FarmerTy

Alright, change that to today. I have a bulb flickering like its about to go out for good. Group buy over, I am ordering now! -Ty

Sorry guys, they don't sell the DE on 1000bulbs. I heard SE is where it's at anyways.

Hi Fellow reefers, For those still running metal halides, I will be ordering from 1000bulbs.com next Monday (July 29th). I will be ordering Plusrite 250-watt SE 20k bulbs. They run $13.33/bulb, plus shipping and tax, comes out roughly $15/bulb. Let me know if you want to jump on the order and split shipping and tax. Cheers, -Ty

I wouldn't worry about the hippo tang Mlaw, they are big chickens. He'll hide for a bit and then pop out eventually. Nice additions man!

I am still convinced that T5's give SPS the best coloration of any lighting system! Beautiful tank!

Congrats on the new place Jake!

Sometimes they have a greenish tint under actinics. If you touch them with your finger, you won't feel a thing. They will just close up. But brush the soft parts of your skin against them (below wrist area) and bottom side of forearm and be prepared to feel an itching sensation. Then for the next day or so your skin will blister and it looks horrible. Don't ask me how I know. And yes... they are like the roaches of the coral reef world. Indestructible! -Ty

They also pack a nasty sting too!

Colonial hydroid for sure. Get rid of them or they'll be all over your tank.

I'll take the harlequin if its available. Thanks! -Ty

Nice poll topic. Be nice to do another poll as well with reef tank type (sps, lps and softies, or mixed reef), targwt Ca levels, Alk levels, and Mg levels, use skimmer, type substrate, use refugium, use carbon, use GFO, use biopellets or some other type of carbon dosing, lighting, water change frequency, etc. You get the idea. :-) -Ty

Beautiful! GLWS!

Ball sponges, aiptasia, and amphipods.... oh my!

No problem Derek. People always make fun of me for using the glove but its awesome! I think someone actually took my picture once using it just for kicks. Lol.

Surprisingly the tank still looks very lively in light of all that loss. I couldn't imagine the beauty of all of those fishes swimming around when you had the full population. Sorry for your loss bud!

Advanced aquarist article quote grabs: "These toxins also affect humans, and many people suffer moderate to severe skin and eye irritation if they come into contact with these toxins (Cunningham and Goetz 1996). Some cases in which toxins came into direct contact with the eyes have resulted in blindness, and deaths have even been reported in cases where people have eaten these animals without the proper preparation." -in context of the most toxic species... so may be not applicable but still makes me want to stay away from it. "In general, toxins are only released when the cucumbers are under severe stress (such as being chewed up after being sucked into a powerhead or overflow grate), and a diligent aquarist will usually prevent this from ever happening, and therefore never experience any problems with one of these animals. If however, and accident happens, and the cucumber is stressed severely enough to release its chemical defenses, then a good water change, together with an efficient skimmer and some activated carbon are usually sufficient to prevent any fish from asphyxiating from the soap-like holothurin."

I have an aquaglove that should cover you up to your shoulder if you need it. About to leave but can put it out by the front door if you want to grab it. -Ty

Ah jeez man. That's terrible. Sorry Derek for the rotten luck. Lmk if I can help with anything since I am just down the road. I am heading out for 1-2hrs but should be around after that the rest of the day. -Ty

Welcome back to reefing! The pico is off to a great start.

Just remember to rinse well before placing back into the tank. I did the preventative dip on all my SPS corals back in January and all my amphipods died in the tank. I am barely starting to see them again 5 months later! My system involved dipping them for 7-10 mins in Bayer, swishing them back and forth, then putting them in another bucket with saltwater from the tank and lettting it sit in there for 10 mins, and then swishing them back and forth. Even with the soak and rinse afterwards with fresh tank water, enough Bayer got in the main display to wipe out my amphipods!

I think they are sold already. This guy has a ton for sale. http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/26064-clownfish-for-sale/

What did you use to dip?

Haha, there are plenty of them out there! Go find them Niko!!!

Don't forget this post. Man was ahead of the times. http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/19696-fs-90g-aq-aquactinics-constellation-tunze-nano-wavebox-deltec-ca-rx/

Didn't take you long to bite the bullet and go automatic on the zeo reactor! Haha.