Recent content by lutkamom

The other issue with basalt is how sharp the rock grains can be if they are "fresh" and not weathered. Basalt contains alot of glassy minerals and can be somewhat dangerous to you and your aquairium animals--so look for "weathered" lava.

Most lava in the world is composed of basalt (dark brown to black in color, like Hawaii's lava rocks). Basalt exposed to ordinary seawater at low temperatures (like in your aquarium) undergo alteration that results in the uptake of potassium by the basalt and loss of calcium, silica, amd...

Success! The scolymia has expanded and its tentacles were extended this morning! The trachyphyllia is also expanding. Both corals are feeding. :D Sadly, the sypmhyllia didn't make it--it bleached out and is nothing but a skeleton now. :cry: Thanks to everyone who responded to my pleas for...

Thanks Crissy, I visited the site and it looks great--exactly what I needed! :D

Thanks for the info Chip, I'll give it a try.

I'm looking for a good reference for identifying corals typically kept in reef tanks. I've looked through a lot or literature and I'm not finding much in the way of pictures with descriptions, latin names and common names. Can anyone suggest a good reference? I'm also looking to find a good...

Thanks jenniferjeter for the reply, yeah, the calcium is high in the tank--I'm planning on a 5-10% water change this weekend and that should help. I do have a calcium testing kit so I need to be more diligent in testing before adding supplements.

Hi, I found the Latin names for the corals in my tank. The book I'm using is the Super Simple Guide to Corals by james W. Fatherree, published by t.f.h. Publications. I also have other more technical references but this was the only book that had photos that matched my corals. I'm still...

I've rotated the pictures or easier viewing.

Hi Everyone, thanks for the responses. Here are the numbers for water quality: pH 8.2 and holding, SG 1.024, Ca 500-520, Temp 78F, ammonia ~0, nitrate <5. Fish: 1 flame angel, 2 blue damsels, 1 dottyback, 1 bicolor blennie inverts: motile--egyptian snails, sea urchin, red-legged hermit crabs...

Hi, I'm very new to reef-keeping. I've successfully kept fish only saltwater tanks for many years. Thought I'd try creating a beautiful reef in my home. I have a 6o gal. tank with 2 65watt actinic blue bulbs and 2 65watt daylight bulbs. I bought three corals that I thought would be fairly...