Ekia

Using sugar has already been proven to be able to reduce nitrates. You have already explained it. However, this increased population of bacterias will use up a lot of oxygen. Some people advocate the use of a air pump to increase the oxygen level. Seems like you have already read a lot... you shouldn't have any problems in this hobby

kalkwasser will 'maintain' both calcium and kH. Thats the main reason why people uses kalkwasser. It 'prevents' ionic imbalance by 'increasing' both calcium and kh level. However, it really depends on the calcification level in your tank. For most tanks, kH will drop faster than calcium, therefore I have to add sodium bi-carbonate in addition to kalkwasser. Kalkwasser. This is just one website to look into. There are tonnes of info out there

Tunze Stream - Balestier Road (7th from the top of table) or Reef Depot Seios - Lots of places are selling them at a reasonable price. Can't remember if the Balestier shop is selling. You can also go to Reborn just down the road, 5 mins walk. Reborn sells lots of addictives at a good price too. I'm not too sure about MH bulbs (T5 user here ) For T5 fixtures, are u looking for local DIY made or german models? There's quite a huge price difference.

Lots of info on kalkwasser on the web and in the forum itself, do a search on it and u can find lots of answers.

Cheap is actually relative, different people define cheap differently. You can actually have a decent setup without spending much money. Most important is to understand why people do certain things and to understand the rationale behind it. Some people spend more money on equipments so that they can spend less time maintaining the tank and more time enjoying it. If you decides to save a bit more, you can do away calcium reactor, de-nitrator etc etc but u have to spend time dosing and monitoring the parameters. However, if buying a clam can cost you a arm and a leg, I would advise you to stay away from reef and remain at FOWLR at the moment. To have both AT and black tang together, you would need at least a 4ft tank(and they definitely cost a bomb too!). AT is definitely not for a new tank, better to add it as your tank becomes more mature. It needs lots of space and of course strong current and good water quality. If you think you can provide for it, then go for it. If not., don't kill that beautiful fish. Finally, I thought epsom salt is to raise magnesium? When has it become a pH buffer? Unless, you have low magnesium level and trying to raise the magnesium level so that alkalinity can be raise or maintain more easily which in turn has an effect on pH. However, test your magnesium before adding anything.

The cheapest way... baking soda (sodium bi-carbonate)

Its the blue sign board along lavender/balestier road

yup.. I second Gouldian... tried Tunze Siliphos recently and its actually as good as rowa.. still testing out whether it will last as long as rowa though

If I'm not wrong... the transparent canister on top is holding the DI resin... should take care of what u r worried about

Anyone tried the 6 stage RO/DI selling at ebay? RO/DI I think the price is very affordable but not the shipment. In fact, the shipment actually cost more than then filter! Think I have seen this discussion months ago and someone actually shipped one over... wonder how's the performance... Next time should ask someone to hand carry over

That was my first reaction too! Think a new one also wouldn't cost that much

Sand dollar and cucumber will do the trick

Less than that if u r using true-rated pump like Ehiem. Got a friend using Ehiem 300l/h and its a little bit too much... The pump's flowrate can be adjusted down though.... Better stick to Rowa... There are reefers using Aquaphos without as much success as Rowphos

Take a look at Marine Life's thread... got red/green pratas... huge frogspawns, red open brain, elegance, sun corals

yah I know.... but u have to find some way to make use of it... need to have large storage containers. Not suitable for ppl like me staying at HDB flats.

Marine Life got corals shipment..... worth a trip down

nice LRs..... good buy!

Which FR? Thats the most important thing we must know.

Just went to search the net for more info... seems like DI is run directly after the RO process... which means there will still be water wastage. Not like what I have heard.

You will get all the minerals u want from the salt we add in There are more of harmful materials in our tap water source than the minerals we want. Rav: I know that a RO unit produce quite a lot of waste water to obtain the RO water required. Eg. To obtain 10l of RO water, 45l of water is wasted. What about a RO/DI unit? Any water wastage?? Heard that the wastage will go thru the DI and be used... wonder how true.

Think maybe Viera really said something to Gary. Must be angry about his tackle on Reyes in the previous match.

Anyone got spare auto feeder at home and not using it anymore? PM me if you have one for sale. Thanks.

yup.. sicce extreme is good for CL650

Another way is to use DI water... quite affordable nowadays... http://arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166483

hahah.. Bukit Timah mah....