Eric Alvarado

I am using API, and then picked up salifert for calcium, alk, phos, mag. Next to the salifert tests, the API tests are 10 times harder to read.

So, guess I am saying I really like the salifert tests I have.

Shane has them at fishy business for a pretty good price, like $15-20.

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Anyone recogonize this grown on the live rock?

Does someone know of a good reference for T5 lights and what to use them for?

I have 4x54w - 2 actinic/2white builbs + 4x24w 2 actinic/2white bulbs on my 125.

My 54w are stock bulbs, so was getting a look at the available light options to eventually replace the stock bulbs.

I see a half a dozen options, but not sure what the application for each of the options might be. Been looking for a good reference for a while to no avail. I assume different types of livestock fair better under different lighting.

I see the following types of T5 lights available.

Red Wave

Blue Wave

Daylight 6.7k

Super Daylight 12k

Super Violet

Wave Coral Growth Accelerator

Whew, that's a lot of options.

Don't think I can ever really relay how much I appreciate everyone's feedback!

Thanks for the detailed steps on preparing the rock.

My biggest challenge with option #2 was the cost and time. Trying to figure out the long term benefit out of using the debris to seed the rock. If I make it go dead, but get it "clean", couldn't I just add it to the tank and it would seed itself over time anyway? I see speed advatnage - and suspect there is a safty net in there as well - as you have already tested and confirmed clean and safe rock before you introduce it to the tank.

If the objective is to clean the rock, could I just use RO water to "cure" the rock, what does salt bring to the mix? How risky is it to add "cleaned" rock to the tank without making it live first?

Mark, when you say starting all over again, do you mean from the LR point of view or the tank?

Everyone likes throwing rocks at TVs. It's a national pasttime.

curing the rock in RODI won't work. The bacteria you need is saltwater based, not freshwater.

I'd kill the rock by leaving it out in the sun for a couple of weeks, knock off the big dead stuff, then put in your tank aquascaped the way you want, add saltwater, add bacteria in a bottle and let the cycle roll. It should only take a week with the bac in a bottle products.

Starting all over i mean in terms of the tank. Dead sand, dead rock.

Ah, no new tank. I moved everything over to the 125G a couple weeks ago. SO I am dealing with adding rock to an existing tank. I have 100lbs in there now, thought to add 25-40 lbs of the rocked cleaned to the tank. Sounds like everyone pretty much sticks to only adding live rock to an existing tank, not adding dead rock.

Thanks for the detailed steps on preparing the rock.

My biggest challenge with option #2 was the cost and time. Trying to figure out the long term benefit out of using the debris to seed the rock. If I make it go dead, but get it "clean", couldn't I just add it to the tank and it would seed itself over time anyway? I see speed advatnage - and suspect there is a safty net in there as well - as you have already tested and confirmed clean and safe rock before you introduce it to the tank.

If the objective is to clean the rock, could I just use RO water to "cure" the rock, what does salt bring to the mix? How risky is it to add "cleaned" rock to the tank without making it live first?

Mark, when you say starting all over again, do you mean from the LR point of view or the tank?

Everyone likes throwing rocks at TVs. It's a national pasttime.

I have about 100 lbs of dead rock. The rock was pretty foul smelling when I got it, and I just couldn't bring myself to place it in the tank. It might have been normal smelling for 7 year old rocks. Regardless, now I need to decide what to do with it.

The options I have read are:

1. Fill my 50 gallon tub with the rock, add a bleach water to the tub, use power head to circulate and knock out debris from the rocks. Dry.

2. Do similar to #1, but use salt water and no bleach. In theory, this would turn it from dead rock to live rock at the same time.

3. People take turns throwing the rocks at Mr. Saltwater's TV.

4. Open to other ideas

hehe, poor peeps. My wife likes it as much as I do. She did the LR arrangement, we discuss the fish, the corals, what to do next. She gave me an open checkbook to make it as nice as I want Got me from a 55G to a 125G in 4 weeks.

I've seen a few tanks placed in walls. Sometimes it works out, sometimes the interest gets lost and you have a massive hole to plug in the wall. It's strictly a personal preference. Personally, one of the places I enjoy the most is looking in from the sides of the aquarium, a vantage point that you can't get with an in-wall setup. I get the attaction though.

For a tank that size, I suspect most people will suggest you go with Metal Halide lighting, but T5 will definately support coral growth. It all depends on what you want in the tank.

Pet the cat with thumbs too.

I was looking at that cat!!!

Always amazed at the number of posts I get in return. Thanks again as always everyone.

Syncing up with Prof.

About to replace my new 55g witha 125G.

Where is the best place to grab dry rock? Are there any local resources? I just find paying $6-8 lb for live rock borderline highway robbery. I've purchased Marco rocks in the past, but haven't done a lot of reseach to see if there is a better deal out there.

I wish large amount of GHA on anyone who says "outside."

I'm just letting you know what works. You also read much about people losing them. I haven't and mine are under strait halides and medium flow.

Gotcha, looks like MH at some point on that second tank. Thanks

I do believe that mh are key with this coral Eric.

I read pretty extenisvely that these were medium light, and that too much lighting was definately a problem. Don't have any links at the moment, but that's why I posted this thread about water movement and lighting success with the elegance

Although, I had almost forgotten that I don't think my tank is large enough for an elegance. So facinated in these guys that I am already keeping my eye out for a 90-120 G.

I do believe that mh are key with this coral Eric.

I read pretty extenisvely that these were medium light, and that too much lighting was definately a problem. Don't have any links at the moment, but that's why I posted this thread about water movement and lighting success with the elegance

eric, my friend might sell his elagence if he does i will let you know. what kind of lights do you have i had it under 150w mh and t5's, i have a 90 gal.

I have 4x65k T5s. I would be interested if he wishes to part with it.

****,. just bought pepermints at LFS yesterday too.

My friend got one from aquadome and i hosted it for him in my 90 gal and it did super well. i read that elagance likes low flow and also needs alot of space so i put it on the farthest left of my tank where there isnt as much flow and it did well for the months it was in my tank and i had to keep moving coral away from it cuz it just kept expanding. my clowns would play in it once in a while but like the rbta's more.

If you get one be prepared to lose some of your sand bed real estate. lol

How do you think it would fair in a 55g?

I didn't add much, only $11. Needed a few snails.

My order is in $30 worth of stuff. I know of another $25 order and some more to come

Mark, might be interested depending on the pickup location.

Working on my wish list for my tank as it matures.

Ever since I first set eye on the Elegance Coral, I have to admit I have been extremely tempted by it. I have a lot of threads on them, and have found that they used to be considered pretty hardy, but now are considered pretty hard to maintain. Won’t get into all the various debates about the problems with the species, but would like to see if anyone has one and what kind of lighting/water movement they had with them.

Health:

What I found, is that they are typically harvested from either Australia or Indonesia. The Indonesian one has had a high death rate reported, as it seems they are undergoing some malady when placed in an aquarist tank. Others report more success with Australian varieties, but still also report they can be challenging.

Compatibility:

Also, have found that they will commit mass murder of snails in the tank – quickly grabbing and consuming any snail that gets within reach.

Clowns: have had some people say they irritated the elegance coral other say they have no problems.

My questions are:

What success have people had with these corals. Do they know if they were the Indonesian variety or the aussie?

Does anyone know if there would be any chemical incompatibilities with other corals. I have read much about some corals being incompatible with other corals in the same closed ecosystem.

Any success/failures with clowns and elegance in their systems?

Post how things turn out. Sure a bunch of us noobies are floating around the forums looking for solutions, and more importantly, an ounce of prevention.

I have a little algae growing, I would like to see that PDF. Might be nice to see info like that attached to the FAQ section as well.

thanks

So I found another hitchhiker on my live rock. Fairly certain it is a Asterina starfish. How bad are these things for the tank?