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New Class at Boone High

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by BioTeacher, Jun 7, 2013.

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  1. Jun 17, 2013 #61
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    What did you get for refugia?

    Just fyi - the general consensus in reefing these days is ditch bioballs. I don't think there are issues when properly taken care of, but there are plenty of better methods out there now. I would leave those out and look more to an algae scrubber setup, at least on one of the tanks.

    Have you tracked down any rock yet? I would try to contact Marco Rocks http://www.marcorocks.com/ and see if they can help you out in that department. Its dry rock, so it will take longer to cycle, but you get the benefits of not harming any reefs, and knowing exactly what is going in the aquarium. Really nice rock IMO.

    For skimmers Reef octopus are hard to beat for the price. Great performance and efficient pumps. CoralVue is the US distributor of the Reef Octopus brand. Might be worth a shot to get in touch with them on skimmers and what they can offer.


    As for your lighting you're wanting to do one tank LED, when you say actinic for the other what are you refering to? I believe actinic is more a spectrum of bulb, available in various sizes and outputs. Are you thinking a T5 setup? Another option is the old faithful metal halide setup.
     
  2. Jun 17, 2013 #62
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Dang, I wish I'd been paying attention because I have three 5g buckets of bio-balls, all have been cleaned & dried...do you need more???
     
  3. Jun 17, 2013 #63
    BioTeacher

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    Turbo, I honestly don't know. LOL I only ordered one 5g bucket because I didn't know for sure what I might use. With 430 gallons of water, I might be able to use some more? I just don't want to say I'll take them and then not use them. What do you think I would need for that much water? Also, can you tell me about your scrubbers?
     
  4. Jun 17, 2013 #64
    BioTeacher

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    I believe the refugia are R200 from eshopps. I haven't gotten any rock, yet. I was thinking I would do mostly dry rock and add some live rock, too. I will look into Marco Rocks. I believe I already contacted CoralVue and have yet to hear from them. I really don't know about algae scrubbers, at all. I don't think they are something we used when I was doing my tanks.


    One of the tanks I am getting has a hood and lights, he just isn't sure if they work. If they do, I'll stick with them and add LEDs for the other one. I don't know that I want to do metal halides. I worry about the mounting of them. I will look into it, though. Thanks for the suggestions!!!



     
  5. Jun 18, 2013 #65
    Sponge Marshalltown, IA

    Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

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    I second ditching the bioballs! DO NOT BUY any as I have TONS if you want them...FREE!

     
  6. Jun 18, 2013 #66
    BioTeacher

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    Thanks for the advice on the bioballs. I'm not going to abandon them, completely since 1. They are already ordered (doh!) and 2. I got the idea from Central Campus. What I may do is have the kids use them in one over the other to test how effective they truly are. My MAJOR concern right now is protein skimmers. Time and money are running out!!!
     
  7. Jun 18, 2013 #67
    Railcar79

    Railcar79 Inactive User

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    Skimmers you could have some fun with. Buy a ready built unit, and possibly build one DIY like we did in the old days. Teach the concept, build the unit and demo the process.
     
  8. Jun 18, 2013 #68
    cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    i have seen alot of folks use bioballs on cold water reefs on reefcenteral so might be worth having them if you ever start one of those tanks
     
  9. Jun 18, 2013 #69
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    bioballs get a bad rap because people use them improperly for the most part. They are not maintenance free. First, you need to have them out of the water and the water dripping/trickling over them. Second, you are supposed to replace or "clean" them occasionally. I've heard to replace 50% every 6 months, or along those lines, or clean them usually by removing them from the system and putting into a SW bath and stirring vigorously to release any detritus.

    As for algae scrubbers, you can use one anywhere, anytime, any system. They have been around for 30+ years but started to make a resurgence in 2008.

    As for live rock are you still looking for dry base rock or actual cured live rock? How much do you have and how much do you need?
     
  10. Jun 18, 2013 #70
    BioTeacher

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    I would really like to do that. However, my funding is drying up and I still don't have one or an offer of one. May have to have a bake sale or something. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/tongue.gif
     
  11. Jun 18, 2013 #71
    BioTeacher

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    Thanks for the info on scrubbers. I probably can't afford any at this time. As far as rock, I have none and I need enough for the two 200g tanks plus the 30. I want to do a mix of dry base and cured so the kids can watch it spread and check progress, etc. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif
     
  12. Jun 18, 2013 #72
    BioTeacher

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    YAY!!! Just had a scrubber donated! Do I hear two?! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/biggrin.gif
     
  13. Jun 18, 2013 #73
    Tickyty

    Tickyty Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I just caught wind of this and coming late to a party beats not showing up at all. I have a 40 gallon breeder, hang on back filter and a canister filter that you can have. This system was a fresh water set up but you may be able to use for a sump and the filters can be used for a QT set up or whatever need you may encounter. PM me and we can figure out if you can use these items.
     
  14. Jun 18, 2013 #74
    BioTeacher

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    PM sent! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif



     
  15. Jun 19, 2013 #75
    BioTeacher

    BioTeacher

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    I picked up the two tanks, today. They are awesome. Problem is, one is drilled and one is not. I don't even know how to go about getting the other drilled or how much THAT'S gonna cost. I will be honest, I'm starting to get stressed with deadlines approaching. But, I'm much farther along than I was thanks to you all!
     
  16. Jun 19, 2013 #76
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

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    Drilling is easy. But you're gonna need overflow boxes too then...
     
  17. Jun 19, 2013 #77
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    Dito, drilling tanks, especially ones with thicker glass is pretty simple. I'm sure someone in the club will be more than willing to help you out with that.
     
  18. Jun 19, 2013 #78
    BioTeacher

    BioTeacher

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    Yay! The tanks are being drilled! Now, I have a lighting issue. One of the tanks has what I believe are metal halides, but the plug is REALLY weird! It looks like a three-prong grounded plug, but the plug pieces are tiny! I've never seen anything like it. I got a quote on lighting, Hydras, but, it's a bit out of my price range for two tanks. And, that was JUST the lights at a discount. Not mounting. I'm sure I could work something out with our maintenance department on the mounting. But, I'm curious about the lights already on the one tank. I think they are metal halides. Has anyone ever seen something like that before? I'm a LOT closer to having everything together than I was. Believe it or not, the craziest thing dawned on me last night...I also need salt! LOL! My mind is in just way too many places! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/biggrin.gif
     
  19. Jun 19, 2013 #79
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    did you get the ballasts with the metal halides? My guess is the wiring you are seeing goes to the ballast, and then the ballast would plug into the wall with a standard 110v plug. The lights do not plug directly into the wall.

    Did you talk to aqua illuminatiions directly for the led lighting? They might be able to help you a little more on pricing than a distributor would.

    LOL yes you do need salt, and a lot of it. How about an update of what equipment you have gotten so far. Have you found anything in your hunt for rock?

    Have you talked with Iowa pet foods and seascapes in Des Moines at all? They have always been supportive of the club and might be willing to help out with something like the salt you are needing.
     
  20. Jun 19, 2013 #80
    BioTeacher

    BioTeacher

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    The lighting quote WAS from AI. I believe I emailed Iowa Pet Foods and Seascapes. No word from them or Marco Rocks. Sponge offered me some seed rock and sand and I had another offer of dry rock, as well. Nik is coming on Friday to check things out. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
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