400 gallons of saltwater running through my house.

[DevonM]

Wow! Nice tank. I love the clams. That mantis shrimp is so cool! I would love to have one in its own tank. They remind me of some kind of alien. I really like that you built the tank yourself. I would love to do that if it was safe. You obviously knew what you were doing though. Your tank looks really pretty! =) Merry Christmas.

Thank you for the compliments! The next tank I build will be a built-in (or sump in the basement) and we hope for around a 400 gallon display. I've learned a lot from building this one though! Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[kevinpo]

NIce video Devon! I like that you don't have so much rock.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[DevonM]

NIce video Devon! I like that you don't have so much rock.

Cheers,
Kevin

Thanks Kevin,

When I built my tank I already had a stand I wanted to use, so the footprint was already determined. Wish it was a bit longer front to back, more proportioned like your 600. Can't wait to build, or have another one built. Thanks again. Merry Christmas!

 

[DevonM]

Chaeto

Hey Gang,

If anyone is in Missoula sometime in the near future and needs a handful of chaeto, let me know. I think Vicki & Cynthia were looking for a bit. I've already dropped some off at Dan's shop (Reefmissoula) for him to share.

Devon

 

[CarlaW]

Nice vid my friend

 

[DevonM]

Thanks Charlie

 

[Frankie]

Sweet clams dude! Very nice picture quality also.

 

[DevonM]

Thanks! I have a lot to learn and this seems like a great place to do it.

 

[DevonM]

American Marine Pinpoint II Calcium Monitor

Hey RF Gang,

I was cleaning out my closet last night and found an American Marine Pinpoint II Calcium Monitor that I've been meaning to sell for a year or so. I've placed it on Ebay with no reserve, so if you know someone who is looking for a calcium monitor please let them know. I've also posted it in the classifieds here on Reef Frontiers.

Thanks!

Here's the link:
American Marine Pinpoint II Calcium Monitor: NO RESERVE - eBay (item 230566630641 end time Jan-02-11 22:31:47 PST)

 

[DevonM]

I'm visiting my mother in AZ, wondering how my tank is doing... No fishy friends to look at here, lol.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's celebration (or at least could stay awake for it)!

 

[CarlaW]

Say hello to mom for me.

Bring Chaeto, I have room.

 

[DevonM]

She says hello. I will try to remember to bring a bunch of chaeto up.

 

[CarlaW]

Thanx

 

[DevonM]

Pyramid Snails & pH...

Pyramid Snails & pH...

Yep, just found about 100 pyramid snails on my clams this evening. :suspicious:


Pyramid Snails by devonmorton, on Flickr

I noticed that my bigger Squamosa Clam was retracted and its mantle wasn't out all the way, showing the snails on the rim of the shell. After spotting this I found that 2 of my other 3 clams also had a few snails on them. So, Shelby helped me pull the infected clams out and brush them down with a toothbrush. Pretty funny event as the big squamosa (12") shot a large stream of water into Shelby's face as I was brushing it. :nono: :rofl:, in that order! It would have been a great one for YouTube!

I also picked up two 6 Line Wrasses to hopefully cut down the chance of these little mantle eating critters from showing up again! :evil: That is if the red hawk fish will let both of the wrasses live in the tank. We will see.

I've also noticed that I've had a more difficult than normal time keeping my pH and Alk up. Is there a possibility of having too much macro algae? To the point that it causes large pH swings on the system? I suppose that about half my 90 is full of chaeto. Thoughts?

 

[CarlaW]

Winter time is bad for Ph because there are no windows open, to much CO2. Do you drip kalk? I don't get the large ph swing Devon, but I have noticed that my alk has been hard to keep up lately, what is your Ca level? Could it also be that your stuff is growing, using the alk???? I might be wrong there, but I have noticed that in my tank, just my observations.

 

[LostCreekReefer]

I've also noticed that I've had a more difficult than normal time keeping my pH and Alk up. Is there a possibility of having too much macro algae? To the point that it causes large pH swings on the system? I suppose that about half my 90 is full of chaeto. Thoughts?

I have the same problem, compounded by the fact that the wood stove resides in the basement about 20 feet from my aquarium. I have a larger ball of chaeto in my refugium right now, I don't know if that would affect the pH downward; I thought it should help lessen the swings? right? wrong? has no influence?

Winter time is bad for Ph because there are no windows open, to much CO2.

What He said!

Do you drip kalk? I don't get the large ph swing Devon, but I have noticed that my alk has been hard to keep up lately, what is your Ca level? Could it also be that your stuff is growing, using the alk???? I might be wrong there, but I have noticed that in my tank, just my observations.

Just this morning I was doing my AM walk through, my pH is the lowest I've seen it yet this winter *sigh*. I upped the Kalk drip rate a bit & am dripping Alk supplement also (at the same rate I've been dripping it for months). I think it's just a bad time of year for pH IMHO (and I don't FREAK OUT! about it any more - which gladdens Charlie! :wink.

 

[DevonM]

Right in line with what I was thinking as far as CO2 levels go.

 

[DevonM]

No kalk drip Charlie, just BRS additives, ATO & Auto H2O changes.
76 degrees
1.026
415 CA
7.2 dKH Alk
1275 Mg

 

[CarlaW]

Talk to you tomorrow.

 

[estanoche]

Also, on the pyramids - put your clams in square sided bowls (aka, a ziploc food container) - it will keep them from spreading around so much, and you can dump the sound out below the clams on a regular basis, eliminating the egg supply ... it definitely helps!!

And, get a kalk drip you wierdo!!! It helps so much with PH fluctuations, and its super easy to do with a bucket, a t-tap, and a bit of airline ....