etannert

When you are QT'ing, you're basically able to monitor for pests like AEFW, nudibranchs, red bugs, etc. It's up to you if you feel confident that a source has a lowered chance of importing those into your tank. The sources you list are reputable and you can dip before putting in your tank to be extra sure. I personally don't QT corals but I've had both zoa nudis and FWs so it comes down to how much of a chance you want to take!

Niko, check out the thread called "Rescue Corals" on Reef Central's LPS forum. There's a set of three dips that the OP of that thread uses on all incoming rescue LPS that seems to work like a charm. Bpb, would you post pics please??

You're using a hydrometer for salinity. They are notoriously inaccurate. Get someone to check your salinity with a refractometer.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's just sponge. I would LOVE to tour reef farmers!! Who's going to set it up?

I think it's some kind of sponge. Not a pest but you can peel it off if you think it's irritating the coral.

I'm a high school band director in Georgetown. I'm a percussion specialist and teach grades 6-12, so I work at two middle schools in addition to the new high school. It's a lot of work - I start teaching most mornings at 7:30, go straight until nearly 6, no conference period, lunch in the car driving between campuses, events almost every Saturday and at least one evening a week, and I'm working from home during most every "break" - but we have great kids, great parents, and no two days are alike, so the job is never boring! Seeing the kids grow, progress, buckle down and master new things... well, there's nothing like it.

No, 8 gallons will not be enough size for highly territorial fish like the maroon clown and the damsel, never mind the angel. Plus it will be hard to keep stable parameters with so many fish in such a small body of water.

We have 4 different colors - pink, screamin' green, sour apple, and ponape.

Anyone got a half-used, unexpired box sitting around?

Small feeder fish, and in the frozen food section of the LFS.

If there are more under the pick 3 deal left - I'd take tubbs blues/king midas/eye of rah.

Any goby can jump, but it's rare for bottom dwellers like watchmen. We have 2 yellow watchmen in different tanks and neither has ever come close (like, they don't come even halfway up the tank).

+1 to Eye of Rah and Eagle Eye. I also had a colony of African Steel Blue zoas I loved... they gradually melted awhile back, in that annoying way zoas have. (If anyone has some let me know!)

Greatest cost is the initial outlay for equipment. This is where research and a willingness to buy used will help. A good light fixture is worth the money. Once you get into upkeep, no cost is crippling but there is a steady, low-level expense that you need to be aware of: - salt - most people do 5-10% weekly water changes; on a bigger tank you might be able to go a month but would need to do a bigger change. So imagine on a 200g tank, if you did a 20% monthly change, you'd need 40g of saltwater. That's about $40 worth of salt per month, or $480/yr. - water - buying RODI at the store or buying an RODI unit - the more water you make the more frequently you will have to change your filters and resin - supplements - mainly, alk/calc/mag. There are budget options for this (the BRS mix-your-own supplements) but when you're just learning how to keep a tank stable, it's good to go with quality, dependable, proven brands like the B-Ionic supplements. If you are dosing 200mg+ per day because you have a 200g tank, you can easily spend $100 a month on this. - bulbs - depending on the number and type of bulbs you have - PCs should be changed every 6-9mos and T5s/metal halides every 9-12mos. A big tank like a 200+g would likely require 3-4 metal halides; depending on the bulbs you go with, this could cost $100-250. I have a Solana 34g with a 150w metal halide, Tunze 9002 skimmer, and a Tunze Osmolator auto top-off. I also have a Marine Color dosing pump, although most people wouldn't consider a dosing pump to be must-have equipment. I have always bought used and resold as I've upgraded; I started with a $60 used BC14, next tank was an $80 used NC24, and finally I got this $200 used Solana with stand. My skimmer and ATO I bought used. I've never made back 100% on selling equipment, but I since I buy used I don't loose a lot on the resell price. We have four tanks in the house (I also have a pico, $20 used, and my boyfriend has a 20g and a 30g), so it's a little difficult for me to say exactly what I spend on upkeep for that one tank, but I have a nice variety of softies, LPS and SPS as well as fish, and it's relatively easy to keep up. Maybe someone who keeps a big tank could chime in with real cost estimates...

You have to decide what is more important to you - your determination to "go big or go home" (in which case, save up for a long time, make an equipment list and buy things one at a time as good deals become available, and be ready to plan/buy/wait for a couple years before you ever put water in) or your desire to get started in the hobby. A massive tank like a 150+ is rarely going to be a positive learning experience, and this hobby has a learning curve regardless of how much research you do in advance. A 40 or 55 gallon reef can be set up and maintained much less expensively and offers sufficient volume for stability and a variety of fish and coral options. Smaller tanks can be beautiful - stop by if you want to see a variety of under-40g tanks, all run on different systems/equipment but all very nice. If you buy used you can generally recoup at least 75% of your expenses when you resell, which makes a smaller "starter" tank financially feasible.

+1. Temp should generally be 78-80.

Is it just me or is the search function not working? I just tried a few really generic terms like 'LED' and got no results.

I am CLEARLY in the wrong line of work.

Very cool!: http://mission-blue....-by-scientists/

I keep a similar tank to yours and I keep caps and birds nests with no problems.

Glad it worked out for you!!

I may stop by later in the afternoon depending on how late our UIL marching contest runs that day.

I would highly recommend Mid-Cities Aquariums. They were closest to us when we lived up there and we were fortunate for them to be our local LFS. True Percula in Arlington is pricey and a little hit-or-miss; DNA is okay but too far out of the way for me. There are a couple of other stores in the HEB area that have amazing coral; if the names spring to mind I'll post them. Frank's Tanks in South Fort Worth is very nice as well. You can spend an entire day driving all over the Metroplex to see LFSs but you really have to make a decision as to whether you want to stay on the Dallas side or Ft Worth side or you'll spend your whole day in the car. Driving from one to another is kind of like going from RCA to Aquadome... or farther... to get to each and every store.

You have yet to suggest an alternative method of filtration for the OP. What do you think would be better in this situation?