So, What other secrets are you all hiding from me???

The best shipping containers for frag trading is a thermos, small coolers, and I like to use the disposable Glad-Lock containers to hold the specimens. They work great for protecting fragile sps corals.
To get that lost magnet cleaner out of the tank use a piece of fishing line or thread and a washer.
Old CD jewel cases make great sps frag grow out plates and the coral pops right off with a little bend of the plastic.
Th small Glad-Lock cotainers also make great frag grow-out containers. Just place small rubble and coral frag in container, then place netting and a rubber band around the top.
The Fanny Firmer step that my wife bought with a work out tape works great for getting into the tank. Make sure to clean it off after you get done using it though.....:rolleyes:
 
Did anyone mention the chemical tips??? Vinegar in Limewater.... Homemade Buffer... Epsome Salt for Magnesium... Mrs. Wages Pickling lime...???? Well if they did it is a good refresher.
 
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Atticus ~ you do not want to use Epsom salt in your tank...do a search (I'm too lazy right now, sorry)... the chemistry wizards will explain why.

~ Sherri
 
I actually got the idea from reading one of Randy's articles. If used in moderation it will not throw off the ionic balance.
 
Small terry cloth towels - you can get them in bags of 40. I always grab a stack when I'm about to stick my arm in the tank. They're great for cleaning up small spills and you can toss them if they get too nasty.
 
This has been one of my favorite threads! I can't think of how much money, time, sweat, and tears I've saved. I have a pronunciation tip for scientific coral names that I'm just passing on from Eric Borneman's book "Aquarium Corals". This helps me tremendously as I learn the names of corals.

Here goes: In words containing five or more syllables, the primary accent will be on the third-to-last syllable. In words containing four or fewer syllables, the accent lies on the second-to-last syllable. In multisyllabic words, alternating minor inflections of accent/nonaccent exist.

Don't ask me to translate that either :p
Hope that helps,
Ryan
 
How about this?
When pulling those big bubble algae's off of the rockwork, as much as we try, we will sometimes end up popping one which will release the spores into the water. Granted the majority of them will either be skimmed, eaten by some coral or whatnot, but the ones that manage to settle with start growing more and more. What I do is use a syringe with the needle still on it and suck the liquid completely out before trying to remove it. What this does is twofold, first it empties the suckers out completely, and second, while doing so, they will implode onto itself. This loosens up the space it has grown in and makes it easier to pull off the remaining skin. Works like a charm!!
Now, where do I get the needles you ask???
Well, that's another tip!:rolleyes:
 
1. KALK. Powdered baby formula comes with a handy scoop that works great as a kalk (pickling lime) scoop. Just ask anyone who has a baby to save you the scoop the next time they finish off a can.

2. RO/DI. Your local "natural grains" store, the ones that sell grain grinders, juicers, dehydrators and canning supplies...they sell food grade buckets and plastic drums. I think the local one sells a 55 gallon plastic drum for $30.00. The 30 gallon one is $15.00. I guess canners use them for making pickles. That is one heck of a lot of pickles!!!
 
For curing live rock I found that using an old 90 qt or larger cooler with the top removed works great. They have a drain on the bottom for water changes and with the white interior you can see whats going on. good place to find old coolers at rummage sales cheap.

For siphoning small items us airline tubing attached to a plastic window blind wand with rubber bands works great.

Fahz
 
When designing your plumbing, think modular!

Use unions to create sections of plumbing that can be taken apart and replaced independently of the whole system to allow for future upgrades.

Oh, and make sure all of your unions face the same way :)

Jamie
 
NOWICKI said:
I have a pronunciation tip for scientific coral names that I'm just passing on from Eric Borneman's book "Aquarium Corals".

In words containing four or fewer syllables, the accent lies on the second-to-last syllable. In multisyllabic words, alternating minor inflections of accent/nonaccent exist.
Click to expand...

Mmmm I don't think that rule applies to all four syllable names. For example, the common garden spider in the US, the big green yellow and black one with the big webs, is named Argiope, pronounced (ahr-GUY-oh-Pea, with the accent on the second syllable as in Penelope (pronounced Peh-NEL-oh-pea). The rule is correct for some four syllable names. For example an extinct arthropod Pterygotus does have the accent on the next to last syllable (pronounced tehr-eee-GO-tuss.

The rule is also wrong for some three syllable names. For exampe, the common blue mussel here on the Atlantic coast is Mytilus edulus. Both parts of the name have the accent on the first syllable, as does the word syllable.
 
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Originally posted by NOWICKI
I have a pronunciation tip for scientific coral names ...scientific coral names ...scientific coral names
 
Ilsimen said:
If you have a cucumber, watch out for the infamous gonad-eating buttfish.
Click to expand...

Seeing this thread out again, and the above comment, ... sniff, sniff, You guys make me think i've done some great things for the hobby:D lol!!!!!

A lot of great new additions to this thread. Keep up the great work guys!

Angela.
 
Angela, I've had my cucumber for 4 whole days now and still now site of a buttfish. I'm beginning to think it's just a myth. :D
 
lol! I thought it was crazy, too, when someone told me what it was I was describing. an out of no where fish that appeared in the tank.. pretty crazy ! One cuke died when I was slowly taking the tank down, and the other is with a friend here locally, so maybe she has it:P

Angela.
 
goodies

goodies

Fantastic idea on the IV bags.
Let me know if anyone out there wants one. We can save them at work (Animal Hospital) for you and they'd be cheap to mail.

I just put a peice of red cellophane over the flashlight at night to spy on my tank, no need to buy a filter.

Use vinegar to clean the outside of the tank glass.

Keep all my test kits and dry goods in a fishing tackle box with a combo lock for child safety. People think its funny because it sits right under the tank.

Add just a tiny bit of garlic to the homemade fish food picky eaters love it. They are even starting to sell it in the stores now!
 
Hi, jaime. I'm in Coral Springs (Broward / Ft lauderdale area). I haven't been around too many stores lately as I took down my 65g reef and only have a 10g setup (trust me, its full, lol!). For coral my favorite store has been Coral Seas, but they are quite pricey. Aquatic Gardens has a lot of really good deals on colonies. They opened a Beverly's pets here in Springs and they're fish are very healthy looking and the tanks (so far) are very clean, i've bought a couple fish there for my 65 before I took it down and the fish were very healthy and did well.

If you're ever in the area and want to see my tiny box of water, you're welcome to come by. I'm trying to figure out how to set up the 90g, but i'm just feeling lost in plumbing and planning, so that will take quite some time.

take care fellow Floridian:) E-mail anytime.
Angela.
 
outprowlin

outprowlin

I am from RPB as well, I see you have a link to coral sea aquariums on your page. I visit this store often, read weekly at least. do you work there or something????
 
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