Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / July 2005

I have set up my second SW tank, a 29 gal. which I intend to eventually
be a coral tank. It's occupied currently by one tomato clown, 6 astrea
turbo snails, and one hermit crab who hitched a ride on the live rock.
This LR came from my 55 fowlr set up.

I apologize for the number of questions...I'm just trying to cut through the
marketing hype BEFORE I get started.
Let me state up front, I DO plan to get a RO/DI unit.
I realize many of the questions I have are subjective, but...

I read a basic description of the Jaubert Plenum for nitrate reduction, in Kurtz's  
"Simple Guide to Marine Aquariums". The idea sounds good on paper, but I wonder if
it has withstood the test of time. Anyone using the system, or comments on the
effectiveness of it ?

I have a large rock with maybe 50 or so really healthy looking button
polyps. Over the last 2 weeks they are dying off one by one. There's
probably only 10 or so left. Water conditions are great. 0/0/0 0.05 PO4
Calcium on the low side but steady at 380. Feed every couple days or ...

Sharks being spotted on shorelines have been
increasing in news reports. Is this cyclical behavoir,
a reaction to a change in water temperature, or
a meltdown in the Artic?

Hi All.  I have had my tank up fine for about 6 months.  Now I see that I am
getting loads of red algae - what am I doing wrong?
~m

I purchased a sun coral which is has yellow polyps on one side, and
orange polyps on the other.  I have been attempting to train it to eat
mysis, and brine shrimp every other night.  The yellow polyps have
responded great, and extend way out and clearly consume food.  The

I have a 150 gallon 5 year old reef tank.  Every once in a while when I
get motivated, I check the Nitrate, and phosphate level in the tank.
The nitrates have been undetectable recently, but the phosphates have
seemingly been stuck a .15 level for well over a year.  I have tried a

My hubby is paranoid about different worms in the tank, especially after
reading about 7 foot long ones found in aquariums (a little googling can be
a dangerous thing <g>).  He sets a bristle worm trap every night and goes on
a hunt (I know, bristle worms are our friend <g>) but ...

I have an open red brain coral that keeps winding up snuggled next to a
chunk of live rock.  We move it away so when it inflates it is not touching
anything.  Within a couple of days it is back close to the rock so when it
inflates the same spot is always touching the rock.

I have been reading about deep sand beds on reefcentral, wetwebmedia, and
have googled articles from this group and the web.
Here is what I have distilled from these references:
- it is the creatures in the sand that are most important, not what type

Looking for some advice on my next tank.  I currently have 3 tanks: 30,
75 and 120 gallon all reef.  The 75 is glass.  I am moving and have
finally convinced my wife to let me get a bigger tank.  I am looking to
get a tank in the 180 - 240 gallon range.  I will primarily have SPS ...

I am about to order a chiller for  my reef. I would like to know the
mechanics of a chiller, basically do I need an additional pump in order
for the water to circulate or does the chiller contain a pump for it?
Thanks

I have a system with a sump which sits on the ground & there isn't any way
to raise it up - my problem is cleaning out debris/waste from the sump as I
can't get a siphon working. What way do you guys clean out the chambers in
your sumps?

Howdy everyone!
I've had numerous freshwater tanks before and I'm getting ready to try a
saltwater setup (probably fish only) for the first time.  What general
recommendations can anyone give me?  I want a good size tank (anywhere