Random Thoughts

I've been absent for a while because I've been too busy with college and work, but I'm back now, hopefully for good. I've got a few upgrades coming soon and also some cool "side-tank projects" I want to share with Reef Addicts. But what really prompted me to log on tonight was this: I've been going to school in the mornings and working mostly the graveyard shift, because of this I don't really have much time to interact with my tank other than maintenance. This evening was the first time ...

The local Petco is having their $1/gal tank sale right now. And they have litterally stacks and stacks of 40 breeders. I don't have any tank plans right now, except to upgrade my 55 to a 75 eventually. But those 40's are a nice size and shape for a nano project. Hmmmm...

Phil

Mandarins are not like most fish we keep. Their digestive system is more like a seahorse or pipefish. They don't have a real stomach and can not store food as we, and most fish can. You can tell how often a fish has to eat by the size of it's mouth. A mandarin has a tiny mouth which is not designed to take a big mouthful of anything at any one time. They are also not designed to bite pieces off larger food items.
A mandarin was designed to eat pods and little else. We as aquarists tend ...

Are filter socks worth having in a sump to catch what comes out of the drain line? My sump is running with a bio pellet reactor, reef octopus skimmer, phosban reactor, Refugium with LR, deep sand bed and cheato. Should I keep using the filter sock or run without it? Anyone with thought, I would like to hear them...

Today I decided to have a typhoon in my reef. I do this sometimes twice a year and IMO it is the main secret as to what has kept my tank going so long.
I run a reverse undergravel filter like almost everyone on here! No? Oh I thought everyone did. In any case, this is what I do to keep the tank going. As you can see I have two diatom filters running at the same time. I could do it with one but it takes twice as long. A diatom filter removes anything smaller than a micron which is much ...