Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 20

rdmpe · 06/09/2006, 09:12 PM

Sorry to hear about the RTN - that's something I have not experienced yet since I don't have any sps yet...

Nice leather! We recently bought our first leather sofa - I love it... Our tank is right behind it, so you can sit there and have an eye level view of the tank.

I have the rbta in the tank. I picked what I thought would be a good spot for it, but I think it may be too much light for it to be suddenly exposed to. It opened up pretty nicely, but is now slowly on the move I think. It also may be getting a little too much flow. My tank has quite a bit of flow all over, so it's hard to find a well lit spot that the rbta will not get blown around too much. I'm just going to keep an eye on it and see what happens.

My CL intake is not all that diffused. It makes me a little nervous. One time my Atlantic Sea Cucumber (Mr. Hankey) got stuck on it and couldn't seem to get off.

Well now I look over and it seems that the rbta has retreated back into the nook where I originally placed it. Maybe it will stay there. I really want it on the couch side of the tank so I can sit on my lazy butt and watch it

I took some pictures that I'll post in my thread in a little while...

BTW - I did read that WWM article yesterday - good info there. I've been reading up on rbta's around the web to try to get some background on them. I appreciate the info you guys have given me - thanks!

Micki · 06/09/2006, 09:16 PM

Cool furniture Marc! Sorry about your Rtn...

BrianPlankis · 06/09/2006, 09:30 PM

Sorry about the RTN Marc

With my recent RTN on Montiporas I can relate. Hopefully it stops and you can watch it grow new branches

B.

bheron · 06/09/2006, 10:24 PM

Furniture looks great. How about a full shot with the new furn, paint and all?

Hop · 06/09/2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bheron
Furniture looks great. How about a full shot with the new furn, paint and all?

Nice Maija print also! I've been a collector for years

z_rivers · 06/10/2006, 09:21 AM

marc, monitor the anemone and clownfish closely. maroons are one of the most aggressive clowns towards anemones and with an anemone that small they can quickly destroy it.

great thread BTW, ive been learking this whole time.

jnarowe · 06/10/2006, 09:28 AM

Sort of a delayed reaction?

melev · 06/10/2006, 11:45 PM

Thanks Aaron. I really need to try to feed the little guy some food, but it isn't sticky at all. I may cut something meaty up into something the size of half a pea, and force feed a few times to build up its energy.

Today was our club's Frag Swap. We had a great turn out.

melev · 06/10/2006, 11:47 PM

Hop · 06/10/2006, 11:48 PM

Wow, that's great that you have that many people at a frag swap! Sometimes I think it would be so much easier to move to a larger city to help with this hobby.

But then I see all those people

So did you pick up anything special?

original-reefland · 06/11/2006, 12:03 AM

Wow.. you have more people at your frag swap than I think went to IMAC this year!

And a nicer coral selection!

original-reefland · 06/11/2006, 12:05 AM

BTW - that looks like a really big room, where do you do this? You rent out a place for this?

Lordhelmet · 06/11/2006, 12:10 AM

i would have loved to have just gone to that for fun.

melev · 06/11/2006, 12:28 AM

That is a room in a church in Garland. We had some details outlined here on our site:

http://dfwmas.org/News/news.html

Fortunately, one of our members is associated with the church and gives us the room to meet in for free. I'd estimate we had 100 people there, and easily over 1000 frags this time. I don't count them like I wish I could (as we all know I love to track numbers), but there is no doubt we had that many frags.

We have two Frag Swaps a year now. The November one is the one I prefer, because the weather is cooler, but the members wanted a second one so here we are.

The room got hot with so many people there, which bothered many unfortunately. Our raffle was fun, as we had three different types this meeting. Each person that brought at least 10 frags got a special raffle ticket, and the one that was drawn got a $50 gift certificate for the LFS of their choice. Then we had two drawings for a full registration to MACNA, and finally we had our regular raffle. Due to the fact we were surrounded by livestock, I didn't focus on getting livestock (fish typically) for the meeting. Instead, I acquired 5 Maxima clams, and then 10 frags of zoanthids, as well as a bunch of useful drygoods (grounding probe, pH calibration solution, Prime, Chemi Clean, Purple Up, Phosbuster Pro, thermometers, cleaning magnets, etc) - that way no matter how long you were in the hobby, you'd find something you could use.

Some members donated some frags to the raffle instead of taking them back home, which is always appreciated. One person donated a brand new 20lb CO2 tank that was already filled up! Another donated a tank, stand and canopy to a good home.

We combined the Frag Swap with our club's Annual Meeting, which we won't do again. Everyone is simply too excited to trade and buy/sell, but somehow we were able to get the election done and now have three new Board of Director members to fill those empty positions.

melev · 06/11/2006, 12:41 AM

I sold a bunch of stuff I recently plucked out of my tank. All the nano tank owners were able to get small softies, like Devils Hand, my rare Red Mushrooms, Button Polyps, some black Sun Coral, a branching Pink Hammer coral, and phytoplankton.

In return I got some new SPS pieces for the tank. A neon birds nest, a Purple Pillow, a Pink Milli, and one more tabling coral. All are in the prop section. Also I picked up a little Xenia, and a bright green Hammer coral.

Btw, the cyano is going nuts in my prop secton, and starting to appear more in the display tank. I've been wanting to nuke my tank at 200% the proper dosage, but couldn't reach Boyd Enterprises after 4 calls this week. I never did get around to emailing them. So I just went ahead and dosed about 150% (over 1.5 packages of the stuff) which should treat 500g of water even though the tank is 330g total.

ORP was 411 when I started, and dropped to 71. Now it is 201.

Flatlander · 06/11/2006, 04:46 AM

Good pics Marc. Crap, I would love to just be in a room with that many aquarists.

Micki · 06/11/2006, 05:19 AM

Wow, that would be awesome to go to a swap that big! I think there have been a few that size or larger near me but I have never been able to attend for one reason or another.

eidillitih · 06/11/2006, 07:52 AM

Man I can't waite Marc, that seems to be lots of fun.

juststartingout · 06/11/2006, 08:03 AM

Good Morning Marc, could you take a look at this. I would again, like to pick your brain...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=863577
Thanks

Quote:

Originally posted by melev

ORP was 411 when I started, and dropped to 71. Now it is 201.

OMG

jnarowe · 06/11/2006, 10:13 AM

Geez Marc, what a cool swap! The Geek-O-Meter must have been off the scale!

melev · 06/11/2006, 11:20 AM

Doug - I totally agree. Being around other hobbyists, you always come away with a new thought. I highly recommend everyone join a club or form one. It may be a lot of work at first, but it will take off. I just learned yesterday that the East Texas Reefers finally had their first meeting, and 35 people showed up! How cool is that?

Micki - just go. Don't let anything else get in your way, as we always have something we have to do. How often does your area have a frag swap? Once or twice a year? Make it a point to attend, or have the EMT's drop your body off over there before heading to the hospital.

eidillitih - can't wait for what? Your own frag swap?

Juststartingout - isn't it time to update your username? Come-on, how about "Imgettingtherefinally" or "Igetitnow" or "Onaroll"

I'll check out your thread later today. Let's hope the cyano dies back this time.

Jonathan - The only drawback in that environment is it is very noisy. I had a PA system but only 20% could hear me. I would ask them over and over to be quiet, and finally I had to walk through the entire room while Brian carried the PA speaker above head level as we attempted to get the room to quiet down long enough for me to speak for 90 seconds. Later I had to talk again, and one member literally screamed for everyone to hush. She's a mom and a moderator, so she can get away with that. I think. In a way I hate to be rude, but we really need everyone to be quiet when it is time to discuss something that affects every person in the room.

juststartingout · 06/11/2006, 11:31 AM

Marc, yes I have thought of that. Actually I registerd another username, pescado loco, which means fish crazy in spanish. I need to chat with a moderator and get that wrapped up into a premium membership. I have been here long enough to pay and get the benfits that is inclusive of a premium member. (read, been cheap for too long...)

jnarowe · 06/11/2006, 11:44 AM

Marc,

My problem is that I can't actually tolerate the noise. I am going to my first club function on Saturday. It is a Puget Sound Aquarium Society BBQ & Raffle. It should be interesting to meet other local reefers and luckily it is a pinic so it will be outside and the noise issue should be mitigated somewhat. I love the look of all the people at your frag swap but I wouldn't last 10 minutes in that room.

Maybe I can win a new brain in the raffle??

melev · 06/11/2006, 11:48 AM

Or some ear plugs?

NexDog · 06/11/2006, 11:51 AM

The swap looks cool but is it really a swap? I heard mention of buying and selling....

06/09/2006, 09:16 PM	#477
Micki Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,163	Cool furniture Marc! Sorry about your Rtn... __________________ Micki... Western Ohio Reef Club Click the red house for my 125 progress! Current Tank Info: 125 gal. reef, 90 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, 40 gallon. 150 gallon fish only.

06/09/2006, 09:30 PM	#478
BrianPlankis Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,956	Sorry about the RTN Marc With my recent RTN on Montiporas I can relate. Hopefully it stops and you can watch it grow new branches B. __________________ Currently redesigning my 90 gallon tank system to support coral and invertebrate breeding. Click on my red house to see the thread with the progress. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef with 29 gal sump and 8 gal Clownfish species tank

06/09/2006, 10:24 PM	#479
bheron Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Valley Forge, PA Posts: 2,655	Furniture looks great. How about a full shot with the new furn, paint and all? __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 220 since Nov 2005

06/10/2006, 09:21 AM	#481
z_rivers Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cranberry Twp, PA Posts: 1,240	marc, monitor the anemone and clownfish closely. maroons are one of the most aggressive clowns towards anemones and with an anemone that small they can quickly destroy it. great thread BTW, ive been learking this whole time. __________________ -Aaron Current Tank Info: 75gal display, 30 gallon sump/refugium, 2x 250w Hamilton 14K MH, 4,000 gallon koi pond

06/10/2006, 09:28 AM	#482
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Sort of a delayed reaction? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/09/2006, 09:12 PM	#476
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	Sorry to hear about the RTN - that's something I have not experienced yet since I don't have any sps yet... Nice leather! We recently bought our first leather sofa - I love it... Our tank is right behind it, so you can sit there and have an eye level view of the tank. I have the rbta in the tank. I picked what I thought would be a good spot for it, but I think it may be too much light for it to be suddenly exposed to. It opened up pretty nicely, but is now slowly on the move I think. It also may be getting a little too much flow. My tank has quite a bit of flow all over, so it's hard to find a well lit spot that the rbta will not get blown around too much. I'm just going to keep an eye on it and see what happens. My CL intake is not all that diffused. It makes me a little nervous. One time my Atlantic Sea Cucumber (Mr. Hankey) got stuck on it and couldn't seem to get off. Well now I look over and it seems that the rbta has retreated back into the nook where I originally placed it. Maybe it will stay there. I really want it on the couch side of the tank so I can sit on my lazy butt and watch it I took some pictures that I'll post in my thread in a little while... BTW - I did read that WWM article yesterday - good info there. I've been reading up on rbta's around the web to try to get some background on them. I appreciate the info you guys have given me - thanks!

06/10/2006, 11:45 PM	#483
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Thanks Aaron. I really need to try to feed the little guy some food, but it isn't sticky at all. I may cut something meaty up into something the size of half a pea, and force feed a few times to build up its energy. Today was our club's Frag Swap. We had a great turn out.

06/10/2006, 11:47 PM	#484
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217

06/10/2006, 11:48 PM	#485
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Wow, that's great that you have that many people at a frag swap! Sometimes I think it would be so much easier to move to a larger city to help with this hobby. But then I see all those people So did you pick up anything special? __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

06/11/2006, 12:03 AM	#486
original-reefland Reefer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: New York Posts: 2,177	Wow.. you have more people at your frag swap than I think went to IMAC this year! And a nicer coral selection! __________________ Rich Durso Visit My Chunk of the Ocean, click the Red House above. Current Tank Info: 180G Oceanic SPS/Clams/LPS, AB Aquaspace Light 3x250w AB 14K HQI with 4x24w PC Actinic, 2x80w T5, Dual Tunze 6100 and Vortec (10,000 GPH), Euro Reef RC-500 Skimmer.

06/11/2006, 12:05 AM	#487
original-reefland Reefer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: New York Posts: 2,177	BTW - that looks like a really big room, where do you do this? You rent out a place for this? __________________ Rich Durso Visit My Chunk of the Ocean, click the Red House above. Current Tank Info: 180G Oceanic SPS/Clams/LPS, AB Aquaspace Light 3x250w AB 14K HQI with 4x24w PC Actinic, 2x80w T5, Dual Tunze 6100 and Vortec (10,000 GPH), Euro Reef RC-500 Skimmer.

06/11/2006, 12:10 AM	#488
Lordhelmet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,008	i would have loved to have just gone to that for fun. __________________ I need a new signiture Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 14 gallon

06/11/2006, 12:28 AM	#489
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That is a room in a church in Garland. We had some details outlined here on our site: http://dfwmas.org/News/news.html Fortunately, one of our members is associated with the church and gives us the room to meet in for free. I'd estimate we had 100 people there, and easily over 1000 frags this time. I don't count them like I wish I could (as we all know I love to track numbers), but there is no doubt we had that many frags. We have two Frag Swaps a year now. The November one is the one I prefer, because the weather is cooler, but the members wanted a second one so here we are. The room got hot with so many people there, which bothered many unfortunately. Our raffle was fun, as we had three different types this meeting. Each person that brought at least 10 frags got a special raffle ticket, and the one that was drawn got a $50 gift certificate for the LFS of their choice. Then we had two drawings for a full registration to MACNA, and finally we had our regular raffle. Due to the fact we were surrounded by livestock, I didn't focus on getting livestock (fish typically) for the meeting. Instead, I acquired 5 Maxima clams, and then 10 frags of zoanthids, as well as a bunch of useful drygoods (grounding probe, pH calibration solution, Prime, Chemi Clean, Purple Up, Phosbuster Pro, thermometers, cleaning magnets, etc) - that way no matter how long you were in the hobby, you'd find something you could use. Some members donated some frags to the raffle instead of taking them back home, which is always appreciated. One person donated a brand new 20lb CO2 tank that was already filled up! Another donated a tank, stand and canopy to a good home. We combined the Frag Swap with our club's Annual Meeting, which we won't do again. Everyone is simply too excited to trade and buy/sell, but somehow we were able to get the election done and now have three new Board of Director members to fill those empty positions. Last edited by melev; 06/11/2006 at 12:44 AM.

06/11/2006, 12:41 AM	#490
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I sold a bunch of stuff I recently plucked out of my tank. All the nano tank owners were able to get small softies, like Devils Hand, my rare Red Mushrooms, Button Polyps, some black Sun Coral, a branching Pink Hammer coral, and phytoplankton. In return I got some new SPS pieces for the tank. A neon birds nest, a Purple Pillow, a Pink Milli, and one more tabling coral. All are in the prop section. Also I picked up a little Xenia, and a bright green Hammer coral. Btw, the cyano is going nuts in my prop secton, and starting to appear more in the display tank. I've been wanting to nuke my tank at 200% the proper dosage, but couldn't reach Boyd Enterprises after 4 calls this week. I never did get around to emailing them. So I just went ahead and dosed about 150% (over 1.5 packages of the stuff) which should treat 500g of water even though the tank is 330g total. ORP was 411 when I started, and dropped to 71. Now it is 201.

06/11/2006, 04:46 AM	#491
Flatlander Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 2,886	Good pics Marc. Crap, I would love to just be in a room with that many aquarists. __________________ Doug TOTM April 2001 Current Tank Info: 50g sumpless sps tank..Evergrow 2081 led..Apex control..Tunze 9012 skimmer..Tunze calcium reactor..Tunze kalk reactor..2 rw8,s..1 MP40..1 Hydor Korillia 1200gph..Tunze ATO..all propagated sps frags

06/11/2006, 05:19 AM	#492
Micki Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,163	Wow, that would be awesome to go to a swap that big! I think there have been a few that size or larger near me but I have never been able to attend for one reason or another. __________________ Micki... Western Ohio Reef Club Click the red house for my 125 progress! Current Tank Info: 125 gal. reef, 90 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, 40 gallon. 150 gallon fish only.

06/11/2006, 07:52 AM	#493
eidillitih Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Euless Tx. Posts: 1,160	Man I can't waite Marc, that seems to be lots of fun. __________________ What you achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to what you do or fail to do It's the Journey that makes the Destination so sweet C. Taylor, M.Ed. Current Tank Info: 190g, 250lbs Live Rock, Vertex Alpha skimmer, 2x Tunze 6100's, Vortech 40mp, Queit one return, 220watts vho, 750MH, 60gal. Melev Sump, DIY Stand and Canopy, JBJ 1/4 Chiller, and other Man toys

06/11/2006, 10:13 AM	#495
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Geez Marc, what a cool swap! The Geek-O-Meter must have been off the scale! __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/11/2006, 11:20 AM	#496
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Doug - I totally agree. Being around other hobbyists, you always come away with a new thought. I highly recommend everyone join a club or form one. It may be a lot of work at first, but it will take off. I just learned yesterday that the East Texas Reefers finally had their first meeting, and 35 people showed up! How cool is that? Micki - just go. Don't let anything else get in your way, as we always have something we have to do. How often does your area have a frag swap? Once or twice a year? Make it a point to attend, or have the EMT's drop your body off over there before heading to the hospital. eidillitih - can't wait for what? Your own frag swap? Juststartingout - isn't it time to update your username? Come-on, how about "Imgettingtherefinally" or "Igetitnow" or "Onaroll" I'll check out your thread later today. Let's hope the cyano dies back this time. Jonathan - The only drawback in that environment is it is very noisy. I had a PA system but only 20% could hear me. I would ask them over and over to be quiet, and finally I had to walk through the entire room while Brian carried the PA speaker above head level as we attempted to get the room to quiet down long enough for me to speak for 90 seconds. Later I had to talk again, and one member literally screamed for everyone to hush. She's a mom and a moderator, so she can get away with that. I think. In a way I hate to be rude, but we really need everyone to be quiet when it is time to discuss something that affects every person in the room.

06/11/2006, 11:31 AM	#497
juststartingout Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago area Posts: 828	Marc, yes I have thought of that. Actually I registerd another username, pescado loco, which means fish crazy in spanish. I need to chat with a moderator and get that wrapped up into a premium membership. I have been here long enough to pay and get the benfits that is inclusive of a premium member. (read, been cheap for too long...) __________________ "Ability will never catch up with the demand for it."-- Malcolm Forbes Current Tank Info: diy 500 gallon glass tank, XP5000E Skimmer, Ozone, DIY 150 gal sump, 114wt UV, 3 LuninarcIII's w/ Reeflux 12k's, 4) four bulb Tek Elite T5's, Apex Control

06/11/2006, 11:44 AM	#498
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Marc, My problem is that I can't actually tolerate the noise. I am going to my first club function on Saturday. It is a Puget Sound Aquarium Society BBQ & Raffle. It should be interesting to meet other local reefers and luckily it is a pinic so it will be outside and the noise issue should be mitigated somewhat. I love the look of all the people at your frag swap but I wouldn't last 10 minutes in that room. Maybe I can win a new brain in the raffle?? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/11/2006, 11:48 AM	#499
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Or some ear plugs?

06/11/2006, 11:51 AM	#500
NexDog Snail Killer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kyushu, Japan Posts: 4,804	The swap looks cool but is it really a swap? I heard mention of buying and selling.... __________________ Laurence Flynn 340g In-Wall Envision Tank and 150g Sump. Current Tank Info: Deltec 902, PFO hood with 3x400w Radium 20k and 4x96w PC's. Hammerhead closed loop - and 2 x Tunze 6105 (and Vortech still sucks).