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Hi guys/gals: I'm working through the plans for a new tank. I'm looking at either a 180 or a 210. I'm leaning more towards the 180 because of the 25" height as opposed to the 29" height on the 210 (mainly because of lighting). At any rate, Looking for some suggestions from the veterans. This...

Depending on the type of unit you have, and how many gallons of water you have run through the system, you may be able to backwash it. I have a typhoon III from air water ice, and it has a backwash ability. My TDS rose to about 7 and I ran it on backwash for a couple of hours and it cleared it...

Do you have a TDS meter? I know you are running a softener, but the RO/DI unit is going to remove alot more than the iron/heavy metals that the softener is designed to remove. I was shocked to see things like a phosphate count and nitrate count on my well water when I tested it straight from the...

I've always kept live rock rubble in my sump. Always read it was a good way to keep the pod population thriving without having an unsightly rubble pile in the display. I usually keep it right past the first baffel in the refugium area where it will get the most water flow as the water runs...

how long has the tank been running? I've had "brown algae" or diatom blooms occur months after setting up a tank. Also, if you have been using straight city water, your local municipality could have recently changed their treatment methods. There could be more of or less of something in the...

I use well water down here in southern NJ. While you do not have to deal with things like chlorine and other water treatment chemicals, you often have to contend with mineral traces, nitrates, phosphates, and other pollutants. Checking for all of those parameters you listed will probably not...

Welcome aboard! I started out with a 55 a few years back, so I can share some experiences. 1st, I quickly found the narrow front to back space in the 55 a pain in the behind, and it wasn't long before I found a 90 reef ready to upgrade to. Length wise, the foot print is the same, but the...

Ok, never seen this before... I had my blue spot nasso tang (don't worry guys/gals, she's small) in my 75 gallon tank, which is getting overrun with hair algae. I recently set my 90 gallon up, which also sprung out with a case of hair algae. Here's the strange part. She never touched the...

I don't know what kind of space you have available, but as for top off and water changes, I use brute trash cans on rolling docks. Will cost you a few bucks at the out-lay, but they save a done of back breaking carrying 5 gallon buckets around. I keep one for fresh water top off with just a...

yeah, girlfriend wont put her hand in the tank, but I have a friend of mine who says she'll give me a hand doing it. Gonna give that a go on the 30 gallon and see what happens before I make any drastic moves to take a chance on something that may most likely just starve to death. That concept...

Definitely aquaclear. I have a couple that are over 10 years old and haven't failed. Easy to clean, can change the media to pretty much anything u want with a few mesh bags, and the pumps just don't quit.

Thanks. I'll give it a try again. Could be technique, I'm certainly not an expert! Lol! Biggest problem I think I have is the fact that my hands shake so damned bad. I think I'm gonna try talking a friend of mine into giving it a try. Maybe shell have a steadier hand than I do.

Thanks for all the tips. Main reason I haven't gone with the berghia or the butterflies is I don't want to starve something to death just to eliminate what is essentially a horrible cosmetic problem at this point. I have been reading up on all the options, and I'm considering trying the...

The camel shrimp are in the 90 bow front. That's not a reef tank. The only thing in there are some button polyps that they haven't touched. I think those button polyps would survive in toilet water! LOL! I'm considering the CBB, but I did just see this on youtube. it's kind of a slow watch, but...

Thanks for the suggestions. At this point, the aptasia is on more than one rock. I fight it back, it seems its gone for a week or so, and then they start popping up all over again. I've considered pulling the rocks, but it would basically require yanking the structure apart. When I say they are...

The annoying thing? Went YEARS with NO aptasia. ONE, yes, ONE TINY quarter sized rock with some zoas on it from an aquarium store that will remain nameless because I still like them anyway carried one or two small aptasia into the system, and now the damned things are EVERYWHERE. Just shows...

I've tried peppermint shrimp, they didn't even try to go after them. Hesitant to try CBB, as my understanding is they are delicate and I've even read a few articles that say they can starve from malnutrition even if they do eat the aptasia because they do not get the proper nutritional balance...

Yeah, I was reading that. But, is aptasia ever REALLY gone? uggg.. At this point, I've tried just about everything and I'm getting nothing but temporary relief, after which they come back bigger, badder, and more than ever. Really starting to consider just opening up a "rare north american...

Has anyone had any experience with using Berghia nudibranchs for aptasia control?

It's also called a "calfo style overflow" or just simply a "horizontal overflow". Essentially, your holes are drilled in the back of the tank and the overflow box is built from left to right across the back of the tank. Check this link out for some pictures and a build thread to give you a...