Met a Couple that turned me onto the club

[dzovi]

I was over at Capital Aquarium this Sunday when I met a man and his wife (their names escape me) and I told them about my problem with high nitrates in my tank. I do 20% water changes every week and don't have the tank near natural light. I have a eclipse 3 hood and filteration system. In the 29 gallon tank I have two true percula clown fish, one blue damselfish, one sand sifting star fish, a condylactis anemone, and three nassarius snails. I have in the tank about 20 lbs of live rock. They suggested that in the short run I should buy DI water for water changes and in the long run I needed to get a protein skimmer. Does anyone have an extra on laying around that would be able to treat a 29 gallon tank? My e-mail is dzovi@yahoo.com. I'm a college student at UC Davis so my funds are limited and can't go crazy but please give me a offer. Thanks for your time and glad I met that couple to help me out. Dominic

[joetattooo]

u are going to have a problem with the skimmer with the eclipse hood i had to rig mine up.let me know if u need help hooking it up. i found one at pet connection at auburn 4 $49.00.but like i said it will be hard to find one that will fit a eclipse hood.

[sagitariuscbc]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/526049513Reefnut_welcome.gif <br><b><i><big><big>Dominic to RC and the MARS club!~)</b></i></big></big>

shawn!~)

[dzovi]

I'm planning on taking the knife to my eclipse hood. I don't mind cutting a hole in the hood to hook it up but don't know of any brands that would fit in the eclipse hood. I don't like the hood but I got the whole setup for $50 on ebay (fish included minus the starfish, anemone and snails). Thus I was introduced into salt water.

[yoshiod9]

hey dominic! welcome to mars!

i'm a student at csus and i know how bad it can get with money and helping out your tank(tanks in my case). if your tank is a fish only tank and you're having problems with nitrate i would suggest adding a bit more live rock and adding a bit of marcroalgae(do you have live sand?). i haven't been to capitol in awhile but i am fairly sure they sell macro on rocks and whatnot. normally i wouldn't recommend putting any macro in your display but if it is a fowlr(fish only with live rock) then you can prune when it gets to be too much and you also don't have to worry about it taking over your precious corals. i am recommending macro because most macros use up the nitrate and the phosphates in the water column. add some live rock, and some macro and things should get better quickly. (also, you don't have to use ro/di water...hell, i've been using tap since i started...and i haven't ever had any problems.......just make sure that you test your makeup water for trates, trites, phosphates, and copper if you do use tap.) a protein skimmer isn't necessary...but it is helpful. just stick with your 20% water changes and you should be ok if your water checks out and you add some lr and macro. goodluck!!

[joetattooo]

i can show u how to plum it so you dont have a big skimmer in your tank.just im me or call me @481-3225

[dzovi]

I wanted to expand upon the tank and that is why I got the anemone. I also wanted to get some soft corals next as well but I need zero nitrates for these plans. This weekend I scrubbed the live rock in my tank to remove the algae but it was back on the sand (sugar fine like sand), live rock, and glass within the day. It’s taking over. I was recommended the protein skimmer to take out all the organic junk out of the water. I also figure I'm going to need one with the expansion of the tank anyways. I didn’t want to use the macro because I want a long-term fix not just a short term and I don’t want macro in the tank for the long term. Thank you for the suggestion though.

[joetattooo]

you will need a skimmer then the one i got was ratted 4 65 gal let me know if you need any help hooking it up

[dzovi]

Joetattooo--- Tried calling you. No answer.

Would anyone suggest a protein skimmer that might work well and be easy on the wallet. Has anyone heard anything about "Jebo" skimmers?

[joetattooo]

call me now i will get off line

[shilo_1]

I have a CPR Bakpak for sale...I'll PM you

[Marc Daniels]

DOminic-

How long has the tank been setup? I get the feling that this is a realitively new tank and you're still invoved in a cycle.

Marc

[dzovi]

When I bought tank, it had been cycled for 3 years. The guy brought over all the water and everything. Could be going through a small re-cycle. I had to do a 80% water change, tank busted. Very scary.

[joetattooo]

i would go with the bakpak from shilo it is your best bet

[Undergrad]

Welcome to the neighborhood. You say you go to UCD? If you're in Davis much, there's a couple of us around here that are always willing to help out a fellow club member or future member.

I had to do a 80% water change, tank busted. Very scary.

Does this mean you need a new tank? If so, sorry to hear about that.

[waterdevil1]

You met Dan Garcia and Karen Manly and she is not my wife
See I told you there are a few reef people out your way.

Good Luck
Dan

[Reefugee]

Dominic,

As Arlan mentioned, there are a few of us reefers at Davis. If you want, there is a mailing list called reefkeepers@ucdavis.edu that have a few Davis people on it. It's a pretty low volume list that commonly used for stuff like - I am heading over to xyz aquarium, anybody need anything? Or - can I catch a ride with somebody to such and such meeting.

If you want to be on this list, PM Richard (int19) and he can add you to the list.

Minh

Originally posted by Undergrad
Welcome to the neighborhood. You say you go to UCD? If you're in Davis much, there's a couple of us around here that are always willing to help out a fellow club member or future member.



Does this mean you need a new tank? If so, sorry to hear about that.

[ozmonster]

Dan:

How's Karen doing? haven't seen her at the last couple of meetings. Let her know i said hi.

Rob

ps Bridget had to postpone her dive class due to her injuries from that new year's eve mva. She hope to do it in April. lmk about Cozumel this year.