is anybody out there ???

[windgod]

I went up to Souix Falls 1 weekeend and saw lots of shops with reef goods, so were are all the South Dakotans???



R

[windgod]

all I hear is crickets

[windgod]

hello???

[Lunchbucket]

hey sorry no one really comes here anymore...sad to say

i'm in Brookings and i know Travis from SF and another guy from SF.

there are a few west river that i have heard from on this board....not that many people here on RC i don't think

later
Lunchbucket

[Travis]

Hey windgod,

Well, you already know I'm here.:) Honestly, I don't know too many other reefers around this area. And I don't know any others from this area and also on RC, except for Lunchbucket.

[fishresponse]

Hey Travis,

I agree. There is not a whole lot of offer aquarists in SD or for that matter Sioux Falls. I used to live in Beresford last year but now live in the Des Moines area. When I was building my system right when i moved there I heard from a few people in Beresford that they used to do it or still are. Not sure on that though. Well anyways, if you're ever in the Des Moines area there are a couple good stores. A lot of aquarists are in the area also. Check out the Greater Iowa Reef Society on RC.

Andy

[ultrinn]

There are other South Dakota Reefers here? I searched and could not find anything.

I live in Sioux Falls.

[Travis]

Sheesh, I didn't know anybody even checked this forum.:D

fishresponse, good to hear from an ex-South Dakotan. I am actually in Des Moines a few times per year. My fiancee moved here from Oskaloosa and that is where her family is. Last time I was down there was around Christmas time. My future bro-in-law introduced me to HOC and I got to see his amazing setup. He has since moved to Virginia. Did you get a chance to see his setup? I do usually hit the LFS's in Des Moines when I go through. There are a couple that I like. I don't remember the names. One is next to Hooters in a mall and the other one is in Altoona.


ultrinn, Wow, there is another person from Sioux Falls on here.:eek2: I didn't know that. Glad to have you along. Maybe we can meet up sometime. You know anyone else around here that is into reefs? I know the guys at a couple of the tatto shops and sell them corals on occasion. I also know Dan and Mark from Mini Critters. Dan has a pretty neat 500 gallon bowfront in his home. Too bad he doesn't know more about taking care of corals though. He does have a lot of nice fish. Haven't seen Mark's 240 yet. The last time I saw his tanks they were literally so infested with algae that you couldn't see inside them. I used to keep in contact with Jim from Mini Critters too but haven't heard from him in a while and he got fired. Have you seen the tank at Executive Fireplace on Louise yet? It is pretty nice. Mini Critters used to maintain it and everything kept dying. Now I think a guy that used to work at the Omaha zoo is maintaining it and supposedly things are looking better. There was an article about that guy in the paper a couple days ago in the business section. It sounds like he is starting a business in town setting up and maintaining tanks for people.

Sorry for the rambling. Just excited that there is someone else from Sioux Falls on here. I wish we could get enough people together to start a club.

[ultrinn]

I have major issues with the tanks at mini critters so I don't go in there too often. the last time I was in there it looked like about half of the livestock was dead or dying so I haven't been back.

I usually go to Safari land. They have less selection but I know a couple of the people that work there and know they have most of the stuff they sell at home.

[Lunchbucket]

fishresponse - beresford that is where my family-in-law lives!!! small world

MC sucks. SL is better and getting better all the time IMO

Hmm guy from Omaha zoo...very cool. i still need to check out the tank at Executive fireplace

later
Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

I haven't been to executive fieplaces so I didn't even know they had a reef tank set up. How did you ever figure out that they had a reef tank?

[Lunchbucket]

heard from the guys at Mini Critters

[windgod]

Was the fire place tank in the "reef aquarium volume 1 " because I remember a tank in the back of the book that was said to be from Omaha

[Travis]

ultrinn, I agree. I don't like the way that MC does business. They try to sell everything the first day or 2 that it comes in. What doesn't go right away ends up sitting in their tanks and dying. They need someone there that knows how to keep reef tanks in the first place. They could also use a BIG skimmer, which I think would immensely help their tanks but you know Mini Critters... they tell us that protein skimmers are "bad" and we shouldn't be using them.:rolleye1: SL has a much more ethical way of doing business. They care about the livestock that comes in, in fact they quarantine all of their fish for 2 weeks before they even go into the displays. Scott has a general knowlede about how to care for the animals he sells so they stay alive, and thrive, in his system at the store. I don't buy corals from either store as I'm just not satisfied with the "run of the mill" stuff they get in or the health of their specimens. When I do need to pick up some frozen food or something I will usually give my business to SL because I like how they treat their livestock and customers better. Not to mention their frozen food is half the price that MC sells them for.

I heard by word of mouth from the MC crew about the tank at Executive Fireplace. They would brag it up about how they were in charge of the tank and then I would go see the tank and all the corals would be melting and the fish would be covered in parasites. It's a good thing that tank is under someone else's care now.

windgod, definitely not the same tank. The one at Executive Fireplace is nothing special at all. It's just nice to see a "large" reef tank in Sioux Falls, even though I don't have to leave my house to do that anymore.:lol: What I like most about the setup there is the wall that it is in. You will have to stop by and see it one of the next times you are in town. It is really close to the mall so that should score bonus points with the wife.:D

[windgod]

I thoght you were talking about a tank in Omaha, I dont have my "reef aqaurium" (sprung) but in the back on vol 1 there was a tank from omaha.

and when it comes to th LFS scene it is almost to frustrating to go to them, there is never any good hardware like Tunze,MRC, ETS.....or just good ol fashion fabrication of journeyman diy'ers like some of us, not to mention the crappy almost dead livestock they are trying to pawn off at a ridicualous price.

and is MC the place that sells dogs as well, if it is I saw a gal buy 10lbs of rock for about 60.00 bucks(whoa) then I bought a dog leash for our dog and got it up to the counter (no price tag on it) they rang it up 35.00, next time wal-mart, 6.00

there was another shop that was in Redwood Falls MN not far from you guys, had a mass quanity of Fiji rock on the 'ol Ebay site so I thoght I would take a little detour from the wind parks up that way, what a big dissipoinment that was it was in a big rubbermaid tank 300 gallon or so and the water was yellow (ammonia laden) and no skimmer just 2 maxi-jets breaking the stagnit froth of the frog pond she called a curing tank, and since then I have relied on transhippers and internet


sorry to vent

Rick

[Travis]

Yup, Mini Critters is the place that sells dogs too. I remember back when I bought liverock from them when I was starting my first tank several years ago. They were charging $16/lb. I had a buddy that was working there so I thought I was getting a steal when he hooked me up with some of their rock for about half that price. Little did I know, I was still getting ripped off.

BTW, I was at MC today and they had this great big Sohal tang. It is so pale and sick looking. I don't know why they even get fish like that. I doubt if there is a single tank in this area that would be appropriate for that fish.

[ultrinn]

Someone at work today was telling me that there is someone in the area with two sharks in a tank. Anyone here about that?

[Travis]

Never heard of that, but it could certainly be true. Of course it could also be true that they have 2 sharks in a 40 gallon tank. You just never know around here. I could certainly see MC telling someone that it is ok to have sharks in a 20 gallon tank.:rolleyes: If there is someone around here that has a couple sharks in a tank that is appropriately sized for them I would love to see it.

[Travis]

Actually, now that I think about it, I do remember MC having some shark eggs in one of their tanks a few years ago. Not sure what ever happened to them or who purchased them though.

[Lunchbucket]

hey had shark eggs not too long ago. less than one year. not sure what happend to them but i was ****ED when they had them there

Lunchbuciket

[Travis]

Dang, so that is at least twice in the last few years that they have had shark eggs. That really ****ES me off!!!!!!!!!!!!

[windgod]

hey Travis what are min pins??

[Lunchbucket]

minature pinchers...they are a breed of dogs. min pin is short hand :D

[windgod]

thats right I remember the little guys now

[windgod]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400PICT00851.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400PICT00831.jpg

alot of work but this is the begining.............

[Travis]

windgod, they are small animals that have way too much energy and make a lot of noise.:D Is your tank going to be in-wall? If you start a thread on it be sure to link us to it.;) BTW, did you get that monster skimmer from GEO yet?

Lunch, did you and the wife end up stopping by Executive Fireplaces on your way home yesterday?

[Lunchbucket]

windgod - hey it will be a while but will turn out great i am sure

Travis - nope just hauled butt home. how are the frags??? mine are AWESOME. they are all polyped out. the yellow carolinia (???) is close to the bottom and the MC acro, SB tort, and german digi is on the very top...good thing i have 2 layers of window screen on. will have to wait a few more days before i remove one since they are up there. the SB tort might be getting too much flow...i think it is RIGHT in the path of one of my 3/4" outlets from my OM unit and about 1ft + away...i'll keep an eye on him but we will see

everyone is polyped out nicely

later
Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

I was going to stop by executive fireplace today (sunday) and it was closed so I will another day.

[windgod]

yes a in wall with a bar on the front I hope.................

and thanks guys I will keep you posted

Rick

[Lunchbucket]

bar in front of a reef...sounds like heaven :D

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

Myabe you guys can answer a question for me since your all here.

This is the order I was going to introduce my fish:

1. bi-color blennie
2. firefish
3. percula clowns
4. six-line wrasse
5. purple psuedochromis
6. fire angel

SL has a pseudo on hand right now. Could I move that up to number 1 or should I put the other 4 in first and wait on the psuedo?

[Travis]

windgod, that sounds pretty cool having a bar in front of the reef. Just hope nobody gets sea sick.;)

Lunch, the frags are doing good. The caps are at the bottom. I was suprised at the coloration of the red cap. Under normal room lighting it looked brown but it really glows under the 20k. The mille is up towards the top. It does look a little pale so I may move it down for a while. Everything is polyped out well. BTW, it's caroliniana but the one you got is suharsonoi.

ultrinn, Is this a reef tank? What type of corals do you have or plan on keeping. If you are planning on sps or tridacnid clams at any time you will want to stay away from the bi-color blenny. If you have corals in there you may want to reconsider the flame angel also. The other fish in your list should all be reef safe. Pseudochromis are very aggressive. I would introduce that one last. The firefish is the least aggressive on your list so I would add that first. Here is the order I would go with:

1. firefish
2. percs
3. bc blennie
4. 6-line
5. angel
6. pseudochromis

[ultrinn]

My wife really wants clams and sps but that will be a ways down the road.

I really want a blennie but the lawnmower seems kind of bland. That is why I was going with the bi-color. Any other blennies that are reef safe but are colorful?

[windgod]

for a site that is never being visited we got a pretty good post here..

I will have bud and bud light on tap for the first visit or should I go with some good german ale...

[Lunchbucket]

ultrinn - i agree w/ travis but if you want shrimp stay away from the pseudochromis...they will KILL shrimp!

Travis - glad they are doing well...hope they are nice enough to include w/ you AMAZING selection of corals. the red cap is pretty different. the milli will turn out nice...might be a little bleached from being on the sand or getting in a fight w/ the cap. you know me and acro id's...i SUCK so sorry for the miss labeling. whatever it is it is SWEET! glows electric in my tank...it might be my new favorite. specially since you never see yellows like that in a tank

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

Has anybody heard anything bad about a black cap basslet? I was thinking about it from the beginning but decided on the pseudochromis instead. If I switch it out with the pseudo would it go in the same order?

[Lunchbucket]

haven't head the bad shrimp killing habbits from the blackcaps but i think they are pretty aggressive and spendy. i searched on RC about them a while back but can't remember now

Lunchbucket

[Travis]

ultrinn, the only blennie I know of that is safe with sps and clams is the lawnmower blennie. They do make up for their ugly coloration with a wild personality. I've had mine for over 4 years now. Black cap basslets are very shy. I had a pair a while back and they would hide 95% of the time. The only time they would even come out of the rocks was for feeding. If you switched a black cap for the chromis, I would add the black cap as one of the first ones. BTW, when you and the wife are ready to try sps, stop by and I will hook you up with a few frags to get started. Not much of an sps selection at our LFS's, but I see Safari Land is now starting to carry ORA frags.

windgod, sad to say this is the most active this forum has ever been.:o I'm a Coors Light drinker myself but I can usually substitute with Bud Light and a sweet reef tank.;) Do you have an estimated date when the project will be done? Would love to swing down sometime after everything is up and running to check it out.

Lunchbucket, I agree, those 2 are a couple of my favorites. Too bad they grow soooooo slooooooowwwwww. I think the colors on those 2 corals pops more than any other coral in the tank, including the Oregon tort. Your frags are very worthy of my collection.:cool: I can't wait to see what the mille will look like when it colors up. And I was pretty impressed with the red cap. It has a nice glow to it.

[Jiddy]

Well Well Well, a bunch of S.Fallers huh, nice to see that there are reefers in this state, even if you are all from the oppisite side of it, im from Rapid and i dont want to hear about your bad LFS, cuz we only have one, lol. Anyways, nice to meet you all

[Travis]

Jiddy, Glad to have another South Dakotan along.;) So how is the LFS in Rapid?

[ultrinn]

How about a Fridmani Pseudochromis? Do these kill shrimp and such?

[Travis]

Not sure how compatable they are with shrimp. Here is what my "Marine Fishes" by Scott W. Michael book says about them...

"Although the most sociable member of the genus, this species will occasionally pester smaller, more-passive fishes (e.g., fire gobies, gobies, small wrasses), other dottybacks, and grammas, and will defend its shelter sites from intrusion."

Sounds like this fish wouldn't be compatable with your firefish or 6-line.

BTW, I highly recommend this book (Marine Fishes) to anyone buying saltwater fish. I never buy a fish without checking this book first. Back when I bought fish locally I would never go to the LFS without this book. If you don't own one MC's sometimes has one on ther book rack and you can use it while you are in their store. SL has their own store copy that they will let you borrow while you are there.

[ultrinn]

Ok, I'm at a loss now. My wife loves the color purple and I need a purple fish for the tank.

Anybody have any ideas?

[Travis]

purple firefish;)

[Lunchbucket]

purple firefish are cool. i don't remember what size you were doing but iam assuming a purple tang is too large

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

It's a 55 so yes. Can the purple firefish and a regular firefish go together or would I need something different for the regular firefish?

[Travis]

Not sure if both types should be kept together. Probably not, especially in a 55. The only time you should keep more than 1 of either type is if a male/female pair is aquired. So I would think 1 of each type wouldn't get along. Groups should not be kept together as the most dominant one will eventually kill the rest.

[ultrinn]

How about this for the new list.

1. Purple Firefish
2. percs
3. yellow Watchman gobie
4. Lawnmower Belnnie
5. 6-line wrasse
6. Fire Angel

[Travis]

ultrinn, I like that list and order much better. That is about a perfect size bio-load for your tank. With that combination your fish should be happy and there should be very little aggression. The only thing I would change would be the flame angel.

Back to your "purple" question from earlier... I had a couple thoughts on purple fish today. The black cap basslets are very purple and peaceful. Royal grammas are another good candidate although they are only half purple.

[Jiddy]

Hey Guys! Its the WestSider again, anyways, the LFS is "okay." They tried sellin me a SeaClone and a Fluval, and LR is 8 a lb, so i havent purchased anything from them yet, but it is nice to go in there to get inspiration and what not, anyone know where i can get some PC lights?

[ultrinn]

I ordered mine from www.ahsupply.com (http://www.ahsupply.com).

[Travis]

Originally posted by Jiddy
Hey Guys! Its the WestSider again, anyways, the LFS is "okay." They tried sellin me a SeaClone and a Fluval, and LR is 8 a lb, so i havent purchased anything from them yet, but it is nice to go in there to get inspiration and what not, anyone know where i can get some PC lights?

If it makes you feel better I bought my first saltwater setup from the local PETCO. Here is what they set me up with:

20 gallon AGA
painted gravel
undergravel filter
cheap HOB freshwater filter

What a great setup to get started with.:lol:

You can get PC lights from anywhere. I order all of my drygoods from Marine Depot, except for when they don't carry somehting. For PC lights you are sure to find a good deal in the drygoods and equipment selling forum on this board or ebay. Seriously, use the selling forum. I think about half of the equipment running my tank came from there. You can find some great deals and you are helping another hobbyist out.

However, I must ask... Why are you going with PC's? Have you considered VHO's or T-5's. PC's are at the bottom of the scale when it comes to light output and efficiency. I used them in the past for my refugiums but won't be using them again. You should be able to find a VHO or T-5 setup for around the same price.;)

[Lunchbucket]

i've used PC's in the past and thought they were just OK. like Travis said they aren't the best. i would do VHO's AT LEAST but look into T-5's...although i don't know much about them

later
Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

I like the ones I have but the only comparison I have is the NO lighting that came with the tank.

[windgod]

Here are som DIY photos of the frag tank that I am working on it will be in parrelell with my display, the first photos shows the partition that will be in the tank this will enable me to keep clams in a low flo area and keep frags for growout, Got the low flow idea from Travis (thanks)
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400frag8.jpg

Please note that the partition is not bonded in yet i just place it in there for the pic.

Here is a close up of the partiion It is cast 1/4 inch acrylic and the flutes are also 1/4 inch milled with a 3.25 hp router
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400frag6.jpg

where the dowels are will be where the partition will be just doing a little bonding here
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400frag1.jpg

and of course the last photo will be of the overflow in the construction stages , if there is 1 thing that I have learned with the acrylic fabrication thing dont go cheap on the bits

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400overflow1.jpg

I think that I will keep the project on this site to keep it alive

thanks for looking guys

Rick

[Jiddy]

Thanks for the help guys, heres my question, if i buy the 48" Aqualight fixture that has 4-65w PC bulbs in it, cant i just get the same watt bulbs, just in VHO?

[Lunchbucket]

48" VHO's are 110w each i believe. why not buy a fixture that is MADE for VHO??

[Travis]

windgod, I didn't know you were into acrylic fabrication. I would like to start doing more work with acrylic soon but I have to get stocked up on tools and supplies first. It does take a little money invested in the proper tools to get a good acrylic project going. What are the dims of that frag tank? Is the tank glass or acrylic. Did you make the whole tank yourself? Things are looking good. You should start a new thread in this forum so we can keep it dedicated to discussion on your setup.;) I know your setup is going to be NICE. Did you get your skimmer yet?

Jiddy, which fixture are you looking at? Could you post a link? You can get the PFO AcroLight fixture with VHO bulbs. You can also get a PFO custom made fixture with VHO's. It doesn't look like the Aqua Spacelight can be used with anything besides the PC's it comes with. Have you considered retro fitting? That would most likely be cheaper in the long run. I also like the look of a light setup that is retro fitted into a canopy a lot more than the looks of a fixture that is suspended over the tank. My biggest pet-pieve (sp?) with the fixtures/pendants is that a lot of light is wasted and escapes into the room. Also, what bulb combination do you plan on running? I'm guessing you are thinking either 10k MH w/ actinics, 20k/14k MH w/ actinics, or 20k/14k MH w/ daylights. If you plan to use actinics I would go with VHO for sure. Nothing compares to a URI super actinic 03 bulb. The pc bulbs are not "true" actinics. The t-5 actinics are close but still not as good as the URI. The best thing about T-5's is that there are more choices. They also offer a couple blue bulbs besides the actinic.

[Travis]

Jiddy, what tank will these lights be going on? If it is the 90, what are the dimensions of this tank? If it is the same length and width as a 75 I have a custom oak canopy that I will sell for cheap. It is real nice looking. Has two cutouts for cooling fans on the sides. I already have the inside designed to hold MH's at the top of the canopy and VHO's a few inches closer to the water.

[windgod]

Thanks for the compliment Travis, the dimensions of the tank are 72x24x13 and it is a glasscages acrylic tank..

[Jiddy]

Thanks for the help guys! Yea Trav its your typical dim of 48Lx18w and i would be interestedin the canopy, its the light oak? because my setup is the darker oak, but i could work with it im sure, what would i have to get to make it ready?

On another note i found a nice SW LFS outside of town a bit, it was called Black Hills Angels and was located in Black Hawk (which is a little *** suburb of the metropolis of R.C.) so i figured it was some little ghetto FW store, well to my surprise its very nice inside and has like 20 SW setups, its my new fav store, but they aint open on Sundays =( Anyways, thanks for the help guys and what do you think about CPR bac-pac Duals for a 90g?

[windgod]

well the frag tank was goin pretty well until I got in a tangle with a dewalt 1/2 in drill and it cracked one of the bulkeheads while drilling it, I made a patch I think it will work but we will see here is a few more pics of the over flow

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/66400flowinstall1.jpg


there is always the learning curve, but working with the acrylic is allot of fun I just need more practice.


Rick

[Travis]

Jiddy, Yes, it is light oak. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow. It's just the canopy so you will still need everything else. When I was using it I was running 3 x 48" VHO, 1 x 46.5" VHO (the bulb in the back needs to be a little shorter to fit), and 2 x 400w MH. I think I paid around $250 to get it built. It was built by a guy that contracts out for Mini Critters (one of our LFS's). I will sell it for $100. The only problem would be getting it to you. It is pretty big so shipping wouldn't be cheap and I don't know where I could find a big enough box. If you wanted to make the drive I could throw in a free frag or 2.

windgod, ouch! How thick is the acrylic? Drilling bulkheads in acrylic isn't fun. Just have to take your time and keep the drill square with the material. It seems like as soon as the drill gets a little off square it grabs. I remember drilling a hole for a 3" bulkhead in my 280. I think it took a good 20 minutes to drill that sucker.

[windgod]

yeah I have never drilled in the 'ol acrylic but now I know I think the frag tank will be ok but we will see after the leak test huh??

I planned on letting it sit fo a month with water in it

[braydenspoppa]

Is there anyone from Rapid City on here? Just moved here and would like to see if there are any reefers closer than Sioux Falls.

[Jiddy]

Have a 90g 48Lx24H and need some lights for LR and a Quadri Anem down the road, rumor has it PC lights will be "okay" and my budget likes them too, so im stuck on PC lights, i was curious is the 48" ODYSSEA (65wx4) lights on Ebay for $100 shipped is somthin that is "good enough" for my design and worth the money, its only a starter light set.

My other question is it comes with 2x65w 12k bulbs and 2x65w Actinic 03, are these okay bulbs and if i wanted a 10k Daylight could i use that with that fixture?

Thanks for the help in Advance, love the site!

[Jiddy]

Brayden, so far its you and me buddy! (from RC) And to be honest i aint much help, my SW tank consists of a 90g sittin in the garage waitin to get back from vacation this month to see how much i can afford for damn lights... lol. Some info for you thou: If you want anything from the LFS, goto BlackHawk and get it from BH Angels, they are way nicer/cleaner/cheaper/helpful then Trishes in town, and dont even bother with the baken park one.

And Trav, think ill have to pass on the canopy, thanks for the offer thou =)

[Travis]

windgod, If you get anxious you should be able to leak test the tank after 1 week of curing. Many people fill their tanks for good after 1 week. Then after you have tested it you can drain it and let if finish curing for the remainder of time.

braydenspoppa, Glad to have another South Dakotan along. Too bad you guys are on the other side of the state.

Jiddy, no worries on the canopy. It sounds like MH would be overkill for your tank right now anyways. Sorry, I don't know anything about the fixture and bulbs you are talking about. I would still, however, recommend VHO's or T-5's. The initial setup costs may be slightly higher but you will get your money back in the long run with increased efficiency alone. If there is one thing I've learned in this hobby, it's do it "right" the first time. It gets pretty expensive when you substitute for something cheaper. Then, later down the road upgrade to a better version. But if you think PC's will be ok then go with them.

[Jiddy]

Thanks for the help Trav and can you send a link or rec. a brand/type of T-5 fixture, my tank is 24"H

[windgod]

thanks for the info trav I hope that the patch works if not an expensive lesson learned

[Travis]

Jiddy, I really don't know a whole lot about T-5's and have never used them personally. I do know that they are about the most effecient fluorescent lighting out there right now. Also, if I remember correctly, the bulbs can last up to 18 months or so. My (future) brother-in-law is using a 48" Tek light fixture over his 75. I think it has 6 bulbs in it. It looks great and about as bright as a tank lit by 10k MH's. I think he got his from reefgeek. Remember, the initial setup cost is going to be higher but it pays itself off in the long run with efficiency and bulb life alone.

Here is another site that I like to order stuff from. You simply can't beat the prices they offer. I think they have a couple economy T-5 setups.

http://diyreef.com/shop/index.php

EDIT I just looked at that site and it looks like they are closing down soon.:( They do have some T-5 bulbs and reflectors on clearance.

Another place you might want to check would be hellolights.com. They usually have pretty low prices too.

[Jiddy]

I just bought a $100 48" Aqualight 65Wx4 so i can do a FOWLR tank until i get my feet wet, i figure the liverock is goin to kill me anyways, Its a cheap and good enough setup for now, its small for my 90g and very limitin but its a small step forward

[ultrinn]

Was anybody at safari land yesterday (saturday)?

[Travis]

Not me. Havent' been to either LFS's for a few weeks now. Has anyone been to either of them recently? I'm wondering if either have anything decent as far as sps. With Mini Critters you pretty much have to get them the day they come in or they start dying right away in their polluted tanks. There seems to be a gradually growing demand for the ORA sps frags at Safari Land. I hope they continue to keep getting these in.

BTW, let's keep this thread going. Even if it is just to gab. It would be real nice to keep this forum alive. I'm starting a small project with my 75 FOWLR. Maybe I will start a thread in this forum for it. Right now I'm practicing drilling teeth for an external overflow in a 20H glass tank. I want to use this tank to test out the drilling and the external overflow itself before I go ahead and do it to the 75. Drilling glass is a very slow process but easier than I expected. The first tooth took me about 50 minutes. The teeth are 1" high and 1/4" wide. Now I'm getting them done in about 10-15 minutes each so I think I'm making it up the learning curve. The 75 FOWLR is set up and running with a juvenile imperator and a bicolor blenny for now. There is about 80-100 lbs of live rock in there, a couple seio's, a sump, and a Quiet One return pump. There are a few things I want to do to the tank before I move it out into the living room.

[ultrinn]

I was at both yesterday and noticed someone looking at reef stuff. Since I don't see that very often, I assumed it was one of you.

I don't know sps from lps yet so I can't specifically answer your question but Safari Land appears to be ramping up their coral stock.

MC was more of the usual. Dead and dying livestock, poor advice.

[ultrinn]

I could start a thread for my 55 gal. I have pictures from when I got it and it is still a work in progress.
As soon as I get the pictures together I will start it.

[Travis]

ultrinn, the sps at SL are in the two new tanks that replaced the old algae infested tank at the back that used to house the one-eyed grouper and big eel. They have been stocking decent ORA (farm raised) sps frags in those tanks. The ones they have are usually browned out but, IME, ORA corals ALWAYS color up under the right conditions. MC keeps their sps in the 180 above their LR. Usually when I go there 97% of their sps are brown and dying. However, believe it or not, the coral in my avatar came form there. It was brown when I got it over 3 years ago. As you can see, sps corals have some major potential to color up. Unfortunately, I lost that coral, along with all of the corals in my 75 a year ago in a tank crash due to a kalk accident.

Be sure to start a thread here with pics of your 55. I would love to see it.

BTW, if anyone hasn't seen it, here is the thread I started a while back on my 280: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=353141

[ultrinn]

I stopped in to Safari Land and they have the same corals as last time. I don't know that much about corals but they all looked healthy except a green one that was turning brown.

[Travis]

Thanks for updating us. That is one thing I like about Safari Land... their corals are ALWAYS healthy. I don't think they quarantine their corals but I KNOW they do quarantine all of their fish for 2 weeks before putting them in the display tanks.

[clarktod]

Hey,
Just stumbled on this thread, I didn’t think anybody ever posted here anymore. You can add another name to the list of reefers in Sioux Falls.

Todd

[ultrinn]

Nice to hear from you Todd.

I am waiting for one of the fish on my list to show up so I stop in there every couple of days. I am going in again tonight so I will check on new corals.

[Jiddy]

I wish someone from RC would stumble upon this site =(

[Travis]

Originally posted by clarktod
Hey,
Just stumbled on this thread, I didn’t think anybody ever posted here anymore. You can add another name to the list of reefers in Sioux Falls.

Todd

Hi Todd.:wavehand: Glad to have another local on the board. I wonder how many others are on the board that rarely/never check this forum. What a small world this is.

[Travis]

ultrinn, what fish are you waiting for? Did you have them order one for you? If not, just ask Scott. He will check the availability and order one as soon as it is available. It doesn't cost anything extra either. He has special ordered fish for me in the past.

Jiddy, I know there used to be at least one other hobbyist on this board from Rapid City. I don't remember what his name was though.

[windgod]

coo another local reefer, it is nice to see the dust gettig blown off this site!!!

[Jiddy]

I must admit it is nice to have SD'ers here! Yea Trav there was one other RC'er here, but, havent seen him come back yet =(

[ultrinn]

I called down there one day and he didn't sound like he was in a good mood. He said he should have what I was looking for coming in soon so I was waiting. I am still waiting on my QT to cycle anyway so I have some time.

[Jiddy]

I started the South Dakota Marine Society Forum at Reef Frontiers because i cant acess RC at work, so come on over an check it out!

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=100

[Lunchbucket]

i really don't wnat to join another boards so i am gonna have to pass...sorry

Lunchbucket

[Travis]

Lunch, reeffrontiers is probably my favorite board of them all. It seems to have the largest amount of "big dogs" (see Mojoreef, MtnDewMan, kevinpo, etc. etc.) that don't post much here and a much more layed back atmosphere than other boards. The only downside is that it just doesn't have the numbers that RC has.

[Lunchbucket]

i might look into it but last thing i need is another board to check :D

Lunchbucket

[windgod]

I have to agreee with the bucket there is no place like reef central

[Jiddy]

You guys act like its that big of a deal

[Lunchbucket]

well it is. when you have to check fifteen threads here..then sign up fo ranother board w/ more emails coming in...it is a PITA. sorry you can't check stuff at work but maybe you should stay at RC after work...there are 2 sides to everything

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

The wife, kids, and I went to the Washington Pavilion tonight and saw "Coral Reef Adventure." It was a good show and nice to see a natural reef.

The show is here until may sometime.

http://washingtonpavilion.org/CinedomeTheater/Index.cfm

[Travis]

ultrinn, thanks for the info. My mom took my nephews there a month or so ago and said it was worth checking out. How much did it cost?

[Travis]

Lunch, no need to be rude to Jiddy man. We are all trying to keep this forum alive and this stuff certainly doesn't help. If you don't want to join RF then don't.

[ultrinn]

$25 for my wife, me, and two kids.

[Lunchbucket]

Lunch, no need to be rude to Jiddy man. We are all trying to keep this forum alive and this stuff certainly doesn't help. If you don't want to join RF then don't.

not trying to be rude. didn't have my coffee yet so i was short and to the point...sorry if it came across that way

Lunchbucket

[Jiddy]

Heres my question, since i bought my tank used and dont know about the glass (tempert or not) i dont want to have it drilled, so would you recommend i buy a bulk of MJ's (6 for $50) or just skip on that deal and build one of those over the top CL's

[ultrinn]

I think that a CL would look better than running 6 Powerheads. I was thinking about building a manifold.

[Lunchbucket]

CL fo sho!!!

use an oceans motions unit

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

The fine folks at Safari Land tell me they are getting new fish out of quarantine next week if anyone is interested.

They have a bunch of clams in the sps tanks now and more corals by the day.

[Lunchbucket]

hmm, i'll have to stop by there on saturday when i am coming home...or maybe on friday when i go through

Lunchbucket

[Travis]

ultrinn, thanks for the update.

If you guys haven't noticed, there is another thread in this forum. Apparently, Mini Critters got a shipment of Tonga Acros in this week.

Lunch, what time you gonna be in town this weekend? Maybe I'll check out the fish stores with ya while you're here. Give me a call when you swing through. I go in to work at 2pm today and don't get off until 1pm tomorrow.

[Lunchbucket]

Travis - thanks for the heads up on the new thread.

i came through town last night (friday) and stopped at SL and got some food. they had NOTHING...NO more SPS than usualy unless they all got sold. same green encrusting monti and a red rust monti...oh a yellow porities. nothing much

same clams plus 2 new gigas maybe. nothing much

Travis- will be coming through town tonight (sat). eating at the outback tonight for supper w/ the inlaws but if you want i can call you. it will be too late to "tank shop" (like window shopping for reefers) but i would like to swing by minis if i make it to town in time. not that i would buy anything but never know. i guess if there is a nice piece and you want to split it i would be willing to split the cost w/ you or pay for a frag. not sure you want ot add any of thier corals but if you know you can offset some of your cost it might be the deciding factor.

call me today if you want me to stop by or call when i get to town.

later
Lunchbucket

[Travis]

Lunch, thanks for the heads up on SL's stock. I might have to swing by and check out those gigas. I'll give you a call in a few.

[Travis]

Hey everyone... I got a pm from another "local" a couple nights ago. His RC name is trozeboom and he is in Sioux Center, which is about an hour from SF. If people keep coming out of the woodwork like this we may even get enough to start a reef club sometime!

[Lunchbucket]

a club!!! cool do we have a secret handshake and everything??

Lunchbucket

[Jiddy]

Can we have a club t-shirt too?

[Travis]

Nope, we could maybe do g-strings though!

[Jiddy]

We could but only for the SFers, the RC would stick with handshakes and tee's!

[Travis]

I was thinking maybe pasties for the RC crew!:lol:

[Jiddy]

Unreal Travis. On a more serious note, where do you guys recommend BaseRock from, i heard a lot of complaints about density from HiRocks and was wonderin if anyone used/knew of a better site

[Travis]

Not really sure. My buddy just got 60 lbs of HiRocks "best" rock. I haven't seen it in person but I am not very impressed. They look like solid chunks of rock that are hardly even porous and have no crevices or caves, etc. If you use them for the base of your aquascape where you can't see them they would probably be ok though.

[Travis]

Here they are:

<img src=http://sheltonjw.home.mchsi.com/fowlr/rocksa.JPG>

[Travis]

Oops

[Jiddy]

Do you guys think this setup is a deal? For only $35 you can upgrade to 250w, i know i would need a fan, but what do you guys think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4372150920

[Travis]

It looks "ok". Worthless reflector/pendant. Good sockets. Good MH ballast. Good VHO bulbs but you get one actinic and one 10k. You will want both to be actinic. VHO ballast is not described so I tend to worry about the quality of it. Shipping is outrageous. No warranty. Total cost for setup is $450. Upgraded to 250w is $485.

I'd say go with 250w. That isn't too much light for any softies. And it isn't too little for any sps. 175w is fine for softies but too little for most sps.

Here, I put together a much better setup that is even cheaper. Not to mention I just put it together quick with the prices off of Marine Depot's site so if you shop around for the same stuff you could probably find cheaper prices somewhere else. Anyways here it is:

PFO Dual 250w magnetic ballast (very good ballast)--$159
Pair of PFO 12" reef-flectors (very good reflectors)--$44.00
Pair of socket assemblies with quick disconnects--$46
IceCap 430 electronic VHO ballast (best VHO ballast, IMO)--$140
2 Pairs of VHO endcaps--$20
2 VHO bulbs (go with superactinic for both)--$42
Total cost for this "premium" setup, which will come with a good warranty...$451 Also, the shipping would be free once you spend more than $175 at Marine Depot.

Either way, don't forget about MH bulbs. Neither of the setups above come with them. And if you go with MH's you will need to take cooling into consideration. Some cooling fans blowing over the water should be ok for the cooler months. But June-August temps will most likely require the addition of a chiller.

Finally, don't forget about the valuable selling forums here on RC. There are excellent deals to be had there. You could probably find a setup similar to what I listed above for around $300.

[Jiddy]

Thanks Trav for once again takin time out to clearly explain things to me, so if i bought all that above, i would need a canopy? Besides fans, what else would i have to buy, like wires and misc things?

[Travis]

Yes, you would need a canopy and the bulbs. All of the rest of the hardware comes with it to get everything up and running.

[Travis]

Jiddy, the C-SEA (Cleveland Saltwater Enthusiat's Association) is going in on a group buy of the Diamond Lumenarc 3 reflectors. Regular price the reflectors run around $150 a pop. They are going to be getting a HUGE discount since it is a large order. They did the same thing last summer with great results. Last year they got them for around $80. Just so you know, these are, hands down, the BEST reflectors that money can buy. They put way more light into the tank than any other reflector on the market. They also spread the light much farther and more evenly than any other reflector out there. It looks like PGS (makes the reflectors) also offers the group specials on complete setups (reflector, bracket, socket, cord, XM or Ushio or Iwasaki bulb, and Advance ballast) for $220. Those are good ballasts and bulbs. These reflectors are really more like pendants. All you have to do is get a couple chains or whatever and you can suspend them from the ceiling.

Here is what they look like: http://pacificgardensupply.com/lighting/lumenarc3.html

Here is a study done by Sanjay Joshi that compares different mogul based reflectors and show just how superior the LA3's are: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm

Here is a link to other lighting tests done by Sanjay (these are pretty much the best and only tests we have to go by): http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/articles.htm

Here is the thread about the group buy: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=361033&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

This is a good chance to get the best of the best at a great price. FWIW, I am getting three reflectors to replace my spider light reflectors. I will just have to pay a little extra shipping so that once the C-SEA club gets them in they can ship mine to me.

[ultrinn]

Those are great links.

[ultrinn]

I just spoke with someone at mini critters and he is "dumping" 10 boxes of fish so if you want something now is the time.

[Jiddy]

Thanks for finding that site Travis, if i order two complete setups with the XM 10k, will that be all the lighting i need?

[Travis]

Everyone has a different opinion on what they like for light. XM 10k's will look a bit yellow without any actinic supplementation. XM 20k's are much bluer and that is the kind of light I prefer. Some people prefer a "whiter" light and don't like the 20k's though. One thing that is for sure is that if you go with the 20k's you won't need to worry about supplementing them with actinics. That is why I'm running Radium 20k's right now... so I don't have to supplement. Supposedly, XM just came out with a 14k bulb too.

BTW, sorry if you can't get those complete setups for the price I quoted you. I knew that was the price that the group was quoted last year. Problem is PGS are being pricks this time around and not offering as good of prices. However, the prices we are getting are still cheaper than you will ever find anywhere else.

[Jiddy]

Thanks for the info Trav, today im goin to look at a complete setup for a 220gal today, the guy is askin $1200 which means he wants $1000, which means ill offer him $8, hopefully ill be comin home with a 220 tank!

[Travis]

You know how to work the deals.:bum: Good luck. That is an outstanding price on a setup that size. Heck, that is a good price just for the tank.:)

[Jiddy]

I think gettin a tank at a great deal is the only positive thing about S.Dakota fishkeepin!

[Lunchbucket]

where is the tank coming from? details??

Lunchbucket

[Jiddy]

I didnt know the details then, but i gots them now. Anyways i heard a rumor of a guy you had a big tank for sale, since im the only person who likes fish out of my friends, they tell me these things. Anyways i get this guys number and he tells me he has a 220 gal setup for sale, only wants 1200, well i figure ill offer him 800 and snag it. Well i check it out and its PIMPIN! He has a nice homemade stand with sump, 2 overflows, and 2 Iwaki return pumps, the canopy is wierd and is 8ft L on a 6ft tank, with 4 VHO's (didnt know VHO's where that fat) but the tank is clean an the guy is really smart, (smarter than me!) so if i can scrouge up the money i will offer him the $1000 and hopefully hae a near complete setup, the tank also comes with a SEIO powerhead, so the major things ill need is LR and a PS, with MH down the road, i think its a sweet deal, do you guys?

[Travis]

That sounds like an amazing deal that would be impossible to pass up. He must really want to get rid of it if he is letting everything go for that price. You better make sure that tank isn't leaking or something first. It probably isn't but when a deal sounds too good to be true.....

[Jiddy]

i know for fact that it aint leakin becuase when we went over there it was setup, with LR and water, but he said he is keepin the LR, great, now i have to buy the damn thing!

[Jiddy]

Just wanted to say i stoped in at your guy's Safari Land yesterday on my way home from Minneapolis, not only does it smell like **** but the fish selection is weak, i cant believe they have triggers in beta bowls, huh

=Jidzz

[Lunchbucket]

yeah i was in there on tuesday.

it does stink in there. and they really don't have much. hey we have crap around here :(

Lunchbucket

[kau_cinta_ku]

man i was reading this thread and was thinking about going together with a few ppl to start up a good store but now the way it looks not to many reefers around here to buy the stuff:(

[Travis]

kau_cinta_ku, I don't think it is so much that there aren't many reefers around here... I think there is just a small selection of us that have found reefcentral. What we need is a good LFS that has employees that know what they are doing and can educate its customers on the proper ways to set up a tank. That LFS should also be able to maintain healthy stock and keep it looking nice in their tanks. This would attract more people and keep people in the hobby longer compared to selling people dying livestock and miseducating them on how to set up a tank.

[Jiddy]

I agree with Trav on information is the key, one of our LFS is a ladies garage, that would save you money on storefront too, which keeps prices down

[Jiddy]

This thread was goin so well....

I cant believe no one from Rapid popped up yet. My LFS are always sellin out, i know there is a whole bunch of SW'r on base too, cuz the LFS owner cleans some of the tanks here, im goin to start a We$tSide club, im the president and only member

[Travis]

Jidz, you need to spread the word about RC to anyone else you know or see that has a tank. I do this at the LFS but nobody ends up here. :( They must think I'm just an internet nerd and don't know anything about reef tanks anyways. :D

[Lunchbucket]

LOL - travis i can just see those dumba$$ people at Minis staring at you w/ blank looks when you tell them about RC. they prolly just give you the smile and nod treatment LOL

yeah they think they guys that work there know everything but we know that isn't the case by looking at thier tanks

Lunchbucket

[kau_cinta_ku]

yeah they think they guys that work there know everything but we know that isn't the case by looking at thier tanks

the sad part is that i am still really new to the reef stuff but my tanks has looked much better than theres ever sence i have started up. but all in all i am proud at how it is looking

[Travis]

We were all newbies that didn't know what we were doing at some point. That is how each and every one of us started out. There is no way to get around that part. Some of us found RC sooner than others. Fortunately, all of us that are here got lucky and did find RC. It took me 2 years after I first started but I did find it. Man have my tanks ever taken a turn for the better thanks to this knowledgable community. :)

Then there are little bastages like that Jiddy guy. :lol: His lucky arse found RC and other boards before he ever set his tank up. That just isn't fair that he got to do it right the first time. :lol:

[Travis]

windgod, you still out there? Haven't heard from ya for a while. Would love to hear about how your setup is coming along or if it is up and running yet.

[Jiddy]

Yea that damn Jiddy guy, he lucked out, we got him good thou cuz he didnt get a drilled tank, haha.

I have to agree with you on the fact that i tell people about RC and they must not believe me, two stories about that:

I went to WalMart to get some trashCans, i ask the guy, tell him they are for a SW tank, he gets all excited and tells me he is goin to start one too, im talkin to him, tell him to come here, and i say what are you goin to keep, he tells me SEADRAGONS, i say, yea buddy.... later

Second story, I went to a BBQ this summer, this guy has a tank on base too, tells me to run a UGF, best thing since slice bread!, i say nah, you should goto RC and learn about those, nope, he knows what hes doin, yet his tank can only keep damsels alive for some reason?

[Travis]

Believe it or not, my first SW tank had an undergravel filter, colored sand, and a HOB freshwater filter. I went into Petco and told them to set me up with what I needed to start a SW tank and that is what they gave me. A couple weeks later I went back in and b**ched them out and returned everything but the tank and then went to Safari Land and started getting the tank set up the right way.

[Lunchbucket]

mine had the bagged live sand (prepackaged stuff) undergravel filter, wetdry sump, DIY 4"OD skimmer w/ airstone, HOT diy overflow (SCARY!!), NO bulbs..upgraded quickly to VHO's

Lunchbucket

[pisomojado]

wow quite a lively forum :)
Im living on the other end of the state in Spearfish, the closest stores are in Rapid City, and not the best place for well..... anything.

[Jiddy]

Well thats 2 WestSiders ha! And we used to be a lively bunch....

[pisomojado]

military... you around ellsworth?

[Jiddy]

Thats where i live!

Spearfish? You around college?

How big is your tank?

[Jiddy]

So Travis this Gary guy has all the tanks in his house?

[Travis]

That is where he is setting them up. He also has a 500+ gallon display that is being set up.

[Travis]

Oh art thou windgod...
Oh art thou windgod...
He startest thee thread...
Where havest thee gone...
Oh dearest thee windgod...
Please come back along.:D

[Jiddy]

I dont think its real, sounds mythogical

[ultrinn]

Can anyone tell me what the little white things are in this picture?

http://travism.homedns.org/Images/SnailHitchikers.jpg

[Lunchbucket]

pyramid snails??? you have any clams??? if so you better kee an eye out for them on your clam. they kill clams. search in the forum for pyramid snails and clams.

they MIGHT be that...they look like it to me but i have had baby ceriths look like that too.

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

They are attached to all my cerith snails. I don't have any clams so that shouldn't be an issue.

They just appeared lately and there have been some tiny cerith snails showing up in my tank so I think they are baby ceriths.

[Travis]

I am 95% sure those are pyramidellid snails. The other 5% of me thinks they could be baby ceriths. What makes me so sure on the pyramidellid part is that the pic you posted shows them hanging out close to the snails live tissue where they would feed.

I've had a pyramidellid snail outbreak a couple years ago on my clams. They were actually not all that difficult to erradicate. Might be a little tougher with the ones that prey on snails though. I just removed my clams every night for 2 months and pulled off any pyramidellids that I could find. 2 months is plenty long. The first few nights I was pulling several off but only sporadically after that. These snails produce by laying eggs in the sand so you need to be vigilant for a while in case they have layed eggs and the eggs hatch out.

Are you noticing these snails in other parts of the tank or just on your snails? If you are seeing them in other places, they probably aren't pyramidellids. If they are pyramidellids they won't stray far from their food source.

[ultrinn]

I saw one on the front glass no where near any snails but otherwise they are on the snails.

[Travis]

Since it was only 1 on the glass I would still lean towards pyramidellids.

Any way you could get a clearer picture of one of these guys? I may be able to differentiate if I can see a clear picture of the shell. If you can get a clear picture of the flesh part I would have an even better chance at determining which one it is.

[Lunchbucket]

do they come out of the sand? mine always did and i thought they were ceriths as i NEVER saw one on my clams

you could hit Dr Ron up for an id if needed also

Lunchbucket

[ultrinn]

The camera I have takes crappy close ups but I will try to get a better picture.

I was going to post it in dr ron's but I thought I would check local first.

[Travis]

I know what you mean about close-ups. My camera sucks at them too. Macro mode does help a bit.

I bet Dr. Ron could probably id them for you just from the pic you already posted.

[Jiddy]

Glad to hear SD is so roarin with new stuff to share. Well i got two new clowns, and both were happy for a day, and then one completly disappeared, i search the overflow/sump/floor and i dont have a pet that would carry off the body. Very strange since i acclimated them for a very long time and they seemed very happy for a whole day. They only other guy in there is a very shy YT that is scared of his own reflection

[Travis]

Usually, when a fish dies it will crawl into a crevice. Just like any animal will do. So sometimes you can find it if you are lucky and sometimes you can't.

[Travis]

OH yeah, did you check your sump? I had a clown once that snuck through or over the overflow teeth and took a ride down to the sump.

[Jiddy]

I check the rocks, floor, overlow and sump 3 times :(