Featured Threads Archive

Here's my tiny one

I have a Red Sea Reefer 170 and like most people I've become tired of cleaning filter socks. As a result, I spent some time searching then internet for inspiration and came up with an alternative that works pretty well using a filter pad. So, here is what I came up with and the steps I used to make it:

1. I cut the sock portion off a filter sock so I ended up with the plastic ring.

2. I searched the Dollar Tree store, Walmart, and any other store I could think of that might have a plastic container to fit the plastic ring. I finally found a liter bottle at a store call Tap Plastic.

3. I cut the top portion of the bottle off and placed the ring around the top of the bottle. I used silicone to glue the two pieces of plastic together (inside top and outside).

4. I then marked a series of holes approx. 1/2" up from the bottom of the bottle, all around the bottle. I used a 1/4" drill bit and drilled the holes in approx. 1" segments around the circumference. You may need more or less holes, or bigger, depending on your flow. I got lucky and my initial pattern worked great without raising or lowering my sump water height.

5. Once the silicone is dry and the holes are drilled, then I cut a piece of filter pad to fit inside the bottle. You can fill it as full as you'd like. I chose to use a single layer on the outside edge so the water can flow down into the bottle, then though the floss and out the holes.

6. You could make two and simple pull one out and insert another with a clean filter pad or just pull the dirty pad out and replace with clean pad. Easy Peezy, Lemon Squezzy, no filter sock to clean. So far its been three days and everything it working great. I figure if I can get a week out of a filter pad it will be worth it.

Your oldest fish, how old and what kind of fish. Oh, and share some pics

I'll start...


My boy blue, my powder blue tang came in from blue zoo aquatics like this..



Fast forward 12 years and here he is now...



I love this guy. My all time favorite fish.

My wife says i'm addicted to r2r.Sense discovering r2r I find my self trolling this site more than I watch or maintain my tank,Like an alcoholic one thread (drink) is to many and 100 in not enough.I actually find myself rushing home to check the days posts.Is this a problem that needs an intervention?Should I start a 12 step program in the basement of my local church?I also wonder if i'm the only one experiencing this problem and how many members if any feel they have a the same problem.It would be nice to know I am not dealing with this demon alone.Maybe one day I will here the words hiiiiiiiiiiii mike and know I have the support my wife thinks I need.

So I just finished my video detailing my DIY 3D printed protein skimmer, check it out I would greatly appreciate it!!

Hello! Everyone! This is my first reeftank,it`s a sps tank. The tank specs, equipment, and livestock are as follows:

Aquarium and Stand
Tank size: Marineland corner flow 40*40*40cm
Sump： H28*W36*L36cm

Sump & Skimmer
Skimmer:AE301
Return pump:AT104 (2000L/h)

Other
Water Circulation:MP10*1 WP10*2
Heating: 200W heater
Lighting: DIY LED 75W, DIY 24w blue LED
Kamoer Doser for Two little fishies C-Balance

Current params (Salifert kits), stable for over a month now:
KH:8.3
CA:420
Mg:1380

Nitrates 0.2
Phosphate 0.03 (by hanna)

Maintenance
I feed fish everyday that use HIKARI SEAWEED EXTREME and Firstbite Marine Pellets.
I do a 10% water change once a week. At this time I also vacuum part of the Standard that I can reach.
I clean the skimmer cup once a week.
I clean the skimmer once in 6 months and clean the Water Circulation once in 1 month.

Established May 2015


FTS

Ok I'll just go ahead and admit it. It's embarrassing though. I hate it. I want to change it. I have tried everything.

I suck at keeping sps.

I love all types of corals. I love moving and swaying corals. I love corals that grow in little button colonies. I love those monstrous big mouthed meaty corals that love to eat! But I also love colorful sticks and protruding acro polyps.

In the past I have kept some some acros and montipora successfully but as of the last few years success has been pretty abysmal. I should also say that over the past few months I have been doing "ok" with a few tester frags but I'm tired of tester frags! I want to buy some NICE pieces but I'm afraid. To those that can grow them like weeds it even seems as easy as riding a bike but I'm stuck here with bike and still have the training wheels on.



PICK ONE!

Encourage me please!
Enlighten me please!
Teach me please!
Whine with me please!

What about you? Do you like SPS corals and wish you could keep them more successfully?



@Sahin's Sps Dominated Reef for fun....

It's finally here!

We've wrapped up our initial testing of T5 bulb longevity and in this episode we share the results of running bulbs for a simulated 2yrs as well as results we found from using them in dimmable fixtures at 0%-100% as well as 0%-50%.

Before you watch this episode, please do the community a favor and vote in the poll above so we can all get an idea of when a majority of us change bulbs.

"Wow you have an amazing tank" so are you smarter than me? I don't think so.

In this hobby you'll face trial and tribulations just like anything else in life. Joyous times and sad times. Growing times and just plain ignorant times! That being said have you ever seen someone else's amazing tank and think to yourself, "I'm just as smart as that guy?"

I don't mean this to sound bad or judgemental trust me, but I've known people and based on what I know about them and have seen of them I'm kinda shocked at how successful they really are when it comes to growing corals in their reef tank. There are many things we can successfully do in a reef tank but for argument sake let's talk GROWING CORALS! When I say growing corals I mean things like, corals are thriving, corals are colorful, corals are growing, etc.

So WHY oh why am I struggling to keep monti caps alive or keep basic "beginner" corals alive much less keeping them colorful? This is a rhetorical question because for some reason my "new" tank just started clicking and corals are growing and sps are colorful and coralline is the most dominant algae! My new, almost 1 1/2 year old tank is doing better than ever!

I'm just as smart right? So what the heck am I doing now that I wasn't doing then?

Honestly?

I'm hesitant to say because of the newer methods of maintaining a reef tank but for me I believe it's as simple an answer as this, water changes! Could that be the final piece to the puzzle? I've added more flow, I've added more equipment, I've added UV, I've tweaked my CUC, I've changed my filters, I've done this and done that but not until now have I seen glimpses of glory past. Glimpses of color and growth. Glimpse of, gasp, success?

Maybe the combo of gear and measures I have taken have finally equaled something more than negative? Maybe my aquarium is reaching maturity? Maybe the water changes have been the cherry on top of the proverbial reef tank cake! Maybe it's luck?

I don't know but one thing I do know is that my reef addiction is at an all time high! As you can tell by my ramblings, quotes and exclamation points I am fully persuaded that I am on the road to reef glory!

For those of you that care I started changing about 15% of water each week for a 60% monthly turn over. That's no small feat for me and my 400+ gallon system but man for now it seems totally worth it!

For those of you who will ask for photos.....soon! It's not amazing yet but frags are growing and colors are awesome! For now here is where it all began....



Would love to hear your thoughts on this?

Are you just as smart as "the other guy?"

Thought it might be nice to honor our veteran's going in to this holiday weekend. Yes, I realize the meaning behind Memorial Day, but it's always good to say Thank You!

Let us know if you are a US Veteran so we can pay our thanks. I for one am eternally grateful for your service.

So, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

So at 60 years young I decided to get back into the hobby after being out for 28 years.
I did think maybe I was too old but 60 is the new 40, right????????
I purchased a used 60 gallon cube and stand off craigslist. I made a mounting board to hold all my electrical on the back. Because of the door on the stand I made a sliding platform to pull my 20 gallon sump out so I can service it.
My wife is thrilled (if you believe me I have some swamp land to sell) at all the boxes I've received of aquarium products. In fact the UPS and Fed Ex drivers and I are on a first name basis now!
I just hope she never sells it for what I told her I have in it because she is going to lose a ton!
Anyway, I would like to hear how many of you guys are in your 60's or 70's and are still enjoying the hobby.

UPDATE 9-11-17: This is gaining a lot of steam and it's gonna cost a ton of money. We want to create it if you will use it! PLEASE VOTE and please continue to add your ideas and input! If you click MAYBE please comment with what you would want to see in order to use the marketplace.

Hello R2R Members!

We have been mulling the idea of a comprehensive classified system that I hope would really change the face of how people buy and sell saltwater aquarium items on R2R and even on the internet. Many have tried to create an ebay style system for just this thing but they fail because they don't have the community of users like we have. Whatever it is we will have to pay to have it developed and it would be a pretty big undertaking.

We are looking to create an Amazon(ish) style market for all things saltwater aquariums.

With that being said I want you to pretend that there is no limits on what we can do and I would love to hear your ideas for a Reef Classified System that would be the all in one place to shop for aquarium related items.

What would you like to be able to do?
What would you like to see?
How would you like to buy, sell and trade?
Integrated Robust Feedback System for keeping people accountable?
How would you like it to look within the forum?
Seller levels from hobbyists to commercial?
Trading? What could set that apart?

Let the ideas fly! Nothing is too little or too big!

Introduction:

Hi! My name is Anton Post and I’m a 29 year old guy from the Netherlands that got into reef tanks three years ago. I’m currently keeping a Red Sea Reefer 525 that has been running since January 2016. I’m very honored to be featured in this month’s Reef of the Month article on R2R! I hope you enjoy the article and pictures. If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask in the tank thread!


System Profile:

• Display tank: Red Sea Reefer 525
• Glass or Acrylic: Glass
• Stand: Provided by Red Sea
• Sump: Provided by Red Sea
• Protein skimmer: Vertex Alpha 200
• Carbon/phosphate filtration: Vertex canister filter with Rowaphos and Red Sea Carbon (both in separate bags)
• Return pump: Jebao DCT8000
• Water circulation: Maxspect Gyre XF250 w/ advanced controller
• Lighting (display): Giesemann Aurora 150cm
• Calcium/alkalinity/magnesium dosing: Yes, Balling Classic method
• Auto top-off: Provided by Red Sea
• Heating/cooling: Teco TK500 for both cooling and heating
• System control: Nothing specific, my Jebao DP-4 is doing the dosing, that’s it
• Any other details: UV-c 36W for water filtration, Dosing vodka/vinegar for no3/p04 reduction

Water Circulation and Flow Summary and Objectives:

I’m using the Maxspect Gyre to create a good circular flow in my tank. Before the XF250 I had an XF150 with the regular controller, and the XF250 with the advanced controller is definitely an upgrade. I have it running in a 10-60% random pattern which really creates a nice flow through the entire tank. My reefscape is fairly light which enables good water circulation, even in the bottom areas. I did also apply a Loc-Line double outlet on the standard Red Sea outlet to aim the water coming into the tank to where I want.
Water Parameters:

• Temp: 25-26 degrees Celsius
• pH: 8.0
• Specific gravity: 1.026-1.027
• NO3: 10-20
• Ca: 450
• Alk: 8.0
• Mg: 1600
• PO4: 0.20

Lighting Summary and Objectives:

I have chosen a hybrid light since this gives me the most flexibility in setting the light intensity and coloration. The fixture has 4x75w LED units and 4x80w T5 bulbs. For the T5’s I’m using ATI’s Coral Plus bulbs in all four slots. For the LED pads I’m only using the Royal Blue and Marine Blue channels. This combination of T5 and LED gives me a color scheme that I really enjoy. Also, corals thrive under these lights.

Photoperiod: 8:00 am until 23:30 PM. (See scheme for reference)

Filtration and Water Quality Summary and Objectives:

Since my reef is LPS, Zoanthus and Ricordea heavy, I try to keep at least some nitrates and phosphates in my tank for better growth. Additionally, I have some fish that eat quite slow so I tend to overfeed to give every tank inhabitant time to fill its belly properly. Luckily the nuisance algae are kept to a minimum, the only minor inconvenience is that I have to clean my glass every other day to get rid of the green layer that slowly builds up.


Calcium/Alkalinity/Magnesium Summary and Objectives:

Since I’m using the Balling Classic method, I always dose my Ca, Alk, and Mg in the same amounts, this keeps those three values very stable over time. I try to stick to recommended values for Ca and Alk (450/8), but I tend to keep the Mg a little higher (1600) since I’ve seen good results doing that (less nuisance algae, good coloration and polyp extension).

Tank Inhabitants—Fish:

1. Copperband Butterfly (since November 2014)
2. 2x Mandarin Fish (Synchiropus splendidus)
3. 2x Pterapogon kauderni
4. 4x Evansi Anthias
5. 2x Macroparynghodon Meleagris (male + female)
6. 1x corythoichthys intestinalis
7. 1x ostracion cubicus
8. 1x salarias fasciatus
9. 1x Bristletooth Tomini Tang
10. 1x equetus punctatus (juvenile)


Other Invertebrates:

1. 2x Sea Urchin
2. 2x Sand Sifting Seastar
3. Various snales, including an Abalone Snail


Tank Inhabitants— Corals:

I could list them, but I’ll leave the pictures to speak for themselves. My tank mostly has soft corals varying from LPS to zoa’s, softies and ricordea. I do have some SPS pieces but they are scarce and positioned on top of the reef to give them as much light and flow as possible. Also, since my nitrates and phosphates are relatively high, SPS won’t be as colorful as they could be in an ULN system.

So here are a few pics that I saw floating in an old post recently:

















What are some things you've done with skulls or other cool forms in your reef?

I remember when the zoa craze of 2004 hit and the world was changed forever! Well the aquarium world that is! Since that time many many different morphs have entered the trade and with it the prices increased! Old popular morphs lost value and excitement and new morphs broke record pricing.

That being said has the zoa machine slowed? Is it still as popular as it once was or am I the one who lost my zeal for those little beautiful animal buttons?

A few old school I don't see anymore...

creamsicle


Ruby Red


Cat Eye (looks kinda plain but that yellow/green mouth popped)


Armageddon (not the fake ones)

It feels like I check in roughly every twenty minutes all day long at work

World Wide Corals 11th Anniversary LIVE SALE!

Can you believe it?

It's been about four and a half years since we started the BRS Clownfish Harem tank and today, it's coming to an end. Find out what we learned over the years and what we plan to do with the new space!

Oh, don't forget we're giving away the BRS160 Clown Babies as well! Two lucky reefers will each get around 20-babies to start their own harem tanks! Get your tanks ready!
SIGN UP HERE!