Akwar'eum

[framerguy]

Barb, I'm glad I could brighten your day!

Jack, Scotty is very cool! You should see him when someone he doesn't know approaches the tank, he turns black!

Harpoon, what a great compliment. Thank you very much for looking and liking.

Scott, what can I say. Your namesake eats like a pig!! I'm having to feed everyone else with a baster so they can eat too, especially Shrek. I'd really like to get one of those tools that Paul B is building. It would make things easier.

Thanks everybody!!!

[framerguy]

OK, I know I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but how did it take me so long to think of testing my ph with my seachem test kit to make sure the probe was reading correctly. I used the kit and it tests 8.20+-. I did it three times to be sure. My probe is reading 7.99. I calibrated it when I installed the controller which wasn't that long ago. I either A:did it wrong, or B:used bad calibration fluid. I have ordered 10 more packs each of 7 and 10. Looks like I was going nuts for nothing. At least I didn't have far to go, huh?!

Also I ordered an Elos alkalinity test kit. I haven't liked my API, Seachem, or Salifert kits so I'll try this one. I'll let you know how it goes.

[tbittner]

Great news, Greg!

WOO HOO!!!

*** HAPPY DANCE ***

(and no, I'm not joining in on the nekkid dancing that is happening around here...)

[framerguy]

Here ya go ! He looks nekkid to me.

Thanks Terry, I can't tell you how relieved I am.

[Craig Manoukian]

Way awesome Greg!

[tbittner]

[framerguy]

My devils hand has developed some fuzzy white tips that don't look so good to me. It's almost like a fungus. I don't have my camera here tonight or I would post a pic. I'll bring it from work tomorrow.

I thought something had eaten all of my nassarius snails. But, I saw one tonight at feeding time so they're not all gone. The only thing I can think that would eat them is the red serpent stars.

I'm getting antsy to get another coral. Since we announced that we'll be building a house and moving the tank operation I decided not to add anymore livestock that I would have to move. I didn't realize how addicted I was to buying coral! I really need to thin out the Pom Pom Xenia though so I may go trade for something. Gail REALLY doesn't like the people at the (somewhat good) LFS so she doesn't want to go there. The next closest is in Atlanta and I would rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than drive in Atlanta. That's why (believe it or not) I have never been to the Georgia aquarium. It's an hours drive away. I'll figure something out.
Ya'll have a good night!

[framerguy]

I installed my controller January 20. My temperatures before controller were 80-82.5. I set the controller to keep my temp at 77-77.5. Since then my GSP has not been happy and stays hidden a lot. The finger leather has grown a white fungussy looking substance on his tips, and the tank has been a little off. I set my controller temp back at 80-80.5 this morning. I will let you know if it makes any difference. Several invert authors advocate keeping temps above 80, some near 84. Lets see if they're right!

[kathywithbirds]

You know, Greg, I had the temp down a little, near 77 or 78, and things didn't look so happy. I hiked it back up to 80-ish (MH lights help) and things look much better again. Dunno what it is, they must like it warm (like me!!)

[framerguy]

OK, here is what is happening to the devils hand leather...





anybody recognize what's going on?

[framerguy]

This has more to do with my life chronicle than the tank but this has been a tough day for me. Our septic drain lines have been stopping up lately, so I have been under the house all day trying to find the culprit. I finally found it at the entrance to the septic tank. Do you know how difficult it is to dig up a septic line in a crawl space??!! Well, I found the culprit and it was two fold. My daughter had been home lately and had been flushing feminie hygene products down the toilet. And, when the septic tank was installed some 15 years ago, whoever installed the pipe had only left about an inch clearance from the inner septic wall so the FHP's had packed against the wall and stopped up. This was by far the grossest thing I have ever been through, and I am thoroughly physically whipped!! I have to get parts tomorrow to repair all the damage I did trying to find it,...YUCK!

I think Gail and I have almost decided to buy an already built home instead of building a new one. We are going looking tomorrow after the plumbing is fixed.

Also tomorrow is tank cleaning day so it's going to be a busy day too! I've still got to dip the Devils hand but Gail couldn't find loguls solution today. She didn't really look that hard I don't think. Maybe I'll have better luck tomorrow. I have Iodine tincture but would rather not use it. I wonder if Seachems Potassium Iodide would work.

I'm going to collapse in bed now...goodnight!

[charlestonemt]

I'm new to this thread, so first let me say that your tank is amazing! Although this is my first post here, I now feel like I've known you since last year when the thread began.

Sorry about the septic tank issue. When I moved into my (brand new) townhouse almost 2 years ago, the day after I closed on it, I was in the shower before work and raw sewage started coming up in the shower and all of the downstairs sinks and toilets. Turns out, the plumbing contractor did not connect the sewage line under my bedroom floor (concrete slab). Long story short, I got to live in a hotel for my first three days of homeownership while it was repaired.

On a separate note, I've been reading about your tank controller and the stability of the temp since you've installed it. Do you have a chiller, fans, or does the controller just cut back on the lighting when it gets too hot? I've been exploring controllers recently and it would seem like once you get one, you wouldn't know how you ever lived without it.

Steven

[tbittner]

Dang Greg! Wish I was there to help! Sounds like a lot of fun!

But you know what the really cool thing is? That you have the ability and knowledge to be able to figure out what the problem is and fix it.

Just like your reef, it's so awesome!

[framerguy]

Thanks a lot Steven, I'm proud of my aquarium and "play" hard at it. It's the most enjoyable hobby I have ever had. As for the controller and temp, I have a fan blowing across the top of the DT and three heaters (one each in the sump, overflow, and fuge). The controller turns the heaters on at 80* and off at 80.5*, the metal halides turn off at 82*. The temp stays pretty much where you put it. I have the neptune aqua jr and really like it. It can control up to twelve circuits but I only have mine controlling 8. But you can plug a powerstrip into one circuit and all the things on that strip turn on and off at the same time. It's great, they aren't that expensive and it will save you tons of headache!

Terry, I wish you had been here too, at least I could have had someone to share my misery. I finished all the repairs this morning and everything flushes better than ever! It IS cool being able to do lots of stuff. I think I can, I try it, and I do it. If I don't know how, there's a book on EVERYTHING! Besides,....Gail makes me! My son and I have removed an ugly pantry in the kitchen and are building a wet bar for when this house becomes his "party house". It was a great move! As soon as you enter the house you see the aquarium now where it was blocked by the pantry before. We are waiting on black marble tile to finish the top now. I got an brand new Dewalt 12" mitre saw out of the deal!!

We're going looking for houses later, I'll let ya'll know if we find anything.

[Royalscott]

Good work Greg!

I hope you bought a special waste basket for your daughter to put her FHP's in.