reefman

Your idea of cyclopeeze is a good one, but they can't live on that alone. Leopard Wrasses are know as very hard fish to keep. Two things you might try, one is Artic Pods, these are good for finiky eaters. The other is to soak any brine or mysis shrimp in a little garlic extract before you feed them. The garlic really gets their appetite going. Stephen

I just took a quick peck, and the pics and documnetation look really nice. I'll definitely be reading up on it tonight when I get home. Thanks. Stephen

Mike, I might take you up on that offer. Once I get my stuff moved out to my garage, I might want to put in something like that. In the meantime, do you have a schematic or pics you could post? So as I understand it, you are using peristalic pumps with two part solution, and a kalk wasser mixer? I've had a Deltec kalk reactor for almost two years I never have used, but have always wanted to. Stephen

If it is the Roger I am thinking about, he is the US Distributor for Tunze, which Aquatek is the exclusive local distributor for. I know he and Bruce have a close relationship, so maybe he did own it before he became Mr. Tunze. As far as the stores, I like them all, and it all depends on what I'm looking for as to which one I go to. Even though all of them do SW, they all have their particular niches. I love Jake, Bruce, Hunter, and the rest. I think Matt is in a league of his own (and that is meant as a compliment). Austin Aqua Farms is something he should be hugely proud of, both for the quality of livestock and his success. And although maybe not a store in the LFS since, John and Brian at Kingfish have helped me immensely, and I have a great deal of loyalty to them. Since Austin Aquariums closed, I have no complaints about any of the Austin stores. You will get slightly differences of opinions, and slightly different techniques, but that is the way this hobby is. Stephen

I'm down. I am trying a bucket now, and would like to try a second. Let me know. Stephen

As an owner of a larger Deltec Ca reactor and a smaller one before that, I would NOT recommend Deltec. There quality and engineering are sound, but its my opinion that their customer support sucks. I and several others I know of have been very unhappy with the support we now receive. I don't know about the new equipment this new distributor is selling, and how well he supports it, but with us who bought the stuff some time ago, we are basically on our own. As another point, I hate the Aquabee pump Deltec uses, and recently did a mod on mine to replace it with an Eheim. Stephen

I'm not sure I would use a tank that used to have a turtle in it anyway. I would vote to start with a new tank. Stephen

I have used Tunze for over a year but I am now going to try Brightwell's. I have also been curious about D-D's H2Ocean, but I am putting my faith right now in Brightwell's (if I ever can get any :-) Stephen

Just FYI, what you are doing is illegal. I'm sure the "grey water" police won't show up at your door, but if you ever have to get your home inspected or something like that it won't pass. Unfortunately there are many restrictions to re-using grey water (which is what this is) in Texas. Just wanted you to have all the facts. Stephen

Z, let me know what you need me to do (i.e. send money PayPal, etc.). Stephen

I'll take the other 15 pounds. Stephen

54W are 4 foot bulbs, correct? Stephen

Z, When you you planning to order the mud from Reefcleaners, and is it wet or dry? I might want to go in with you on the order, especially if its dry. Stephen

Z, I went to the reefcleaners site to check on their mud, but I'm not seeing any there (just Florida live rock). Have they quite selling it, or is it seasonal or something? Stephen

Bellaireoaks, Are you using the bulbs that came with it, or did you change it out? Do you have any heat issues - does the fixture get real hot? Stephen

Mhart or others, any ideas or opinions. I would love to hear any input about the fixture (or other fixtures) or other ideas about the retrofit if you have them. Stephen

Mike, I was using what it said on the calculator. Its been several days now, but there was something in the bottom about $180 - $190 a tube. I'm still very interested in how your test turn out. Stephen

"I plan on going the mud route myself and am even getting the mud from the same place." Z, Where were you going to get the mud from, ReefCleaners? Stephen

Yes, if I go this route. I had originally planned to retro everything. It's kind of a convulted story. From the start, I've had a wooden "floating" (supported by two wooden columns) light canopy that Brian at Kingfish built for me when we set up the Elos. It has 2 x 400W MH and 2 x 54W T5s. The problem is, because the light canopy sits off the water only about 12 inches, I really can't get to the back part of the tank to doing anything with aquascaping, cleaning the sand, etc. This issue I have now with Nitrates has kind of pushed me over the edge. I want something I can completely access the tank with. I was originally planning on building an aluminum frame, and changing out the 400W Luminarc full reflectors with 250W Luminarc Mini reflectors, and having 4 - 6 either 54W or 80W T5s (2 or 3 front and back). The more I looked at it (aside for the weight factor, I need something I can hang from the ceiling to solve the access issue), it looks like the retro will cost over $1K. Then I went by Aquatek this weekend. Their display tank is looking awesome right now, due to according to Bruce, someone consistently using the Reef Refresh on it. Since I'm ramping up on the NeoZeo system right now (same thing really), I talked to Bruce and Steve about the fixture they had. It turns out that its a simple Sunlight Supply 2 X 250W - 2 X T5 fixture. I was thinking if they could get that kind of results with that fixture, why am I looking at spending over a $1K with the retrofit. A fixture would be the same or cheaper (depending on which fixture I ultimately got), much faster, and a lot less hassle. Stephen

Mhart, Unless I'm looking at it wrong, its 4xT5s and 2x250Ws. If there is something equal or cheaper, I would love to see it. I doubt its Workhorse ballast (it would be nice), he said the brand was Workhorse Assemblies. I tried to google it and came up with nothing. In a second note I sent him, he said they don't have a web site, but do have a 5 year warranty, however I don't put much stock in that - warranties aren't much good if a company shuts down and renames itself. Stephen

Was it this same no-name brand or seller? I figured I would replace any bulbs if I got it (now you mention it, I need to consider that into my "cost"). Stephen

Does anyone have any experience with these. The seller said they are made by "Workhorse Assemblies". http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180400360562&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123 Stephen

Do these have the normal Tunze drivers, and does it come with it, power supply, mount, etc.? Stephen

Yes, it would be interesting to see how they calculate savings. Is it just bulb replacement, electricity, etc. For us, not generating the heat is a definite savings for us, but may not be in there calculator. Stephen

It appears each bulb/tube (at least the 4 footer) will be about $180 - $190. According to their own calculator it would take 5 - 6 years to break even - after the savings. That seems a little high to me. You generally strive to break even on stuff like this in about 3 years or less. Stephen