I'm back!

[BubbaWPB]

After being gone a few years, I'm back. I had to part with my tanks when I moved across the state for work. I'm settled in the new (uh, "used") house where all my spare cash went for the last two years - now I'm ready to start up another reef tank (money pit?) again!

This time I'm putting the tank against the inside side of the wall of the garage so I can put the chiller, sump, and other hot and noisy equipment out there. I hope this helps the power bill - the chiller and a/c won't be in a terminal fight to the death!

I live in Clearwater now - there was one saltwater aquarium/livestock store near here for many years, but it closed it's doors a year or so ago. I've been seeking out new local places for equipment and livestock. I know I can order online, but it sure is nice to be able to go in and look at livestock and have immediate access to emergency supplies, so I'm really in favor of supporting the local shops. If anyone has any good tips about the stores in the area, I'm all ears!

I saw a YouTube clip about a "plasma light" - wow! What's the scoop with that? What else is new?

Bubba

[zhenya]

Hey BubbaWPB,

Welcome back!

I moved your thread so it can get better exposure and the answers to your questions.
Glad to hear you want to continue with reefkeeping.
I'm not from the area so I can't help you there, hopefully someone local will reply with some names of the stores. You can also try this website find a saltwater fish store, tropical fish store, freshwater fish store aquarium supplies

As far as plasma lighting goes, I think it is the light of the future for hobby of ours. It just needs to come down in price so average people can afford it as well. ;)

[metalhead]

Welcome back Bubba!

Shoot Parrothead a PM, he lives down your way and should know where all the local hotspots are.

As for the plasma bulbs, I heard they were still having trouble getting a blue, or bluer, spectrum out of them... A bit too yellow currently it would seem for reef lighting applications in general. I am hopeful that they get it worked out though and, as Gene mentions, the price becomes reasonable someday if they ever do.

[fishguy_8]

Welcome back I just came back myself from a 3 year hiatus. Good luck!

[BubbaWPB]

Thanks for moving the thread, Gene! I'm not a good navagator so I appreciate your help!

Thanks, metalhead. I'll give parrothead a shout.

How's the new tank going, fishguy?

Bubba

[fishguy_8]

Cycle is done, had a little aptasia which a peppermint shrimp already took care of and now ive decided to get a bigger tank sooooooo kinda one step forward one step back.

[BubbaWPB]

Well the tank is up and running. Got a few frags in it. The skimmer is broken in and producing some nice thick stinky skimmate. I thought I'd let it sit for 4 - 6 weeks without any fish to let any ick life forms die out.

Got a couple nice millepora frags, two nice catspaw corals and a couple of acropora frags. Instead of filling this tank with big show pieces then having to trim them soon afterward, I thought I'd try to be patient and let them grow... So not my style.

I noticed on this side of the state none of the LFSs sell real sea water. Then again the gulf is known for colorful algae blooms, not to mention the more recent high crude content. I am noticing that the salt mix I bought on closeout makes a low [Mg++] brew. First and last time for that brand-who-shall-be-nameless.

I did take a few pics, but it just looks like a tank full of bare rocks. I'll upload a few if my aging brain can remember the process, but not tonight.

[twisted]

welcome back! i like the small frag start instead of adding big colonies. i am about 1 1/2 years in on mine and am happy i did it that way. its fun watching those little chunks grow Good luck!

[Ninong]

Hi Bubba,

Welcome back. As has already been mentioned, the plasma emitter light fixtures are new. They produce a ton of light, much more PAR per watt than any other light, but it's around 6000K. You can adjust it to as much as 20,000K by dimming it, but then you're giving up a lot of intensity. Right now the best way to run them is with a considerable amount of T5 actinic supplementation.

You said you're putting your sump and chiller in your garage. If that's how you did it, be sure to figure out a way to get that saltwater evaporation vented to the outside. Some guys who have set up sumps in their garages have reported problems with rust on everything in the garage (tools, cars, etc.). People who vent the hot air from the sump and chiller to the outside of the house have no such problems.

Are you still in the shrink business? Did you change hospitals or something? Business should be good right now in Florida with so many people freaking out because of falling real estate values and job layoffs.

Good luck with the new tank. What size is it?

[Parrothead]

Hi Bubba,

Check this store out, he's on the other side of the pond from you, but not far in, town n country area of Tampa, right on 584, I use to shop there alot when I lived in Tampa, I guy by the name of Mark owned it back then, late 90 early 00's, probably still does, good guy, good stock, at least back then, here's a link for them, sorry I'm so late chiming in here, since you are in my former neck of the woods

Marine Warehouse Aquarium

[Jai1985]

lol i live up here in lake city not too far north of tampa! on the commet before me....... OMG! ive been cut to 20 hrs a week how am i supposed to keep my fish fed on that........i need a shrink before i loose it!

[Parrothead]

lol i live up here in lake city not too far north of tampa! on the commet before me....... OMG! ive been cut to 20 hrs a week how am i supposed to keep my fish fed on that........i need a shrink before i loose it!

Hey, you are closer to Jax than Tampa, we got a few good stores over here if you work ever picks up

[Ninong]

...i need a shrink before i loose it!

Haha! Well, Bubba's a shrink. If you're ever down in the Tampa Bay area, just ask to visit his tank and then, while you're there, ask him to check you out. He's not in West Palm Beach anymore; he moved to Clearwater.

[BubbaWPB]

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice!

Ninong - I put a window unit in the garage so the humidity is lower now than before the sump was out there, but I'll keep an eye out for rust... I could always put an exhaust vent in if it becomes a problem, but I don't want to vent the A/C out!

I'm still with the VA, but I moved from the hospital to our network (regional) office. My "practice" is all administrative now. I oversee mental health services for 7 hospitals and 50+ clinics. I've made "spare" time for the tank (210 gallons) but have a hard time keeping up with forums and stuff. I plan on going to MACNA this year since it's close by.

Last I heard you were moving - did you ever get a new tank?

Parrothead - I found Marine Warehouse already - in fact I got my new tank there. Mike built a custom stand for me, too. Very nice job! The most fun part is that I have to go right past Coral Corral and the Ichthy fishy place on the way home! It's like a 5-mile strip mall for coral shopping!!!

[Ninong]

Bubba,

I moved about four years ago but I don't have a tank anymore. It would make it impossible for me to leave home for any period of time. And besides, I'm getting up in age and I have too many health issues that make it very difficult for me to undertake something like that. I wish I could but I just can't do it right now.

[BubbaWPB]

OK. I've got some pics... let's see if this works... a pic from each side of the tank...

[Parrothead]

Looking good Bubba, really good

[zhenya]

Hey Bubba,

I fixed your post so you have full size images instead of thumbnails. ;)

PS. Tank looks real sweet!

[twisted]

loooks real nice bubba! i like the black sand. if i ever go back to a sand bed ill most likely choose some sand from the dark side or maybe a mix of white and black...

[BubbaWPB]

Hey Bubba,

I fixed your post so you have full size images instead of thumbnails. ;)

PS. Tank looks real sweet!

Thanks! ...and thanks!