I just found out about this forum recently. It's great that you guys have a Long Island Forum. Very cool. I participate on Yahoo forums and this is a nice addition.
I also like the idea that I maybe able to get info about Long Island Marine that is close to my area.
I came back to the hobby last year. However, I have had fresh and salt water tanks for many years. However, my experience level is beginner.
I recently bought a skimmer. Waiting for it to "kick in". My next purchase is going to be live rock.
My tank is 55 gallon salt water fish only tank, with no live rock and plastic coral. I am going to purchase live rock and probably get rid of my crushed coral (in the future) and either have no substrate or black sand (Future purchase).
1) If anyone has had black sand, does this show a "dirty bottom". I presently vacuum during water changes and if I go to sand, I won't vacuum, so I am hesitating on the black sand (not sure if it will look dirty from fish poop and other bad stuff).
My filtration I think is pretty good. I run my Typhoon Skimmer with a drain running to my PVC drain in the back of the tank. I also use an Aqua Clear 110 filter ( I bought this on the recommendation of the LFS), should have bought a skimmer. I just did this. However, the filter does work well and I use it for increased oxygen.
*** Surprisingly, I bought a surface skimmer attachment for the Aqua Clear. Now, this works really well. Takes away all extra food. Saves on any overfeeding, etc.
As a fresh water hold over, I have a Diatom filter that I run once a week for polishing the water. This was an awesome toy for my dirty Oscars during my fresh water years. Kept my fresh water tank clean, because I was over crowding. I just run it once a week, figuring it can't hurt. Now, those are really dirty when feeding them gold fish. However, lot's of fun to watch.
This year, I improved my setup dramatically when I got rid of my under gravel filter. (What a terrible setup). I also made a huge improvement in my chemicals when I switched to RO water. What an awesome improvement in everything.
I was having a nitrate problem and of course the RO unit solved everything. I was amazed when I tested my incoming tap water that I used a dechlorinator on and my incoming water change water was at nitrate of 20. I was quite surprised.
I read that you switched from Atlantis for meetings. Glad you guys are happy. However, I was looking forward to going there for meetings. I have been there and enjoy it.
larryTAKEOUT@seldin.net
I also like the idea that I maybe able to get info about Long Island Marine that is close to my area.
I came back to the hobby last year. However, I have had fresh and salt water tanks for many years. However, my experience level is beginner.
I recently bought a skimmer. Waiting for it to "kick in". My next purchase is going to be live rock.
My tank is 55 gallon salt water fish only tank, with no live rock and plastic coral. I am going to purchase live rock and probably get rid of my crushed coral (in the future) and either have no substrate or black sand (Future purchase).
1) If anyone has had black sand, does this show a "dirty bottom". I presently vacuum during water changes and if I go to sand, I won't vacuum, so I am hesitating on the black sand (not sure if it will look dirty from fish poop and other bad stuff).
My filtration I think is pretty good. I run my Typhoon Skimmer with a drain running to my PVC drain in the back of the tank. I also use an Aqua Clear 110 filter ( I bought this on the recommendation of the LFS), should have bought a skimmer. I just did this. However, the filter does work well and I use it for increased oxygen.
*** Surprisingly, I bought a surface skimmer attachment for the Aqua Clear. Now, this works really well. Takes away all extra food. Saves on any overfeeding, etc.
As a fresh water hold over, I have a Diatom filter that I run once a week for polishing the water. This was an awesome toy for my dirty Oscars during my fresh water years. Kept my fresh water tank clean, because I was over crowding. I just run it once a week, figuring it can't hurt. Now, those are really dirty when feeding them gold fish. However, lot's of fun to watch.
This year, I improved my setup dramatically when I got rid of my under gravel filter. (What a terrible setup). I also made a huge improvement in my chemicals when I switched to RO water. What an awesome improvement in everything.
I was having a nitrate problem and of course the RO unit solved everything. I was amazed when I tested my incoming tap water that I used a dechlorinator on and my incoming water change water was at nitrate of 20. I was quite surprised.
I read that you switched from Atlantis for meetings. Glad you guys are happy. However, I was looking forward to going there for meetings. I have been there and enjoy it.
larryTAKEOUT@seldin.net
