Recent content by NextReef

What pumps did you finally go with?

I'm a fan. I do the same as mr_x and change them pretty frequently, then toss in the washing machine. I actually bleach mine and then rewash with only water... kills any of the nasties in it. If you don't want to pay LFS prices, check out Grainger... they sell them in packs of 5 for about $20.

Nice looking shots! What Nikon are you using and what lens? I have a D80 to play with, and I'm always trying to find new and better ways to shoot the underwater stuff. Dave

You've stressed those corals and 'shrooms. Keep the pH up, temp down and maybe add a little iodide (the mushrooms and polyps love it!) - give them a few days and they should relax...

Some ideas: 1) Start saving for a chiller 2) Start saving for a chiller 3) Start saving for a chiller Seriously, you're fighting 2 things... trying to bring the water under ambient temperature (not easy to start), and heat from things like your powerheads (I'm assuming since you said it's a...

What? $700 isn't normal for a 150g reef tank? :wink:

I sure understand the heat and power concerns. We're in FL, too... and sending $700 a month to run our tanks. Nobody wants a chiller in their house... been down that route before! Good luck with the pump. Dave

FWIW, my experience with seals failing on shaft-driven pumps is that they develop a slow leak first - usually something you can catch before it's catastrophic. You'll notice a little salt creep at first, then maybe a slow drip, etc. But, there's always that chance... :) Have you considered a...

I'll second the vote for sock filtered water... usually you're looking for the refugium to filter nutrients out of the water, not the big "chunks". I guess it also comes down to the intent of your refugium... if you're primarily looking to use it as a food source for your tank, the richer water...

I have a pair of PanWorld/Blueline pumps in my living room (well, they run a tank in my living room... not just sittting there... ) and they're louder than I'd like. Iwaki's aren't any better, IMHO. RK2 skimmer at the shop came with a Sequence pump and it runs a lot quieter and cooler... and I...

We do all our photos with a Nikon D80, and love it... takes amazing pictures of coral with a macro lens and tripod. Like the others said, it's hard to go wrong with Nikon or Cannon!