Bill B

If it's who I think it is, he lives off Cypress Creek. So that would be north of RCA.

I could be in for a small order, $20-30, but only if we get enough for free shipping.

Bill

Before I thought this through, I was thinking with the mindset that almost everyone has corals. So I'm cracking up reading this as essentially it sez 'anyone want this fish for a discount - course he will eat all your corals except a few.' What a bargain. Maybe you had to be there (or here in this case)

Bill

As Hydro mentions I think trying to set your tank up very level might be key in extending tank life. However, I have always heard that the majority of the weight bearing surfaces are the corners of a tank. I'm not sure that a small bow in the stand would be of significance unless it was at or near the corners. If the stand was warped or twisted, definitely a bad thing. All of you know more about this than me, I'm sure, but no one has mentioned this. One of those 'crusty old managers' once told me that wave machines easily cut the life of a tank in half. TMSAISTI

Bill

Hey Pat,

I do not pretend to understand some of what you described nor did I read your hyperlinked articles, yet? I do have two questions though. 1) How deep is a 'deep sand bed' ? 2) Could you say a little more on 'a larger grain sediment'? Are we talking 'sugar', coarse blasting sand, crushed coral .....

I'm sure this requires too large a change in my system at the current stage of recuperation but I am curious ... and always interested in what you have to say, if for no other reason than the way you say it, particularly in person

Thanks

Bill

Thanks for the suggestions folks. It seems my COA s/b to actually put a few more larger rocks to either side of where it is to fill in the holes. My biggest concern was it was shriveling up and moving, but may have no where else to move, given that little ledge right above it. The good news is, it doesn't seem to move real fast and all my corals are movable, although it will be a deal breaker if it want to be by the hammer.

Richard, your analogy hit right on target. We have 5 cats!

I'll see what happens.

Naturally the post script to this, is this morning lights on and it's inflated and looking happy

I'll be bac

Bill

I got this GBTA recently and am having trouble getting it positioned. That's it currently, shriveld up about 6 inches from the left, 4 inches above the sandbed, which some of its mouth visible. Your mission Jim, if you choose to accept it is to suggest a coarse of action to me. This pm will not self destruct in 15,30,60 or 18000 seconds.

I originally stuck him higher,on a flatish area about where the tube is hanging into the water, on the right. It seemed happy at first and inflated. But the next morning it was gone and I had blown into the back, bottom left corner which at that time was about 50% under a ledge above it. It was not happy there and remained deflated. I rearranged the rockwork some, hence a lot of the white rocks showing, and attached him pretty much where he is now except facing the left glass, and not the front like it is now. Viola almost immediately it inflated and was looking good for at least 2 days. Then I noticed sometimes part of it would deflate and occasionally it fully deflate and then fully inflated. I am now surmising that it deflates to make it easier for it to move. However, at you can see, it has now moved about as far as it easily can, Now it seems very unhappy again, although just earlier today it seemed much better. The closeup is just to show it is actually under a small lip, which is about the depth of it's tube, but not tenticles.

So I am wondering 1) if I should try to moving at all. It does appear to be fairly well attached right now. When I took it out of the back corner it was drooping badly and was too easily removed. I am concerned it is not going to like the trauma of being removed many more times. Whatever harm may have been done when it was removed from the tank at RCA has doubtless not mended yet - and it was stuck pretty good to the side of a powerhead.

2) If moved, where to. Somehow I suspect, at this point, it is not going to be able to walk, or be blown to it's ideal (albeit perhaps semi-temporary) location. I only see a few possibilities. Top of the back left corner - I would just have to replace the rock that's there right now with another. Move it up on the ledge above where it is now. It is a little hard to judge the depth but there is a nice flattish area there. Any higher and it is going to be in competition with the hammer which is top center (behind the glass streak). It could go on that flattish green rock on the right, although this is where I originally started it, or it could go on those brite white new rocks on the far right.

The ebb and flows: That hose does empty fairly close to the green ledge, on the right. It's not a gusher of a flow as that is just a 80-200 gph pump from a gfo reactor I just attached to try to beat back the hair algae. The hose itself could easily be turned in a different angle. Directly to the right of that hose there is at least some agitation of the water as that's where my little Aqua C is flowing back in the tank. The Korolia (1 I think) is currently very close to the glass to encourage flow on the small visible sandbed, although right now it is a little higher than I normally have it. Lastly there is a big 1 1/2-2" return from my HOB refugium on the left powered by a maxijet 1200, which flows pretty much right at the hammer and works well. I only have 1 actinic and 1 10k 39W T5 running. Water quality is not great but I don't think it's terrible for non SPS. Nitrates are 5-10, Phosphates are minimal but present. Obviously there is something less than ideal as I have had quite a problem with hair algae and bryopsis which is receding nicely but obviously still present. This came about mostly from months of very little attention except occasionally dosing some 2 part. Ca 400 +/-, Kh 8ish, Mg 1700 ish (trying to kill the Bryopsis). If necessary I could temporarily move it to my 75. Water is about the same, cept Mg is normal, I have that snot algae trying to gain a foothold there. Much more flow to blow it to unseeable places, stronger halide lights.

Sorry, I'm sure most minor interest readers have long since moved to other threads. If anyone followed it to the end thought they might want mucho info to gain the best non-onsite opinion. If you've read this far I thank you for that anyway:)

Gracias

Bill

hmmm - I must be saying something the wrong way.

Lewk - May I be in the group buy please?

Thanks

Bill

Thanks for the merge James.

others:

I must not have asked enough for the bluish acro.

There have been many requests for it particularly. Alas it like will be gone if I haven't 'talked to you already'. Thanks

Bill

I'm trying to clean up my tanks and here are a few corals I could do without.

Green Slimer - $20 pending - This is 8 or 9 inches tip to tip, has blue tips. The plug broke off so it is just leaning against the rock in the picture. Flat base still there. I originally bought a small piece of this from Mike the dentist.

Also in this picture.on the left, is a frag of tri color acro -$10 Pending. It doesn't have any color right now, but I think that is common for a starter piece. This came from Robert and Cindy.

Forgot the Name Acro -$25 Pending. I got this from Chad n Belinda and it was about 1/5 the size for $15 or $20, I think it was a semi designer acro??. I thought it was A, insignus but it doesn't look like the picture I just looked up. Tips are light blue. Color is not normally that green, at least under my 10k halides, but this is the actual coral.

Dendro - $15 obo. This is a single polyp, not sun coral, probably about half grown. It cam from Scott in RR. It is really mad cuz I have been stirring up the tank all day, so it is not out right now, in the pic. I'll even throw in that little sprig of frogspawn, I knocked off

Green Palys - SOLD

Brown Green Palys - SOLD

I am trying to trade for some urchins with afgun so he will have first right of refusal. I am open to other trades. I am trying to move away from sps but am open to lps, and non brown or green zoas.

I am around day and night most days.

Thanks for lookin'

Bill Brister - 784-4475

I guess I never spit it out that I am interested in being in the buy, although I probably won't be ordering a whole lot >;$50. I am happy to go in with whoever wants to. It looks like BioCube, Sengson, and Chad & Belinda are closest to me - not sure where Wizard is in N Austin. We should probably make arrangements in 'private'. I'm pretty easy.

Bill - 784-4475

If civais doesn't work out I want your lights, please, pending one question - what brand are these particularly the ballasts. I live in Leander, so I could come to Killeen if necessary.

Thanks

Bill

784-4475

Hi Lewk

It's been quite a while since I ordered anything but I wanted to clarify/ask something(s). In the past (perhaps distant) someone, often Mark, would actually submit a list of at least 10 eligible buyers. As I recall we had to send them a list of the emails the BRS accounts had been set up on. This is what qualified us for a group buy.

Also unless it has also changed, to my mind, the best way to go is to gang up orders and have them sent to one person. Of course this would have to be someone convenient for you. For instance, I always ordered with someone in L/CP and occasionally even Liberty HIll. Push came to shove I would even order with Chad and Belinda, since I haven't seen them for a while. Going together on shipping is solely the responsibility of all parties to work out, including getting the bucks to the order placer. It's just that this usually lowers the shipping cost by about half.

Unless group shipping is not available I would also be interested in joining the group buy. Posting the list of the buyers also helps in finding co-shippers.

Thanks

Bill

Hi there

I am interested in making you an offer. Buuuuttt, I need to know about where you are, either work or home. I live in Leander so I much prefer to make my 'pickups' before 3 or so. If you live further south I can probably pick up next weekend, except for the possible problem with Christmas shopping. So anyways - where do you live/work. I just figured out how to pm you so I will send you my personal info on the profile page?

Thanks

Bill Brister

Hi Derry

I would like that media canister. Just let me know a good time to come by, and addy.

Thanks

Bill

I think the answer is 'yes', you need a heater. It's just a matter of whether you use a small heating element which you put in you tank or you use your home H/AC.

Ty

Thanks for the offer! I have found a 'new' replacement pump at a good price, so I am going to do that. Thank you though.

Bill

I am taking all the Grape Caulerpa out of my sump so there are two or 3 good handfulls available. This does have some pods, some small bristleworms and a few of those stoma snails I think they're called. Unfortunately I will not be very available on Sat 2nd. If you are not familiar with this stuff: It grows very well but it is so robust it WILL eventually crowd out most of the other macros unless you keep it well harvested. You also must leave your sump lite on 24/7 otherwise it goes into a sexual reproduction phase, or something like that and this is very bad for your tank. So it has it's drawback but I like the way it looks and it does grow very well.

I also have a pinpoint pH probe. It was working fine but I had the unit taped to my stand and it fell in my water change water. I would think the probe is still fine, but of course I can't test it (and if I could I wouldn't be giving it away The probe has continued to be emersed in my sump, less the testing unit.

I'm not trying to be rude, crude or divisive but I reserve the right to give this to whom I please and not just the first person who sez "I'll take it". If 'friends' who have been generous to me, in the past, respond - they most likely will get first choice.

Regards

Bill

784-4475 (plz leave msg if no answer)

Hi

Thanks for the response. I don't really know. Apparently the standard 3500 is 350 gph vs 500. How much would you like for it?

Thanks

Bill

I think my pump has quit working properly, so I am looking for decent, not great, skimmer for a 75 or a replacement motor for an RS 80. Timing is everything, as I just missed that one that sold. OR if anyone has any thoughts about my 'problem'. I can't really see there is a problem, no broken impellar. I cleaned out the venturi and hose, but all it does is swirl water and make a small amount of huge bubbles.

Thanks

Bill

I am pretty sure those are just three different ways of expressing your Alkalinity reading. I use dKH = degrees of Alkalinty Hardness or something like that, but maybe originally in German? I don't know but as I recall dKH is just ppm divided by 17.9 or thereabouts and the meg/l a different way of expressing the same number That would seem to me to be a good Alkalinity level IF your Calcium is not cratered. If your magnesium is low and Alkalinity is 9.5 my first guess (remember it's a guess) is that your Calcium is very low - below 300? I don't think it is recommended for long term use but you can bring your Magnesium up with Epsom salt. Most of the Reef Chemistry calculators include Epsom Salts as one of the possible additives. It takes a bunch Sorry to patronize but I would also double check your technique on measuring your Magnesium. I use the Red Sea test kit and it seems quite confusing to me. btw IMHO if you have any live animals in your tank a 60% water change can be very traumatic to them as it can change parameters very (too) quickly. HTH

Bill

Yep, thanks! I have never participated in a group order like this, so sorry for my confusion. I will get back to one of ya'll tonight about which group and what I'm ordering. Thanks

Stacy,

To me some of the specifics of a BRS group buy have always been a little hazey. In fact, when there is no free shipping (was has been most of the time) you are just 'subgrouping' to get your shipping costs down Usually you will only save about $5 by splitting the shipping costs over shipping it for an individual order.

It now appears it would be easiest for us to all order with/through Chris, so just send your order to him. IF you are not ready to order by 10 tonite, through Chris AND you are going to order at least $57 worth of stuff, we could still go together, but I would need to know that soon to make sure to get in with Chris, otherwise.

btw - The discount depends on the item. It seems many of their 'house items' are as much as 20% Equipment is often closer to 10% and sometimes nothing if it's not any of their 'stuff'. I'm pretty sure you will have discovered by now - Once you sign in with your BRS email and password it will tell you the actual group buy price and discount, once you open the item.

Chris,

. I have to still take care of a few things but I will send you my order before 8,( assuming Stacey doesn't need a later order time). How/when would you like payment?

Thanks

Bill

Thanks Bill,

There is no required sub grouping. Sorry if that was implied.

Ahh the problems with emails!?/ (and my use of the English language I suppose). I didn't think you were implying anything bad, or incorrect, or that sub grouping was required. All things being equal it is obviously a good thing and I was just saying you were helping with that process more than usual. I was applauding you and definitely not criticizing. Thanks.

Bill

I have not been very active on ARC lately so there may be a different 'norm' that evolved for BRS Group Buys that I am not familiar with. All the ones I have been in, the organizer simply collected and sent in the info to qualify for the group buy and probably offered to place any order that wanted to piggy back on him - that's it. Mad Reefer has already gone the extra step of showing the approximate geographical groupings. (I apologize if this is patronizing>) No one is going to tell you who to order through/with. I AM PLANNING TO PLACE AN ORDER. Soooo... Chris and Stacy please 1) PM me if you would like to go in on 'my' order and asap 2) send me the actual order. You may pay me when the order comes in.

Thank you Scott for heading up this group buy. You've 'led us to water'

Bill

ps - I live 3 blocks south of the Lowe's.

I definitely am not trying to step on anyone's toes here, as Scott/Mad Reefer might have this all lined up already: Since Michael looks like he could order by himself it might make sense for the LCP to order together. I don't know how much Chris is ordering, but it looks like Bill B (me), Chris and Stacy S should probably be able to make the minimum, depending on what, if anything Chris is ordering. I am ordering at least $80 on up to around $100. I would be happy to place the 'subgroup' order or have someone in CP order. There is also the option to go with M(icheal)Davis. I don't mind going to his place whether it is to pick up my stuff and/or anyone else that has gone through Micheal. I can be ready to pull the trigger by tomorrow evening, though I am not in a big hurry, if someone needs me to wait. I'm easy. Just need some thoughts on who wants to do what. There may very well be other's nearby who also want to get in with 'us' whoever that might be:)

Bill