Recent content by bspirou

Hey Reefers! I'm getting back into the hobby after about 25 years away...back then, damsel-cycling of aquariums was standard practice. Hobby renewed, I used the "deli shrimp" method to cycle my new DT, and it cycled about 2 months faster than I was anticipating! Unfortunately, my QT won't be...

Hey Reefers: Installing a new CaRx, and there are a few things about setting this up that seem to have some various options. I'm wondering what you all do: Where do you pull the source water from? Where do you pump the effluent to? Where do you have your system pH sensor (not the CaRx pH...

Hey Reefers, I'm setting up a new 200g DT using AragAlive Fiji Pink sand and CaribSea LifeRock. Because it is a brand new tank, my plan is to place the rock and sand, fill the tank and system with RODI water, get the system running, and then slowly add salt to bring the water to the proper...

Many thanks to the reefer community for the offers of help! It is very much appreciated! I am very excited to report that the tank and stand are in place! Ended up using a moving company. They made moving that 525 beast look easy!

Just thinking that adding a few piece of real live rock to my CaribSea reef will better establish an ocean-like ecosystem than using bottled products. There seem to be lots of reefers out there struggling to grow SPS with the current rock options on the market, and I can't help but think that...

Good Morning! I've acquired a bunch of CaribSea rock for my new tank build, and I want to get my hands on 3-4 small pieces of real ocean live rock (Fiji preferred) to inoculate with. Is it possible to get this anymore? I found a place online...

Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. Tank isn't here yet. Maybe late next week or early the following.

Is there a way to use a controller to monitor nitrates and phos, and have that automate the skimmer?

Hey Reefers, Thinking about a partially-DIY system for my new DT. Here's what I'm thinking about doing: DT (200g) outlet flows directly into an Aqueon 40g. The Aqueon 40g will be nothing more than a fuge, housing a variety of macro algae, live rock, and detritivores, no socks or anything like...

Great group here - thanks for all the feedback and offers of help! I just added a supporting membership :). Looking forward to it! I'm in Benicia, so kind of far from most of you, I think. The furniture dollies should work well to get the tank to the stand and then the material lift to go up...

Good evening BA reefers! New to the group and looking forward to getting back to reefing after many years away! I'm very excited to have a new tank arriving soon (IM INT 200)! Per IM, the tank weights about 600 pounds and I don't have any local "helpers" to get this thing on the stand. So far...