medi

Just got the following email: This is forwarded to you by the State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC). Mid-Afternoon Update: ROTATING OUTAGES DISCONTINUED BUT CONSERVATION STILL NEEDED ERCOT has issued a notice that rotating outages are no longer needed at this time; however, there is a strong possibility that they will be required again this evening or tomorrow, depending on how quickly the disabled generation units can be returned to service. Please note that some consumers are still out of power due to the winter storm conditions. Energy conservation is still critical during peak demand hours this evening between 6 and 10 pm. We will continue providing these updates when new information is available. Noon Update: CONSERVATION IS STILL CRITICAL AT THIS TIME ERCOT is urging all consumers who can reduce their energy consumption to do so at this time. Severe weather has led to the loss of more than 50 generation units – more than 7,000 MW, and additional units are continuing to trip offline due to the extreme cold temperatures. ERCOT Grid Operations has asked the utilities/transmission providers to implement rotating outages until the load is reduced through conservation and restoration of generation units. Conservation is very critical at this time to reduce the load on the system. Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electrical service initiated by each utility when supplies of reserve power are exhausted. Without this safety valve, generators would overload and begin shutting down to avoid damage, risking a domino effect of a state-wide outage. As of noon, 2000 MW of the rotating outages had been restored, and 2000 MW is remains under rotating outages. One megawatt is roughly enough to power 200 homes in extreme temperatures.

hmm....that's strange because I just got that updated email about an hour ago. Hopefully the media is right, but I wouldn't count on it.

Also, my county email advised that this will continue until the power consumption returns to normal, and could increase in frequency and duration. I guess we all better get prepared.

WHY does this kinda crap happen only when I'm at work and have no way to do anything about it? Hopefully everything will be okay until tomorrow morning.

Not at this point in time. I'm going to let everyone else be the guinea pig for LEDs before I invest in such an expensive tech. I don't like the way the current fixture distributes the lighting around the tank. I have almost no light in the back, very little in the front, and a blindingly bright spot in the center. My current fixture has very small reflectors so I am building a new hanging canopy that will house 2x250 MH Lumenarc Minis and 4 x39W T5s in hopes to diffuse the light across the entire tank. I've kind of gotten lazy here recently so I haven't been working on it much though.

Does anyone have a Tunze nano wavebox that I could borrow for a couple of hours? Due to the shape of my tank I'm thinking about adding a second nano box and want to see what difference it would make. Thanks

Well I wish I could say there was something to update. Everything is just slowly growing along. I'm going to change lighting soon so we'll be updating with pics and more details then. For now how about a few crummy iPhone pics. Sorry I couldn't do better I was running out the door when I took these.

6-7-11

Maintaining proper water conditions is the best way to prevent nitrates, but if you already have the problem then the best way to eleviate the situation is with frequent water changes. I would change 20%/week until you get the NO3 to a range you're comfortable with. Also, are you skimming? If not then I would suggest investing in a good protein skimmer and skim heavily. Lastly, watch how much, quantity and frequency, that you are feeding your fish. Too much food equal high NO3.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have never seen the API kit say anything but 0.5 Nitrites. As stated before it's unreliable at best. I wouldn't worry to much about it.

Fishy stole my answer....The only way my wife would like my tank is if it was being carried out of the front door. I've tried all of the above with no success. To quote the Mrs. "I love your tank, I just want to love it at someone else's house." Although, I do have an idea that would work. Figure out a way to make this hobby cheap, and I mean dirt cheap. Then she might like it.

It's still not full?? What size RO unit are you running? 25GPD? I filled my 100 in just over a day.

Thanks again for the awesome frags.

Nevermind....misread the post

I need a few things. I should be able to get over $31, but I've got to look. Mark, I'll PM you my list shortly.

not to shabby. I hate the little wheel on the 6091. What are the two wheels for on the side of the controller. Are those for individual Tunze pumps?

Welcome!

Just curious if anyone here is planning on attending. Should be a kick in the a**, but a lot of fun.

You may want to add carbon to the tank just in case.

I traded a guy in SA for it.

Just got my frag of the Bubblegum Monster Chalice. Just thought I'd show off a pic.

PM sent

3 polyp frag of Tubb's blue zoas. $10