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I just wired up my Ranco controller and am testing it in a bucket of water with the heater element I plan to use. I did some web searching and some folks mentioned using heat shrink tubing on the probe as the Ranco probe was not “waterproof”. Ranco users, did you heat shrink your temp probe? V

My hardwood floors are one step closer to total destruction. The other night, my daughter said "Hey Dad, you need to add more top off water, the sump is nearly empty!" so I thought "Oh my gosh, did I really neglect the top off reservoir that badly?" so I added some water and got started on the...

I was considering mixing up some arago-crete and putting it in ice cube trays to make a sort of mound-shaped plug. Or maybe make a plug the size of a sand dollar (or heck, use an actual sand dollar!). Anyway, I have various bags of small frag plugs and some seem to be made of plaster, and some...

Hi guys. In the past I've added hundreds of astrea snails to my tanks, each one eventually becomes an empty shell on the sand. I have in my tank, however 4 or 5 big trochus snails that I introduced at the same time I added like 40 Astreas, and they are the last snails standing. I believe it is...

Hi guys, so I've been reading up about raising pH by providing air with less CO2 in it to the tank. One option is a CO2 scrubber, another option is running a line to get fresh outside air. The simplest solution is of course to open windows, but when it's cold outside (and at night) this is not...

Bulk Reef Supply is having a sale today on Maxspect Gyre pumps, for anyone interested. They send me text messages and this was today's. I'm already invested in MP-40s (the pumps, not the submachine gun! LOL) so I'll pass on this, but it might be a good deal for anyone wanting Gyre pumps. V

So I decided I should keep a closer eye on my water parameters, after letting Wifebane run on autopilot for a long time. One thing I noticed when I finally checked was that my ALK was really low. So I dosed it back up to about 9.5 dkH over the course of 2 weeks. I then decided to just start...

I've had some probes just sitting in the tank forever, unconnected to any monitor. I'm sure they are worthless now, but have decided to start using the pH monitor instead of doing test kits. I bought the monitor a decade or more ago when I was running a CA reactor. So I'm thinking of getting a...

Hi guys, my current lighting schedule is 5AM - 8PM, which cuts into the most expensive tier of electricity, and is 15 hours of photoperiod, which is probably too much anyway, but of course afternoon and evening is when I want to see the tank. I'm thinking of cutting the lights off at 4PM...

So it's a new year. Let's discuss what mistakes we might have made in the last year, so that we can all learn from each other's mistakes! Also, it's a good way to review our own practices. I think my biggest mistake was to not regularly test my alkalinity. I let the tank go on "autopilot" and...

As the title asks ... if CO2 is heavier than air, then would it be worth it to attach a simple hose to your skimmer's air intake and just place the input of the hose up high, like above your canopy, instead of down low in the sump? OR would it make absolutely no difference. I've heard of people...

I was just watching BRSTv and they were discussing what things they would never buy again, including the Hanna Nitrate checker, but then they went on to recommend their favorite test kits, I thought I'd share that here; Alkalinity - Hanna Alk Checker - this has been recommended by many people...

I decided I better keep up on alk & calcium, etc, so I went to use the BRS online calculator for how much CA/ALK solution to add to the tank and of course, I know how large my tank and sump are, but not everything is water. I estimated, then used the calculator and dosed alk (soda ash) and the...

I stumbled onto some youtube video of a guy doing stuff with baking soda and super glue. So I looked it up and apparently baking soda helps super glue cure much faster than just water, and also creates a cement like mass. So I was wondering if, instead of super glue gel, it might be effective to...

Trident test device on sale for $511 (20% off) at BRS today, if anyone is rich. V

it seems to me every uses 2 or 3 part dosing and drip dosers. Why are CO2 reactors no longer popular? I remember the best coral growth I had was my old 58g tank running a CO2 reactor. I was just too lazy to move it to my Wifebane 180. I think now the regulator is too corroded to use due to the...

To heat my 180, I have three heaters, one in the sump and two in the main tank. I'm starting to think it's highly inefficient and maybe just one in the main tank should suffice. I'm not using a smart controller, but I have been planning to do so and have the parts for a PID. How are you guys...

I run my lights usually from 12 noon to about 1AM. This was because my old electrical metering sort of made sense then. However, I switched many years ago tot he PG&E EV-A plan for electric car charging that moves cheap power to the mornings. The EVA rates are 12AM-3PM = 24 cents/kw 3-4PM = 45...

First of all... it's $400 !! (But what isn't, in this hobby?) I just saw an ad for it, but I may be out of touch. Anyone heard anything good or bad about it? V

I had considered filter socks, but my sump is a temporary (Hey, it's only been a decade) glass tank with a plastic storage bin in it and the main tank drains are just PVC pipes dumping into the storage bin. My one attempt at adding a really fine mesh filter sock resulting in a flood (it's...