subsea

I still have Sea Robin.

You can answer that question better than anyone. You have maximized evaporation with ceiling fan and open top tank. I can only assume that you are having a temperature issue and wish to increase evaporative cooling. Is it working for you? What is yout tank water temperature and what is your room temperature? As an engineer, for every pound of water evaporated there is 1000 BTU of cooling. At 8.4 lbs per gallon times 1000 BTU, that means each gallon evaporated cools tank down by 8400 BTU.

In my 75G DT, I have noticed some interesting changes in behavior of my clownfish pair. Two months ago, after adding 30 Mollies, I have seen major changes in response to dither fish. Initially, the mollies stayed bunched up in the open with aggression from clowns when mollies got close to anemone. The Purple Pseudochromis would also show aggression from its lair. IMO, due to large numbers, the aggression was diffused with no one fish getting hurt. Now, mollies still dither but spend most of the time grazing on micro film algae with the Yellow Tang. I noticed that the Purple Pseudocrhromis no longer stays in lair but glides among the Mollies with no sign of aggression. Yesterday, I was amazed with the Clowm Pair swimming with no aggression among the Mollies. Later, with Clowns in anemone, the Clowns allowed Mollies in immediate proximity of anemone. Previously, only Yellow Tang was allowed in this area. I will see how long this good behavior continues. La bonne temps roulee. Patrick

I have taken Ambien every day for more than ten years. In an effort to decrease dependence on medication, I stopped two weeks ago. Because excess alcohol prevents RIM sleep, I use a hot bath to sap the energy out of me. In my case, I have a large Jacuzzi which also gives me a water massage. Immediately after getting out of Jacuzzi at 105 degrees, I cool down with Aquifier water at 70 degrees. When preparing for sleep, the body slows down and cools off. It is usually an hour after this hot bath that I lay down for sleep. During this cool down time, I organize projects or surf the net or chat on forums. But I still say "La bonne temps roulee". Patrick

Red Feather Kelp. I will provide a link to this later. I have not identified this macro but have placed sprigs of it in different systems to evaluate its use. Patrick

I salvaged it from some macro that was destroyed by Drawf Angels in my DT. At this time, I can not say that this will be offered. It is a very slow grower. I have taken sprigs of this gorgeous Red Macro and have put it in three different systems with different lights. It was my intention to make designer live rock with corals and decorative macro. If it proves durable, I will include it on the top end of this customized live rock. In that respect, Tim, I am bragging. I also have two more exotic Red Macro that I am growing from a similar meltdown. I wil try to get pictures. They are pretty small and difficult for my skill level of camera use. Anyway, I am giving you my vision for Castille Coral Ranch. Patrick

Bring back sand bed clams. I saw thousands in the surf.

It is not Dragons Breath. I am not sure at this time but research is ongoing.

I think that the best method for reef keeping is what a person choose to use, if it is successful for them. I like discussions in which people give reasons for their choices. I can always learn something new. If their reasoning is flawed and if they are able to receive advice, then I give it. If it is not received well, I do not get my feelings hurt or angry. Patrick

+1 to ethannert and Shascha. I operate 150G tanks without protein skimmers or surface overflows. If I had to pick the single most effective component in reef system design, I would select surface overflow skimmer. I have no real need for a protein skimmer. The only thing that protein skimming does for me is to raise redox values. I accomplish that much cheaper than with a protein skimmer. Patrick

I read the bible. Not to be irrevant, but it puts me to sleep. Patrick

You do not need a sump on such a small tank. To get rid of surface scum requires sufficient aggitation at the surface or a surface skimmer. People tell me that they have eliminated surface skimmer noise by minute adjustment tweaking.

I use HOB or cannistar on all my lagoon and reef tanks. I have the filter model that you have linked on first post. I have the largest model. I found the surface skimming feature noisey. I use it without the surface skimmer feature. I find that the return water from HOB provides enough vertical shear to circulate scum from the surface.

If you need straw for your adobe bricks, I will bring a 5G bucket of Red Ogo. If you don't use it in your concrete mix, we can eat it in a chevichee. Patrick

The Mollies would eat flake food while you watched. Patrick

SCEV, I would not add "sand sifting cucumbers" to a mud filter or refugium. IMO,they will consume your biodiversity. Patrick

These mollies have been in my 75G DT for one month. When they are not schooling, they are grazing on film algae. Every now and again one fish gets to visit Sea Robin in my outside grow out tank. Patrick

A modified version of small syphon hose was to secure a tooth brush to the hose. Scrub some, syphon some. How did the movie say it? Wax on/Wax off. Patrick

When you said lots of color, especially under actinics, you described GSP. I have some Xenia from the Red Sea that glows white and silver under actinics. I find it attractive, but I also find GSP attractive. The Waving Hand Anthenia is somewhat encrusting and grows as fast as GSP and Xenia. It has a blue/green tint on young polyps. It uses up a lot of tank volume as it grows. All three of these soft corals can get invasive if allowed to grow untended. Good luck on yOur choice. Patrick

Your tank looks great. With respect to testing for PO4, I let the tank tell me when to replace phosphate resin. I seldom need phosphate removal resin. I use macro for nutriant export.

My wire tension brace is on 135G tank that is 29" deep. My seaweed grow out tank on back porch is 75G standard tank with no center brace. The glass is 3/8" thick and the tank is 18" high. Do not ask me to tell you the flex in this tank. You can come measure it, I can not see that good. Patrick

The light on the right is advertised as 120W from reef keepers.com for $199 including shipping. My camera in this iPad does not do justice to this light. It is awesome. Patrick

When I broke my center brace on my 135G lagoon, I used a big rubber band to pull together at the top. I used a fish scale to measure 30 lbs of tension. For a permanent repair, I will use stainless steel fishing leader material and apply, the same tension. I have a 75G tank that has no center brace from the manufacture. Patrick

I have been enjoying the difference in these two LED assemblies. The lights on the left are half white and half blue each at 3W for a total 244W. The fixture on the right has one variable rheostat which controls 26 blue LED each at 3W. The second variable rheostat controls 4 red, 2 green, 20 white 3W LED. While watching the Coral Beauty and the Flame Angel swim back and forth across the different lights, all I can say is WOW to the red, blue and yellow. I have separated three sprigs of a Feather Caulerpa and three frags of Frogspawn to be displayed under both lights in the same tank. I will let the coral and the macro decide which light they like the best. Patrick