Tank birthday, 40 years

[beastium]

How many gallons is that again? Got a little ocean going on.. Can I please buy some of that crazy looking LR I need one pound. My 3g i feel doeant have much variety going on with the LR organisms n algae. N hitchhikers which i realy want lol. Is that red crusty stuff what you mentioned? Looks like rock I've seen on www.liverocknreef.com ever seen the site?

 

[Paul B]

It is 100 gallons. Most of that rock I built and it is hollow. I have been gradually removing real rock that I collected and have been replacing it with my own stuff. I like it better.
If you need some life in there, come over and I will scoop you out some but I can't guarantee it won't crash your tank.

 

[Paul B]

Yesterday I gave one of my urchins a little snack. There is no algae growing in my tank itself (it all grows in the algae trough) so he looked hungry. I grew some hair algae for him as a treat. He gulped it up an about an hour.

 

[ohana888]

greta's so precious! happy 2013, paul!

 

[Charley]

New to the site and the hobby. Live on Island and I see that you use the natural sea water from around the island. Was always curious if this is a safe thing to do. Seems like most people use the commercially prepared salt water.

Love your tanks! Such an inspiration!

 

[Paul B]

Was always curious if this is a safe thing to do. Seems like most people use the commercially prepared salt water.

Charlie most people say you can't use a UG filter, run a tank without quaranting, add local animals from the Long Island Sound or do many of the things I do. Maybe they are correct but the tank will be 42 years old in about 8 weeks.

My tank was started with water from under the Throgs Neck Bridge and I collect a little water every summer.
I think the benefits of NSW outweigh any risks. Artificial water is called "artificial" for a reason, it is artificial. If you live on an Island surrounded by real water, why not use it?
If you are afraid of diseases or paracites, keep it in the dark for 6 weeks or add Clorox. I add bleach if the water smells or if I think it has to much bacteria but I do not recommend that to other people.
The best water is from the ocean beaches, not the Sound but you can use it.
Out in the Hamptons

Have fun.
Paul

 

[Charley]

Hi Paul, thanks for detailed response! Just to clarify, you will add NSW without any filtration, etc.....just straight up! If you use NSW, I assume no need to go thru the normal cycling process?

and enjoy the Hamptons! Wish I was there today!

 

[Paul B]

You can use NSW as soon as it warms up and you check the salinity. It will be low if it is from New York and you may have to add some ASW.
You still have to cycle a tank even if you use NSW. Most of the bacteria is on the rocks and not in the water