Recent content by psness

I saw this on my tank glass a few weeks ago and thought it is a baby brittle starfish, although I've never had one in my tank and haven't added anything new in months. Then today I saw three at the same time. They are white and no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch from tip to tip. Their movement sure...

So how many nassarius snails do I need for a 25 g tank (24"x12" footprint) with 1" to 2" of sand?

Your comments about a protein skimmer are why I've not bought one yet, glad to hear your opinion on their usefulness in small tanks. I change 20%-40% once a month...don't say it... I know it would be better to make smaller changes more frequently. Yes I use tap water.

I kept a saltwater tank for about 20 yrs from the early 80's to the early 00's until two years ago when I started back up again, so my thoughts on filtration are evidently old school. I have always had success with an u/g filter and large cannister filter, but can't drop the nitrates over the...

Also, I assume it would be a good time to install a protein skimmer.

Zissou and Bifferwine, Your suggestion is what I'm planning on - but also intend on replacing my 20g high tank with a 25g for a little more vertical volume and more room for additional live rock. I have a clown and blue damsel, along with a coral banded shrimp, pacific long-tenticle anemone...

I've been reading about Plenum filtration that allows anaerobic bacteria to be established deeper in the substrate. Would I essentially accomplish this by just turning off the undergravel filter in my established aquarium? Would this reduce nitrate levels.

oops wrong thread

I have had incredibly high nitrates for a long time and nothing will drop them (water changes, filter changes, nitrate remover, Chemi-Pure, Purigen). Clerk at the local fish store said it could be due to my undergravel filter, and I shouldn't even have one. I have an underground filter along...

I don't know the answer regarding two different kinds of anemones in the same tank. I was surprised that the clown goes back and forth between them.

I have one anemone (bubble tip) in the tank that has stayed in one place since I got it three months ago. I bought another last week (long tentacle) and placed it at the other end of the tank, my tomato clown eventually found it and now travels back and forth between the two anemones. The new...

what's the difference between zoo-plex and microvert?

I've read online that some people don't feed them and some do. Those that do use everything from cyclop-eeze to their own mash of brine shrimp, etc. I was wondering what you all think on this subject. I am fairly new to keeping them (3 mos) and applying Kent Microvert to the entire tank but...

The T5's are 14w and the T8 is 15w. I didn't know they made HO. Will check into it. I read in Thiel's book on mini-reef aquariums that lighting should be 2.5 watts per gallon, so I am "under-watted" at 43 watts for my 20g tank.

It honestly has a greener glow than the photo on the right. I have two Coralife T-5's (the actinic and 10,000k) and a ZooMed/Coral Sun T-8. All the bulbs are three months old. I'll check my local store (That Fish Place) to see what I can replace the T-8 with. I could possibly replace the T-8...