marinebetta

Great link! Wish I had seen it before making my tank. Should be within specs but haven't (and not sure I want to ) done the calculations yet. I made my tank with 12 mm glass (5.5 ft with 0.5 ft overflow compartment so essentially a 5 ft) all round. Not sure why I did it but had the 3 viewing panes tempered and heat-soaked as well - probably an unecessary expense and also controversial. At that time, thought tempered should be stronger = better. Attached is a pic of the tank. Workmanship quite OK and this guy specializes in large tanks. Good service and knows what he is doing. would be advantageous if you speak mandarin or hokkien well - doesn't speak english well and I had some problems getting some ideas across esp over the phone! PM me if you want his contact.

I think the problem with those is the tubes may not be of the right Kelvin. Max I've seen is 6,000 or 6,500 (daylight). They are around $30+ and are driven by IC type ballast - very sleek and space saving.

This is a Deltec Skimmer instruction sheet. May explain what happens - read the second paragraph under "maintainence".

......the twilight zone

AT, I cannot commit to any time/day due to other duties and activities on those days but I should be there pretty much most of the time.....so will likely wander over now and then to keep you company, take over for toilet break etc

Not Tanzy but....VHO can be used with 220 so long as you have the correct ballast. The bulbs couldn't care less, it's the ballast that is important.

Worried about LH? Well, I just saw that they are selling nile perches in LFS now......now that's a worry if they get into the environment!

SOLID!!!! Love the pink Almost makes me want to think about using MH

Haha....looks like lots more action after we left!

Wrong species again No, CITES permits are not awarded, they are issued by the country of origin's CITES scientific authority based on studies (at least that's the presumption) on the species' sustainability based on trade harvests. Quotas are set each year and these will vary from year to year based on the research that the scientific authority carries out. The aim is for the trade to be regulated so that the species can be sustainably harvested. The aim is not preservation (although each individual country may choose to do so by having a zero quota). Once a species is listed on CITES at their convention every two years, member countries are required to abide by the protocols laid out ie. making sure that the proper permits accompany shipments of CITES listed species. The exporting country of origin is responsible for setting the quota and making sure that these quotas are not violated. In short, the country of origin is responsible for their own fauna/flora's harvesting. The rest of the countries just make sure that the permits are original and originate from the proper regulatory body of the country of export. The importing country really doesn't have an impact on the quota of the exporting country...... There is a difference, albeit a fine one and many people perceive that there is not, and this is what the animal activists exploit - turning words against their original meaning; making CITES their tool. Consider CITES II listing - not all CITES II species are endangered. Suprised? Some are listed as they are look-alike species, or it may be easier to list the whole order (eg some parrot species; sclerectina; and I dare say...some species of the paradisae ...) On the other hand, some very endangered species are not listed. Why? Because the are not in the trade eg black necked storks. Bottom line is that CITES is about trade.....at least that's the original purpose of CITES.....Now......it's political Sorry for the long post, but there are some misconceptions that have to be pointed out....

Kojek, This is where you are wrong. CITES was set up not to "protect and control", which in your definition is pretty much equal to preservation as opposed to conservation (which was defined earlier). CITES was set up to regulate trade in fauna and flora, so that the contibution of trade to the extinction of species is minimized, and hopefully eliminated (can't do too much about the destruction of the environment - that's a bigger threat to extinction and a totally different ballgame altogether). So, in other words: they are "trying to protect the species to ensure that there will be sufficient stock to go around in the commercial market for the years to come" as well as enough of the species in the wild to propogate and not go extinct. The Green movement is trying hard to use CITES as a tool to eliminate any trade at all, and this has been changing CITES a little such that it is very much political nowadays - trading of votes takes place in such conventions, believe it or not! For non-commercial sales, this is not true. It really only applies to those who are making a business of it (ie commercial) as you will need a fish shop licence endorsed for marine ornamentals to do so.

I won't touch on CITES etc since they have been covered quite sufficiently by PB etc. ....and Tanzy has succintly put it very nicely. Just a comment of the quoted statement: At this point of time, this forum is just that - an internet forum. Without rules and regulations, code of ethics etc, within a formal legal framework, AT cannot do anything like restricting membership, suspension of membership, revoking membership etc. (unless the forum originally restricts membership by invitation, trade affliliation, profession etc...which is not the case here) AT's statement would just be that: another statement by a hobbyist (who just happens to own this forum). If we want to go onto a higher level and be selective/restrictive in what we say/do, then get SRC officially registered under ROS..........

Easy to keep, real cute and cool when young but....soon outgrows most tanks and loose those cute colors and patterns, and turn out to be like those fish you buy in the market!

Sounds like a cool project! Since I know nuts about electronics, I won't add in any tech inputs but....how about instead of a linear moonlight, arrange the LEDs in a "circular" (most likely hexagonal/octogonal) arrangement to simulate moonphase as well??

Can I come over for a closer look at your tank?

Yours more kiasu! Additional posts on the sides too! Got it made by a friend of a friend for only the material cost, so the price will not be realistic of what you would be quoted by a tank maker or aluminium contractor. Lets just say it costs about the same as a 4ft x 2 ft chengai stand when I asked the last time.....

Haha....the kids thought it was a really good place to put their lanterns, so for now, it's a lantern stand.... Am quite pleased with how it turned out. Strong and stable (I hope, cause it will need to hold up at least 1 tonne!) and light - took only 2 of us to carry it, and with one hand each! Material is 2 inch sq structural aluminium (except for base which is 2x4) welded together for strength. Dimensions are about 5.5ft x 2.5ft x 2.5ft ht. Powdercoated for added corrosion protection.

......makes for a really nice tank stand!

I believe it's the luck of the draw.....some will still have a little orange on the face/lips.

If you look at the tank, there are color grades with some much darker than others. Compare with regular ocellaris and they are almost brown. All black ocellaris start out this color and darken with maturity - some more black than others. CF's are captive bred, as are most on the market.

They start out orange and will darken with age.....

No, don't know him...just read the threads with interest....knew it would come in useful someday

If he's not here, try asking on his home forum Meeting up at his dad's restaurant?

Nice system, Cookie. Good example of how hobbyists can work together to help all of us! Will let you know when I'm ready to get mine!

Do you mean Red S*a? If so, then I suppose you're too young to remember when they sold marines, and was probably one of the earliest, easily accessible shops to do so in the early 80s....