SteveA

One thing I find interesting is that one week I will get similar quantity and quality of skimmate to what Pies showed above and then the next week get the same quality but only 1/4 of the volume, without any obvuous change taking place in the tank or making any plumbing change. At the moment I am putting it down to different food combinations thru the week ( I feed heaps) Steve

I can see the day coming when I will set up a fish only tank with some fish you would not normally want to have in a reef and then occasionally feed it with trimmings from my reef tank. The idea of doing this seems preferable to just dumping live coral weedings in a pile out the back door.

1.What system of sand bed/ non sand bed do you use? 2-4cm 2.Why did you choose this? Looks, fish like digging in it and moving it around, I like sand, have had sand for 12 years without it causing any known issues 3.a)Asthecticially which type do you prefer? Some sand to cover bottom b)practically which do you prefer? Same, but without fish mucking about with it 4.Have you ever experienced the "crash" if using a dsb? What happened?No 5.Are you happy with the current system you are using? Yes 6.What are the benefits/negatives you have found when using this system? Have to tidy it up from time to time after fish have moved it about and exposed bottom of tank. Someimes fish manage to nearly bury a coral or two. 7.Have you ever changed/considered changing your sand/no sand system? If so Why? Used to be over whole bottom, now use a wall along the middle of the tank and sand is only in front of that. Saves on sand and allows pumps at back to blow detritus out from under reef. 8*.Labour or National Neither

Know the feeling. Watched a carpet anemone spit out my Archiles Tang once. That anemone has moved on to even bigger prey since then, from what I have heard. Steve

And you think a different colour one wont? Steve

I have a friend coming in to do a photoshoot of two tanks over the weekend. Photos will include: Acropora clathrata Acropora formosa Acropora gemmifera Acropora longicyathus Acropora nobilis Acropora robusta Acropora tenuis Caulastrea furcata Echinopora lamellosa Favites abdita Fungia danai Fungia moluccensis Galaxea fascicularis Goniastrea edwardsi Hydnophora exesa Hydnophora rigida Leptastrea purpurea Leptoria phrygia Lobophyllia hemprichii Merulina ampliata Montipora capricornis Montipora danae Montipora verrucosa Pachyseris rugosa Pavona decussata Plerogyra sinuosa Polyphyllia talpina Porites lobata Porites lutea Scolymia vitiensis Seriatopora hystrix Stylophora pistillata Trachyphyllia geoffroyi Tubastraea faulkneri Turbinaria patula Turbinaria reniformis Plus quite a few more I will have to do some more work to ID, including a bunch more acros and a favia. Where you do not indicate a photo is required, does that mean you already have a photo? Steve

My old tank had no aiptasia visible, although they lived in the sump. I had no idea what was eating them but suspected it might be the boxer shrimp. Well, in the new tank they are starting to make an appearance after about 5 months in action. The shrimp is still there so I guess I was wrong. The big lunare wrasse I had in the old tank has now gone to another tank so I now have to assume it was the aiptasia eater. Unfortunately it also ate clams, so it had to go. The tank it has gone into already had a lunare wrasse and it also had a few aiptasia, so it appears they are not all the same. There are few enough aiptasia that I could get rid of them mechanically/chemically, but I think I will use this as an excuse to get my favourite butterfly fish instead, and take the time to get is used to my food etc. before actually introducing it to the tank and not just biff it in and hope for the best like I did last time. Steve

Sorry it did not turn up again. My one has never touched corals, that I have observed. I have just put a clam in (couldn't keep them till I go rid of a big wrasse) so should know if it is nipping that pretty soon. Steve

Don't know what it is but think I have one. As I feed quite a bit, I don't generally have much trouble with crabs bothering corals except when they tip one over before I get to glue it down. Steve

I'm running low on CA reactor media and since I am going up to Auckland this weekend I thought I might get some while I am up there. What's available up there, particularly in bulk, and where is the best place ot get it? Steve

Like this one.. Steve

Currently cycling about 35Kg of rock in a 200L drum and added a little of the cats food to help it along (cat's don't know). Steve

None at all, I hang plastic sheeting behind the tank. Currently black, but I am thinking of trying dark blue. One day I might even try to put in a picture of a sunken fishing boat (just kidding.... I think). Steve

Done some research and looks like you are right. A cross between percs and ocellaris. I've suddenly lost interest in them, although I did like the look of them.

Are those clowns bred like that or just rare?

I have a medium term plan to put a satelite tank upstairs with one of my carpets (currently on holiday with Pies), a pair of clowns and a couple of corals. I had been thinking of just a pair of clarkii's or something similar, but well maybe.......... But then perhaps I could put the money towards a bit of Hi Fi kit, or a camera, or...or ..... But they are rather nice.... ....perhaps next year

So we are looking at about $2000 incl freight etc, for a pair. Can YOU actually get them? Steve

Best: Getting a/the tank set up at home for the first time in over 10 years 2nd Best: Getting a Regal angel sucessfully moved in Worst: Actually doing the move 2nd Worst: CO2 supply leaks and pressure regulator problems becoming a PITA. Steve

That stuff is often full of metal bits as well. Steve

What a strange coincidence that you should post that picture today. Just this morning I found myself standing in the shower (where I do most of my thinking) wondering how you could introduce some limoited tidal rise and fall in a reef tank. Steve

But will it be under / develop enough pressure to overcome circulation pump pressure in the CA reactor and not have water from the reactor pumped into the coke bottle? Having just gone the a D cylinder in 2 weeks, due to a leak in my system, a DIY CO2 idea has its appeal, but I am not sure it would work on mine due to above. Steve

It would work even if you dug a hole in your sumproom floor to put the chiller in, as long as the piping was sealed. In a gravity driven sealed water flow (i.e. a syphon) in is only the diference in height between the inlet and the outlet plus the internal resistance (determined by length, diameter, restrictions etc) that matter. The only advantage of putting the chiller on a shelf would be (possibly) a shorter path. Steve

I bet you will have to unless you get fans blowing across between your water and your lights. When I had my tank in Newtown it used to hit 32° on occasions, before I added the fans. Afterwards, 28° even on a really hot day. Steve

Yes it is, but is that because they actually need it themselves, or because it is the only place that can out compete seaweed? I think dark chocolate brown with blue tips is quite nice, in fact I have one like that and would be a bit disappointed if it faded. Steve