Jimbo

Hey John,

So, is this mix for all creatures in the tank, or just the fish. It almost seems too meaty for some of the smaller polyp'd corals and such, or is it that fine of a paste after the food proc?

And, approximately how many months worth of food would this recipe make for one person

Jim

Welcome to ARC Rich! It's a good group of people that we have here, and being local is just that much sweeter.

Now, it sounds like you need to start collecting equipment for when you are ready to setup.

Jim

I just recently lost a damsel to pop-eye. Mine seems to have been caused by an abraision rather than bacterial infection. The only advice I have is to treat it as soon as possible, and in a QT tank. I waited a week before I got a chance to setup my QT, and by the time I did, the fish was already showing signs of a problem with the other eye (well, maybe it was bacterial, since it was both eyes). I got the fish out, put in QT, treated for 2 weeks with Maracyn (I'll have to look at it later), and Epsom salts to relieve the swelling. After the first week of treatment, the swelling was down, but I believe the fish was now blind. It could tell when I put food in the water, made an attempt to find food, but was unsuccessful unless it floated right in front of him. At the end, the fish had not eaten in about 2 weeks, and I believe that was the ultimate cause of his demise. On the last day, he could not hold himself up in the current, and I had to do a quick freeze to put him out of his misery. I had always hoped he would resume eating, but he just could never seem to get anything, even in QT. I had the fish about 6 years, so that always sucks a little, but at least the other fish are not affected (another reason I believe the cause was abrasion).

Either way, if it is pop-eye, and you can get him out, I'd do so. But in a hard to reach place, or loaded reef, you may just have to wait it out. From what I read, it almost always is a wait and see type of affliction. Some say it can last as long as 5-6 weeks. And from my experience, that was about the amount of time it took for the swelling in my fish's eyes to diminish.

I hope this helps you, and that the little tang is ok.

Jim

Looking for a pink bird's nest (Seriatopora) local please. I've been looking for a bright pink one, but let me know what you have.

Thanks,

Jim

The one off Slaughter lane is good too, but far from me so I never go there.  It is a little east of Manchaca on Slaughter in a park that is by some apts.  I can't remember the name of it....

Mary Moore Searight Park. It's right next to where my wife teaches, so you could also look up Paredes Middle School to find it. There is also a model airplane club/runway there if you are in to that (can't fly without being a member, but welcome to watch).

me too..how much for the anthelia?

how tall is the box?

Jim

I agree with thedude. Find a nice small chiller and give yourself the extra piece of mind.

I myself just finished my closed loop with a "Quiet One" pump...not my first choice, but what I had laying around. I find that my temp went up from 78 to almost 81 by late afternoon. I have a chiller that I picked up a while back, but never had the need until now. And until I get that thing hooked up, I use RO ice cubes (about 1 tray a day) to lower the temp back below 80. Right now, I'm running 2 250w MH's , 220W Actinic, 2 Quiet One's (return and CL) and a SEIO 1500 for extra flow in a 110. On a side note, the SEIO also heats up a lot more than a Tunze, so if you're in the market for something like that, go ahead and get the Tunze to keep the temp down.

On the plus side, my night time temp never drops below 77, thanks to that same SEIO

Jim

well, after getting screwed on a deal for 50lbs through MAAST, I'm back in the market too. Anyone know of a good place to get LR either mail order or local? Or possibly get a bunch in as a semi group order?

sorry to hijack.

-Jim

what type of acrylic? Cast, or just plain ole extruded? Or, let us know what you want to build.

But, generally speaking, it's Regal Plastics in NW Austin on Metric near 183 (close to the Goodwill) for quality acrylic; mail order; or Lowes/Home Depot for lower quality (not for building tanks).

Regal Plastics home page

Jim

Okay. Thanks for the tip Carlos. I shut the lights off at the timer, waited 2 minutes (to simulate the power outtage), and powered back on. The lights came back on less than 5 minutes later. I guess this is what I get for taking the day(s) off during rain storms. drunken_smilie.gif

Jim

Hey Jim,

On some of my older MH units it could take a few minutes (up to 15 or more) for the lights to refire after the power has been cut.  I think this has more to do with letting the ballast cool down, but during that time there is no light being produced from the bulb.  I'm not saying that this is true on all my past set-ups but on a few.  I would give them a few minutes to see if the ballast will refire after a power outage.

Thanks for the reply Carlos. The only thing that seems funny about the way it behaves now, is that I don't remember it doing that in the past. But then again, I really can't remember anytime except the recent that we lost power during the day, and I was home. Now I really have to experiment.

Jim

jimbo, cant answer your question, just saw you lived off parmer and mcneil...I'm in Millwood, off of Dallas.

What LFS are you going to?  just wondered if you knew of one up here I have missed.

Nate

Hi Nate, I'm off Dallas on Kerrville Folkway. You could probably find the house at night from the "Reef Glow" coming from the entry way hall . Typically, I go to River City, since they seem to have a much better selection of corals...and Carlos and crew keep the tanks clean. I will make the adventure to AA and Aquatek, if I am looking for something specific though. I really used to like Gallery of Pets, but they are hit or miss with SW. I haven't been there since Marge was still the owner, I hear the new owner is more of a fish person than birds, though. And Kathy there at GOP always went above and beyond. I also hear Horizon is getting better with their SW. From my experience there, if things havn't changed, I would never buy from them! Crowded tanks, insufficient lighting, and cyano everywhere. But, we all go through that once in a while.

Sounds like a ballast issue. MHs take a few minutes to turn back on after the power is cut. My old lights would take probably 10-15 minutes to 'warm' back up.

That's what I was afraid of...bulbs are cheap. I do have another identical ballast at the house, but I didn't want to have to go through the trouble of replacing the other. I guess I will have to replace and then experiment tonight.

But, when you say 10-15 min to 'warm' back up, do you get any light from them during that time? Mine are completely out, and I never really gave the bulbs that long to find out. I usually just cut the power to the ballast off for about 30 minutes then fire back up.

Thanks,

Jim

Hello All.

Glad to be a part of this fine group, and thankful that we now have a group more dedicated to Austin. I'm also a member of MAAST, but like some others have said, I get tired of going to SA to be treated like a stranger by the locals. I sure do miss the MAAST of old when Jim and Tim were around a lot more...

but anyway, my question/problem is this. I've just recently re-setup my 110 after letting things settle following the "Great Flood of 2001" (Ill save that stupidity for another time). My lights have been in storage for a while, but probably had about 4 months of use on them when I put them away. I currently have 2x250w MH and another 220w of VHO, but my problem is with the MH. With the recent power outages from storms last month and threatening ones early this week, I discovered my problem. When the power flashes or is out for less than say 30 minutes, my MH do not fire back up. The ballast is a PFO dual mag, and I have no idea the age. Does is sound like a bulb problem, or is it time to toss the old ballast and replace with electronic?

Thanks and I look forward to meeting all of you at some of the close gatherings.

Jim