twisteds salty adventure

[twisted]

last night i went to my LFS and picked up another cleaner shrimp (serpent star caught the old one when it molted), some cheto which was loaded with copeods, shrimp, bristle worms.....and also picked up a mandarin goby. My sump/refugium is already teaming with life so now with the addition to last nights shopping, should be well stocked with lots of live food. the mandarin is absolutely stunning! i hope it adapts and thrives in his new home. i do have a question.........i've been using Dt's phyto which im very happy with but am curious to how it compares to phyto gold and other products like marine snow.........my lfs doesnt carry dt's and would like to find a back up if i ever run out.....

[charlie]

What are you feeding the phyto to?

[twisted]

What are you feeding the phyto to?

the copeods and anyone else that needs it....is the phyto not needed?

[charlie]

they will get along just fine IMO. Isn't that what live rock is for? All you are really doing is adding nutrient to your system and making the skimmer work overtime.
The only thing I feed is Reef Chili and that is only once a week. Your LFS is selling you a bunch of algae feeder.

[twisted]

thanks charlie! they had told me i had to add that stuff to have a healthy food population...they are usually pretty honest with me but i guess i gotta start double checking their advise

[charlie]

Believe me, there are better ways to get and find info!!!! Your tank is a living system, and it usually creates it's own food.

[almostdiva]

The only thing you would really need to use phyto for is if you had a separate pod culturing tank, IMO. And even then, you only use a really small bit like once a week. I agree w Charlie. What you have in there should do just fine with just your normal feeding.

[twisted]

cool beans, my sumpfugium should definitely be able to supply enough food for them. thanks to both of you! that'll save me some cash since i order direct from dt and shipping sucks!
do either of you use oyster feast? my boss gave me a feedings worth of it and i gotta say, i've never seen my tank react that way in past feedings, they absolutely love it!

[charlie]

Yep, I have used that stuff. I have also used the Roti-Feast. My sps liked both. I only fed that once a week also.

[twisted]

Yep, I have used that stuff. I have also used the Roti-Feast. My sps liked both. I only fed that once a week also.

he also uses the Roti...i guess i gotta get some of each. i am pretty impressed at how they responded to it.....man, i can't stop watching my mandarin! they are so freakin cool looking...almost like a hummingbird as a fish

[charlie]

Good analogy, but they move alot slower.

[twisted]

Good analogy, but they move alot slower.

just my speed...lol....thanks for the 411 on the phyto

[almostdiva]

I've used it, too. Once a week.

[twisted]

hey all! i've been pretty busy working on the tank and straightening out my alk/ca issue. after testing today, things are looking good. ca is 490 and the dk is 9, with a ph of 8.2, 0 nit,amm, and phos. salt is .025.
ive also taken a 55 gal and am working on a sump and refugium off of one of melvins plans. i figured on a 55 since i kinda see myself buying a BIG tank next fall. my wife and i are talking about putting one in the wall from the living room to our bedroom. then ill add the 75 gal to the filtering system. i figure it'll take me about that long to do it so any advice would be appreeshed. my neighbor is a builder so next week he'll be preparing the floor and walls. from there its one thing at a time.

[charlie]

Well that is good news!!!! Hopefully the Ca level will come down on it's own now!!!

How big of a tank are we thinking?

[twisted]

Well that is good news!!!! Hopefully the Ca level will come down on it's own now!!!

How big of a tank are we thinking?

it does seem to be coming down slowly. thanks again for all your help.
as for the new tank, im looking at something between 500 and 700. a new friend owns a glass business and made his own 450 and its really nice! he saw my tank last night and wants to help me build my own custom. all i gotta do is pay for the glass at his cost!....and some good tequila...lol

[Parrothead]

Oh Goody, more pics coming

[Parrothead]

oh no, tequlia, glass, water, this is gonna be good

[twisted]

Oh Goody, more pics coming

you got it! i'm gonna do it step by step with tons of pics...i'll even take some pics of the messups...lol...

[charlie]

Just help us all out and do some serious research as to what is involved with a system that large!!!! Believe me, it will be an eye opener!!!

Ventilation!!!!!!!