FarmerTy

I only had them in my poorly-filtered nano tank when I was first starting it up. I haven't seen them since in other tanks I've had... the 65-gallon and 125-gallon, for the past 7 years. I only see the standard sponges you see on the backs of liverock.

Thanks Derrick. I may try sticking a ball valve and just choking back the drain hose a bit and seeing if that works, like you did. The gurgling is coming from the spaflex itself and not from the durso inlet elbow. It that doesn't work, I'll try ramping down my return pump.

I'm keeping an eye on this topic. I have the same problem but haven't gotten a chance to sit down and try to address. I have 2 overflows with durso standpipes, with probably only 1/8 holes drilled on top for air. I run spaflex down to the sump with separate hoses. It's noisy as all get out, with the main noise being gurgling, but only from the longer run of spaflex. The short run is quiet as a mouse. I understand this as too much flow from my return pump and that I need to dial down the Mag12 and it will flow nice and quiet. Am I understanding this incorrectly? Alternatively, I could try the reverse durso on the ends of the spaflex in the sump and drill larger air holes (1/2")? Thanks in advance for any suggestions for the plumbing ignorant. -Ty

Clint, what area of town are you at? If you are somewhere up north, I would like to be able to swing by on my lunch break. Otherwise, I think I'm out of luck. -Ty

That's interesting to read. Good link to the article Teg.

Definitely digging the lighting you have and the aquascaping. Great balance of negative space too and spacing of coral colors and forms. Two fins up!

George, hopefully someone will chime in on the best food as I do not know myself. I'd imagine the juice off frozen foods you feed your fish would be beneficial, as well as fish poop. Oyster feast? Reef Roids, reef chili, or any type of those fine particle powder foods?

George, I'm sure you heard enough about the clam but when they are that small, they are typically more dependent on filtering food for survival. Once they get larger in the 3-4" inch range, they are more dependent on light for a source of energy. I also remember clams utilizing nitrates in a system and that clam propagators will actually add nitrates to their system. Don't know if that will help the ability of the clam to survive but just wanted to pass along what I've read in the past. I am by no means a clam expert... this is just the information I came across when I tried to keep a small clam alive myself. I lost that battle, but the nipping hippo tang didn't help out with that either.

"Can you tell me more about the insect killer as a coral dip? Have YOU tried it? What dillution?" Duncan7 - check out the link here. I've used it personally, but only on SPS. I have not tried it on other types of coral. I just take about a cup of saltwater from my tank, drop about 2-3 ml of the insect killer in it, mix up the water really well, then put my coral in it for about 5-10 mins, then pull it out and dunk it in another cup of saltwater from my tank, wait another couple of minutes and then put it back in my tank. http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1965880 For red bugs themselves in the tank, interceptor is the best trick once they are in your tank. The dipping helps to not ever introduce that into your main tank and have that problem.

Yeah, get that hawkfish Dave so I can buy him off you. Haha! -Ty

+1. I still like his store very much and him personally. I just stop talking reef with him and just chat about general stuff while I shop around.

Lovin' the look Dave!

Niko, I'd look into chaeto if you are looking for macro for a refugium. Painless and decent nutrient export, especially compared to mangroves. Unless you just like the look of mangroves. Most people will give you free chaeto if you are looking for it and it's a great habitat for pods.

Sorry, been out of town. I was just planning to cut it with my jigsaw using a metal blade... then file it a bit to make sure there are no sharp edges. Easiest for me since I have all the equipment already.

Gabe, I got a few dents in my jeep that I'd be happy to trade for coral frags once you get a tank setup. The only things I have that might help with your setup is a calcium reactor with eheim pump, T5 ballast (2-bulb, 24" I think), an ASM G-1 skimmer body (have pump also but it doesn't make bubbles, even tried to replace the prop), and a 5-gallon bucket of Coralife Salt. Let me know if any of those interests you in trading for dent removal. Good luck with your project. -Ty

That would be most ideal but I have issues asking other's for favors. Haha. Plus, I already have the jigsaw with metal blade so I might as well put some usage on that thing. Thanks for the headsup Luda.

Thanks Kevin for dropping some knowledge on me.

Glad you know your metal tools. It's a world I don't really ever mess with. Think I can just use my jigsaw with a metal blade? I have one sitting in my garage. Rather not cut by hand 4' of metal. Haha.

How do you guys propose would be the easiest way to cut sheet metal with a nice, clean cut. I don't want anything I can cut myself on. I have a 4-bulb T5 fixture that I want to slice down the middle to have two 2-bulb T5 fixtures. I've heard to use aircraft shears which aren't too expensive at Sears (under $30). Tools-wise, I have access to a dremel, circular saw, miter saw, and jigsaw. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks. -Ty

Talk to Shane at Fishy Business

That opercularis looked especially happy to be out of water. I'm sure it does have something to do with the radiance of the colors out of water. Either that or it's a fisherman trait that got carried over to the aquarium hobby. Something akin to holding up your 30lb bass you just caught (that example can tell you I know nothing of fishing).

Good collection of frags!

Those are mini carpets, not to be confused with maxi-mini carpets, though sometimes the industry uses the term interchangeably. They only grow to a max size of 1.5" usually whereas the maxi-mini's grow to about 3-4" typically. I like their interesting striations of red and green and they reproduce well in my 125-gallon. -Ty

Those little maxi-mini carpets will walk 6-8 inches a day if they don't like where they are at. My advise is try to put them in the area you would like them but believe me, they'll find where they want to be if they don't like your placement. I never fed mine once and 1 became 20 in about 2 years. They have such hypnotic coloration, with the red/brown/green striations. They are the stickiest things I've ever had in the tank too. They could float by glass and just stick to it if they wanted to. Just a warning of caution though, if you're finger is wet (like soggy) and been in the tank too long, those things can give quite the potent sting. Enjoy your new friends and good find! -Ty

Sorry, I mentioned that for more purposes of a fire hazard than for a code violation. I think Tim owns the home he's in so he probably wouldn't be worried about an inspection, unless he invites a building inspector in just for the hell of it... I know if I did that, I'd be written up for a couple things here and there...