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Water changes should be second nature. It should be one of the simplest things we do. When I said large water change I did not mean 1/2 the tank. Maybe 50% more than usual. In 15 years in the hobby I have never had anything go wrong with a water change. Maybe I am just lucky. I guess...

Auto top off is a must. Appliance timers for your lights are easy. I agree that auto dosing could be a problem and is not necessary. In addition to your other concerns a battery backup may be in order. I use a upc from a computer. You need just enough to run your return pump in case of...

Hello and welcome fellow newbie. I recently had the experience of making two large moves with livestock and tanks. One was a 150 with 150lbs of rock and all livestock (fish and corals no tanks or hardware). The other was a 75 gallon complete with tank and all hardware. I used 5 gallon buckets...

Are you running a sump? If you are it should be easy to add a fan blowing across the top of the surface and that should bring down the temp some. It worked for me. Needed more top off water after that.

That was some insightful reading. I didn't realize that these minute changes in water parameters can effect your animals in such dramatic ways. The article recommended mixing for as much as a week for the chemical reactions to complete before adding to our tanks. How many of us can afford to...

I put an air conditioner in my basement window recently. I found a low profile on craigslist that fit luckily. It wasn't the model I was looking for but it fit the window so I bought it. I only had 11 and 1/2 inches height to work with. There are not too many air conditioners made to fit that...

My name is John. I am born and raised in NJ. I first fell in love with the hobby while scuba diving in Cancun in 1985. I didn't get my first tank until the early 90's. I was married to my first wife then. Between getting into salt water reefs and computers at the time it is a wonder I stayed...

I also bought the zoo med power sweeps. The sweep didn't last. Still pumping in a mixing tank. I am glad I read about the hang on refugium. I just picked on up included in a used equipment package and thought I might try it on one of my smaller tanks but I guess I won't waste my time.

Use an overflow box and a float switch in the main tank in case you loose siphon. DONE. Cost about $200 altogether. Float switch http://www.marinedepot.com/Ultralife_Float_Switch_Electric_Powered_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_Plug_In_Units-Ultralife-UL1111-FIDPETPU-vi.html Overflow box...

I have read nothing but negative.

I also use a UPC for backup in my tank. Depending on the load you put on the battery it can run long enough. It cannot run your lights. Your pumps and heater can run for better than an hour on one. Reduce the load to just what you feel is sufficient if the power goes out and it will last for...