subsea

Calcium hydroxide (kalkwassers) is a caustic solution used to increase alkalinity and calcium. Alkalinity is the ability of the water to buffer itself and resist changes in pH, I personnelly don't use it as I get buffering from arrogonite in my deep sand bed.

I am ready to catch some speckled trout. Looking forward to seeing you at Goose Island. Glad you finished with your auto repairs. I am still evaluating the expense of an engine on my 1999 Camray. Patrick

I have always liked planted tanks. Very nice. To a certain degree, the 10G lagoon tank giveaways in April were set up somewhat similiar to your planted tank. On my 135G lagoon, I had originaally planned on digging up some marsh mud at the coast. I instead opted for a freswater substrate put out by Seachem, which is high in iron. Patrick

I could not timely remove the fourth sparkplug. The access is a 6" recessed hole with a ceramic tube to protect plug wire inside engine block. The #4 plug had much wet oil in cylinder port and #3 plug remains in cylinder block. Compression shows 60 psi on 1,2 and 4 cylinders. I am confused. Good readings would be 175 psi. I still suspect broke timing belt. The cover for timing belt is against an engine mount and requires two people to obseve operation of timing belt. I will wait on a second person. I located a used engine for $1200. It is hard to justify spending much money on an old car as this.

Very nice thread. I must admit, that I am happy that you won one of the 10G lagoon. Between you and Kim is an appreciation for the "little guys". Patrick

While I have never had anything bigger than 150G tank, I do not long for bigger. I like 75G as a good size to maintain. With the 4' length, many light options to fit that tank. At some point, getting bigger generates its own problems. Talk with Timfish as he has set up more tanks in his maintenance business than most people in ten lifetimes. Patrick

The engine overheated because of .5 gallon low on water in radiator. Cap is new. Engine has 220K miles and I am not to concerned about how the water got low in the radiator. I bought the car new. The engine does not start. It is parked at my home after $300 worth of towing fees. Yes, I can see blow-by near one cylinder between head gasket and block. However, it does not look like a new event. Even if it was, it should not stop the other three cylinders from firing. A friend is bringing a compression gauge, so that I can verify condition of engine. However, I have never changed spark plugs on this vehicle and am befudled as to how to gain access to the plugs. I will be loooking at links on line. Patrick PS There is no water in engine oil. Oil quantity and quality is OK.

My 1999 Camray overheated and stranded me on MoPac. No worries, Mike Frame to the rescue. Thank you for getting me off the highway Friday afternoon. I need a little troubleshooting direction. Engine overheated because of low water in radiator. When trying to start engine, at this time, it seems to be tuning over much faster then normal. No attempt at ignition. Would a broken timing belt prevent valves from opening and consequently no compression in piston chambers? I was looking for a way to remove valve covers to observe operation of cam shaft. My day laborer has put on his mechanic cap and we are working on it. Patrick

I have a 1600GPH powerhead in the tank for circulation if that is what you are referring to. The powerhad for in tank circulation should address low oxygen during night times. I am skimmerless, no protein skimmer, but I do recommend surface skimming to remove surface scum. Usually this is accomplished as the water source to the sump. Patrick

I would remove the bio-wheel. If you had a good nitrate export mechanism, the bio-wheel would not be an issue. Does the tank have a surface skimmer to feed the sump water from tank? If so, any cascade splasing would oxygenate the tank water. This is particularly important during lights out when pH and oxygen both decrease. Patrick

I thought NPS were corals, not inverts? NPS are corals and they require high nutriant systems and target feeding. Filter feding inverts are equally at home in these systems. I incorrectly did not tie the two thoughts together. Patrick

Michael, your display is awesome looking. Please turn me on to your source of inverts. Patrick

Without a doubt, these lagoon systems are best operated as a high nutriant system. In my opinion these would be perfect to house NPS inverts. Patrick

I see no problem with these miniture fan worms. In fact, I would consider it a good sign of a healty mature tank. Patrick

Some years back, bristle worms were viewed in a negative way. With respect to detrivores, they are one of the best values for the money. While I am not buying up bristle worms and flat worms, I see no problems with this biodiversity. Patrick

Who said weak acd? I am still lost in the sixtys. Patrick

If you came this far, it would be yours as a freebie. Patrick

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valonia_ventricosa We are too far away from each other for a small purchase such as one Emeral Crab. I merely mentioned it as a natural grazer of Valonia. I have seen different colored bubble algae and I find it attractive and different. It is not an epidemic to panic over. In fact, it is a good sign of a mature reef tank. Given an opportunity, if it were not for herbivores, most of the reefs of the world would be covered in algae. Patrick

I recommend Emerald Crabs. In fact, I have a large Ruby Emerald Crab in my 75G Growout Tank on my exterior back poarch. Patrick

Very pretty purple gorgonian, I am green with envy. Patrick

I don't use chaeto because not much eats it. Patrick As things turned out, I did have some chaetomorphy in my 135G lagoon tank when two of the Calurpaes went sexual (very promiscuous of them). I had two other Calurpaes that did not go sexual. Several Red Gracilarias, Red Kelp and Dragons Breath were also unaffected by the slim down of two of the fast growing Calurpaes. Most of the corals responded in a negative way for the first day but returned to their pomp the next day. Patrick

No problem at all with any other inhabitants. Fish, inverts, coral all look great. As far as the algae going sexual, I expected to have cloudy water and an increase in nitrates. Interesting! I had already put in an order for a few more macros before all this happened. I'll try a reduced photoperiod and possibly only run 2 of the 4 bulbs. I'm surprised that it's possible to have too much light on algae. I am working on involving a seaweed scientist in this discussion. I do not think that to much light by itself will make macro go sexual. A combinatin of several things limit the growth but the light energy is calling for maximum growth. More discussion later. Patrick

I don't use chaeto because not much eats it. Patrick