Recent content by Adam1

kaskiles, I use a piece of 3/4" rigid air lift tubing as a wand with a short pigtail of flexible tubing on the end to be able to poke in between and under objects in the tank. If you size it right, the flex tubing from the python will slide tightly inside the rigid or vice-vera. Hope this...

Hi all, Another interesting point... Dr. Cathy McFadden has accepted our invitation to speak at MACNA next year. Her DNA research on soft coral taxonomy is throwing most of what we think we know about the topic into total disarray. Her talk alone will be worth the trip IMO! Adam

Rafael and all, I call that spliting/division not branching. There is a clear difference between the branching found in Cespitularia and that of X. umbellata or elongata. The branching in Xenias sooner or later pretty much all ends in a split down to the base, and then there are two. OK. I...

Rafael, I tried to find siphonozoids but didn't have any luck. They are reported to show up in more mature individuals and possibly seasonal so the lack of them is not conclusive. Agreed. Also, subjectively, the few confirmed Heteroxenia specimens that I have seen had relatively sparse polyps...

Rafael and all, Yours looks like Xenia or possibly Heteroxenia that hasn't yet developed siphonozoids. Heteroxenia is also reported to be non-branching, although colonies can split wich makes them temporarily appear to be branching. I also agree that the bluish coral in the first pic is...

Hi all, I have gotten buna O-rings from a local hydraulics place and by looking in the yellow pages under "seals", "O-rings" or "Gaskets". I build my DIY projects so that the tube extends above the flange by about 1/2 the thickness of the O-ring. This helps keep the o-ring in place while...

Hi all, See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/CAHomepage.htm Click on the cover and inside you will find an article on puffer dentistry. Adam

Charles, I was thinking the same thing. Eleonard... The answer will provide the information necessary to know weather the eggs will be fertile or not. Adam

Hi all, Kent salt is mixed and packaged by Aquarium Systems, maker of IO. It is done according to Kent's formula, but they contract AS to do the actual production. This is common practice in many industries. Go compare the packaging and ingredients of store brand groceries to name brands...

Tankless, Conductivity is used as a proxy for water purity. The more salts dissolved in the water, the better it conducts electricity, so lower conductivity is better (more pure). Nothing in that analysis jumps out except that it is rather brief. Did you leave out values for...

Michelle, Mickey has suggested the only resonable solution. It is the first thing that came to mind when I read your question. All of the things that are important to keeping a reeftank are important to the life on your rock..... Good water movement, stable water chemistry, light, stable...

John F. We are all guilty of buying imported colonies, so I am not bashing you for it, but...... I used to work with a surgeon who came to work one day all bummed out. He explained to us in a very "pity me" tone that he was upset that it was going to cost him $10,000 to have the end of his...

John and Mary, I don't visit this forum much, so forgive me if this has already been addressed. I have been reading some of the threads here with great interest, particularly those concerning how any of us know that a fish is really "clean" and otherwise ethically collected and handled and...

Nathan, You could also place a "T" fitting at the top of the outlet, so that one limb points sideways and one up. Place an elbow into the sideways limb, and a piece of pipe down to the water level. Since the limb pointing up vents the tube, the level setting will function as normal, but the...

budhaboy, My guess would be that if a fish is cyanide collected and it survives collection, typical crappy handling, shipping, no food, etc., it isn't going to die down the road from the cyanide. Cyanide works by blocking hemoglobins ability to transport oxygen. The greatest oxygen...