ervine

Wah seh! how heavy is that monster?!? Inside got pearl one or not??

if 5 bucks I take 2 also...

Hm.. can't be my test kit right? it's a new one from salifert.... Anyway, thanks for all the advice guys! I'll go check out what my budget can withstand...

I second that!

Hmm.. alright, then I think I better not try and waste money then... hehe.. Thanks for the advice!

Hm... have had it for 2 months? (was originally sea chem sea gel)... but changed it just last week Think I might go try contraphos see how....

hm... sure about that? Hm... maybe that's the cause of my algae woes...

Well u can call me obsessive lah.. but everyone wants the best for their tank right? Anyway, I think the DI or RO or distiller is almost surely out of the question... student budget.. sigh... so after some consideration I think a DSB in the refugium might work... what I need to know is if it is enough of an area to have any effect, if no effect then no point also... Actually I agree with fuel, don't try to fix what is not broken right? While the corals I have now look fine, in fact some are growing too fast... it's the blasted algae that I can't seem to stop/control... I attributed it to nitrates when I had high nitrate levels... I'm unsure if 10ppm is still considered high for algae, or perhaps the algae has already ceased to grow anymore but just hasn't died off yet... (or will it ever die off) Doubt its phosphates or silicates, I'm using phosguard.. not the best in the market but I'm sure it works... so that leaves nitrates... Or maybe I should not dwell on the nitrates too much but instead focus on how i can eliminate the exisiting algae and hope that that would be the end of it....

I heard even SS still can corrode after time.... is this true?

Huh are you sure about this???

Hi guys, I was at carrefour today taking a look at stuff when I stumbled upon an offer, a small thermoelectric cooler (peltier cooler) that is supposed to keep your drinks cold (appox can fit like 6 cans inside only) In addition, the cooler had a double glazed plastic opening at the door to allow you to look inside.. What's MOST interesting is that it costs $89.90 (while still on promotion)... Okay so here's my idea... So basically we need the following components: 1. Cooler 2. Tub of water 3. copper coil (not sure about this) 4. Temp controller (shrug) Look at the diagram to see what I mean... basically I am thinking of drilling two holes into the plastic see thru glazing, then piping the water from the tank, to the cooler, where it will run through the tub of chilled water... then go back into the tank... That's the most basic... throw in a temperature controller which just shuts off the power to the cooler when it gets too cold or too hot.. (electrical gurus, please advise!)... Not too sure about the copper coil either, is copper the right material to use? If so where do I get such a coil?? In essence, this idea works on the idea of using a small fridge to cool the tank, only this cooler is like 1/3 the size of the fridge.... although most likely not as powerful... I'm no expert or whatever but I'm just throwing this idea out and asking for opinions to see if it would actually work on small tanks (forget about larger tanks) If it DOES, then it's probably a very much viable solution for people with smaller tanks and even smaller budgets.... What do you guys think?? Ervine

Hi guys, I've been trying to battle nitrates for a few months now, and I've managed to pull it down from >20 to 10ppm but it has stopped there, I can't seem to go any futher down... I've removed all the coralchips and stuff, upgraded my skimmer, added sea lettuce, adjusted refugium timing.... Then, I finally (wonder why I didn't do this earlier) tested my tap water for nitrates... 10ppm... sigh... Could this be the cause? If so I think there are several options, would like to know which is the most viable.. 1. Stop it at the source - get a RO unit, can someone tell me what the cost of this will be? Or if there are alternatives to this? 2. Get a DSB - My current tank does not have a DSB, although I can place one in my refugium should the need arise, but the area of the fuge is rather small, approx 1ft by 0.8ft, will that be effective enough for my 1ft cube tank? (yes my little science experiment) What are your opinions on this? Thanks a bunch! Ervine Lin

Very nice shrooms!!! droool.... Just a question though... is that algae i see growing in turfs around ur rocks?

Mine took 3-4 weeks for some strange reason.. now it's pulling black goo

Love your sea fans! the yellow one esp!!... but you state that ur nitrates are 50ppm? Isn't that a little on the high side? No algae explosion?

NUS architecture 2 here... student life and reefing DO NOT MIX!!! sigh....

think 3 feet need more than a 2011....

Hm... seems like quite little light... I also have a 1ft cube but I have 2 x 36W PL... maybe too much.. shrug...

More details? eg. lights, water parameters, filtration etc?

too much money to burn? haha... no lah must understand this is a 24/7 beach.. any time also can go, rain or shine, cold or hot.... Wonder if the water is salty.. Hm.. Oh and I heard that the sand is not sand, it's marble chips or something, so that it won't "stick" to your skin when u get yourself wet...

nice.... too bad can't fit pendants for me...

Hm.. why spray? Faster yes but spray paint somehow doesn't colour wood very well... gets absorbed or what... Not too sure lah but that's what I have experienced in the past...

Photo would be nice.... or it doesn't come in any housing at all?

Maybe if it's completely enclosed up in some acrylic cube with holes for circulation... and placed in a place where it recieves lot of light... then I guess it's fine but still it'll look VERY prominent unless ur tank is super huge... But the bigger the tank, the bigger the refugium... Hm.. How about those HOB (hang on back) type??

any photo on how u plan to place the bulb over the tank and where u put ur ballast?