renman303

I was feeding a Philippine Sea Apple and I heard from the guy at Aquatek that I should use it for the corals and clams as well? I've had clams for more than two years and never used it before? I was not sure about the corals as this is the first time I've tried SPS types and the like. I'll bet there is a bunch of gunk in that Phytoplankton!

Could the Phytoplankton that I feed to the critters be causing this? Funny thing, it started about 3 weeks ago when I started using phytoplankton. Prior, I was just using Clyclopeeze. Dave

My urchin is the more common "Pincushion" type though I may opt for a Blue Tuxedo just to add some color. The thing eats algae like there is no tomorrow but, can't keep up by itself. The Bubble Algae is only in 5-6 spots and is large enough that I am going to try and extract it myself...about the side of a pencil eraser or larger. I have a Sailfin tang that eats algae and a Swallowtail Angel that does the same but, again too much tank for two fish. Water changes have been weekly at about 5% volume (tank and sump included=~300 gallons). I feel that at least replentishing nutrients little by little on a weekly basis is better than a shock once a month. However, I have just increased this to 10%...changing out 30 gallons just a few minutes ago. The tank has only been up since July 2nd so, I've gone through the diatom stuff and this from what I have researched is more than likely "Green Algae". Could just be maturing but I could use some cleaners. The entire back wall is covered with 1/2" algae. Looks beautiful and natural but might be the culprit that I let get a bit out of hand!

I like the idea of another urchin. Anyone know if they are all compatible? What about 3-4 Mythrix Crabs?. Phosphates are reading zero. Nitrates are reading zero. Nitrites are reading zero. Two of the four Actinics turn on at 7am, the next two turn on at 7:30am. These go off at 7pm and 7:30 pm respectively. The MH's: One turns on at 10am the other two turn on at 10:30am. They turn off at 6pm and 6:30pm respectively. Things that make you go hmmmm?

I just put some Phos Ban in to see what would happen over the next few days. In the meantime I tested the water for Phosphates. Phosphates=zero. I went in the house to look in the tank and my Yellow Taro Tree went into sever shock! I noticed on the Phos Ban that "some corals may be adversely effected by Phos Ban". GREAT!!!! So, I removed it immediately. Especially since the phosphates were at zero. Now I'm thinking cleanup crew....

For some reason, I now have a LOT of brown hair algae growing over the rocks and starting to smother some of my corals? The water is all RO/DI and I'm running activated carbon and Rowaphos. Water changes are weekly. I have 8 fish and feed one cube, once a day (usually plankton/shrimp with seaweed for the tang and angel). I have about 30 snails and about as many blue leg and red leg hermits. I'm also getting some bubble algae forming in spots and I think if I get an Emeralm Mythrix or two that should take care of the Bubble Algae. But what eats brown hair algae? My Pincushion Urchin does a good job but can't keep up with a 225 gallon tank. Perhaps another one would do better battle? Pics aren't very good as these were done with my IPhone. Anyone???

If you are a Musician I have a few guitars that I'm selling. I build my own so I'm not into most other makers any longer. Here is what I have: 1.) Ibanez Musician MC-200 sn/ D787559. It's a 1978 with the most beautiful Ash/Mahogany laminated neck thru body. Very Rare. 2.) Gibson Les Paul Standard Model, Goldtop. sn/ 82779549. This is a reissue of a 1953 Les Paul to exact specs including P-90 pickups. Extermely Rare. I have only ever seen 2 others anywhere. Have letters (emails) from Gibson attesting to this fact. 3.) Framus, Jan Aakerman Model, sn/ N/A This guitar is one of only 14 in the world. Rik Emmett, guitarist for the group "Triumph" put this guitar on the map as his main axe. He owns six of them. I have a personal letter from him attesting to it's authenticity. Mine is one of 8 that was stolen at some point in the '70's from a warehouse in Canada, alledgedly. The importer was long since out of biz prior to my purchase of this guitar in Germany in 1982. And statuate of limitations had ended then as well. It is a 1973 model that is a cherry-sunburst with a single f-hole and single cutaway with a sustain block, neck thru body construction. It's is autographed on the back by Rik Emmett of Triumph as well. So Rare, I've Never Seen Another Like It For Sale Anywhere! All of the above have Hardshell or Flight Cases with them. 4.) Oz Custom Guitars Model "JP" (Joe Perry) This is one of my own Custom Guitars that I have built. This is a guitar that I built for Joe Perry of Aerosmith. It is a Dean "Cadillac" body design with a Gibson style Explorer neck and headstock. Both body and neck are Birdseye Maple and the body has 9 ply Birch and Mahogany pinstriping through the center of the body. LSR gearless tuners and Seymour Duncan Pickups. It is hand rubbed in tung oil and hand waxed in a natural wood finish. This guitar is a 1988 model. My guitars are one of a kind. There are no two alike anywhere! Serious Inquiries Only. You'll need to play them to appreciate all that they are.

I have a Taro Tree (Yellow with Purple Tips) that I can frag for you? Or I have a Pink Birdsnest that I can frag? I also have Devil's Hand Leathers and Gold Button Polyps. I'm looking for an Elegance Coral, or Red Sea Fan.

Nevermind about the pic....he's in pieces. Best I could do was the link to the pic that I posted earlier. If "Hair is a bad indicator", then why are Emerald Mythrix Crabs considered "Reef Safe"? Lee, if you get a chance, I'd like to know if you can drop by sometime and tell me what you think the tank may need? I have a lot of algae blooming on the rocks and it doesn't seem to be what the Angel or Tang want to eat. I hate to over populate with tons of crabs or whatever.....

Hey Lee, The hitchhiker is a Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai). For some reason he came in the Birdsnest Coral that I got and has not made an attempt to leave it, claiming it for his home. The "Hairy" Crab, I now believe is dead. He's upside down in the sand and has been at the same spot since yesterday. I'll post a pic in awhile.

I'll move him to the QT tank just 2 B safe. I also got a free hitch hiker (Porcelein Crab) with my Pink Birdsnest via Drs Foster and Smith!

Why do you think it "doesn't look like a friendly type of crab"?

Today I found a dead? (may be molting) Red hairy crab (Pilumnus spinifer) • Bristly crab (Pilumnus hirtellus), not sure which it is? Resembling these pics..Red Hairy and Bristly Crab Info However, I can't seem to find out much more than that? Anyone know anything about them?

buy a cheap used aquarium that will fit under your tank. Let me know the dimentions and I can help you with the dividers. Plate glass is waaayyy cheaper than Plexiglass or Lexan.

Robb, Thanks for the info. Here is the link to the topic: Sea Salt Comparison

I notice that "Tunze" seems to be the latest rage. I wondered what salt type you use and why? Tunze is made by HW and most salts; Kent, Oceanic, Reef Crystals, Tropic Marin, Seachem all pretty much contain the same stuff and all claim to be zero phosphates and zero nitrates. Just a thought? I'm not sure how to make this a poll or I would have.

Bump....Hopefully we can get a few more replys. I understand that salt actually contains over 100 minerals composed of 80 chemical compounds. So, if water changes are done on a smaller but, more frequent basis, say 10% changes every 10 days to two weeks to resupply the nutrients in the water, I've listed some of the basics that we buy to add to our aquariums but 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt contains the following so, why even spend the money on: Iodine (150 micrograms), Magnesium (400 milligrams), Calcium (1000 milligrams), Trace Elements.... Sure seems a lot cheaper than chemicals??? Chemicals for the Modern Hobby Aquarius seem to be the equivalent of the Pharmaceutical Industry to doctors...more of a "treat the symptoms and not the cause"???? No offense to our doctors... Just my 2 cents...

I'm almost certain it's a Cerith now. I saw about three of them on the LR yesterday. I pulled one out of the tank and placed it in a shallow pool of water in the lid of my Buffer and tried to take a pic. Alas, my camera's just won't do "Macro" type shots. They just came out blurry. I have not added any LR since the tank was up the First of July (doen't mean I didn't have a hitchhiker) and most of the LR came from my previous 55 gal. If they are Cerith as I suspect, they are reproducing at an incredible rate! I may have some to sell in the coming months. Watch this space...

Nick, Thanks for everything. It was good meeting you. The Brittle Star is "Happier than a Woodpecker in a Lumber Yard", stretching his arms in the new 225!

JBoy, Same colors as the snail you have posted but the shells on the ones in my tank are conical from front to back and not left to right, so to speak, much like a Cerith.

Here is the pic that I found from the other web site. ps: I used to know that chick on the right!

Hey Andrew, Actually the only thing I'm sure of is nothing! ha ha. The pic that you sent is the same shape as it the Cerith but look that the description of the Cerith on the link that I posted. The pic clearly shows pinpoint black dots on the shell. This is exactly what mine look like. They don't ever appear to be near my clams but, I will keep an eye out. Most of the time they are on the LR. I was concerned that they may be pyramidal's but they more closely resemble the Cerith. I could be wrong...it's happened once before! Maybe you can bring that Bad A_ _ Nikon over and zoom in for a couple of pics? My little Olympus pocket digital is good for nothing smaller than a human.

Got it...They are juvenile Cerith Snails. I never saw a pic until last night. I also found out that the eggs are always laid in a spiral pattern usually on the glass...in case you were wondering what all of the white circles were on your glass. Snail Species Photos and Descriptions

I'm going to try and take a pic so, I know this is harder without one but, my digital camera is a small pocket one and I can't zoom in enough with out it blurring. Anyway, I have a couple (2 now that I've found) snails that are identical in shape to a "Cerith" but, are snow white in color and have brilliant, pinpoint, black dots? Only about 1/4" in length. Waaaaaa Daaaaaa.....is it, them, they, ahhhh? Bueller......Anyone....

Sure, I'll sell you a leather Frag (eg: 1"x2" or so) for $10. I also have some that are twice as big if you wish to spend a few more bucks. I have the Button Polyps for $3/each. I have a few of these that have some 30+ heads on them. If that's too much, we can try and frag a smaller portion for you.