[inuyasha_lover_21]

Here is some pics. Wont be anymore for a while. Till I get it done

[leebca]

Are you setting up a FOWLR system? What's your next step?

[inuyasha_lover_21]

Yeah. I am going to wait for a while and let the tank settle. I need a new heater because this one gets messed up when I turn on my MH.

[leebca]

You may find some pointers here: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium

Good luck!

[inuyasha_lover_21]

Thank you for the info. Thats the best info I read online to be truthful.

Is there anyway I can lure out the critters in the live rock or do I sit and wait for the little buggers?

[leebca]

No. Just patience. Now, the challenge begins at controlling water conditions and providing a stable environment. When they are ready to emerge, they will, assuming you have live rock.

Rock has many classifications and depending upon what you acquired there will be different levels of lifeforms. You might want to look over this one, too: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

[inuyasha_lover_21]

I bought the premium fiji live rock. Thanks for the article. I was just reading that one. Its very descriptive. I asked the guy I bought from almost every question under the sun.

Did you know there is another thing called boat rock?

[leebca]

Tell me more about boat rock.

[inuyasha_lover_21]

sure!

I was reading it off of this link.

What is Boat Rock?

Have you seen those super low prices on live rock lately?
Do you think the suppliers must have been taking advantage of
you before if it's cheaper now? Think again my friends!

Welcome to boat rock.
The majority of live rock from the Pacific,
which almost all comes through Los Angeles, California,
is now being brought in by boat.

That's right, boated to the U.S. from Fiji, Tonga, and
even a load from the Marshall Islands was boated here.
I'll bet a big flock of birds was following
that boat across the sea!

International air freight is tremendously expensive.
Most of the cost of a box of live rock is freight, not rock.
International air freight usually costs 2 to 3 dollars per pound,
as opposed to domestic air freight which runs 50-cents
to a dollar or so per pound.

So the big shots thought there was a little money out
there they didn't have their hands on, and decided there must
be a way to get it. Their solution: Boat the rock here rather
than air freight it, saving way over a dollar a pound, if not nearer two,
and keep the difference, except a quarter to keep their rock
looking cheaper. Boat freight is about .20 cents/pound.

There are many live rock sellers in L.A. (wholesalers and retailers)
selling this rock now. It has been on the market for months.
Have you heard of it?
Is anyone telling live rock buyers this?
Would you want to know how your live rock got here?
Yes, of course you would!
Why?
Because there is a difference in how LIVE rock is that has
been air freighted in directly from the islands and rock that
has been in a sea container and box for weeks or months.

I suspect there is little LIVE about live rock that has been
boated here. At the LEAST, it takes WEEKS out of the water to
get here. Why aren't the big shot guys advertising this new
method of getting rock here? I haven't heard a single breath of
"check out our new rock, it was BOATED here." It is at the very
least plain old lying, deceitful, scamming the consumer, unless
you tell them. I find it so repulsive that they can't be honest
to the buyer/customer that I am compelled to tell you about it.
I would bet anything that you could not find anyone selling it,
that would admit it to you! Otherwise, I would suggest asking!

The sad thing is that many unsuspecting hobbyists buy this instead
of an expensive filter, and are not getting what they expected.
They then get out of the hobby, because they got dead rock.
That's how much these guys care. Shameful, in the name of greed.
Good ain't cheap, and cheap ain't good. You will always get what
you paid for. The cheapest anything is never the best anything.
This is especially true when you are buying live rock,
or livestock of any kind.

Would it be of benefit if you, the hobbyist, knew absolutely
positively if your rock was boated or air freighted in? YES !!
So, where is MACNA, those guys allegedly on your side to insure you
get the stuff that has been handled properly, and are thoroughly
informed of how? I don't see them taking up this issue.
It's been out there on the market for over a year now.

If you want to boat rock in, fine; but, you MUST tell the people
what they are buying. It is no different than the automobiles
that will be sold to unsuspecting buyers that were once flooded.
What spores will sprout or what will grow out of
rock that has been out of the water for many weeks?
That's why they're not telling you!
The only life on it are the flies.
If a little purple coralline is all you want, it's fine
for base rock, but it ought to be about $2 a pound cheaper.
The cheapest rock is unfortunately what many are looking for.
That rock has plummeted in quality, and that will affect
the success of your tank, its inhabitants, and your enjoyment.

We will never sell boated rock that came over in a shipping container.
We only sell the real deal ... fresh live rock that has been
air freighted in. Most of the time our live rock is less
than 48 hours from island to you. Our customers tell us they get
live crabs, urchins, cucumbers, macros, feather dusters sprouting,
a myriad of life, and some have said they even got live sponges!
That's how quickly our rock gets here.

That's what real live rock is my friends ... covered in life, not death.
It smells like the ocean or a tide pool. Not cement or a cesspool.

Link to this info is here

Live Rock - Methods of Transportation - Boat versus Air

[leebca]

It's in reference to transportation. A lot of live rock comes through the system by boat. That isn't bad if it is cared for along the way. The curing of true live rock can take a few weeks. Those weeks can be at the collection point or along the transportation route (e.g., while it's on the boat). But the best live rock is still the rock that was kept in water and ships in water.

[inuyasha_lover_21]

Ok. Just dont want to get anything like base rock.

Would it be ok if my heater goes to 80F in the day and 76F at night? I am getting a new one tomorrow but want to make sure my live rock and anemone is safe. Mine is a 300 watt submersible in a 30 gal tank. Tomorrow I am buying a 100 watt. My MH is ruining the heater. It cant run toghether. Would it be better if I buy the glass kind instead?

[leebca]

Heaters are tricky if you want to keep mobile invertebrates. If the Anemone is mobile then it may get itself into a position of burning itself on the heater. If you're not keeping such species, then a plastic heater would be my recommendation since it will lessen the chance of breaking.

You'd like a heater that advertises it will hold the temperature in a 2F range (e.g., 78F plus or minus 1F) or better (smaller range).

I don't know your situation regarding ambient temps around the aquarium, but 300 watts for a 30 gallon aquarium is a bit much. You could do with a 100W heater, unless you have some extraordinary heating challenges.

[inuyasha_lover_21]

I am thinking of getting another submersible. just not a titanium. It dont work with the MH. 100 watt definatly. I am saving the 300 wattt when I get a bigger tank. Yeah I am going to find a heater that only goes up to 78F or a little lower. This heater goes past 90F!

[leebca]

A good heater should go over the temperature you want to set it at. So one that goes up to 90F is okay. You just want one that will hold the temperature to within plus or minus 1F.

[inuyasha_lover_21]

Ok. I just dont want my tank to boil. My tank goes up and down during the day and night cause of the MH. If I go get a 100 watt maybe it wont have that effect. I think its because the heater is 300 watt and my tank is not that deep. Thats why its getting messed up.

[rjs5134]

A better solution might be to get 2 heaters of lower wattage. If one heater sticks in the "on" position it won't boil the water and if one sticks in the "off position, well you still have some heat being generated. If both stick, highly unlikely, then you just have real bad luck.