Recent content by Nitrate Junkie

I have 4 rows of fluoros', with 3 actinic and 1 10k. One of my actinic rows acts as the dawn and dusk light and is set to turn on before the others in the morning, and after the others in the evening. Works fine for me Cheers, AK

Thanks, guys, much appreciated. Cheers from Oz

I recently was given an abalone about 10cm long with greenish markings, and boy is it an interesting creature! I can't believe people eat these guys, they look so gooey! Anyway, I was hoping someone could tell me how long they tend to live for. I also got a cuke (soft, brown and white mottled...

Beaslbob, Can you give me some advice on plant setups. I'm planning a new sump with a refugium built in, probably with plants. Expect i will put a double batten with one white and one blue fluoro on a timer. I read that caulerpa can play toxic star wars with everything else in the tank, is there...

My nitrates are barely detectable, and I'm happy with the chemistry. I had a 2' tank previously, with a 1" crushed coral substrate, good flow etc but nitrates always hovering around 15-20 ppm. (Hence my affectionate adoption of this as my Login name). In sheer frustration, I searched high and...

I had red algae blooms running rampant, so the first thing i did was raise my lights a foot higher, and replace a couple of my 10000k fluoros with blue spectrum ones. the ratio is now 2/3 blues:1/3 10000kwhite. The algae cleared up within a week or so. (By the way, I have a DSB av. 5", 4600L/hr...

Thanks guys, I was beginning to get depressed. I have a 72"x18"x20" tank, DSB 4-5", 25kg LR, various frags, 1 yellow, 1 blue tang, 2 oscellaris clowns, 1 cleaner wrasse, 1 abalone, 1 CBShrimp, a couple of snails, a couple of hairy crabs and a wily mantis shrimp :x My sump is my main concern...

Just when i thought that the battles lines were drawn between DSB advocates and Non DSB reefers, I stumble upon an occasional mention of Coil Denitrators. What are they, Santa Claus?? are they too good to be true, and if not can I have one for Chrissie?!?!?!? Why doesnt every good little reefer...

Sorry, I havent figured out how these quote functions work. Regarding detritus build up, I thought the point of a fine grade DSB was to prevent penetration of more than 2cm of detritus, keeping it fairly superficial. My old 2' tank had 1.5cm of coral gravel, bioload of only 2 small Ocellaris and...

Thankyou for replying. I've been awfully tempted to vacuum, but i think i'll hold off a little longer and just watch how things go. (that's the best part isn't it). I do have a small hermit crab, but the bastard started molesting my new frag of hammer coral so he has been banished to the sump...

I knew this would grab your attention - DSB seems to be like a red rag to a bull in many forums. My decision to use one in my new 6' tank was based on continual nitrate problems i had in my 2' tank previously. (Yeah, I know there are lots of other considerations). Anyway, I read as much as i...

Thanks for your reply. I think there should be enough food, since i my system well (Shimek influence). I just hope the little suckers dont get mangled by the pump. System: 6'x18"x20x wall tank, 2' sump filled 1/2 way w/ no substrate, 4600L/hr internal pump, el cheapo skimmer(w/ venturi) powered...

A quick question about hairy crabs: Much of what Iv'e read makes crabs out to be bad guys, but can i put them into my sump for scavenging purposes? (I have no light down there by the way). Cheers, AK