Fishfreak

When I downgraded to my current 3ft tank from 4ft, I made it a point to move the skimmer and all pumps out of the sump to help lower temperature. So my old Nautilus TE skimmer has to go as it is strictly an insump model and the pump has to be insump as well. Lifted from kentmarine website Nautilus details: Overall Nautilus TE height : 23” or 58 cm Widest Nautilus TE width : 8¼” or 21 cm Total Clearance Height (to remove collection cup) : 24” or 61 cm Recommended pump flow rate : 650-900 gph or 2,461-3,407 lph at 0’ head pressure (I used the Aquabee 3000. Another option is the Rio 3100) Maximum recommended aquarium capacity : 300 gallons or 1,136 liters actual water volume (Frankly, this skimmer won't cut it for 300 gal, but will work well for the typical 3 or ft tank) It is very easy to adjust for wet or dry foam by simply moving the return outlet's height. Outlet's sponge removes microbubbles. Quiet operation. Easy to setup. Simply attach Turbo Eductor (Kent-speak for the venturi unit) to the pump's intake, pipe the pump's output to the skimmer's intake. Put everything in sump and power up. Skimmer used about 14mths. Price (without pump) : $100 (priced for quick sale!) Interests or questions can be directed to : 96886986 (will only respond tomorrow, going to sleep soon)

I won't say that all divers condemn home marine tanks. However, after three years in this hobby, I've learned that 1) this is not a hobby that everybody approves of, unlike stamp-collecting for example 2) one needs to be careful who one talks to about this hobby. If I do not know the person well or I know that person is an environmentalist/conservationalist/nature lover etc etc, then I certainly won't say I have a marine tank at home. I'm now attending job interviews and if you are too, then I strongly recommend you don't ever say you keep marine fish (or worse, corals) as your hobby! If your interviewer is against this hobby, you can kiss your opportunity (even if you are the best person) sayonara. My brother and his wife are avid divers. Initially, they were upset that I got into this hobby. Though they have grown to accept this fact (its been 3 years), they still wish I will give it up and return the fish into the ocean. Another friend, a vegetarian and someone with an environmentalist slant, visited this forum before and told me she is disgusted by what she reads here - fish dying, rushing to buy livestock, frequent references to fish beig sucked into powerheads etc. Thread carefully and sensibly ....

I've dropped Dell and Compaq from my shortlist. Just browsing their online catalogues, it is clear these two are expensive. I've had bad experience with Compaq in the past and a couple of friends who used Dell at work gave them the thumbs down as well. HP's expensive too, but its likely to be a good product. Now leaning on Acer .... anyone with experience with the RC550 (~$2600) or the T310-30P5MR (~$2000)?

You may want to do a search on jellyfish at reefcentral. Lots to read there. In summary, all should probably stay away from them as it is expensive providing a suitable home to house them and to keep them alive. Leave them in the oceans.

Hey, thanks for the good advices and recommendations. Looks like those brands are generally OK. So it comes down to value now. LCS anyone?

No good with DIY. My wife will prefer getting something nicely done up already and with decent aftersales service. I thought Acer is not too bad too. Anything from anyone else?

Tank sold. Thanks to all who expressed interest.

Hi, I'm looking to buy a desktop for home use. Primarily for office work and entertainment. None of the heavy duty graphic applications required. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy .... or what NOT to buy? The NOT to buy I have in my list is Packard Bell/NEC. What do you guys think of Acer, Dell, HP and Compaq (I have had bad experience with Compaq aftersales before they got acquired - not sure if its worse now since the acquisition and integration was a huge mess) Thanks

And another view:

This will be more convenient for all:

Finally cleared and cleaned up the tank. Have downgraded to a 3x2x2 to free up space in the living room. Specs: 10mm all glass 48" (L) x 20" (W) x 22" (H) With: Cabinet (hinges rusty), overflow compartment with 1" hole drilled, bracings Without: Sump and top trimming Age: Used 1.5 years as FOWLR, 100% copper free Price: $150 (self collect) Contact: Pls SMS to 96886986 Thanks. tank_front.Spp

OK. Perhaps 'burrow' is not the right word to use. Let's just assume the cuke I have has the habit of browsing lower than the top layer - does putting a barrier at the 4" mark help to maintain the integrity of the DSB? Any harm with putting up such a barrier? Thanks

I am starting a new 3x2x2 softies tank in about two weeks. In my current 4x2x2 FOWLR tank, I have a 4" 0 grade DSB and a black cuke. The DSB does a great job of keeping NO3 around 10ppm and the cuke turns and keeps the sand white and clean. However, the cuke also has the tendency of burrowing below the 4" mark. This, I understand, will disrupt the DSB's function. I am planning to transfer the cuke to the new 3x2x2 with a 5" DSB. Question: To keep the DSB depth at minimum 4", I thought of laying an eggcrate of something similar (perhaps plastic baskets with lots of holes) at the 4" depth then lay another inch over it. This way, if the cuke starts burrowing, it won't be able to go below the 4" depth. Does this make sense? Any downside to doing this? Appreciate your feedback and/or suggestions. Thanks FishFreak

The tank has been sold. Thanks for all your SMSs. FF

Glass tank details: No-joint, smooth corner Jebo brand glass tank with cabinet below: Total height (tank = cabinet) - 115 cm Tank height - 44 cm Tank length - 61 cm Tank width - 38 cm Throwing in: 2ft FL light set Sunta hang-on-back filter All-in price: $80.00 Interested? Pls SMS 96886986. Located at Marine Parade. Thanks FF

The Salifert kit checked out OK. I tested the 7-days old DI water in the top up pail twice with the same result. 7-day old DI water sitting in sealed containers continue to test 0 for NO3. I've now filled a couple of PET bottles, sealed them and will test for NO3 in a couple of days time. FF

The light has been sold. Thanks to those who SMS me their interests. FF TAS - less than 2.5 mths and about 4-5 hours a day max.

The pump has been sold. Thanks to all those who SMS me their interests. FF

I started using DI water for water changes and top ups about a month ago. Fresh from the DI unit, NO3 measures 0 (this is an industrial size deioniser the height of a man- not a hobbyist version). I see little improvement in my N03 level and decided to test the DI water that's been sitting in the top up water pail for a week. NO3 measured around 40ppm! The DI water taht remains stored in sealed containers continue to measure 0 for NO3. Question: Did the DI water 'absorb' NO3 from the air (?) when exposed to the environment? Thanks FishFreak

I have one spare brand new pump for sale: Brand : Aquabee (German) Model : UP2000 Flowrate : 2000L/Hr Power Consumption : 18W Max Head : 1.6m Condition : BRAND NEW (box is not opened yet) Application : Great for circulation, drive PS, may be used externally Price : S$130 Interested, pls SMS: 91277725 FishFreak

Due to a lack of time maintaining two tanks, I am giving up my 2ft tank. I have a 2ft ATI Powerlux Retrofit for sale. It was bought from eaquanature in end Nov 2003 and was set up in early Dec 2003. The unit is fitted with 3 x Aquablue. With two computer cooling fans running, I can maintain a tank temperature of 27C with all three tubes burning. It was bought for around $460. Selling for $360. Interested, pls SMS 91277725. Fishfreak

I was getting tired of having to blot out the surface gunk using paper regularly. Wanted to DIY a surface skimmer for my first generation Prizm (Prizm surface skimmer sold as an attachment cannot be used). Tried using the box under the pipe method but found it difficult to adjust and fasten. Finally decided to use PVC pipes instead. I took the idea from some one in SRC or was it from RC - I cannot remember. Here's what I did: 1) I need to keep the intake as short as possible, so I cut out a section and glue the bottom half to the top. 2) Used a 16mm 'L' connector and glued a threaded smaller diameter 'L' connector to it. The 16mm connector fits nicely to the Prizm intake. No need to glue so you can adjust it easily. I used the smaller threaded connector simply because I could not find a similar 16mm threaded connector in the neighbourhood shop. 3) Cut teeth and drill several holes as in the pic below and you're done. On installing it, I find that I need a larger extractor so that more water can flow in. If you're doing this, you should go for a larger piece. I have this running for two days now and the surface is clearly clearer now.

I'm using a 1262 as the return pump on my 4ft FOWLR. Got it before I found out about Aquabee. If I can get a UP3000 at a good price, I will swop the 1262 for the Aquabee. Citibank gives me points on the credit card too

For the application I have in mind, the UP2000 suits me better. I like the Aquabee's smaller size/footprint and significantly lower power consumption as well. I've two Aquabees running in my tanks now and I have absolutely no problems with them. Good brand.

Its way above $130 over there, though its for the UP2000/1 model (which I do not need).