Urchin tank - lab setup

[Anonymous]

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=78566&highlight=

He uses a PCI brand?

 

[padra]

0000

 

[Anonymous]

The "live" part of live rock is the bacteria.
Very rarely do you see the cool "hitch hicker" that sometimes acompany the rock.

Coral and live rock are not the same animal.

I stand by my no filter position

 

[padra]

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[Anonymous]

Live rock has a greater density of places for the different strains of baceria to colonize. In a words LR is more efficient.

What type of saltwater mix does the local shops carry?

 

[padra]

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[padra]

btw.. i got the tank yesterday. after measuring and looking i realized my eyes were bigger than my stomach and 60gal is really huge!
100liters fits our space nicely and should be big enough for 40 urchins

its being delivered today

 

[Anonymous]

You are going to get alot of people pushing you to get the live rock from this board.

The other advantage is that they come seeded with the right "bugs", that would take a while to accumilate in your tank.


Option two: By some dry lace rock, or coral skeletons to put in the tank, and get just a small amount of live rock or sand. Eventually everything will be seeded and the processing capibilities of the rock will increase with time. This should cut down on some of the "curing" mess of live rock.

It just takes a bit more patience, but you seem to have plenty!

 

[padra]

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[Anonymous]

That's great you found a better source for supplies!

 

[padra]

is there a product in a bottle that contains the beneficials?

 

[Anonymous]

is there a product in a bottle that contains the beneficials?

There are products that claim to do those bacterial colonies in a bottled form, however IME they are no better than getting good quality liverock and letting nature take its course.

 

[Anonymous]

Come on padra!

Just get a couple pieces of live rock. This is the best way to get the benificial bacteria you are looking for.

DO IT!!!!




no pressure...

 

[Anonymous]

To expand on what Lawdawg said about live rock, the bacteria which break down nitrate are anaerobic and reside deeper within the live rock (or deep sand bed). Media with lots of surface area (and therefore more exposure to oxygen) like ceramic pellets will harbor more of the aerobic bacteria which break down nitrite and produce nitrate. That's why so many advise against bioballs and biowheels when nitrate is a concern. Apparently fish-only aquariums don't need to worry as much about nitrate; I dunno about urchins' sensitivity to it, but I'd try to eliminate it regardless. Stock the tank with rock IMO for you will also have the benefit of something more interesting and natural to look at than urchins glass-skating, plus they might feel more at home.
Do they have french fries in France?

 

[Anonymous]

Pom frites.

And they don't have American Cheese either!

 

[padra]

pomme libre

american cheese isnt mouldy enough for the french

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[danmhippo]

found em.. [chillers] i see now many are titanium.. i assumed it was some exotic and new fancy thing. titanium always sounds so techy

There is reason that titanium is preferred as Ti conduct temperature very well, and does not rust like steel. Obviously, conductuvity copper is better, but not suitable for marine environment.

 

[padra]

nevermind...

 

[padra]

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[Anonymous]

Why? Do not put an airstone in a salt tank, unless you like saltcreep. If you have adequate flow (or a skimmer) then you should have no problem with 02 levels in the tank

also i was wondering about this..
the picture above and the tanks i saw in nice and other pictures too ALL have air bubbles.. is it the airstone thats the problem? straight bubbles are good?

An airstone won't hurt. Think about where they are found. Some are very close to the crashing waves on the shore.