Recent content by pat8you

And a lecture power point that seems to list both some benefits and as well as problems with turf algae. http://www.stri.si.edu/sites/taxonomy_training/Docs/phycology_docs/4_1_Introduction_Turf_Algae.pdf Hard to tell with out the lecture but it seems to imply that certain kinds of turf are...

I can't find the article I read before but this is a link to a paper with a few of the same issues. Microbial to reef scale interactions between the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis and benthic algae I just don't know what proximity algae can be in before it starts harming coral. Can...

Hello all, Been a few years now since I was really active on this forum. I looked into turf scrubbers a while back and wasn't able to find very much conclusive evidence about their effectiveness and more importantly the rumors going around that they would leach chemicals into your system that...

mushroom anemones

Nothing to worry about. When xenia come into contact with rocks or other coral it trys to attach to them or grow onto them. It doesn't always make it and then the base looks like it is scarred or torn. Xenia is honestly almost indistructable in a even relativly stable tank. I've cut it off and...

If your looking for a tank I would start by seeing if there is a local reef club. They usually have a forum or something and you can find some good deals on there. Also check craigslist. You can usually find good deals on tanks think of that nature there. I would stay away from hang on back...

He may last a little while but I believe eventually the ray will get him. The cleaner shrimp may not be out in the open to clean your fish if it is feeling threatened. If you keep the ray well fed he may not bother chasing the shrimp to much. There is really no way to say one way or the other...

I would also skip the crushed coral. The bacteria live on surfaces and not as much in the water its self. So having a fine grain will provide more surface area. Advanced aquarist did a study a while back that I believe came to the conculsion that the "miracle mud" was not an improvement over...

I believe they are find together but i'm not positive. I do know that the copper medication can screw up some of the tests (ammonia, nitrite, ect.). So I wouldn't put a lot of faith in the numbers you get or panic if you get a really high ammonia reading.

T-5's will last 12-18months before they really need to be replaced. When you do replace them they must be the same wattage because the fixture ballast is set to accept that type/wattage bulb. It may be a good idea to replace the bulbs a week apart (one new bulb per week). Whites or blues doesn't...

For QT tanks a lot of people will get a sponge filter for them. You can keep a new sponge in your main display so that it is always cycled and then if you treat your QT with any meds you can just toss the sponge and get a new one for next time since they are so cheap. I know that doesn't help...

Ritteri are possible to keep but as you have read and from what i have seen it is difficult. I think they also have a higher light requriement then the bubble tip anemones. I don't think i would try it with a 4 bulb T-5 fixture. I think MH is probably requried for a Ritteri. How long has your...