Truckin

I'm not an expert, but I will offer my two cents. I have to assume that you have a good supply of quality salt water. I would use two or three 5 gallon buckets, or similar plastic containers, and put salt water in the first two, maybe half full. I would wash the sand and rocks, separately, starting with the first bucket for the "dirty" wash. Move them to the second bucket to wash again, for slightly cleaner wash. If needed do the same in a third bucket. As the first bucket becomes really dirty, pour that water out, and this becomes the new third bucket. The original second bucket now becomes the first dirty wash, and so on. Basically you are using the water until it is too dirty to continue. After cleanup by washing in salt water, put the sand and rocks back in the aquarium with fresh salt water. Then watch the protein skimmer and set it for vigorous skimming. Having said all of that, I doubt that major damage was done to the rocks and sand by the food items in the tank, and I would not worry about "bad bacteria." In other words, I doubt that long recycling will be necessary. But the sooner you start to get the crud out, the better for the good critters on the rocks and sand. Maybe someone else on the bulletin board has more expertise. Good luck.

I'm in for $20-30. Waiting to see what the next sale shows.

Some of the "dollar stores" carry the superglue gel pretty cheap. (Don't be surprised if the tube has some air bubbles.)

Hi Mark Vivid has Yellow Snow Clove Polyps on sale for $ 15.99. Also they have Red Montipora Capricornus (not on sale) for $ 12.99. Can you ask them to hold those two items at those prices until the order goes in next week? And next week, after seeing what is on sale, I will add at least one more item to my order. As with last time I will send you the payment + 3% by PayPal. Thanks. Roy

Here is a link to a discussion about making aquarium rocks from concrete: http://saltaquarium....CementRock.html

PM sent.

I was reading Anthony Calfo's Book of Coral Propagation this morning, and I remembered that he made a strong statement (page 103) that horizontal is the way to go.

Take two: After playing around a bit more, it occurred to me that the bottom part of the golf tee might be more useful for this because it could fit into smaller holes and cracks. Haven't tried it, but plastic pics (party style?) might work as well.

I've come at the topic from a slightly different direction. Any way, in the past couple days, I have used super glue gel to attach an old-fashioned, plastic golf tee (most seem to be wood) to the bottom of a mount. I use side cutters to cut off the bottom of the tee leaving about an inch (or whatever fits the location). Depending on whether this is an existing mounted coral, or a new mount ready to receive a frag, the tee could be cut before or after gluing. Many of my live rocks have holes or cracks that the remaining tee fits into. Then if I want to move the mount, it just lifts out. So far, this seems to work. Hope this helps. Roy Buchanan

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If Mark doesn't take them today, I'm up for $20 , and I can make it by late this afternoon or early evening. (I will be away from the computer for a while, but I will check back around 2:00 this afternoon.) Thanks.

I would like five. PM sent.

Lookin good! But, what's that first one?

I have a couple of peppermint shrimp that don't seem very interested in eating aptasia. I have had good results with Aptasia-X applied on each aptasia.

Hi Mark, I would suggest being cautious about pest control. Many pesticides are toxic (often affecting the nervous system) and persistent. That's how they kill bugs. Way this, being around dogs, aquariums and humans. Regardless of whether the pesticide has been approved by the EPA (or not), it does not take much education, knowledge of biochemistry, or ethics to become a pesticide applicator. I used to work for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and I could tell many stories about the misuse of chemicals in the environment. Having said all of this, what to do? If possible, try to identify the specific insect or pest that is causing the problem. Do not try to nuke 'em and kill everything. Educate yourself about the pest and possible controls - some are relatively benign. I think the library has relevant books, and the internet should be able to help. As an example, my wife was able to order through the internet a "bait" for wood ants that stopped the queen ant from producing more ants in the colony. (And, yes, wood ants are different than termites.) I think I saw an advertisement for a pest control company in Austin that claimed to use "natural" or "biological" controls, or something like that. I suppose they should be in the Yellow Pages. Anyway, consider it, and good luck. Roy

PM sent on Metallic Green Polyps.

Okay everybody - have a laugh - here's the dumbass question of the year: Has anyone tried using chewing gum to attach a coral mount to a live rock in the aquarium? Here's my story. I have placed some coral mounts (with frags) temporarily on a live rock to see how well the location works. Some of the mounts have been knocked over by a crab or snail. Since I was not ready to glue the mounts down permanently, I was trying to think of something that would hold steady against a crab or snail nudging it, and yet not be too hard to break loose if I needed to move the mount somewhere else. Then the light came on. Why not use chewing gum? Has anyone tried this? Is there a good solution out there? Okay, now, have another laugh.

I'm interested in the green polyps, but I could not figure out which they are and the price. Could you clarify that? Also, if you don't have time for PMs and want to discuss arrangements by phone, could you post your phone number? Thanks. Roy Buchanan

Hi Dena If I understand what you have left, I would like: 4. Orange skirts with almost a hot pink center. I have 1 frag of 6 for $15 8. Steve's Hybrid Euph - 1 head $10 Let me know, and I can meet you at RCA Roy

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Interested.

Out of curiosity, did you move the tank with everything in it? Could give us a brief description of your process in the move?

McDonalds works for me. Name a time. Roy Buchanan 918-1247

Hi all, I just ordered Devils Armor, Mohawk, Prowlers and Super Sunflower for a total of $96.29 paid. Let me know how to make the pickup. Thanks. Roy Buchanan