Melissa

ok here goes: (yes seahorse, i would really like to take you up on your offer, thank you so much) 1. What size tank are you moving everything into (sounds like 20G) but wanted to check? moved everything into a 20 gallon right now, but am waiting to pick up and cycle a 40 g being given to me. I'm trying to meet up to get it, but they just got back into town, maybe tonight.. That tank is a 36lx24hx12w. 2. What is more important to you: - the sexiest tank on the block- not at this time. One day when money isn't as much of an issue, that would be nice. but for now..... my tank looks pretty ghetto rigged - $ and time are no issues a good balanced tank b/c your tank isn't your life. I feel that right now my FW tanks are my life as my SW is just making us sadder and sadder each day. My husband is at the point where he doesn't want to hear any updates on it unless there good... so he doesn't get updates on it, nor will he look at it right now. I just want to be able to see it up and running, even if its not the best looking tank. - a good looking tank that requires minimal effort and $. Minimal money would be great, though maybe not realistic, but I have no problem working to maintain it. We should have a workshop for dummies.... I would be the first to sign up lol.

I just couldnt leave well enough alone. The light looked crooked in the socket ($5 clip on metal shop light), and I thought thats why it wasn't working right. Sometimes it would come on sometimes not. So I was trying to unscrew it and make it look right, and somehow my thumb ended up between in bulb. I think I was grasping it to tight, and my thumb having the most pressure while trying to twist....

Seahorsejl, We had just moved everything from my frag tank into my 20 gallon, and rigged the lighting up from that tank with those metal clip on lights from Home Depot. I thought the lighting would be enough until I could afford to buy a nice lighting system, but over the next few days, none would come out, and then when the more powerful bulb got busted, well, it's taken all I have not to throw in the towel. If it's not one thing its another lol. We are trying to save up enough to get one bad ars system like everyone else on here, and even with help and suggestions from others here, it's still overwhelming.

Well my finger went thru my bulb on friday when I was fiddling with it and I am not able to go and buy another just yet. So now everything looks dead. Sigh* I just got some FrogSpawn and it was doing so good, but with only my low wattage bulbs to help me it just looks dead and shriveled inside itself. I asked a friend who has a sw tank to hold (whats left of) my frogspawn, but he has some fish that will nip it. Can someone babysit my FS until i can get my light? This is the only thing I am worried about. My Kenyas and Xenia's just don't look good at all, and we are just debating on scraping them off and starting over with corals after we get the new light. I don't know if the FS are too far gone or not, but I would like to give them a shot. I thought about seeing if Aquadome would hold onto them for me, but am still unsure about it. If they die, that's fine. Not like I would get mad about it. Just wanted to see if anyone would wanna help me. I live south so just let me know. If you are close, even better, but beggars can't be choosers.

I was at aquadome killing time yesterday and there is a female there. Just thought I would mention it.

I'm going to get that book!! I found it on amazon, and will see if I can find it at the store here. My husband and I are leaning towards getting rid of all the corals we have in there which isn't much, and start over once we get the light up and running that way we start off right. I'm glad I know now that some of the things I got required different lighting that what I have, so thats why they are dying/dead. Makes sense now. Now I just need to go read what the difference in all these lights are. I hear the names of them, but they just don't click. I look like an idiot standing in the lights looking at them going "oooh that one's pretty.. " lol I really appreciate the genuine advice given here. So different than asking for help on my FW forum.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the great help. Is there something that I can go by that kinda tells me what each type of coral likes as far as flow, lighting etc? I wouldn't know where to start looking. I had sps mixed up with gsp. ARGG all these new terms make my brain hurt lol. Can I have too much light? If so, how do I balance out corals that need a lot of light, and ones that like it shady?

pm'ed

I need to know what a good, (affordable) light would be for either a 40 gallon tall, or a standard 20 gallon. I want to be able to grow SPS, and gsp, and maybe some frogspawn among others. How much lighting do each of theses tanks need? I have about had it with my frag tank, and want to put them in a bigger tank before I give up completely, but I'm afraid if I move before I get the lights, I will kill everything. I have a 15 watt 50/50 bulb in the 20 right now. I'm waiting to pick up the 40 gallon, so I am not sure exactly what system it has, but pretty sure it's for freshwater. I have two bulbs for my little tank. One is whats in the link, and the other is the same without the actinics and is 15 watts. http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753932 Is there anyway to incorporate those two bulbs in somehow (at least to the 20 gallon). I have another Coralife 50/50 on the 20 that is 15 or 20 watt bulb. Ok so theres my mess in a not so neat form of a question. Learn me please!!!

Thanks Mama and Finfriend. I am willing to drive around austin I am totally willing to drive to pick up. I am always up north anyway looking at all the lfs's lol I get my tank todaaaaaay Im so excited.

Thanks Stoneroller! I will be in touch with you to set up a time!

I have a lot of extra flake that I would like share. I bought 4 pounds of flake when i had 8 big fw tanks up and running. My freshwater babies are getting too big to eat this (and i have downsized a lot in the last 6 months, so a lot will go to waste). My sw clowns love it too, but it's going to take forever to go thru. $1.50/ounce or heck I will do trades too lol. Nutrition info: Analysis: Salmon Fish Meal, Plankton & Krill Powder Mix, Oat, Wheat Flours, Gluten, & Soy-Meal Flours, Brewers Yeast, Shrimp, Kelp Meal, Frozen or Dried Brine-Shrimp. Fish Oil, Lecithin, Dried Spirulina, Vitamin Supplements: A, D-3, B1, B-12, Choline HCL, Biotin, Double Stabilized Vitamin "C", Methionine, No Preservatives, Some Coloring Min. Crude Protein - 55 %; Min. Crude Fat - 7.1%; Min. Crude Fiber - 4.2%; Max. Moisture - 8.2% It is a mixture of egg, earthworm and brine shrimp flake purchased online from AngelsPlus.

How much would you want for the the livestock?

Does anyone have an extra handful of sand I can have? My friends parents are giving me a 40 gallon setup this weekend (for free ), and I want to set it up as salt. I only have sand in my little 5 gallon, so not much to move over, and I don't like the rocks that came with my 20 gallon. (looks like CC and tiny rocks). I can keep the sand in my 20 until I get it settled in. Thanks

Bump- I didn't forget you Christian

If I just take the heads, there will be no waste, there for no bio load correct?

Bump

I haven't been this mad at a fish since my Mbuna I rescued turned Charlie Manson on me. That was the first fish I wanted to throw in the street to make the neighbors question what they saw... lol. But I have a hard time killing anything that isn't sick and dying, so I'm stuck. Maybe I will take a permanent marker and color him so he looks like a black clown. lol.

I will let you know. Thank you He can't do any more damage at the moment. The cowfish is gone, and the slug is dead. I won't add anything to the tank until he's gone. But I still want him to go.

He's about three inches. He's mocking me and rubbing his butt on the sand as I type. Victory dance.

I am willing to trade him for something else too. He just murdered my new lettuce slug. He needs to go.

The only thing I would warn you of (from other members advice) is that the six lines can end up being very mean. They may need more space than that, but ask Shane to be sure.

what do you play on 360? we play COD, Halo, RB, GH.... er.. .I have to see what else lol.

well shucks maw...

Not a dumb question at all!! ( people said the same to me, and I had to ask too lol) Shane is the owner of the AWESOME saltwater store Fishy Business They are located on Burnet heading north just a bit past Braker on the right side. There's a Chinese buffet in the same center. Welcome by the way!! You should come out to the meeting tomorrow and meet the faces behind the avatars. Heck you could even see if Mama here on the forum has anything you could get your mom. She has a lot of goodies too