wasp

I saw the auction, I wonder if he now feels he paid to much for a 2 year old pump.

Coral growth is in fact related to health.

Brendan while I understand what you are doing, it is a waste of time. If this iron theory was correct we might as well all stop whatever else we are doing, chuck a bit of iron in the tank, and hey presto - awesome coloured corals! The study Layton has pointed out is likely technically correct, but in the real world of our aquaria would be unlikely to achieve the results that others, not the study author, are claiming. As I read the RC thread, the theory proposed, and already accepted as fact by some, is that iron would need to be dosed in quantities that are near lethal to certain zooxanthellae, but in fact stimulating to "other" weird coloured zooxanthellae. ( So called ). If it was that easy, somebody would have figured that out years ago, there are many people dosing iron. In fact, the study author simply showed that iron in big enough concentration to be lethal can kill or inhibit zooxanthellae, and Habib, the chemist, has proposed a theory that this may be how zeovit works. Habib in no way says this is a fact, he states it as a theory. Other, less scientific people have seized on it as a fact, much like a while back the same people seized on the "fact" that zeobac did not contain bacteria Brendan my personal opinion is you should not give anybody free iron, people who are interested should just go ahead and try the zeovit system proper. To anybody interested, it cost me less than 200 bucks to get everything I needed to start zeovit, although I did make the reactor myself. I can also say I am extremely satisfied, it is the best thing I did for the tank. Just a word of advice to new zeovit users, don't overdo it and reduce nutrients too fast. It is people who overdose or continue to use other products as well who have problems as that can reduce phosphate and other nutrients to levels that are too low for coral health, and result in tissue necrosis. From what I have heard, this can happen to leathers as well as sps. And just as an afterthought, a claim I keep hearing is that zeovit is quote "poisoning" the corals. if this is the case, how come new zeovit users notice not only better colour, but increased growth?

Just the odd click or maybe two, it's a pistol shrimp. Commonly several in quick succesion, it's a mantis. But pistol shrimps are a lot more common in these parts than mantis, in fact they are very common, but mantis not very common.

Here's something I need a few guys to go in with me on. I'm setting up a calcium reactor for my small tank (75 odd gallons counting sump), and a soda stream gas bottle will supply enough gas to run my small requirements, so I don't have to rent a bottle from BOC. The sodastream bottle is the large one, holds just under one kilogram of Co2. I've been to an engineer about getting an adaptor made to put the regulator on the sodastream bottle, but it's very expensive to get just one made. But if there is a few other people with small tanks who would like to get one also, and we get several made, we can get the price down to $60.00 each. If you are interested, drop me an email at xxxxxxxxxxxxx I hardly ever log on here these days so a PM will probably not find me. Cheers

Ben does it still have white spot or is it just the eye problem now?

ROTFL !! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Pies - Sorry, my mistake, I just assumed that after all these pages of arguing you must feel strongly about it. But as you told me I keep arguing and never let go, I will let you get the last word on this. Go for it - I will not answer back

Peter - Very Funny! The significant other does give me feedback, not always positive! Then I have to But when she's not looking it's :lol:

Peter - (May I call you Peter? Sounds better than Rbn)! All good points. The time thing, well, part of my enjoyment of the hobby is yabbing with people that come around, plus some of them are sources of new frags. But in dollar terms only, it will sometimes be hard to justify. That will be another advantage to Goldfish Pagoda. No time spent answering multiples of questions from people just browsing the tanks. Just here's the bag, thanks for the money, better run before it gets cold now.

Pies - agreed, other than one thing, you say aquacultured corals "should" be cheaper. Not the commercial reality once again. What we think "should" happen, in our perfect world, is not always the case. Price is driven by commercial reality, and the reality is that it is even with shipping it is cheaper to plunder a reef than to grow stuff from scratch. At some future time this may change, but that will be due to the cost of wild caught stuff going up in price, not aquacultured coming down. I would suggest Pies that if you feel strongly enough about it you could grow and sell good quantities of aquacultured corals "cheaper" yourself. BTW everything I sell is guaranteed. However, of course aqucultured is grown and adapted to life in a tank, little need for a guarantee. Also, everything in the end comes down to supply/demand/price. Try this slant - the more expensive aquacultured stuff is, the more people would do it, the less damage to wild reefs. And, all this is making me sound like some big time coral grower - not the case, I only have two smallish tanks.

Dude - you're arguing, pages of it. It's all been said before. But the take on Trade Me was new(ish). I think the thing with Trade Me is that the person can see a pic of the exact product they are getting prior to purchase. But anyway if the person did not like it once they saw it in person I would not hold them to it. No need, I have a holding tank Actually I only sell a small portion via Trade Me. Good point on the price comparison against wholesale, that has occurred to me also, that I am getting a lot better than wholesale. But two things. firstly I am the wholesaler, and the retailer, I have to deal with people individually, and when they come over they will often stay an hour. Secondly, I believe aquacultured corals are and should be worth more, for both practicle, and ethical reasons.

Well I support Gold fish Pagoda, like everybody else my bottom line is self interest and I want the cheapest price! But - There is nothing stopping the other shops doing the same thing. The question is, would we want to see this. Jansens and Hollywood could remove their displays, when you go there, there is nothing to look at or choose from, and if you want something you order it, then you get there on the exact day, and it arrives in a plastic bag. You don't get a choice, you take the specimen that arrives. Is that what we want? Not me, let's be honest! There will be a market for what Gold Fish Pagoda is doing, but most of us would hope the existing model can also survive.

I just knew you had Po4 remover by the coraline! Be interesting to see the effect when you take it off line, you'll have to post about that. Why did you remove the bio tower? Nitrates?

What's in your fuge? and can you describe in general your filtration?

Pies, you just are not going to change the world by never ending argument here. If it's all just as easy as you seem to think for shops to cut their prices way down for us, it will happen, but I think normal business models are already applying, nobody is getting filthy rich, and there is competition. We do need shops to make normal margins. My own interest was sparked after seeing a tank in Jansens, and I'm sure that's how others got started. If there really were the obscenely huge profits some are implying, then we'd all be in the business, you and me included. Why did Jansens shut the marine section on the North Shore? Would they have done that if they were making a ton of money? Why have many other shops gone out of marines? Why have many importers gone out of business? The real world shows us what's what, not theoretical arguments on chat sites. In fact, there is nothing I would enjoy more than to be making my living from my hobby, but frankly, I think it is already to tight of a business for me to risk trying. All respect, and thumbs up, to those who have though.

Wow Drifty, that is Very Cool! Is that pink stuff coraline, or something else?

Agreed, copper is guaranteed to kill the ich, but garlic may or may not. Just depends if the fish is saveable or already too late. I know you probably know this, but just incase, you cannot use copper in your main tank. Just get some kind of bin, dump a load of water in from the main, put the fish in and treat with copper as directed, and some antibiotic will be a good thing for the eye. Good Luck!

That's great Fay, looking forward to it. Our plans are a bit loose at present, we will be guided by the weather. But I'll get in touch about a time a little closer to the day. Cheers!

Ben there is little you can do for the fish if you do not remove it. Even a big plastic bin would do. Too late for garlic now. Your chances are not good, but what I would suggest if you can is to remove the fish to another container, and treat with both antibiotic, and copper, both from your LFS. When you catch the fish, drip some antibiotic right into his eye. Aerate the water, have a powerhead in it, and do 100% water change daily. All this is quite drastic, however, all things considered and without fully knowing what is wrong with his eye, it is probably the best "last ditch" effort you can make. But the fishes chances are not good. If this is not possible, just have to leave it in the tank, and hope. If you do leave him in the tank, and you can get him to eat, see if you can get him to eat some fresh chopped garlic, not much to lose by trying, it has both an antibiotic and anti parasite effect. Good Luck!

OK, trouble is there may be several causes, including secondary infection from the ich infestation. Anyhow, I've searched an article that may be of use http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/compld ... 053001.htm But as you can see it is complex. One thing that may be of use if you can do it is to put the fish in isolation, that way it will not be bothered by the other fish, and you could treat with antibiotics if you wish. But if it's stopped eating, I'm afraid it may be on the way out. Did you try any garlic?

Ben what you mean his eye is popping out? This may be something other than ich. Can you describe exactly please? If you look carefully, can you see an air bubble behind the eye?

And funny - no that ones hysterical :lol: :lol: You still hurting, huh? You need to let it go.

Cool Fay, actually we are coming down your way at Easter, you going to be around?

That's funny Peter :lol: I had actually thought of doing some kind of garlic preparation and selling it, as long as it was in an eye catching and cool looking bottle, with a plausable explanation I'm sure it would sell. However, I think the main benefit is in using it fresh. Would be more profitable than fragging though!