Vitaminz

Sure it wasn't....lol Now if only people could edit themselves in real life before talking, then it would be a perfect world...

I have also ran tanks without filter or protein skimmers, and they run just fine on smaller tanks, but when you get out of the nano tanks (under 25g) then I am a firm believer in a sump and protein skimmer. If you have time for weekly water changes, then more power to you. But with my schedule, I am lucky to do a water change once a month. Also when you have clams that go thru their mating in your tank, or have a huge anemone bit the bullet in your tank, and the water it cloudy as hell, you will appreciate not doing a huge water change, and let the skimmer go crazy and clear it up in a day. Also I have abandon the live sand in my tank, and switched out to rubble as the medium of choice. Simply because over time the sand get ugly and gross looking, while the rubble provides a nice clean look. Again you have to remember that in this hobby, after all these years, we really have no one rule that applies to all tanks, what will work for some, might not work for others. Plus the fact that rules of how to do things, is always changing. Jeff

Why don't you just build one?? Could always use a metal stand, for that size they are usually cheap. Then either cover it with a curtain, or if you are handy, build a wooden skirt around it with a door.

I would still put filtration in, if it was me. If you search thru my posts, you will see I started out with a 10g nano and went from there. You will still need a nano power head for movement. Skimmer won't matter on that small of a system, just have to do weekly water changes. Unless you wanted to get adventerous and do an overflow into a sump. With that size of system, i would say a max of 3 fish, but if you need some coral frags, I may have a few beginer ones for you. Jeff

I wouldn't lie to you....*blink blink*...or would I ??? lol

Barbel erosion, I believe, is I have corys on various different substrates and I really believe the erosion issue is unrelated. I've had some that lost barbels and grown them back, back before I went over to the Salt Side. I'd just step up on the frequency of water changes to keep the water fresh and if the issue persists consider treating with an antibiotic. Jeff

That really sucks...sorry to hear that. But you have to remember that people will take advantage of any situation or person they can. To be honest, you allowed yourself to get in way to deep with them stringing you along. Are you more mad at yourself or them? Any time that I go into a business to do maintenance on a tank, I simply say this is my fee, my results speak for them selves, else you fire me. Simple as that...then you don't get caught up in all this BS. But because of your good nature, people see that, and will prey on that. Just my 2 cents worth. Jeff

The first day I put them up, they were comparable to the MH, these apparently are those China knock offs. These units came from Aquarium Illusions. I haven't noticed any drop off at all, since I rewired them.

So it has been a weee bit since the last update. So I have finally hitched on the LED wagon and got a wicked deal on 2 LED lights. So I took down my 2x250MH and 2 T5 light and started in on mounting the LED so that it hangs. Had to re-wire the LED fixtures as the cords were a little frayed, not a big deal, fixed in an hour and 2 beers. They have been up and running over my tank since Friday, no bleaching or anything, so think it may be safe to put the old light up on the buy and sell section soon. Also installed some remote control RGB LED moon lights into the canopy. Now onto the picture: LED Lights: Tank Photo's: With just the Blue's on: With just the White's on: Both on: Random Shots:

Maybe able to help you out there....I have a 2 bulb T5HO fixture from Aquagiant that is currently on my daughters 10g fresh water tank....if you wanted to tradies...that would work out well. Jeff

Using fresh water on the live rock, should kill everything marine in the rock, Just to make sure, I would dry it out for about a week. Then you can put it back in the tank, or sump. Most tank tear downs are because people just don't have the time it takes to maintain a tank, happens all the time. But good score on the live rock! Jeff

dechlorinate water...really??? bahahahaha

Also, what salt are they using? Cheap salts have their own issues. Also are they dosing with any chemicals? Here is the way I see it: Cheap salt = more dosing with chemicals More expensive = less dosing So it ends up being about the same cost in the end. MMax brings up a good point....lighting...what are they currently running and what k of bulbs? Jeff

You can't do that with Salt Water.... The delicate biological balance will be thrown out of whack, and it will start affecting allot of things. And if things start dying because the balance it throw too much out, then your corals will start to die and the inhabitants, which will cause an ammonia spike...and we all know where that leads down. I would recommend doing a 10- 20% water change every week, for max of 4 weeks. Just my 2 cents. Jeff

I will assume that since you are asking about filtration systems, the tank isn't drilled? If the tank is not already drilled, might I suggest doing that... The sump idea is by far the best instead of messing around with filters. Also another plus to the sump idea, is that you can hide all your equipment down under!! If you are going to use a canister filter, take out all the media except for the carbon, and fill it with live rubble. A hang on back filter, you can at-least attach a light to it, to grow your live rock, and possible fuge. As for lights, IME I would honestly go higher end then you currently need, because as the salt bug starts to hit you, you will keep on expanding your requirements. Lights are the last thing you want to cheap out on. As for the pumps, really depends on the water flow you want to achieve, you can go low tech, or high tech with a wave controller. There is also the fact that you haven't touched on, and that is the skimmer, unless you are going to do weekly water changes. Any ways, those are just some general advice I can give you, if you have any other questions, or want more details on the above statements, I would be more than happy to try and answer them. Just remember, in this hobby, what works on one or more tanks, may not work on yours. Jeff

If you create a spot that suites their needs, they don't go wandering. They only move because they don't like where you put them for one reason or another. IMO the one thing they hate the most, is direct water flow. I find the best solution, is if you create a shelter for them. Again just my 2 cents worth. Jeff

Can you post what the levels are of the tank? If you don't have a full test kit, you can borrow mine.

Definatly Reb Bubble Algae, this stuff spreads like wildfire. Don't burst the bubbles, they will release spores and spread every where. The only way I got rid of mine, was to take the rock out and dry it out. The problem with canister filters, is they become nitrate breading ground very quickly. My suggestion is to remove all the media from it, and put live rubble in it with carbon. If you need any other info, let me know. Jeff

I have run salt water tanks with both R/O only water (Bottle, R/O water from the LFS, and R/O filter), and tap water. And to be honest, didn't really noticed a pay off for the effort involved in R/O when compared to tap water. For my current tank, I just plumbed in a water line directly to my auto top off. What I did find made the huge difference.... spectrum of your bulbs and carbon and GFO. And of course your water changes always helps...lol Jeff

That little guy is a decorator crab, he is one of my kids favourites to watch in the tank. If unsure of any of the corals, just ask, to many names to list...lol Jeff

I ordered my online via Ebay, they are dirty cheap and work very well. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/290587608061?...84.m1439.l2649

Pictures Part 2

So it has been a while since I have updated anything on this tank...Well you know how it goes, you get busy with work and it falls to the background. Well time for some updated pictures!!!

So Got a free 90g custom tank from a friend of mine, and finally got around to setting it up. Transfered all my livestock, corals and live rock from the 50g tank at my work. Also purchase 25lb of base rock to add to the take as well. So here are the pictures from about 1 week after the setup and transfer: