I've decided on something drastic

[Anonymous]

Yeah... I've gotta admit, I don't see what difference having a rim would make if it's shaking enough. Sorry Len, but that is kinda funny.

A braced tank is structurally stronger. In a huge quake, I know it won't matter. But we get a lot of smaller quakes, and I would much rather have a braced then braceless tank.

Possibly, but I had a rimless tank for 3 years in Tokyo, during which time we had earthquakes up to and including magnitude 7. Not a drop spilt. I was on the ground floor mind...

What size was your tank? 60 gallons, rimless is fine (I'm actually considering a rimless cube as a second tank). For 200 gallons, it gets scary to me.

I can see that. Mine was 90 gallons (3'x2'x2').

 

[Len]

I don't think I'd ever do a rimless that is over 24" tall. They insist you use really thick glass, which by itself scares me.

 

[Hyolee]

Squat rimless. Problem solved.

 

[Len]

Rimless is down the line. Either 24" cube or 20". I have enough spare gear to run a new small tank

 

[Anonymous]

Bleach question:

Any particular brand to use that I can pick up at any market?

Doesn't matter what brand, just be sure to read the label and make certain there is no perfume or dye. I use whatever is cheapest, cheapo stuff it is less likely to have additives.

 

[Len]

Is Clorox (regular) pure bleach? I just want something I can buy anywhere I won't need but a few bottles and it's not terribly pricey, so convenience wins.

 

[Anonymous]

Is Clorox (regular) pure bleach? I just want something I can buy anywhere I won't need but a few bottles and it's not terribly pricey, so convenience wins.

Anyplace you shop will have a house generic brand-that's where you will likely get 'just bleach'. Clorox regular used to be, but according to the website:

Q. How has Clorox® Regular-Bleach improved its whitening formula?

A. We have a new patented formula across the entire line of Clorox® Regular-Bleach products. The new formula incorporates an ingredient, sodium polyacrylate, that binds to certain minerals that are in the water supply preventing them from depositing on your clothes. You get all the power and performance of Clorox® Liquid Bleach you are used to, but now clothes will retain their whiteness that might have been lost over time due to deposition of these minerals.

http://www.clorox.com/products/faqs.php?prod_id=clb

 

[Anonymous]

^Interesting little bit of info there. Thanks for finding it!

 

[Anonymous]

How would you recommend I deal with the getting the tank ready if I can't take anything out to rinse?

Use the same hose you use to fill it! Just hose down the all the surfaces. Please don't tell us you're filling a 300 bucket-by-bucket...

I was actually thinking of emptying the tank and letting it sit dry for a few days, thinking this would kill all the FW. Flatworms are really the only pest that I have. The other stuff is some kind of chemical issue with the water after I boiled the tank.

Bleach will kill what the dry air misses. Don't treat the tank, treat the new rock. Then continue to treat it for 3 weeks to make sure.

I don't understand the idea of cranking up heaters for the LR curing. How high are you suggesting I run the curing tub? I had planned on doing regular curing for 4-6 weeks. My last problems started when my water in my display tank reached close to 100 degrees, so I'm not keen on doing that with my new LR

You're speeding up the process by having the water hot. You're basically cooking the rock as you cure it. If you're going to try and save what life is on the rock when you get it, don't worry about the heaters. Just do the ammonia trick and your rock will be done in 2-4 weeks instead of 6-8.

For digital cameras, I suggest Canon. I have a 20D with both a 100mm Macro, and a 17-40mm for full tank shots.

B

 

[Len]

Bleach will kill what the dry air misses. Don't treat the tank, treat the new rock. Then continue to treat it for 3 weeks to make sure.

I assume you meant FWE treatement, not bleach the new LR I plan to do heavy FWE treatment on the rock bin.

I'll do the bleach treatment on the tank and equipment: I'll fill it with tapwater, add bleach to 5-10% concnetration, and run it for 15 minutes. Then I'll drain, fill with FW, and drain again. Then I'll let air dry for a week, then I'll be in business. Sound right?

I do have a concern about bleach and silicone seals. Will I be damaging my tank joints (glass tank)?

You're speeding up the process by having the water hot. You're basically cooking the rock as you cure it. If you're going to try and save what life is on the rock when you get it, don't worry about the heaters. Just do the ammonia trick and your rock will be done in 2-4 weeks instead of 6-8.

There is way too much awesome life on my rock for me to cook. I picked it up at the airport a couple hours right after it landed. This is as fresh a LR as you can get. But of course, it still stunk ... but probably because it's got a lot of neat stuff all over it still.

For digital cameras, I suggest Canon. I have a 20D with both a 100mm Macro, and a 17-40mm for full tank shots.

I actually have a dSLR I just don't use it for my tank pics!

 

[Anonymous]

Len, bleach will not damage the silicone seals. I've done this so many times it's not even funny. But I would probably want to be sure it's nothing but bleach, no scents or suds-activators or anything like that. Then, sodium thiosulfate, just like they use at LBAOP.

Are you changing the water in the curing tub daily? If you've got that much life, you can save a good bit of it doing those changes.

 

[Len]

I'll find pure bleach. I'll skip the Clorox thanks to this thread.

I'm changing out the curing tube water daily for the first 3 days. After that, I'm letting it run its course, with probably one more water change (or SW rinse) before I put it into the display.

 

[Len]

Ok, so I think that Clorox home products all have the whitening additive, but not their germicidal commercial bleach. Just thought I'd add this info to the thread.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that's good to know.

 

[Len]

My rock doesn't smell much anymore and is starting to look amazing. Maybe i'll take pics of the mess that is my living room.

 

[Anonymous]

My rock doesn't smell much anymore and is starting to look amazing. Maybe i'll take pics of the mess that is my living room.

I'd like to see that (once a fish geek, always a fish geek).

 

[Anonymous]

My rock doesn't smell much anymore and is starting to look amazing. Maybe i'll take pics of the mess that is my living room.

I'd like to see that (once a fish geek, always a fish geek).

Please! We love pictures 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Now that len doesn't have a tank we will get pictures?

 

[Anonymous]

Bleach question:

Any particular brand to use that I can pick up at any market?

Just stay away from the scented ones. Nice cheap sodium hypochlorate solution is all you want.

 

[Anonymous]

I would wipe the bleach on with a paper towel, full-strength, let it sit there for at least 20 minutes while you rinse off what remains of your hands, and then start the copious rinsing process.

Now you are in a great position to commit crimes, since you will no longer have finger prints.