General Topics

Cerith Snails / Crabs In Sw Fl

Sat, 19 May 2012 09:39:58 +0000

I have been told there are a lot of cerith snails and blue legged crabs on the West Coast of FL. Anyone know what habitat to look for to find them. I do have a fishing license which allows me to collect some. Mainly interested in Englewood area.

Catch A 3 Line Damsel

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:00:13 +0000

Ok, so I have two 3 line damsels that are "eating" a freshly fragged oped brain. They are about an inch. Can they damage it beyond healing? Are they just eating the damaged tissue? If it is a concern, which I suspect, anyone have a trick to catch them.

Can't Remember Murray Camp's Carbon Dosing Formula

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:07:00 +0000

Does anyone remember or know where I could look up Murray Camp's formula for the VCV (vineger, vitamin c, vodka) carbon dosing method? Has anyone tried it yet? I am thinking about using it on my 29 gallon biocube.

Thanks

Diy Led

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:03:45 +0000

After spending the last month reading for probably 3-4 hours nightly, I've decided to take the plunge. I had this laying around and figured it would make a pretty decent heat sink.

It's 12" x 8' long right now, but I'm going to cut it to 6' and mount 96- 3w bridgelux 1:1 blue to white. 4 rows of 24, mounted 3" O.C. apart with 60 degree optics. I am going to supplement it with 4 60" ATI blue pluses ran by ice cap ballasts. The led's will be dimmable, ran by 5 drivers that are capable of handling 20 bulbs per driver. The original plan was to go with cree led's, but the price had me a little hesitant. After doing some searching, I found the bridgelux's at aquastyleonline.com, and that pretty much sold me. The heatsink was free and the 90 led kit with dimmable drivers, optics, wire, and pretty much everything needed is only like $260 shipped. Even if it doesn't grow corals like I am hoping it will, I'm still only out about $300. Although I am pretty optimistic that after about a month, I'll be able to run led only. I know these led's only have about 2/3 the output of the cree's, it seems like most people only run their setups at about 70 percent power anyway. I will update as I go along. Any questions, comments, concerns? Wish me luck!

Took The Led Plunge

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:49:59 +0000

I have to admit even after tons of research, still a little uneasy. I sure love the look. Like all tanks I have had ups and downs, but over all I would say it has been a great tank for 2+ years...really hope it stays that way. I was thinking I would instantly list my Tek T5 on craigslist...but now...that its not on the tank it kinda feels wierd...my have to hang on to it at least for a little while...I know... sounds strange. Cant really explain it. Anyway if anyone had taken the led plunge maybe you can ease my worries....

Need To Use Good Hot Saudering Gun

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:11 +0000

I need it for couple days.if you want ill give u a piece or organ coral.

300 + Home Made Tank ?

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:40:45 +0000

I just got a Monster tank from a buddy.....He got it from a customer of his..it is a glass tank..couple of small chips on the outside corners.. drilled..glass corner overflows ...and does NOT leak......Does anyone know how many gallons a 84"x30"x27" tank holds with nothing in it....This is gunna be a complete overhaul of this tank....Tanks..for your help.....

Coral I.d. Help Fowerpot?

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:44:06 +0000

Received a shipment of a few corals yesterday. The bag with my hammer coral had this tiny frag in with it. I almost threw it away but saw it right before it went down the drain with the other bag water. So I put it on a frag plug and really cool looking. Looks almost like a flowerpot but just wanted to see what others thought. Thanks in advance.

Corey

Lights Needed During Cycling?

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:08:36 +0000

Building a 75 gallon wall tank... Plan is to be basically a fish tank but eventually throw in softies that get overgrown from the 170. We have a t5 fixture we are going to use for it but the bulbs are used...so question is, is it necessary to have lights going during the cycling process? If so, could we get away with running the old bulbs to cycle and save the new bulbs for when we set up?

Just Ordered A New Controller!

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:37:32 +0000

I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet. Tonight, I ordered a "reef angel plus" aquarium controller.

I ordered it, the 8 channel power relay box, 2 additional temperature probes, and the buzzer.

*Excited*

Redlands Orchid Show

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:35:20 +0000

the Redlands Orchid Show is this weekend. Lots of orchids and supplies for sale. Good place to pick orchids up cheap or to find unusual species. I'll be there and my "wish list" includes

Asian Ghosts (1-2 adult plants)
Terette Vanda (2-3 bunches)
Arachnis (2 or 3)

http://redlandorchidfestival.org/

Rigid Air Line Tubing

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:10:06 +0000

anyone know where to buy long sections (about 6') of rigid air line tubing.. I have a diy project that i want to do before i fill the tank with water.. basically i want to build a brine shrimp feeding station for the bottom dwellers.

Polycarbonate

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:47:58 +0000

Is polycarbonate safe to use in an aquarium? I was wondering if I could use this instead of acrylic - (wow the price of acrylic is crazy high!) if it works the same I may just use this for my sump dividers, and for my overflow covers. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks
Neenah

34G Solana Reef Build

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:32:41 +0000

Well I've been a member of this forum since last May I believe. I haven't even become a member of the club yet... So in that short time I've had two major builds planned. The first was a 220g+ in wall build that at the last minute before purchasing fell apart due to personal issues. Several months later, I had a 180g build starting to take shape. I really wanted to invest a ton of time with my 180g build starting with CAD sketches and renderings, careful selection of higher end fish and corals, and simple, well thought out, equipment. Well in the middle of that planning process for that build, I was presented with an opportunity to start a business. I had been trying to start this business for years but the time was just never right. Well when this new opportunity came along, I had to take it. So for the last 6 months or so all reef and other hobbies have been put on hold for the creation of my business. Now that the dust has settled... It's time to reef! Since I've already had two failed build threads.. I decided that I wouldn't even open up this forum until I had at least my new tank in hand... So that's where I'm at and where my new reef build begins....

I have named my reef "Ethan-Angs' Florida Reef" after my two adorable children, Ethan and Angelina. My son whom is 6 has been reefing with me since he was born, and my daughter, 16mos, just loves all things water and animals. I'm so excited to be doing this reef with the kids.

I decided that for the first time in my life I would do a nano reef. I've owned reefs of all sizes in the past none of which were smaller than 75g displays. After looking at many nano tanks, most with integrated filtration, I decided on the Current 34g Solana rimless aquarium. This set up really gave me the clean look that I love along with a integrated filtration system that really is designed for the reef keeper. Current no longer makes the cube Solana but I was able to find an outstanding deal on a used system. I picked the tank up on Wednesday and got it all set up yesterday. I decided to keep the established sand bed and about 1/4 of the water that was in the system, hopefully minimizing a fresh cycle. I wont be posting to many photos until the water clears up, and I have my aqua scape done.

Setting up my business has left me just about flat broke so this will, for a while at least, be a budget build but hopefully with a very high end look and feel. The minimal equipment needed to run this tank should really help the pocket book out.

Since living in Florida and doing a good deal of diving and snorkeling down in the Keys and else where in the world, I have really developed an appreciation for fish. I used to pay less attention to fish and critters and focus only on coral. Our natural reefs certainly aren't formed that way so why should my tank? Although I am limited for space with only 34g, I do plan to have a healthy number of small fish, lots of invertebrates, and of course plenty of coral, mostly SPS.

So that's all I have to report for now. I'm so excited to be back in reef keeping and I hope to finally have the time to meet all of you and also join the club! I'm sure I'll be looking for some used equipment here and there seeing how I sold every bit of aquarium gear I owned when I moved to Florida a few years ago.

Hope to have some updates soon!

Matt

Alternate Activities

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:11:03 +0000

OK, there are a couple of things I'm looking to do in the coming weeks and Elaine will not be available to join me. So I'm looking to see if anybody else is interested.

Tuesday, May 22nd the Florida Everblades play the LasVegas Wranglers in game 4 of the ECHL Championship at Germain Arena. I will be going but Elaine has to work late and can't switch. Anybody interested? Drive over together. Meet at the arena. Have a cold beer (or two) during the game...

Friday or SaturdayJune 8th or 9th the new movie Prometheus opens and Elaine will be in Cincinnati. This is by the Ridley Scott who did Alien, Blade Runner & Gladiator. The trailors make this look a bit like Alien on steroids. But I don't get to the movies very often, I love science fiction and this looks like it could be a descent movie. Besides, I need something to hold me over until Falling Skies new season starts on TV.

Just looking to share some fun since Elaine isn't available.

Ron

Pump Suggestion 1/2Hp Chiller

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:58:11 +0000

Have an aquaeuro 1/2hp chiller on order. Guess who forgot to order a pump. Chiller is rated for 300-800gph, though I'm assuming less flow equates to more contact time to cool the water, so something around 400-500gph? Silent is key on the pump, I don't even want a hum.. even if I have to pay out the yin yang.

Fishinbob's 90 Reef Journey

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:37:27 +0000

Well glad I found this site nice to have a local group!! Well new to reefing in general this is my first experience with SW and wow it's awesome! I'm pretty handy and I prefer building my own stuff(love to tinker) here's what I got!

Standard 90 gallon tank
Custom DIY40 breeder sump/fugue
Custom DIY oak stank
Custom DIY oak canopy(building now)
Reef octopus extreme 200 skimmer
Mag 9.5 return pump
2 hydor korolias 1400 gph
Custom DIY led fixture 84 led total with dimmers(currently 2 t8 bulbs until I get the canopy done)
40lbs Fiji rock
45lbs of pukani dry rock from BRS
85lbs of Florida aquacultured rock from Floridaliverock.com

Enough blabbering here are the pics!

Building the stand

Building the sump

Building the LEDs

New Lfs Naples Bulldog Reefs!

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:05:59 +0000

Hey everyone a new LFS is open in Naples Bulldog reefs! Fellow SWFMAS members bring your badge to receive 10% off your purchase!!!

Located at:
5630 Yahl Street #3
Naples, Fl 34109
239-594-REEF (7333)
Www.bulldogreefs.com

Hours:
Tues-sat 12-7
Sunday. 12-6
Closed Monday

We are currently waiting on more inventory but have a nice selection of fish, corals, inverts, and macro algea!
We also have all your feeding needs from flake, pellet, pe mysis, cyclopeze, nori, frozen clams, squid, DR G's and more! Please come on in if we don't have something you need we can get it for you. Carrying seachem additives and various other products! Remember to bring your SWFMAS badge to receive 10% off!!

Tank Crash?

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:41:53 +0000

Last night I tested my tank. NO2 .1 NO3 0, NH 3/4 .25, ph 8.0, PO3-4 .25, Ca2+ 500, temp 76, gravity 1.024. 75 gallon tank with 20 gal sump.

This morning I woke up to a very cloudy tank and fish dead. Retested and significant drop in ph to 7.8. Last night, I added 30g of seachem reef buffer to raise .3 to 8.3.

Everything else tests.ok. Water still cloudy and ph at 8.3. Any ideas?

King Fish Of The Aquarium Problem

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:24:09 +0000

I have recently had to get rid of my Powder Blue Tang. He looked great in my aquarium but he was becoming way to much of a problem, with the constant problem with ick on him then to his aggression towards any new fish that was put into the tank. The Powder Blue Tang would attack anything that I put into the tank. About a week ago I put in a new FoxFace Rabbit Fish and for 2 days straight the Powder Blue wouldn’t leave him alone. Since the Foxface has poisons spines on him I wasn’t too worried. The Powder Blue eventually let off of him but then I added a Corral Beauty Angel Fish and the Powder Blue tore him up so bad I had to take him out so that he wouldn’t kill the Coral Beauty Angel Fish. I figured that I needed to bring him to a local fish store to trade him out because he just wouldn’t chill out. Even rearranging the rocks in the tank didn’t help.

Now I have two beautiful Regal Blue Tangs to replace the one Powder Blue Tang and I am happy with the decision. Check it out. =)

Mike's 180G Mixed Reef Adventure

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:32:40 +0000

Wooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooo I got one!

Ok now that that's out of the way.. let the adventure begin. I've always enjoyed saltwater aquariums. My brother was into them while I was growing up and I steered clear because I knew if I got into it I'd become addicted and now almost 3 years after I started the hobby with a 14g biocube, here I am setting up a 180 gallon. I've been on the hunt for a 125g or larger for many months, and when I mean hunt, I mean I've been scouring craigslist within a 250 mile radius several times a day waiting to jump on the first tank that met all criteria. The weekend before last I drove over to Hollywood, FL to look at a 180g and was disappointed to see that the "hardly noticeable scratches" somehow grew into bigger ones on the drive over. Needless to say I went home empty handed. Another few days go by and I see a 180 gal in Gainesville that looks like it could be "the one." I knew if I was going to drive up there to get it I needed to make darn sure it was good enough to come home. That's a long way to drive to be disappointed again and too far to just go to look and come back later to pick it up. It's really hard for me to gauge what stuff looks like just from the pictures, but the guy was really cooperative in providing all the pics I requested. I decided to take the risk and at 5am we load up in the SUV with a couple friends and trailer in tow and head on up. The tank, stand and canopy turn out to be in excellent condition. We arrived shortly after 10am and within minutes of seeing the tank I started unloading all the containers and equipment to start breaking it down. The whole process went pretty smooth except for a stubborn bulkhead which took nearly an hour to get undone. It was definitely not coming loose by hand and the wrenches were too bulky to grab the nut so close to the glass. The guy sends his fiance to the hardware store and with about 30 minutes to spare (they had prior obligations and needed to leave at a certain time) she comes back with a clamp that worked perfectly. After some groaning (this thing is heavy) we're loaded up and back on the road. I ended up with about 150-200lbs of algae free live rock, three 5g buckets full of good sand, and some unexpected livestock (sexy shrimp, mated pair of skunk cleaners w/eggs, a pair of firefish, a pair of dartfish, a sand sifting goby, and some various crabs and snails). Everything and everyone survived the 5 hour trip home. It was a long drive, an even longer day, but completely worth it all! After I get the glass cleaned up and the tank into the house I'll take some photos.

Mystery Growth

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:47:27 +0000

Wondering if anyone has had anything like this appear in their tank, and if it's good or bad. Kind of hard to tell from pic, it is orange with blackish grayish spotting, soft to touch, growing in layers sort of. Started real small, gettin huge! Looks cool, hope it is good

Forgot pic!.. Don't think it's sponge I have all different sponges growing in there and this is definently different

Building A New Stand

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:02:16 +0000

Today i bought all the 2x4s that i need to build a new stand. the stand that i have was baught used and looks very old and the inside looks like it is missing some pieces of wood. the old stand also is just a bit too short. I decided to build a taller one so that its a little more level to look into, so people dont have to crouch to look into it. I dont have a lot of expierence in wood work as of now so i will have to keep you guys posted on my progress. i think ill set it up outside first just to be sure that it will hold not wobble or anything. Here is a pic of what it looks like as of now.

No 1St Amendment Rights To Express Opinions Here - Per Matt - Bod Member

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:31:00 +0000

I just had a topic i posted by Matt a BOD Member (aka zyphen), so just a heads up people there is no 1st amendment freedom of speech allowed here. Your posts and opinions will be screened and filtered and subject to deletion since freedom of speech is not allowed here. my post was just how custom aquarium studios treated my friend poorly when i sent him there to buy a system and he ended up buying it at saltwater solutions for $4,800, it was a red sea max 650.

16 Mm Projector?

Fri, 11 May 2012 22:49:26 +0000

Anyone happen to have a 16mm projector I can borrow for the weekend?

Jeff

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