damsel-in-distress

People, I need to source 2 nos. of actinic coral light bulbs that need replacement. Can someone recommend where I may be able to buy this? Bulb Spec: ----------- Osram Dulux L 24W/67 Blue Length: approx 8ins single-ended U-tube with 4 pins on one end. Made in Italy

RAV, To clarify, Í am a lady reefer not a bro. I recently acquired a deionizer and realized that I don't really need most of the 12 cases of distilled water for my topup tank. I can let you have some if you like - at cost of course ($8.40/case). Let me know if interested. Self-collect. I live centrally.

Don't know but I can check for you next week. I ordered mine from the ColdStorage at Great World City.

Sorry, error corrected .. the amount should $0.70/1.5L pet bottle.

Vincent, Every now and then, Cold Storage has offers on their distilled water. About 3 weeks ago, they were selling their no-frills version at 0.70cents/L so I had them deliver 12 cases (no delivery charge if you spend more than $150) in the same bill. Just make sure you check the label says "distilled water" and not "mineral water" or simply "pure drinking water" which could have all sorts of additives in it.

AT, Even though it is inadequately sized, I thought I would keep using it (if I can have it fixed??) and keep supplementing manually as required. Its worked before but I can't identify why the chamber is not filling up. Since the end of the Aqxxxxxc's warranty on the equipment (in Dec 03), I have since slowly upgraded: - my protein skimmer (from the Sanders 2x250ml units) to the AquaC400 - changed the topup unit to the TUBBY. The old one was leaking electricity into the aquarium water! - gradually replacing bulbs on the MH 150Wx2 + 24Wx2 actinic. Expect to change the entire light pendant to 400W next year when I switch to more light requiring SPS. Currently have a mixed tank (50% SPS, 40% softies, etc). LS - 20 small fish. Half tank of LR built up on the back wall. Water parameters: CA - 375mg/L; alk - 9 dKH, pH - 8.4; Temp - 27degC; CR bulb count abt. 1/sec. So what do you think? Replace or fix?

AT - you guess it and of course, like all the other pcs. of equipment they recommended and installed, it is NOT adequate for the size of my tank which is 1000L volume. Her after-sales service sucks & she has not responded to my numerous requests for assistance to the problem. What other details of the tank setup do you need to help rectify this problem?

I have a Dupla calcium reactor installed about a year ago. Recently, I noticed that it is not working properly. I know this because I am currently manually dousing calcium supplements 2-3 times a week to keep the calcium level around the 400mg/L mark. I've checked and the pump to it is working but the carbonic gas from the CO2 tank doesn't seem to be doing its job of acidifying the argonite to produce calcium. I have been told that this is probably due to the noticeable 1 inch air gap at the top of the CR container. I've recently replaced the chamber with new argonite material but the 1 inch gap is still doesn't work. Can someone give me some idea how to fine-tune piece of s#%t which I have been struggling for the last couple of months!

Blue Heaven, I am having a big nitrate problem myself. Pls. elaborate on your "denitrator project" you have embarked below.

If I am not mistaken, I think you guys meant to say, bi-monthly (every 2 weeks) instead of bi-weekly (twice a week). These are American terms. I also do 10% fortnightly (UK term) water changes.

Until a month ago, I bought NSW from L*C110. They sell at $3 per 25 litre plastic jerry cans (if you collect yourself). You can buy the containers from them at $8. I've since switched to synthetic salt mix so I can now control (to some extent) what goes into tank at each water change.

I need a LMB to take care of a recent algae bloom. Where LFS sells this? Can you post a link of picture of this little bugger?

Deep Blue, Just wondering if the paint used on the corals will affect water quality when immersed for long periods of time in salt water?

I should know from experience. For one year, I was lugging 6 x 25L plastic jerry cans in the back of my SUV from Kranji to central every fortnight, and for a short time, every week as I was trying to lessen my nitrate buildup. I switched to marine salt 3 weeks ago. There was an initial negative reaction (some hard coral started receeding and a clam kaput) but I am not sure this is coincidentally a reaction to the high nitrate levels (>40) to to the new the synthetic salt mix. However, I'm gonna persevere and hopefully see some improvement in the overall health of the tank as I put PO4 and NO3 reducing measures in place.

Ah ah, You obviously read it more carefully. So, it is not such a bad product after all, except for the long term cost, I guess.

QUOTE Yes it does absorbs additives especially trace elements UNQUOTE ========================================= Acanthurus pyroferus, Do you this for a fact, if yes, can you point me to literature that states this? Thanks.

Hello everyone, Just curious but does anyone out there use polyfilters? Apparently, the POLY-FILTER can absorb and adsorb contaminants and other toxic materials, is non-toxic and harmless to biological filtration because it allows a sufficient amount of ammonia to reach the biological filter in order to sustain the bacteria culture. The Poly BioMarine website even states that, "BECAUSE OF THIS UNIQUE FILTERING CHARACTERISTIC, THE POLY-FILTER ELIMINATES THE NEED AND EXPENSE OF CARBON OR ION EXCHANGE RESINS AND PROTEIN SKIMMERS." It even lets you know what it's removing – blue for copper, green for ammonia, orange for iron, and when exhausted turns dark grey. Wow, it is pretty expensive ($90 per sq ft) on Edmund's site but it seems a little goes a long way! if its that good, how many reefers out there resort to this procedure instead of the standard carbons and other impurities filter medium remover?

I would like to ask if anyone practises switching OFF their filter pump and protein skimmer when they feed the lifestock? I switch OFF both for about 40mins when I feed DT. What is the standard practice (with regards to the PS) when you feed DT or other minute zoo or plytoplankton food? Appreciate your thoughts on this.

Do you have a contact number for him?

I wonder if there is anyone out there that offer tank sitting services if a reefer is out of town for a more than a week?

1. Morgan 2. Achilles Tang 3. Danano 4. Robe 5. Bloop! 6. Foxface 7. Day 8. Bum 9. Kelstorm (PADI) 10.hoppinghippos 11.chrislwp (Padi) 12.Tango_Liverock 13. WLSS 14. Benz... (Padi) 15. Rycin (Padi) 16. yus (naui) 17. TanGo (Navy, NAUI Adv) 18. Alentino (Padi) 19. Tfrancis (Padi) 20. Angry (Padi) 21. Ian(PADI) 22. Supremo (Padi) 23. TTboy 24. dradttg 25. clammy (padi) 26. damsel-in-distress (Padi Adv.)

Sorry guys but I haven't got access to a DC at the moment.

Acanthurus pyroferus, I wanna to move to SPS after I have upgraded my lights soon so I think better water quality is the next step. I use distilled water sold in pet bottles for my top-up tank which cost me $10 per l8L every week. I feel this is quite expensive but I am desperately trying all ways to reduce the nitrate level in my tank besides others. Can you give me a contact where I can buy distilled water in bigger quantities and get the bulk discount on the price?

I am contemplating switching from using NSW (for the past year) to utilising the benefits of synthetic seawater using commerical aquatic seasalt preparations. I am aware that the best way to go about this would be to filter our tapwater through a deionizer before addition of marine salts. Can anyone recommend the most suitable equipment brand/model of deionizer available here (or if necessary, to import)? I am not very apt in anything DIY so would greatly appreciate any constructive basic comments/advice on how I should go about aquiring an aquarium deionizer equipment and using it? FYI, my tank volume size is 1000L so would require about 100L water replenishment every fortnight. Pls. enlighten this blur girl! Thanks

I have a large healthy specimen (6ins. across when opened) finger coral (1year old in my tank already) to swop with any other coral except leathers. I also want to give 1 full-grown domino and 3 yellow-tailed damsels (if you can help me catch and safely remove from my tank) FOC. I live centrally. Pls. PM me what you have to trade.