Cookiemunster

As cheap as possible. Make sure its relatively safe too. (from splashing and water mist). I recommend the cheapest option of a simple 36W x1 or x2 PL of 6500K. Algae plants do better with lower colour temperature.

Sorry to hear of the rosie sis. I strongly recommend you redo your entire tank. Its cheaper to restart a new tank than to meddle with removing glass in the tank as its very very risky. Its not really alot of money to restart a new 4ft tank with a proper planned sump considering you already invested so much in equipment. But to add on to what AT said. I already told you that you really needed to upgrade the skimmer. Its the life saver of the tank. And better do it FAST....from what I heard from your 'kind soul' situations not good.

Taken Cheers

Hi, I've got a urchin (great for eating algae and coralline too if you hate it) and a huge bigger than a hand size brittle star to give away. Self collect at Ang Mo Kio MRT. PM me your contact.

Bro, I think you should try a kole tang. The types of tangs you have are not really suited for the natural algae. Kole tangs and similar have a flat mouth and like to scrape the rocks and glass of algae. With regard to cyano problem, try to pluck as much as you can and dump them into a floating thru hole plastic basket and place it in the sump. Usually they will start to propagate in the sump. And when that happens, they will slowly realize its safer in the sump where they dun get such strong currents. You will slowly find less and less algae in the main tank and more and more in the sump. Only after its well established growth in the sump then start to trim and cut or remove batches of algae in the sump. You should install more current or wavemakers. I suggest at least 2 TUNZE 6100.....can't remember the exact model but its the 12000L/hr one. I am using 1 in my 4ft and I find it insufficient. I use grade 0 sand and no problems with sandstorm. Hope this helps.

Hello fellow reefers and friends. Wish all of you good health and cyano and diatom free year ahead. Cheers!

Hi Bro, you did not specify whats the size of your tank. But I would say the prizm is only sufficient for low bioloads or 2ft tanks only. I feel any bigger and it can't really handle well. If you get cyano when you change water, it is highly likely that there are high nitrates and phosphates in the water. Which makes sense since its a flatted factory. I won't be surprised if they use portable water and not drinkable water. Better get the test kits to check the water. It may have some heavy metals in it too. Cyano is supposed to be less active after water change.

Didn't know where to post this photo. But anyway here it is to share with all. I remember someone asked what the pink anemone I got looked like. I initially had two but sold one to ozy (his looks much nicer and bigger). And the bigger one too. Cheers

Guys I really recommend you upgrade the skimmer. Its the most important accessory in the tank next to lights. Its actually the life support system of your tank. Good skimmers for your 2ft would be a hang on AquaC Urchin. Check www.eaquanature.com for pricing. If budget is a concern then I think the weipro is the least. But I seriously advise you to save up to get the better skimmer because you would waste more money upgrading later. Secondly, seachem's phosguard is next to useless from the reports I've heard. Why not switch to contraphos sold at Paradiz Reef or if $$$ is not a concern the best would be Rhowaphos also available from eaquanature. Cheers

you only use the calcium supplements to bring the calcium and kh levels to the right levels you want. Kalk is then used to maintain those levels. They are different things used for different purposes. And kalk is dirt cheap.

I have both PS2 and xbox. I would say xbox knocks the PS2 in terms of graphics. However PS2 is more for jap games such as final fantasy series. But the moment you mod the xbox, you achieve GOD mode! Trust me. Upgrade the harddisk and mod the xbox. You won't even need erhm 'friendly' games anymore. hahahaha

Hi marcvelous, welcome to the reefing hobby. First of all, the number one rule you need to know before anything else is: Dun trust the words of the LFS. Take it with a container of salt. (not just a pinch). Second of all you need to read alot and this forum provides lots of useful information. A DSB is only useful after it runs in, in about 6months time if you're lucky. Its used to reduce nitrate. It has to be at least >4inch. And the use of as fine a sand grade as possible will be good. I recommend grade 0 all the way. Dun bother using any grade 1 as top surface as you won't need it since your tank height is 2ft. The mesh in the middle (at 1inch) method is called a plenum method. Its used to create a oxygen free layer below. However, these days, the practice for simplicity sake is to use grade zero DSB of >4 inch without any mesh etc. One advise is to please wash the sand before using. Also its best to use a strong big magnet to run the sand over to attract out all the iron particles to reduce fuelling nuisance algae growth later when the tank is setup. Iron is fertilizer for algae growth.

PR is paradiz Reef. Its at no.1 balestier rd. I think the price is $190 or cheaper. Definitely not more than $190.

The smallest rated one is only 7000l/hr I think. And it has no speed control. You dun really need it from what I feel. I should have saved the money. What i do is place those flying mushrooms right below the tunze where there is almost zero motion. Initially there may be a sand disturbance but no storms. Face the output towards the return pipe output to produce a chaotic current stream.

erhm actually I have to disagree that a rock is a rock. Some rocks are more rocky than other rocks and live rocks are a totally different ball. Ok seriously. When you are buying dead rocks or base rocks you dun really need to care how they look like. As long as they are cured without dead patches of sponge or bad smell due to decaying matter. However when it comes to live rocks, its true the organisms which make it live cannot be seen (aerobic and anerobic...meaning oxygen and non oxygen), but if you are spending money to buy a rock make sure you try to get as much pink/red/purple coralline as possible. The most expensive rocks are those that are fully encrusted with coralline algae. It is important because these prevent nuisance algae from having a chance to grow on the rocks. And its a safe indication that the rocks are quality rocks which really come from the sea or have been in a marine environment for at least 4months. And these coralline algae help to seed the tank to encourage the growth of more coralline algae. Using rocks of low quality, ie plain greyish looking rocks with lots of green algae growth can be harmful to a new tank as these can help to introduce and spread nuisance algae. And they are of no use at all to a cycling tank as most likely they have not been in the water long enough (thats why they are grey) and hence do not have enough 'live' growing in it. In a live rock, every kind of organism counts. Not just the bacteria. You will find copepods, brittle stars, snails, crabs, and other unidentifiable slugs, worms etc. All these contribute to the start of a cycling process and aquarium as they each also play a part in multiplying and reproducing to stock other rocks and the sand bed with the life needed for a biological process to start. If it were simply bacteria rocks you wanted, you can just use dead rocks and grow the aerobic and anerobic by starting a decaying process using a dead prawn. They would be no different from a tower of ceramic rings and bioballs. That is how the cycling process can be speeded up if you know what to do. Seeding with quality live rocks and live sand is a good method.

Hi I would strongly suggest the TUNZE if budget is not a concern. I am using 1 45W TUNZE with 12000l/hr flow rate in my 4ftx2ftx2ft and I still find it very weak and insufficient to have total tank motion. And I am using grade 0 sand. And no sand storm. For you tank I think the ~$190 TUNZE sold at PR is sufficient. Its the smallest rated one. Powerheads are not as effective even if higher rated is used as the flow is very directional and not open as in the TUNZE due to its special designed larger prop blades. And more heat is added to the tank using ph. But if budget is a concern, then using 2 powerheads blowing and properly secured at both ends of the tank would do too.

hahaha yeah sure. Already reserved for you in a dusty corner of my house. hahaha. I accept famous amos cookies or freshly baked pizzas too. I'll just take your last dollar and squeeze you of every drop of your money. STICK EM UP! Yours Sincerely, $$$monster

Thanks guys for the kind words. However I wish to stress that I am not trying to stop people from DIYing the TUBBY. In fact as long as you know what you are doing and need to clarify some doubts, you can pm me and ask me nicely too. I am just a fellow reefer who turned part time salesman. But I still wish to know more reefers as friends rather than customers. Many who bought things from me or pmed me will know that I try to help out as far as I can. I am glad too to have known many new reef hobbyists and some are now whom I consider good friends. I was even very surprised when a fellow reefer coming to my place actually bought me prata and mutton curry. hehehe you know who you are. However I have to say that as with all things in the business world, I too have seen the ugly side of the reefing community. And frankly speaking, if I could afford it, I would rather not have gone towards the part time salesman. I guess I am not built to be a businessman.

I did not see your post here before I replied to your pm. SBS actually asked me to sell him parts to build the TUBBY. MY GAWD! pls man. The whole world has already been saying that all components is available in Sim Lim Tower. Just go there and buy the parts yourself. Some Mr 'Noor' already did a breakdown of my parts used and listed it as $60. However he did not include the custom float acrylic float switch holder, workmanship and time spent to build it and getting it factory made. If you even tried to build anything close to a auto top up you will realise you need at least 5 hrs of non stop work. Thats how long it took me when I built the DIY in the beginning. If you are not intending to buy it, then pls do not condemn it. Especially when I try to price it as reasonably as possible. Have you considered also I have to pay for the warranty? If any defects or spoilt parts who pays for it? Giving 30 days warranty is no joke. How many aquarium products you see for sale provide 30days warranty? pumps? Lights? Ph meters? Electronics stuff are very unpredictable, it can be well designed but defects do occur and I have to bare the cost of repair and replacement. Plus the TUBBY is not a DIY. Please get that right. How can you compare a AquaC Skimmer with a DIY skimmer and say its expensive? Anyway what price would you price it at to say its cheap? $100? $80? A skimmer is only pieces of plastic glued together and then sold for hundreds. Why do you not consider that expensive? Schemetics are already online on how to build one. All you need is plastic and glue what could be simpler as sherman put it. How much do you pay for a pump? Or for lights? These are even simpler in components. Do you expect delivery for a ehiem pump priced at $180? Do you call any LFS to ask them to deliver a pump or a set of lights to your house? And even then is warranty provided for the items you buy? Sherman: obviously you know nuts about DIY. Please do not embarass yourself here by giving all the comments. Loupgarou asked me to help him build the system you mentioned and I told him I would not do it because it was too simple and not justifiable for me to charge money for doing it. For your information, he was keeping a freshwater tank which is why he did not need a TUBBY and could just top up straight from the tap. Hence thats why he needed an alarm system and not a top up system. Anyway, I also gave him the breakdown of parts he would need to help him to DIY it himself. Stop provoking me. Just because I told everyone to be careful about the live rocks you were selling the last time, this is not the way to get back at me. Be a gentleman and admit you were conning newbies by selling PURE WHITE rocks and passing them off as live and selling it at $7/kg. I came down with a friend all the way from hougang to bukit panjang and he is ready to be my witness. This will get us no where so lets stop stepping on each other. I know there will always be someone who will say something without thinking. Just like what happened to AT when he was selling T-shirts or to a few reefers I know who used to be selling frags of sps at $10 and even expected to do delivery. The thing is, please try to be more sensitive and reasonable.

GUYS I modded my set last friday night and I tell you theres no turning back!!!! Its great! I should have done it the day I got my xbox. I paid $160 for the mod with express service and harddisk upgrade. Pay another $200 for a seagate 2mb 160gb HD. And viola!!! Go for it guys you won't regret!!! Now I have fully unleashed the potential of the xbox. I can play games off my HD without the CD. I can watch DVD movies stored from my HD. I can use my xbox as a jukebox for music. I can play all region DVD and watch VCDs.

Hi, you might want to read this. AT can you pin this topic below? Unless its not useful? hehehe Preventing nuisance algae

Hi mv3i, it is very thoughtful of you to provide ervine's schemetics once again. This would be the third time already? Don't worry, even if you were not the one who posted it someone else using his own nick or a unknown nick would have done it. The auto top up idea is not original and I was never the one who invented it in the first place. It was already available on the net if you do a search. I merely improved it in terms of safety and functionality. However, as I mentioned before in my TUBBY section when someone by the nick of 'noor' (with 1 post) came in to try to tear me down by saying the cost of my parts are so and so cheap. The reason I decided to commercialise and sell this item is because when I myself wanted one, it was not available. And it was because my friends, Rumor and Bawater needed it urgently due to overseas trips and reservist that I decided to dirty my hands and start building it myself, 6 months ago. I always support DIY, infact I always like to DIY stuff myself. However, after my experience with selling the TUBBY and Kalkreactor, I realise that it is a totally different experience when you commercialise a product to sell. There are many people who like to bring down a commercial person for various reasons. After going through these experiences and various types of customers who think I make millions of dollars and smoke cigars, wear branded stuff or drive a sports car all because they buy the TUBBY, I realise I am quite reluctant to develop anymore products for sales. Don't misunderstand me mv3i, I am not pin pointing about you but I am just voicing out the opinions of myself and as well as a few DIYers who embarked to sell their work, such as Ian and alvy. Among them is my good friend Alvy who was totally disgusted and decided to wash hands completely. He now only DIYs for his close friends. I feel that there is a lack of support for such people. Instead, there is alot of criticism, condemnation, many attempts at trying to reveal the actual cost of the item, many more attempts at duplicating it and selling it to others as well as undercutting. I am not a proud person neither am I a businessman. Alot of reefers here know me and I think I can safely say I am a sincere and trustworthy person and friend. I'm simply a reefer who tries to make extra cash to support this expensive hobby. So please do not feel that I am an evil commercial businessman trying to scrape your last dollar from your wallet. For those who seriously want to DIY any electrical item, please consult the ones who know about electrical stuff and safety. Building the TUBBY is an extremely simple thing to me as well as other reefers who have had experience with electrical knowledge....because they know what to becareful of. However, if someone who doesn't know and comes along and reads about this and the comments, he will think why not? Its so simple, might as well do it himself. But I cannot stress enough the electrical safety and dangers....and even when it works, the safety precautions in the design to prevent accidents from becoming fatal....such as not heat shrinking voltage points, not ensuring contacts do not have any chances of shorting, using reliable transformers, planning for current leakage etc. Happy reefing.

hahaha alright man. Let me know when you are free. Can meet up to trade. HANDS UP!!!! hahahahha Well last time they had banana notes. Guess now its ricordia dollars.

Bro what brand is it? Can I trade with you using Ricordia florida frags? hehehe this is cool trading with corals. hahaha who would have imagined I'm serious