Obiji

Is anyone else here using a Super skimmer 125? i just started using one and OMG the micro bubbles are driving me nuts. this thing makes more micro bubbles that i have ever seen. i have used the Super Skimmer 65 from day 1 and it doesnt do this.. anyone have the same problem or does anyone have a remedy? other than a bubble trap? as i dont even thing a bubble trap would fix this...

Are you using this in a sump? I'm no veteran, but I understand the return pump should be far away from the output on the skimmer within the sump. Or if you cant seperate them, place a piece of foam between the two. Again, I'm no expert on the subject. You may also take a look at your hoses, make sure your not getting any turbulance anywhere. Or have any air leaks.

Just wanted to give a heads up, I subscribe to several newsletters for fishy stuffs, and found that saltwaterfish.com is having their 10th anniversary sale. (not trying to advertise, just thought I would share.)

Hey, all…thanks for the quick and helpful replies. I can tell that this website/forum is going to make this hobby even more fun!

I'll try to post a picture of my tank with this post.

Will stop dosing the Iodide and will get test kits for Ca/Mag/Alk.

Will cut way back on feeding as recommended by several

Dave:I am using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit – pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Also have the Seachem kit for Iodine & Iodide. I top off with RO water I bought from Aqua Dome. Not yet to the point of making my own yet.

Zarathustra2 & Obiji: For my first two fish I did almost no acclimation. Just floated the bag for 15 minutes and then released. In later tries I did a better job by gradually adding some of my tank water to the bag and then putting just the fish into the tank and not the water. Will do the more thorough approach suggested of the drip method with the next fish.

I will work on raising the spg to 1.025. the picture of my tank shows my colony polyp pretty well I think. It looked great when I got it. Looks terrible now. If I raise the spg and keep a stable tank as suggested with regular water changes will it revive itself?

Any other suggestions after seeing the photo of my tank? Scott

Looking at your tank, what are you using for filtration, also I do not see any waterflow in their either. How many times do you circulate your water in the tank? I beleive the min. recommendation is 10x per gallon.

At least he is up front and honest about it :-D

Guess I should have looked their first

Hey again everyone. So I've been shuffling around the board and noticed some interesting rock layouts. Do you have a picture of yours? I'de like to see it. (Plus I could use some ideas on how to layout my rock when I setup my tank). I know every layout is different and unique, but it will spawn some brainstorming on my layout (after I know what kind of rock I will have LOL)

A few other things to think about. The above advice all looks very good. +1 on getting RO water and mixing your own salt to about 1.025. For how to do it slowly here is a great link http://www.saltyzoo....inityAdjust.php.

Your feeding of cyclop-eeze seems to be way too much for the low amount of stocking you have. I have about the same size of aquarium but with tons of added filtration and a lot higher stock level and I feed four to five times a week. I'm really suprised that you aren't seeing higher levels of nitrate with that feeding level.

For some mechanical filtration I've been using the carbon/phosphate pads that you can cut to size. They are pretty cheap and do a good job of filtering the gunk out. Also, you son't have to worry about cleaning the sponge every week as I just toss them out and cut a new one with each water change. The pads also help your chemical filtration pretty effectively so that is a plus. Also it can go below the skimmer in the first chamber. Just add a little chunk of egg crate to the bottom to stop the filter pads from migrating to the second chamber.

What kind of acclimation process are you using on your new fishies? You might want to try the drip method just to see if that is the problem. Especially if you decide to move your salt up to 1.025. Just put the fish with water in a bucket that is propped up a bit on the side. Take some cheap airline tubing and tie a couple of knots in it. Start up a siphon from your tank water and tighten the knots until you are getting 3-4 drops of water per second. Once the water in the bucket doubles throw out half the water and repeat. After that your fish should be good to go into the tank.

I was just thinking acclimation too...

Sure wish I had my tank up and running

I second the kudos on the rock work. My GF was looking over my shoulder while i was checking out this thread and mentioned it right away.

Did you kudos cause you liked the rock? Or cause your GF liked the rock?

Many years ago (bout 8) there was a company called longhorn windshields (dont know if they are still around) $150.00 to replace windshield. no insurance needed.

Have you been using tap water? If so, have you been using a dechlorinator? Chlorine=fishy death.

Welcome!

To answer your question, that might be sufficient enough for some soft corals such as Mushrooms, Zoanthids, etc.

Cool, thanks for the info :-D I dont suppose you have a full list of soft corals that my light could handle do you? Or maybe a better list would be some that it cant :-D

I seem to recall reading something on MAAST recently that Bob Fenner(?) was advocating a mixture of substrates to better replicate the ocean floor. (Maybe it wasn't MAAST or Fenner, but I read it somewhere and it was by someone famous. )

At any rate, it made a lot of sense to me and I plan on doing that in my 75. I picked up 2 bags of Sea Floor Special Grade at Carlos's Sale and figure I will add some crushed coral as well as some oolite type to get a nice mixture.

I have pulverized limestone in my 58, and it looks nice, but it's too fine for my tastes. I also wonder if it may be contributing to the algae problems I've had.

I don't see much benefit in buying live sand, it'll become live on it's own once rock is in there. Although, adding a bit of sand from an established tank can speed up the process and add to diversity.

I think I agree with your decision as well. I was planning on aiming for a mixture me thinks. But what is your take on cleaning it? Is it going to launch the sand/oolite all over the tank/reefs/equipment?

Anyone else have opinions about substrate?

I like the blue glittery rocks from PetsMart...

But seriously, any version of crushed coral is probably your best choice. Depends on what you want to keep. You will want a finer sand for burrowing type creatures. Beyond that it is mostly a personal preference.

Can you elaborate on the crushed coral? Why would it be my best choice?

Hey everyone,

I was just looking for opinions on substrate. I know some people swear on Crushed Coral or Live Sand. I was kind of contemplating doing a mixture of the two. Whats everyones opinion on sand colors? Black? Black+White? White? Crushed Coral? Live sand? Dead Sand? Gravel? Are there any other substrates that I am not thinking of?

Ugh...I was thinking that this one sounded like fun...but my daughter's birthday party is at 3 that day, and I think my wife would kill me if I tried to go somewhere a few hours before the party.

Maybe she wouldnt kill you if you brought her with you :-D

Me, Wife, and future daughter will be attending

I do have one quick question, I have a single bulb T8 Lamp, will this be sufficient for "some" coral? I understand many require MH lighting, but at the cost of that lighting, it will be a while for me to get some. Current Lamp is an eclipse F30T8 30 watt, 36in T8, 26K Natural Daylight.

Thanks everyone for all the good wishes. We'll be getting our tank up and running as soon as we can Though I have changed my plans and I will be doing coral too :-D

I just got back from the new LFS. Fish are in great condition, and all appear to be happy fish. Beautiful live rock, but he is a bit proud on his pricing for it ($7.00 lb). All of his tanks have crushed coral substrate and he seems to be pretty "one-way" about it versus live sand or sand in general. The custom sumps that he builds look great. His store is clean, well laid out, great looking nems, healthy livestock, and the guy is pretty dang nice (and long winded). Overal, I'de give his store a 8 out of 10. -1 for prices, -1 for one-way-ness.

Hello everyone, I'm David. My wife also created a profile (her name is Corey), and we have a third future SWF lover coming, her name is going to be Kylee and she is 4 months away from joining us (Nov. 26th). My wife and I are new to the hobby, however, we have been researching all of this for the last three years. I've just finally landed a job that will allow me to afford it (As we all know it can be pricey :-D) I have a 46 Gallon Bow-Front tank (Yay Petsmart) That has been in my garage unused for about 4 years now. I've had the plans/ambition, just not the $$$. We are now getting ready to get it all started. I've found a good place for my tank in my house, and come paycheck #1 we will be going to get 40 lbs of live sand. If anyone else knows where we can get starter stuff like sand and live rock for cheap, let me know I do not have ambitions for a reef tank just yet. I figure I would like to get the nitrogen cycle good and set for about 2 months, then start on some fish. Once I have the fish in place and my tank is stable, I will then start to consider the equipment needed for reef upkeep. It will be a pleasure to meet all of you. Speaking of which, when is the next meeting. We would love to meet you all and learn more!

Sincerely,

David