TM

fair point. I do the same to some people. Depends on how well i know someone as well, and on how much they take. One piece, not to much of a worry. Walk out with two or three bags full, different story. Chances are they wouldn't be able to get the same deal anywhere else...

Yeah but when the big companys are doing this, it is a concern is it not. Why pay more for a cultured piece??? when they are pretty much the same as the bits cut from the reef..

Agree But the whole culture thing is a little misleading. When they say after 6 - 9 months they reach a size that can be sold. From what i saw, they dont just carefully cut a wee piece of a "mother colony" axes and screw drivers were involved. I am not saying that they arn't trying to help with the destroying of the reefs. Its more that i did not relise how thew did it. i thought they started with a thumb nail size bit and then let it grow for six to nine months. not start with a full size bit, put it on a rock and then sell it two weeks later. Why buy cultured pieces that are more expensive, your getting the same thing, arn't you????

This is interesting. I know first hand of one company that cultures a few items, alot of them are not cultured the way we all think (That is a very small piece stuck to a rock and lert in the sea for 6 - 9 - 12 months then sold.) A high percentage are cut from the natural reef (at a size ready for sale) stuck to a piece of cured rock and left just long enough for some of the tissue to cover the rock. So the cultured piece you get may have come from the reef and not cultured. sad

Alan you will find that some importers have lists that vary slightly (they may have applyed to certian people for fish to be put on the list!!!!) This is a fact.. Send the names of the fish any way.. you may be lucky

Has anyone ever been to Tonga, I would be interested in your thoughts.

I know pies has just asked for photos on this and other stuff, but have not seen many yet. Could you put up photos of your sumps Tim

Hi all Just got back from a week in tonga. I was on the main island for seven days. It was interesting to see how everything works and the way the locals treat the reefs. Most of thr tongans have little or know respect for the sea life, we saw a huge sea turtle get killed on the warf and lots of fish of all sizes treated the same way. (fish fine turtle not!!!) On monday i went out on a 6m boat with two of the local collecters for 7 hrs (in the full sun...hot) We went way out to sea to the reef where they collect. The two guys had a screw driver and a wee axe. On of the guys would hold his breath for 4-5 mins and bring back 2-6 leathers. The thing that i found interesting is that the soft corals were rear and the hards corals (acros etc) were not. The government has four zones L1 L2 L3 and L4, these zones are rotated round every three months, so the 4 active (out of five) companys collect from L1 for three months then they move to the next one, and so on. This is for hard corals only. Soft corals can be collected in any of the zones. These guys bring back 80 - 200 pieces per day. ( they get paid $40 - $60t per week thats about $30 - $50 kiwi) Alot of the fish are collected with scuba at about 20m. Bi colour, coral beauty and flame angels are not so common, they take a long time to catch, and are quite seasonal. there were a few fish i saw when swiming around with them but not many. I was a little disapointed with the way they collected, but i did knoe before going how this was done, still its different when you are there. You pretty much don't get clams on the reefs, if the divers find them, they get eaten on the way back to shore. The tongan fisheries produce all the clams with help from some germans. They have three kinds and are getting the other two soon (from Aust.) All and all a good trip got to see all of the wholesalers and collecters etc. sure i will have more to add later Tim

yeah will try to sort out

I thought i would try posting a few pics. http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/36/22/68/i36226851-5058-4B0A-930F-86E21F83644E.jpg

I had a bubble tip (quadracolor?) that was in the tank for about 1 year, i then added another long t. All of a sudden the bubble started moving around the tank, almost following the other. they both moved around the tank for a bout 3 weeks. Then the long t anemone died. The bubble then went back to its old spot and hasn't moved since, well it jumped tanks with the clowns, but untill then it stayed where it was. It would get feed a bit of mussle every know and then.

SeaQuest in Puerto Rico produce large numbers of clowns, gobies, dottybacks and lots more. in will find there site

cant't find the link, but have read a couple of times that the light output/color can change heaps depending on what way the bulb is facing. on all bulbs (not sure on single ended) the have a nipple in the center of the bulb. This nipple should be facing up. If it is not the output can vary slightly. just what i read, i think it was on wet web media by fenner??? somone may have the link

look at the private trade and exchange for setups for sale

don't worry he is still there, somewhere. When i find him again he is yours. Looks just the same, although some of the legs are much shorter.

cheers pumps look good allthough i think they may be a bit big, will have a think on that one. Any ideas on flow rate out of each outlet. What brad of bulbs do you guys recomend/use? Cheers

tangs look great together but you do need to put them in at the same time. Have put groups of yellow, blue, sailfin and purple tangs in together with no probs. The only time i did have a prob was with 8 big blue tangs, they did fight

looking GREAT layton

greetings all, hope everyone had a good holiday break. My current tank (550ltr) has been running know for about 2 years? It is sitting on a wooden floor. The floor dosen't like this very much and has asked me to move it (floor boards starting to sag and rot). There is really only one other place that this tank could go. The tank size that i will have is 1070 x 770high x 915deep. (750ltr) The sump will be about 250ltr (1000 x 450 x 550?) Total system size about 1000ltr I will be placing this tank between the fire place (no it won't get to hot) and two other walls. The only thing i have done so far is the tank and stand. At the moment i am looking at water flow. I am going to start with closed loops either 2 or 4. ANY THOUGHTS ON WHERE TO PLACE THESE? I was thinking two at the bottom corners at the back and two at the top corners at the front. I have a heap of snap lock tubing that i will use so i can put the flow right where i want it. SIZE PUMPS? how about to big eheim pumps running the four outlets? Skimmer has yet to be decided, any ideas (yes deltec are cool any other types people have had success with) Euroreef 8-2 or ap850???????????? Photos yes as soon as i learn how to use a camera!!!!!!!!

I have one of these wee guys. Cool fish. I have never had a problem with them jumping.

From another post

same in about one month the patches have gone from little specs to about fifty cent piece size.

yes its coming up on the back of my tank

put them in a blender to attach push the bits into a rock