wasp

Cool. We've agreed there then. People? What people? You'll find some people who think just about anything. I'm not going to argue about which particular value is 10 times the value for eutrophication, or what is required to maintain corals in good health. I will simply restate my origional point, ie - the FACT that orthophosphate exists in every reef tank. Easily proved by me simply testing some water from your own tank. No amount of arguing will change that, it's a fact. Bombers theory is wrong.

Cheers for the interest guys! A better pic? there's a slighly better one in my members tank thread, although this is a very hard coral to photograph. It is so bright it just shows in the pic as an overexposed white blob, on top of which my camera skills are lousy. I just managed to get this one good shot that works, although I'll admit I had to do some of that evil photoshopping to dim it down & show it properly. What kind is it? Sorry, I don't know. Perhaps it should be called a Bazzas Frag It's an acropora of some kind, that's about all I know. My buddy Layton ( no really ) is very good at ID'ing sps, perhaps he could chip in? See one in an LFS? If you do, pounce immediately it will be a rare find. Slow growing too so it will be years before I have any frags.

Layton - A well put together argument, although a little oversimplistic. Whatever way I think of it, or whatever way it is argued, none of this changes the FACT that orthophosphate exists in every marine aquarium. This is wether the "sinks" are "saturated", as you say, or not. However no point having a 10 page argument over it, I have tested water from many tanks and they all contain orthophosphate in fact if they did not, the corals would die. If you send me water to test from your own tank, I will find orthophosphate in it. That is the proof of the matter, and the FACT. No point arguing further. Sharkey - Good post, I think there is a little more to add as well, for example, precipitating phosphate in a tank is one way to get rid of it, however, as Layton would correctly attest, it is still in the tank and may rear it's ugly head sometime down the track. But what you said is certainly food for thought, the bottom line is the tank works, and there may be more to it than both Layton & I together, realise. Your plenum comments were interesting, I once had a plenum, and even tried plenum wasting. Some people can make it work, I could not. But a very interesting subject.

It's the one in my avatar, just thought I'd post on it because I'm stoked it's finally starting to grow It was a small frag I got a few months ago from Barry, and it really is as bright as the pic, it's flourescent. When it gets big it will be the most striking thing in the tank. But it's a slow grower so will take a while.

Well consider the implications of what you are saying Layton. Based on what you say, orthophosphate only exists if all other sinks are saturated, ie, orthophosphate will be absolute zero until every possible place phosphate could be bound is "totally saturated". But phosphate can continue to be bound until the tank is a complete block of phosphate. Prior to that, there will always be somewhere for phosphate to go. But still we have orthophosphate. Explain that. Now before you go psycho I do agree with what I think you mean, about the ebb & flow of phosphate between the various forms that exist in a tank, and I also accept that the more bound phosphate in various forms that exists, the more likelihood of a catastrophic conversion to high orthophosphate levels causing a "crash". However, to say that orthophosphate does not exist unless all other "sinks" as you call it, are "totally saturated", would mean that the subject tank of this thread, having measureable orthophosphate, must be "totally saturated", in other words, right on the brink of a crash, as we speak. As it is "totally saturated", there is nowhere left for any phosphate to go, and so as phosphate is added via feeding, this can only become orthophosphate and we may fully anticipate this tank crashing within the next few weeks. If you send me some water from your own tank for testing, I guarantee I will find some orthophosphate in it. But is your own tank "totally saturated"? I doubt it. I'm afraid this idea is another example of one of Bombers theories being presented as a fact. ( Again ).

Can't buy that theory, it's impossible. Orthophosphate may exist LONG before all other phosphate sinks are saturated.

I'm still surprised at its success though, There's going to be a tremendous amount of crud in the DSB under those rocks which simply cannot be syphoned. I really do feel like I've got some more learning to do here, I just didn't think what he's achieved would be possible. I would, remember this is measured with a Merck, not a Salifert. This result would compare more than favourably with a lot / most reef tanks. Chuckle!! :lol:

That video was NASTY! Hermit crab tried leaving his shell to escape, bad move! But then staying would have probably been fatal also!

A few years ago they had one on display at Hollywood Mt Roskill.

Cool Vicki! BTW your pic in the members tank section is great.

Wait till Layton sees it!

Very interesting! A 3 year old DSB, without even a skimmer. Personally I wouldn't have tried this I just didn't think it would work, but obviously it does. Just wonder if it would work without the algae refugium.

Best I can tell Jebo & queen are the same. Years ago I had a queen, & got it to do a fair job by adding an airstone to it.

One of the problems with having a calcium reactor is having to pay BOC gases extortionate rent for the Co2 bottle. However when the time comes, drop me a line I'll give you the details for guys who will sell a re-valved 2nd hand one with 10 year stamp for $200.00. Once you own the bottle they will refill it if needed, for $15.00.

Told ya! :lol:

Should add though I don't have 20 years solid experience, I kept a simple FO system back then for 4-5 years, then sold it when I sold the house, and didn't get back into the hobby until 1999. Was a shock to find how much things had changed in the mean time, I was initially going to set up an under gravel filter, as I'd had before, and then found out that marine keeping was now a whole new world. I think it's the internet that's greatly sped up the learning curve for myself and most hobbyists.

There may be a few people who still use them in a marine tank these days. But very few, trust me BTW, I did something like this myself back in 1986, something I did not even remember when I first saw this thread. What happened was you dissolved the powder in some water then tipped into the tank, & it encased onto a filter thingy attached to a pump. Did make the water sparkling clean I did not even have a skimmer in those days. However the effect was only temporary, I just did it till the pack ran out and that was it. The instructions also advised doing it at times when various problems arose, and it would probably have worked.

Interesting to see just a few, big pieces, rather than heaps of small ones, good concept. Probably closer to a slice of a real reef.

A 2 footer can get pretty cruddy if it's overstocked, and would merit a good skimmer. However a lot of nanos I see have got next to no fish, if that's the plan a low end skimmer may do.

If he's in an impossible place, point a powerhead at it, don't blow the crap out of it but make it uncomfortable, this may encourage it to move.

The expirey date is 07/2010. It's been sitting in my office for a few months which can heat up to 35 on a hot day, does that make a difference?

Nice if I won Lotto. I'll take 10 of 'em!

I've been using a Seachem kit to test calcium, brought it in from the US about 2 years ago it's supposed to be good until 2007. Now it's run out so I've started a Salifert kit, the Seachem said calcium was 420, the Salifert is saying it's 490. That's an important difference as far as I'm concerned, who do I believe?

Yeah! Worst part is the guy says it's still alive as he writes

Surprised nobody mentioned what they might do in a tank