Post your cool links here of anything you find interesting..

[IslandCrow]

This would probably be a good thread to make a sticky. I know I can certainly see myself referencing it often.

[Mr James]

I'll ask. If they don't, we can always help it to the top.

[Mr James]

Here is a link to good, safe sand, hence the name: http://www.safesand.com/

[SueQ]

Pods, and a bunch of other stuff. They've got some sweet reduced shipping prices for the SE.
http://www.floridapets.com/

[IslandCrow]

Interesting find there, James. It does look like their sand is made of feldspar, though, and not aragonite. I'm wondering if that's a better alternative to silica based sand, though. I'm tempted to order a sample of the stuff just to see what it's like. I guess I could do the vinegar test, but there are actually a bunch of things that react to vinegar, and their website does actually say that it's feldspathic sand. Anyway, I googled feldspar, since it's been awhile since I've taken any geology classes, and here's a brief excerpt:

Chemically, the feldspars are silicates of aluminium, containing sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, or barium or combinations of these elements.

Hmmm, maybe it is silica based afterall. . .may have some calcium in there, though. Now to see if they sell this anyplace closer than California.

[hooker18]

it took a while but i was able to look through this post and found a lot of stuff i want.. the wife is gonna kill me when i get home and make some orders. hope all is going well with everyone..

[Mr James]

Originally posted by IslandCrow
Anyway, I googled feldspar, since it's been awhile since I've taken any geology classes

Ask our resident geologist, Griffin!!

[KADLETZ]

www.1000bulbs.com

[TheGriffin]

I don't know how I missed this. Mike, you are right. Feldspars have silica in them as do most minerals. If you're worried about dissolved silica in your water then it would be better to go with the quartz sand than a feldspar based on. The feldspars are much more unstable (especially the NA & CA plagioclase feldspars) than quartz at normal conditions. The feldspars, along with the amphiboles tend to chemically weather out to form your clays (kaolinite). While doing that through hydrolysis, a byproduct of the reaction is silicic acid and amorphous SiO2. Pure quartz is much more stable and does not dissolve out quickly at a ph of 8 or less. That¡¦s one of the reasons why if you go down to the beach the sand is almost pure quartz. In my opinion the little bit that gets dissolved from your quartz sand bed is insignificant over your lifetime. Your tank glass (amorphous silica) will dissolve faster than quartz sand and we don¡¦t seem to be worried about holes forming in our side walls. Almost all silica enters a tank from the freshwater we add. There is quite a bit in it from all the chemical weathering mentioned earlier of the other silica based minerals (not quartz). Natural sea water on the other hand has very little silica.

In short I don¡¦t think people have issues with using quartz based sand. They get diatom issues with dissolved silica from their tap water. However quartz sand would be better than feldspar based sand.

Now all this all assuming that these little Radiolarian, Diatoms, and silicoflagellate use dissolved silica only to build their skeletal structures (which I think is the case but not entirely sure).

[KADLETZ]

www.globalplastics.com

[Mr James]

Originally posted by KADLETZ
www.globalplastics.com

I see the link Chris, but what specific product are you referring to?? If you want a plastic injection company, there are a ton here in the states without having to go to Canada or the UK. Heck, I used to work at one in Ormond Beach, FL. They did automotive plastic injection molding.

[Mr James]

Great site for inverts and other stuff like culturing supplies.

Suzi, you'll like this place: http://www.aquaculturestore.com/index.html

[KADLETZ]

www.globalplastics.ca

yea that was not the site this is the right site.

For DIY skimmer cones

[Mr James]

Gotcha... Are you still going to make a skimmer out of the phytoplankton tube??

[KADLETZ]

It's coming from www.solar-components.com it's going to be .60 mm thick clear fiber glass, 18" wide, 7ft tall 70 gallons. dual needle wheel with air injection. 1/2 horse power feeding it. it will take some time to plumb in but when all is said and done it should look real nice.

[Mr James]

Are you sure it is calling out .6mm and not 6mm?? You should start a thread and post your progression, like I started to do with the 1500g.

[DrHank]

Now that's what I call a skimmer!!!

[Mr James]

by DrHank
Now that's what I call a skimmer!!!

Until it proves it worth as a real skimmer, (i.e., let's see some results instead of pictures of an empty skimmer), it will remain a Ford Pinto. Sorry to be harsh, but as you can tell, I am very skeptical. There are a lot of guys on here who have HUGE systems ad they are running name brand equipment to ensure the health of their system. Some of the well seasoned guys have made their own skimmer; they ran through many different trials to get the finished product. Prove me wrong Kadletz.

[DrHank]

Well, I guess that the National Aquarium at Baltimore and/or the New England Aquarium at Boston could be contacted to find out how long they had been using them and how well they are working. When I clicked on the the empty skimmers and saw them in use they seemed to be pulling pretty well to me but I could be wrong. A couple of phone calls should do the trick. Maybe I'm too easily impressed.

[60Cubed]

i am in 100% agreeance with james. trial and error should be left up to the guys with all the time and money. i do the american thing and enjoy the good life from the sweat off another mans brow!!!!!!!!!! let's see some results kadletz. then we'll believe in it.
lance

[KADLETZ]

good site for calculators!
www.saltyzoo.com

[KADLETZ]

A journey a thousand miles begins with a single step

[Mr James]

by KADLETZ
A journey a thousand miles begins with a single step

...and a good plan.

[60Cubed]

sometimes the thousand miles turns into two or three thousand if there is only a compass with no map! i prefer to the roads already traveled a lot of times and are documented as a good route. but the single step would be into my car to take the journey!!!!!!! i don't even think i would want to drive a thousand miles!
lance

[Mr James]

I'd drive 1000 miles in your wifes car Lance. I'd even pay you to do it.