Recent content by jda123

Kessils are fine lights for most mixed tanks. If you want strong acro growth, then Kessils rarely do the job as well as other types of lights. If your stuff is growing OK, then who cares? Tearing out overgrown corals sucks. I would run more white for at least some of the day. Personally, I...

NPS are usually easier in super large tanks where the sheer volume can absorb the nasty, dirty feedings of NPS. Small tanks can get polluted very quickly and require a ton of work just to keep the water quality up. Again, nothing impossible, but also not easy. You don't see many smaller NPS...

In saltwater, no3 and no4 exchange ions almost constantly. There is no real difference between the two.

The po4 is likely low because aragonite rock and sand bind it... in huge quantities. When you dose, you just mostly fill the rock up. This cannot happen forever and the next thing that you know, your po4 is hella high and then you have to spend a lot to lower it. Most no3 is low becuase of...

nh4 reading is likely a test kit error... especially if you are using API. Even if it is not, ammonia is the best way to get nitrogen to corals since they cannot process nitrate without first expending a bunch of energy to turn it back into ammonia. Corals that are not thriving often do not...

They easy ones are quite voracious feeders and typically need larger tanks to grow the grub that they graze. The specialized feeders require very special care. All of them require high quality water at/near ocean level parameters and not the way that most hobbyists like to keep their tanks...

Many people do this. If you think that any collector is doing any kind of QT before they ship macro, or corals, then think again. :) Make sure that the local laws and regulations do not prohibit collection. The person in the jeep/ranger with the uniform do not mess around. You can also get...

When the time comes, the emeralds will need fed. They can eat whatever is left over from feeding the fish, but they won't want to live on poop and nothing. If you keep them fed, they are good tank mates... if you starve them, they can pick at coral and fish, just like we would. They also tend...

Emeralds will work, but it will take them a while to get to the ones that you can see. They are eating the ones where they don't have to expose themselves right now. Just like the valonia did not explode overnight, cleanup will take some time too. You can siphon them out of the tank, through...

You might be able to find bulbs if you look really hard. The bulbs show up some times on ebay or elsewhere. Since you have some that work, you have time to look. If you want to use a commercial unit, then the top usually needs to come off since the humidity and heat will ruin most units...

Have sold old, dirty tanks and stand. Free in Longmont. 135g 72x28x18 - 3 holes for CL that have bulkheads in them. 2 for 1.5" bulkhead drains. Needs some silicone scraped off where I put a baffle in. 40 breeder with 1.5 inch hole in right side. 40 breeder with metal stand - no drilled...

I have many bar clams if you need to borrow some. Longmont.

Tenecor is out of business. :( Got to reef2reef and see if more of those folks know anything. I don't even know for sure if that is a problem, or not. It looks bad, but it might be OK. They have a bit more volume for an emergency. My guess is that somebody will say to see if Weld-On 4 will...

If you do decide to heavily use kalk, get a gallon of Muriatic Acid at the hardware store. You can use it to bring pH down if you ever make a mistake with the kalk. It will lower pH very rapidly by turning alk into co2 (not exactly, but close enough for this). It will deplete your alk, but...

If that is acrylic, you can put a patch block over it on the inside. Like 3/4x3/4 and an inch longer than the area (on each side) usually will work. You will have drain far enough for weld-on to adhere. It will be ugly, but works. I have done it in the past a lot with tanks that others have...