Some people swear by one brand of heater or another, but I've seen just about all of them fail at some point in time (that may range from weeks to years). I've been using one of the Hydor heaters and I like the durable construction and it seems to work well enough--the downside is that it is slightl...

Any way we can get pics of the rock? As it is now? Live rock needs powerheads/heater/lights to stay live rock. If its just been sitting in saltwater alone... I'll make a offer on the rock if you can snap pics, thanks!! Whatd you do with the sand? I'm not making an offer, but just reiterating the ab...

I made a shelf under my stand to house my MP40 controller and dosing pumps.

If it is older, used sand, then phosphate dissolution is possible. If it is fresh, dry sand, then the possibility of phosphate dissolution, especially in a new tank with alkalinity supplementation, is very low. In an alkaline, CaCO3-saturated environment, calcium carbonate sands tend to bind phospha...

Looks like everything is coming together nicely. Decent, high-end equipment and sturdy craftsmanship on the stand--looking forward to see how it all turns out.

Do the Bluray players have any network functionality w/apps and/or widgets?

Unlike Chaetomorpha, maiden's hair is a bit more demanding, mostly in that it requires a lot of water motion (more light-hungry, as well)--as much or more than many corals. It won't work well in a sump and it isn't as fast growing as Chaetomorpha. It has also been implicated in secreting compounds t...

That's the kind of stuff that marks obsessiveness. Taking it a bit too far. I love my aquaria and have over the years, but you have to draw a line somewhere.

Small update, but no pics (tank looks pretty nasty from some neglect). Despite how it looks, I noticed tonight that my Thalassia (a.k.a turtle grass) has actually sprouted! I found a little daughter plantlet very close to the main stalk. It seems as though it is finally settling in and growing. Cool...

Looks sturdy to say the least. Looking forward to seeing more.

Not a bad idea ^^--should be food-grade PP or PET, so quite suitable for our use.

There are certain things that membranes are rather less suited for as far as removal is concerned. The same is true of DI resins. Both complement each other quite well. In typical cases, membranes are good at removing larger molecules and particles that are tightly bound with water molecules. DI res...

Not entirely sure why (though I have some idea possibly) T5s seem to bleach things more easily than halides, but that was at least the case for me. Having some of the same corals under 250w of 10K halide only 6" from the water (in an 18x18 square) vs 500w of T5s in double that area, the latter ...

Unless the water motion is focused and forceful, I doubt the water motion is too high. The T5s could potentially be to blame, as it seems to be easier to damage corals with them. That makes acclimation under T5s all the more important. If you've ruled out placement and micropredators/parasites, you ...

Isnt our area bad in the Gulf area at certain times of the year with red tide from dinoflagent toxins also from all the nutrients and pollution. Yes, especially in the warmer months. The (often) significantly lower salinity also encourages other nasties like Vibrio sp. If anything, it is slightly s...