Howdy! :)

[JWarren]

Hello everyone!

Thought I would hang out with you girls and guys for a while and see if anyone has anything interesting to say.

I've been a reefer for 18 years and have been doing basic marine tanks for 25. I owned a wholesale tropical freshwater fish business in Jacksonville many years ago and I am an avid diver here in Vero Beach, Florida.

I lost the entire contents of my 120, 90 and 55 gallon systems during the hurricanes a few years ago, from being without power for 14 days. My heart was shattered when I could not find anyone up and running to rescue my livestock with a safe haven. So, I have made a conscious effort to make sure I have some type of backup plan in place, for next time. I have been searching the internet and researching the possibility of running solar power to at least one system to keep things alive during a catastrophic event if, it should ever happen again.

I like photography, Vero Beach Florida photographer 32960 - Eyeunit Digital Photography.

Ah, that’s enough about me for now!

John

[tbittner]

Welcome to RS, John!

I, for one, am VERY happy to have a new member here with the kind of experience that you have. Not to mention, it looks like you could teach us a few things about taking pictures of our tanks.

I look forward to seeing some pictures of your tanks.

[JWarren]

Hi Terry,

I have a few photos of my 55, which has been running for about a year now. I have posted a few of them on the Reefpedia site. Since I may be moving about 30 miles south of here due to my profession in the digital image field. I am holding off on running up the 120 and 90 gal. tanks. I am basically searching out a house that will accommodate an even bigger system, than running three separate.

I have entertained the notion of planting a mangrove garden on the exterior of the home and plumbing it to an inside show tank. A system somewhere in the neighborhood of 500+ gallons with an emphasis on increasing my frag. and propagation capabilities.

Just did a water change on the 55 today and will try to get some photos tonight for ya. I haven’t got a lot in the tank so far, cause I like to bring up the bio load slowly. Some shrooms, xenia, polythoas, ricordia, zoanthids, with four or five fish as of now and a pipe that I am trying to resue from a woman who let here system go rolling down the hill.

I wish I had more photos of the tanks before they went down, but now that I have a place to share them, I may start taking a lot more than usual.

I put a couple of photos on my web site. I'll get some more up soon.

Photos from the 55 Gallon salt aquarium.


John

[tbittner]

I LOVE the colors of those Rics! I really like your idea of having an outdoor grove of mangrove trees too. That would be REALLY interesting to follow the build on a system like that.

I too dream of a large tank. I don't know when it will happen though. (notice I didn't say "if")

[JWarren]

Yeah, I love the color in those Ric's as well.

When I originally thought of using the mangroves, I thought I would use two large rubber maid containers and make a hollow brick stand on each side of my 120 to house them in. Just to be able to slide them down inside. Then the whole plumbing aspect of it lead me to think of putting the mangroves outside in one big container, probably a plastic horse trough and just plumb it in and out. However, I think two mangrove stands on each side of my 120 would look real nice; I'd just have to light um up and plumb each separate.

I've never done anything with mangroves but I have seen them in action in a fuge and they do filter out the water along with the mud they grow in. I'm going to be running over to Harbor Branch sometime next week and see what they have going on with the mangroves. I haven’t been over there in a while, so I’m due anyway

[SaltwaterGeek]

Welcome to RS.

Chris

[boozeman]

nice reef

[lcstorc]

Howdy neighbor. (sort of anyway.)
Welcome to RS!
If you have the mangroves outside how will you keep the salinity in the tanks stable? Just curious.
Do you ever go to the Brevard Reef Society meetings? Many of the meetings are in Palm Bay so it is not too far for you.

[JWarren]

Hi Chris, Boozeman, Lynn.

Lynn, I don't see salinity in the system being an issue. My original thought and one that I may have negleted to mention is, the mangroves will be outside in a green house. So, outside but not really outside. The only perameter I am concerned about is pH and what effect sunlight will have on it, as well as what will the drop in pH be like when the sun goes down. The swings are what I will need to keep under control. It's all still in the planning stages but I think it will work out fine.

I have not been to any of the Brevard Reef Society meetings. Are you inviting me?

[JWarren]

Hi Chris, Boozeman, Lynn.

Lynn, I don't see salinity in the system being an issue. My original thought and one that I negleted to mention is, the mangroves will be outside in a green house. So, outside but not really outside. The only perameter I am concerned about is pH and what effect sunlight will have on it, as well as what will the drop in pH be like when the sun goes down. The swings are what I will need to keep under control. It's all still in the planning stages but I think it will work out fine.

I have not been to any of the Brevard Reef Society meetings. Are you inviting me?

[lcstorc]

Absolutely. All are welcome. We would love to have you. There is no dues or anything. It is very informal and basically just a group of peole with the same interest getting together. There always seem to be frags around for sale or trade. I'll have to admit it has been a couple of months since I have been but they are lots of fun and you get to meet locals who have the same interests. Their website is Brevard Area Reef Society
The next meeting is Feb 23 at 3pm. I should be able to make it. Hopefully you can as well. They haven't given the address yet so I don't know if this one in is in Palm Bay or the Cocoa area.
Well the greenhouse certainly addresses the salinity concern. With that you just have to worry about top-offs and the Ph llike you said.
I look forward to seeing the mangrove garden. I have considered adding them to my reef as well but I keep hearing mixed to bad reviews. From what I read they are more hastle than they are worth but I have not tried. I'll be interrested to see your results so I can hear first hand.

[JWarren]

Well Lynn,

I'll see what I can do to make the meeting then.

Mangroves grow really good here in Florida. The major thing I am researching right now is, what type of sub I will use for them to grow into. I've seen them planted as well as free floating. I've also seen them tied to a rail that ran along a long trough that the water flows through and over the roots of the plants.

As far as mangroves being a hassle, I could not say. One thing I do know, is Chaetomorpha or some other microalgea could easily fill the space taken up by failed mangroves, if they fail that is. I will be doing quite bit of experimenting with them in the near future to find what their absorption rate is and what really makes them happy and healthy.

One thing I have noted while observing mangroves growing on the shorelines here in Florida, is, the ones that experience some type low tide which exposes the mud around their roots, even for a short time, seem be the most healthy. I'm learning more and more about them everyday, but I am still a long ways from being an expert. Intrigued by the thought of using them though, mostly.

[AQTCJAK]

Welcome Aboard

[JWarren]

Thanks Jak!

[Cassette87]

Welcome to the family