SteveA

You won't know what to do with all your free time after are finished with the cleaning up. I guess there will be time for you to relax for a bit before you get into planning the house you are going to build round your next tank. Steve

This one? It's called 'Overdose'. Steve

I'd be more concerned about a leak in the tubing letting glycol into the tank. Have you thought of enploying an intermediate liquid and letting the glycol cool the intermediate liquid and then letting that cool your tank water? Steve

Used to use it but haven't done so in over 5 years. Can't say I have noticed much difference but since, from time to time, I do have the odd bit of caulerpa, perhaps I have not being paying attention. The corals seem quite happy without it. Steve

At this stage I plan to be around all weekend except Saturday morning. Do you have wheels, that will influence the best places ot stay? Not that I really know much about them. Steve

Try one of these..

- What length is the rod? - What are they like long term in a dampish environment? - AC/DC Voltage? - How reverse? Steve

Then buy what hardware you expect to need before you depart and put it in with your household goods. Just remember we use 240 volts / 50 Hz so pumps might be something you have to get here. Steve OOPs, see you are already here

Several have tried but it is difficult to build up a clientele when you are completely incapable of demonstrating that you have a clue what you are doing. All of my stock has come from ‘up north’ with the exception of two anemones, one of which I got about 10 years ago from a guy in Petone who was having a go at marines (that shop is long gone) and the other I got about 6-7 years ago from Fins ‘n Fangs, also now gone. Steve

Typically add water to tank while simultaneously taking it out via the skimmer drain valve. Doesn't work so well if you want to do a big change as you pretty soon start taking out water you have just put in. Rarely touch the sand bed (only about 2-3cm) except to tidy it a bit after my fish have done their sculpting. Steve

I think for my next/first experiment I will set up a small, well insulated, satelite tank outside to see if I can grow corals under natural Wellington sunlight. Might start with one of those Montipora weeds. Steve

The risk of failure at a bulkhead entry is probably small but it is heightened, relative to the tank joints, by the fact that bulkhead fittings are far more vulnerable to accidental movement than the tank side panels and the glue does not stick particularly well to plastic. It is not just the risk of a failure, even just a slight dribble (much more likely than a complete failure), but the consequences of such a failure that I choose to avoid. Perhaps having already had to empty one 1600L tank to fix a leak I am a bit paranoid, but now everything is worked out on a risk x consequences basis, not just on a risk basis and everything with a high consequence score is worked around if possible. Time will tell, as they say, and I really hope I am never able to say 'I told you so' (which of course I wouldn't do if such a crisis did arise). Steve

I still think that is a very brave move over the longer term. Steve

Once you understand the theory sufficiently to be able to predict, based on the moon/current cycles you have set up to match the naturally occuring gravity at your house, more or less when your corals are likely to spawn, then you could introduce some mechanical filtration to the tank outlet and then monitor every evening after lights out (or whenever they do the business) over that period. If they did spawn, you should then be able to use the mechanial filter to quickly remove from the system 90+% of what was produced before it did too much damage. In theory anyway. Steve

Yes again. Wish I had one, you lucky bugger. Steve

Well, we've really gone back to BAU mode now. Last night I noticed new growth on several corals, 3 of which (Echinipora, Porites, Acropora) had suffered some small areas of surface damage during the move (one from an anemone sting while in temporary accommodation). Now I can relax and clean up all the miscellaneous bits of plumbing and electrical gear I seem to have strewn about the room. Steve

You don't need to worry about fish over a weekend anyway. Feeding twice a week is plenty. Steve

All except for the time the initial transfer took, it went perfectly to plan. The first part was like spending all day in a motorway traffic jam. And then I hadn't counted on feeling so knackered and sore afterwards either. Steve

Nice as it might seem to get your corals to spawn and as happy as they might be at the time, unless your filter system is designed for a tank about 10 times its actual size it won't cope if they really get going. Steve

Correct.

I'm thinking along the lines of a carriage running on nylon rollers. Not planning on having the reflectors move, only the bulbs. Not sure yet whether to use an electric ram or cord round a motor spindle to move it. It will need to be quietish but this will not be a major issue as it will move quite quickly and then stop in several discrete steps so it will only actually be in motion for a couple of minutes each day. I'll stick up some CAD drawings when I've finished them. Steve

Shirley did take another photo or two with you in but I hesitate to put one of them up here being that this is a family show. Drop over any time. Will be out tonight till about 19:30 tho. Steve

Been there and managed to chew thru even some high quality (theoretically, expensive anyway) German timers. The older timers were better, they just make shit ones these days. I now just use two ordinary timers that switch on solid state relays - no MH is going to stress those babies. Steve

Not at all. They will move along a rail/track inside the light hood and the mechanism won't be visible to anyone who doesn't have their nose poking into the gubins. They will make 3 or 4 moves (4 or 5 different positions) during the course of a day and then return to their starting point after lights out (can't remember exactly how many moves I put in the programme now). The whole tank will be on circuit, using 6mm cable, capable of driving a stove/oven. Off this will come three seperate feeds. I have borrowed a drum of 6mm cable to do the tank and two HiFi spurs and I only have to pay for what I use. Steve

Not sure, but think will be about 15A. Will leave that to the sparky. Steve