Mindflux

I'll be picking up my pre-owned Solana 34g tank next weekend with the stand. In preparation I am trying to buy up supplies I'll need.

I was recommended to use B-Ionic 2 Part Calc/Alk and Chemi-Pure Elite. But I'm thinking of substituting those for the BRS Calc/Alk "Recipe 1" and the Chemi Pure Elite substitution would be BRS ROX in a 200 micron mesh filter sock and BRS GFO Pellet in another mesh filter sock. (these socks: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/brs-mesh-filter-sock-4-x-14-200-micron-w-draw-string.html)

Would this work OK? I've read GFO is best used in a reactor, but obviously I'm not trying to "go big" right off the bat. I've also got a refractometer in my cart. I'm also undecided on an ATO system since the factory one isn't worth a darn.

Can anyone give me any tips/suggestions if I'm on the right path?

The Solana I'm buying has been upgraded to a Tunze 9002 skimmer, it'll come with a Tunze 6025 pump for moving water around, as well as the previous owners live rock/live sand.

Thanks for your help and kindness.

Last minute addition: I'm being told the 'sump' section of the Solana might not fit the 4"x14" filter socks I was intending to use (even though I didn't plan to fill them to the brim with media. ... that might squelch that plan. Should I just go with Chemi-Pure Elite or something?

If that's the case I'm sure there's something I could need. I may pass on the refractometer but there are other items ..

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/preferred-customers-1

Make sure you do that. Often times we get discounts for group buys. Gotta get 10 peeps interested though.

There's a 5% off code good to ARC members. The code "5OFF" works for now until the guy who handles the forum posts comes to give us our true discount code.

Looks great!

They have not given us any codes.

You could try contacting them directly and see if they would do any deals.

I will talk to them Monday morning and see if we can get a discount code or a one time use or something.

MAC makes a good product, but they are very proud of it... I do a lot of photo editing, but I use a Desktop system for the bulk of my editing. I do have a laptop that I do some editing on and it works for me just fine. I run photoshop cs5 and Lightroom 3.

I see three options for you..

1. If you are totally in love with MAC and do not mind the price tag, go for it.

2.. Laptops are the ONLY pre-built computers I will purchase... and I will only look at 4 brands.. IBM, Lenovo, Toshiba, and ASUS. Everything else is crap.. Yes, even Dell.. .. I know this because of the experience of being a pc tech for over 12 years. Rule of thumb when purchasing a laptop.. Never buy bottom line or top of the line.. stay in the middle. Plan on spending anywhere from 600-1000 on a good laptop. After purchasing one the first thing I do is wipe it clean and re-install the OS to get rid of all the crap-ware that is installed. PITA, but fact is... the system will run quicker. Make sure you get a 64 bit OS to take advantage of the memory and your dual core proc.

3. If you are really wanting a MAC but can't afford it.. buy a Laptop and wipe it and then install the MAC OS on it.. Heck, you can probably do this to your Dell.

People using MACs and people that work there will try and tell you that it will not run as well and that it is not designed to do that, but fact is... a computer is a computer.. If you build out a MAC on their site I can build a PC for 1/3rd the price using the SAME hardware and then install the MAC OS on it and you would not know the difference. The price tag is in the MAC OS. Now, you cannot "Legally" obtain the software and install it, but I have my ways.. If interested, PM me.

On point 3. It's not quite that easy. You usually have to use a hacked version of OSX (illegally) that breaks on updates.

Also MAC = Media Access Control, Mac (as in Macintosh) is not all capital letters.

I'll probably be placing an order via SS no later than Wednesday April 20th. I've already got enough to get free shipping but I thought I'd see if anyone needs to piggyback any items in.

Pickup would be in East Round Rock, almost Hutto.

P.S Is there an ARC code on SaltySupply to get any measurable discount?

I'll check google, but no I want to do just as you said others are doing (not a simultaneous drain/fill scenario)

Turn off ATO

siphon or pump water

move ATO inlet to fresh SW mix

turn on ATO

wait for ATO to finish filling back up

move ATO inlet back to RODI/Kalk solution.

I apologize if this is a widely discussed subject. I didn't have luck finding anything on it.

I'm working on getting my first SW tank set up and researching ATOs. In the midst of doing so I couldn't help but wonder:

If I turn off the ATO before siphoning out my water for a water change, and then take the inlet side of the ATO hose and put it into my freshly mixed saltwater bucket and turn the ATO back on.. would this not (slowly) re-add new saltwater to my tank until the float switch is activated?

Then all I'd have to do is re-direct my inlet hose back to my RODI/Kalk water supply. Easy "more than one function" type scenario. If this is feasible (or not) how quickly do you add SW back to a tank on a water change? At first I'd be using buckets and having to find a way to diligently pour it into the tank until I get some other type pump to do the work. (maybe just an aqualifter)

Thanks for all your help and kindness.

I might go for a Refractometer and some Pinpoint solution. So that's just south of $50 I think? Though I see you're south. I'd be MORE interested if there were some North-ies interested so that the pickup is easier.

Definitely! I'd love to buy some frags off forum members when the time comes. Just keep me in mind.

I can't vouch for this place but they have the Wavepoints in many varieties for under $12.

http://www.aquariumpart.com/WavePoint_Replacement_Lamps_HO_T5_s/115.htm

Dang. All these sweet frags pop up and I'm waiting on my tank. Good luck with the sale.

Keep in mind there are several ARC member who work for apple who get 10-25% discounts.

The 25% discounts are AFAIK once a year discount for "friends/family". If he can find someone willing to give that up, great otherwise the 10%+ you get from buying smart (online) is a great way. You can consider that you'll save another 8.25% in taxes (bringing you up into the ~20% savings range) along with the freebies/near freebies I mentioned above.

Def ording on-line saving the tax alone will keep me within my budget (which I can fudge depending on the deal).

Like I said, check MacMall.

For instance:

The base MBP 15" is $1799 retail - $1714.26 at MM, that's a 5% discount.

Parallels Desktop (windows virtualization) is 49.99 with a 49.99 rebate. That's $50 more "off" your machine. That's another 2%!

Another $90 rebate on $149 printer (or skip this if you don't want a printer)

So we're at a 7% discount. Add 8.25% tax savings and that's 15.25%. Click through fatwallet for a 2-3% for up to 18.25% off retail.

The deals have been deeper in the past, but that's still not bad.

Keep in mind there are several ARC member who work for apple who get 10-25% discounts.

The 25% discounts are AFAIK once a year discount for "friends/family". If he can find someone willing to give that up, great otherwise the 10%+ you get from buying smart (online) is a great way. You can consider that you'll save another 8.25% in taxes (bringing you up into the ~20% savings range) along with the freebies/near freebies I mentioned above.

Whatever you chose, I suggest you check out macmall.com for the best deal. No tax, rebate on shipping, free printer after rebate, free (or near free) virtualization software after rebate and often times a free case after rebate. Combine this with 2-3% fatwallet cashback and it makes it the best deal I've found. Ordered several Mac's this way. Rebates come fast, everything has always worked great.

If you are doing any photoshop I'd steer away from the 13" just due to the low resolution. However, the 15" start at $1799 (retail) so your budget is gonna get real close depending on features you want.

You could save a little dough by buying a refurb direct from apple or a closeout from Macmall, but you're gonna be a "generation" behind. If that doesn't bother you some good deals can be had there too. Though the latest Macbooks use the Sandy Bridge Intel chips, which are leaps and bounds above even the previous i3/i5/i7 chips.

What color is the reef sand? All I can find is an off white. If it's black I would be interested. Let me know please.

http://www.reefcentr...d.php?t=1714505

Has info on Ca/Alk/Mg for bunches of salts.

In the grand scheme of things, they are all, IMO, about the same. Some may need more supplementation than others for those 3 parameters.

Cost wise, I can't comment. Never used anything but RSCP.

Thanks! I'll keep watching this thread for developments. It looks like RCSP last time went for $44.99+tax. It'd be nice to see that number again.

Some of the top layer clumps, but it's never caused problems for me. I typically make 20g or so, so it takes a while to go through it.

It's all in a plastic bag BTW, so you can tie it off and limit the amount of surface area.

Great then! I could be in for a bucket. Is there much a diff between Coralife and Red Sea?

What do you guys with smaller tanks do with these big buckets? Doesn't the salt clump together from the humidity? I was told to buy smaller bags/buckets (50 gallon size) to avoid this but obviously the cost to pound ratio is better with the big guys.

I haven't been here long but I was told it was a great place to do GB's with local guys. So far I've seen one GB (I joined after the policy was put in place) so.. yeah I think I see your point pretty clearly.

I see ARC's side of it too though. :/

Ah! Well right now I have some Aqueon Dechlorinator for my FW tank, says it removes Chloramines...

Looks like I can get Prime at Petco though, or so their webpage leads me to believe.

Prime?

I just purchased a 75gpd RO/DI unit, and it actually took 24 hours to fill a 75 gallon tank on Friday, that I just set up this weekend. Got it here -

http://cgi.ebay.com/...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Only thing I had to purchase was adapters to fill and dispense, i.e. 1/4" compression /1/2" male fitting, and 1/2" female to 3/4 female (input) male (output) hose adapter.

I see in the water report provided to you, that your water department uses Chloramines to treat. You want to make sure you get an RO/DI that can remove that, as stated already.

Could I in the interim use something that removes chlorine/chloramine from the water (eg: chemical additive)?