my SB. I’m just looking at it now as time/effort invested for when my tank finally finds equilibrium, and I (hopefully!!!!) have a stable tank with awesome color for little effort! (and of course, the piece of mind that I have minimized the potential for unforeseen disasters) Because of the HA creating its own detritus trap, you should get an old toothbrush and scrub the hell out of that area to not only physically remove the HA, but also aerate the area as best as possible to allow the phosphate to be released from the rock. The high flow will keep any more detritus from being absorbed. It's a long battle, but I think I am finally getting the upper hand on my problem spots.

Hmmm.... I would say that Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (among many others) would have to disagree. April 16th, 1963: "Martin Luther King is arrested and jailed during anti-segregation protests in Birmingham, Ala.; he writes his seminal 'Letter from Birmingham Jail,' arguing that individuals have the moral duty to disobey unjust laws."

Gave them a call just out of curiosity and he said that it is a Niger. Still and awesome trigger, but I'm partial to the Blue Throats.

Does anyone know the contact information for this Goldfish Bowl???

Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera. I know it is ridiculous, but true. :oops: So sorry, but no pictures available at the moment. The blue throat I have is a female, and thus not has awesome looking as the picture posted by Reef. Still very cool though. I had originally bought a pair, but the male died within a day of being in my quarantine tank. I don’t have any anemones. Are the triggers known to have a problem with anemones, or vise versa?

Ahhhh... The crosshatch was certainly my first choice in triggers for my reef, but I believe that they aren't allowed, no??? Totally awesome fish!!!! At any rate, I can't imagine what the price would be here given the crazy prices that they go for in the US.

That price is meaningless. The only way for it to be interesting at all is to have number of transactions listed as well. We can all charge a million dollars for whatever we want, but it doesn't do much good if no one buys it. Basic principle of economics: there are two sides to every market. As Chimera said,... Until we see sales for the $100000 fish, both statements carry the same weight. :roll: My guess would be that it is just marketing for the other fish that they sell in the few thousand $$ range.

I have a blue throat trigger. Totally awesome fish with heaps of personality. Still pretty small (3"-4"), but a model citizen so far. I have HEAPS of snails (baby ones as well) and a couple cleaner shrimp. No problems. Well, there was one incident in which one of my anthias was being a pest, so she turned around and took a small chunk out of his back. The anthia now has a little scar, but is much better behaved. I'm waiting to get my male so that I will have a pair. The female is not nearly as nice in appearance as males, but I still thnk she is awesome looking. It's going to be amazing when I finally get the male in there.

I have one, but solely for aesthetic purposes. It grows sooooo slow that I can’t imagine it importing much of anything. Quite a cool additiona to the sump though.

When did you say that you expect those be available? What are the specs? Are they quite similar to the Tunze in performance, but just less obtrusive? Steve

Could it possibly be the start of that sand bed crashing!?!?! Just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The tank is looking great as usual. If you get a chance, I would like to see a whole tank picture just to see how all the corals are growing together and filling in the space. Looking forward to seeing how your new DIY reflectors turn out. When you replace your bulbs, are you going to go with the same brand, color? I just installed some new 250W DE XM 10000K today, and I must say that I am not too psyched about the color. I expected a bit of yellow, but not as much as it turned out to be so far. I’m just hoping that the higher PAR (shifted from Hamilton 14000K) leads to better growth and color. Cheers, Steve

How cost efficient would it be to cool/heat the room instead of just the tank? I am thinking of getting one of those heat pumps for the insulated shed/sleepout that houses my tank. I’ve seen a small one on Trademe for $600 that is rated for a small office. Even if I were to get a slightly larger one, the price only jumps to around $1200. As Chimera said, he spent $900 on his chiller and I am assuming that the room is still hot. It would be nice to adjust the ambient temperature so that not only are my fish happy, but I’m not a sweaty pig either! Is this a ridiculous idea in terms of efficiency?

Organisms and Critter Kingdom have stocked them, and may still do so. When I bought mine (four 6100's), there wasn't a shop that had any, but I was still able to get them pretty quickly and easily. The best purchase that I've ever made for my tank, but also the most expensive.

What do you guys think of using the larger 3 watt or 5 watt (if available) LEDs for actinic supplementation instead of using actinic T5’s or whatever? I’ve checked out the 3 watt version and they seem to be really bright. The only obvious problem is that they are quite focused, i.e. spot light. If it is possible, I think it might be a cheaper option in terms of replacement costs and electricity consumption. Not only that, but they are really small for those of us with limited space over our tanks.

If you run a proper bare bottom system, you might not have to run a calcium reactor even with a reasonably stocked SPS tank. Quite a few of the BB guys on RC don't. You can easily keep up with the tank's demands with simple two part additives.

I must say Layton, I do have skimmer envy! If I could afford it (or rather, my wife let me buy it), then I would certainly have the big Deltec as well. So for now, I am stuck with a (possibly distant) 2nd best.

I have owned a Berlin (2nd hand for a couple hundred) and from my experience, I would build one before I would buy one again. You can make a countercurrent air driven skimmer for MUCH cheaper than $600 even buying a very good airpump. The replacement of the air stones each month are a bit of a PITA, but you can get somce ceramic ones from the States that don't have to be cleaned for over a year. It would be much, much more efficient than the Berlin for less. If you don't want to build a DIY, I would consider the ReefX before diving into a Berlin. They appear to be similar to a EuroReef or ASM, which are highly rated in the States as a very good economy skimmer.

It is seriously the sweetest reflector I've seen in person. If I had the top of my tank exposed, I wouldn't mind them being viewable at all. Definitely a sweet score. Can't wait to see them actually on the tank!