cmanning

My husband and I can help, if you still need extra hands. We live down the road from you, close to the Leander City Hall. Just let us know. -Cindy-

You might want to check this out. http://austin.craigslist.org/for/569571791.html

Don't you just love the web! Now your next task is to remove them, hmmm wondering if Robin is up for it.

Enigma13--Thanks for the offer...we are looking into a 150gpd/200gpd, we use quite a bit of RO and not just for water changes. I'm looking into the chloramine filters (kind of pricey) but I think it will be well worth it. We definitely getting an inline TDS meter, I'm curious and wouldn't be surprise about the readings. Thanks for the info. jsr---Thanks for link.

Hi Dave The size specifications you came up with (72 by 30 high by 24 front-to-back) are almost exactly the specifications of a 215 gallon brick tank that we have as our main reef. We found the tank used, from a private owner in Austin, at a very good price ($600 complete -as opposed to the new price for this model). You might want to keep an eye out for used Oceanic "Brick" Tanks in the 215 gallon capacity or higher range. OR - glasscages.com and look at the "Commercial" line (these are 3/4 inch as well - and "should not" need any center braces, but check with them, as I have never used their tanks before, so I can not attest). Our plan was - if we couldn't locate a decent Oceanic in the 200 range, we were going to go try glasscages.com - but, as it turned out we got lucky on our tank-hunt. I do not know the warranty of glasscages, nor how long they've been in business, either - YMMV. All I do know is what I've had most of the times in my life when I've had "larger" aquaria and that's Oceanics, and since I never could afford "brand new" ones until I was older , *and* am quite an abuser of tanks, yet I've never had one fail on me (Oceanic that is) I just feel more comfortable with them in the same room with my kids. They are all custom made out of 3/4 inch thick glass and as such, - no bracing is needed. I know how much Seawater weighs - and 200 gallons of it hanging over the head of my 5 year old - being held back by glass ? == it's going to be damned thick glass, OK? Drawbacks/considerations: 1: You'd better have a real good frame carpenter build the stand for this puppy, - since it's made out of rather thick glass, it's 6 to 8 men to lift / carry it (empty), and once filled with SeaWater and Rock = close to 2,000 lbs (1 tons) Make SURE the stand is perfectly flat and level, - and shimmed at the floor anywhere your floor is even a credit cards thickness out of level, and even then - put a 3/4 inch thick slab of styrofoam house insulation board (owens pink or dow blue, - not the white stuff) between the tank and stand to make up for minor imperfections in the wood stand.. this will distribute the weight better, (and insulate at least the bottom of the tank). - And remember - wood stands "flex" over time - the foam board will help take care of that. 2: The thicker glass makes for a rather odd "magnification" effect that only becomes apparent once filled with water. (objects in the tank are farther away than they appear).. but , depending on the age of your eyesight, this can be a beneficial thing. <grin> Lights? = We just use the 2 x 400Watt (800 watts total) halides at 14K color (by SPS). and they are blue enough for us without having to add any supplemental "color" lighting. (Fewer bulbs to change every year is why). This gets us close to the 5watts/gallon mark as-is, and our reflectors run the full length of the tank (no braces in the way) - so that helps too. After all - the REAL benefit of the brace-less "brick" designed tank -- is the direct effect on your ability to light it up. (Those dang braces DO get in the way of your lighting.. no matter what you do..) The reason they make tanks WITH braces ? - They can use thinner glass, and thinner glass is cheaper - lots,lots cheaper. (And a lot easier to break).

We're fixing to upgrade our old RO unit w/ a RO/DI. How often does the DI cartridge has to be replaced? Also, does the carbon filter remove chloramine from tap water? One more question, what's the best place to order the unit from? Any information will be well appreciated. Thanks, -Cindy-

I can't tell you what to get.. but I can definitely tell you what to avoid: #1 Tanks with wide glass top middle braces --> maintenance nightmare (unless you like scraping algea film /salt cruft blocking out your lighting every single day) - These types of tanks are OK for people with Fresh Water using weak lighting.. #2 Tanks which are any less than 24 inches front to back. (lack of real estate on the ground level - and hard to properly circulate water randomly in). #3 The "Single center overflow" == bad dead water zones on the back corners. #4 Plastic center braces (same melt/crack problems as acrylic tanks suffer from) - and tank explodes all over floor soon as it gives out. #5 Acrylic of any kind. I won't tell you every reason - there's too many reasons , and I know exactly what sunlight, - even "simulated sunlight" does to acrylic (like it does to most any plastics) over time: (in the case of greenhouse windows - not such a big deal, in the case of holding back hundreds of gallons of saltwater --> a very big deal). After you try all the other lighting schema available, you will (if you haven't already) settle on halides. Nothing man-made -not even the new super bright LED's penetrates 30 inches of water for the same PAR/watts and tiny footprint as halide. Unfortunately - do NOT put halide over acrylic. If you do - I give the tank 5 yrs tops (if that long) under halides (or even natural sunlight) before the crazing from the UV spectrum leads to catastrophic failure.

It's a beautiful fish but I've read its hard to acclimate and it eats a specific algae. Big $$$ tag for such a small fish. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/tangs/chevron.php

Sorry......that's one of the many domains we have blocked since teenager got first iMac.

What domain are you sending it from?

Are you referring to the Chevron Tang? or the Red Sea Clown Tang "Sohal"?

No...you right!! it's a good thing to read on other forums to hear what customers/vendors experience. It's all a matter of research. Thanks Dave

Haven't order from them either. Great customer experience from the following: SeaLife http://www.cherrycorals.com/home.php http://www.zomania.com/

Can you post pics.

Way to Go NY GIANTS Way to go cousin Eli!!

Your welcome....and by the way the 50g. is gone . I posted the pics on our blog and the orange digi is doing real well. Thanks, -Cindy & Robert-

UPDATE Sorry!! all live sand is gone.

Broke down 50g. tank that's been running for 3yrs. and have live sand.

Ditto on that pic. Here's one my husband took awhile back. We called the Helicopter shrimp....ready to take off.

I"ll try to be more careful and take my time when it comes to fragging. Good point...when fragging outside the tank is important to wear the proper gear and always wash/rinse tools and anything that has come in contact w/corals. Yes, my husband had a rash on the back of hand and didn't notice the torch touching him......a people are different ---some can tolerate certain toxins better than others. Bristleworms do an number on me....when stung on fingers...they swell, itch (like crazy), get a little numbness. That's true...until it happens to you then brain clicks on and you think.......hmmmm...should've worn the darn gloves. I'm glad I love this hobby, or I would be too scared to stick my hand in the tank.

Congratulations Joseph!! That's an awesome acan you got there. -Cindy-

Don't know the name but here's a pic. They're on the left side w/green skirts.

I know is been said before but, please wear latex gloves when dealing w/zoanthids or any other corals. This is what happened: This morning around 10, my husband and I decided to do some cutting on sps that where coming in contact w/ each other. I cleared out a patch of receding zoanthids w/ bare hands (no gloves), not a smart move. Husband left for work and everything was fine. Within an hour I started feeling disoriented, some dizziness and a throbbing headache, I even felt like I was about to pass out. Symptoms started to diminish around 7 pm. I was feeling better. You know when you were a kid and you had too much of something (cotton candy, chilli dogs....) and you over do it. You can't stand the smell or the sight of it. Well, I felt that way, I couldn't finish the rearranging in the tank......I didn't want to stick my hand in the tank or even think of zoanthids, just the thought of it made me ill (strange). But anyway, don't make the same mistake I made and PLEASE use uncoated latex gloves when dealing with corals. -Cindy-

unfortunately, I have resorted to taking out chunks of rock, scraping with a screwdriver, razor blade & rigid brush. If i don't get every trace of the zenia and the fibrous foot material, it grows right back. I have been throwing it into the flowerbed, it seems to make good fertilizer. If you can pull the rock out of the aquascape.....what I done is chisel a small piece of rock w/ xenia.......that way, there be no flesh left behind. Good Luck. -Cindy-

Keep us posted on the recovery.