Recent content by mjmpinsky

My corals have not been doing well lately. Check of water chemistry - salinity, Amonia, Nitrites and nitrates, would indicate all is OK. Thinking my test kit might be faulty (9 months old), I Brought a sample to LFS which said my ALk was down to 7.8 (vs 8.2-8.4 where it should be). How/Why did...

A quick rule of thumb is 2-5 watts/gallon H20. Some corals are low light --> leathers and mushrooms. Others require much more + high flow currents. Corals are expensive. Buy a book and do some reading before you spend your $$$$$. ENJOY!

Do you have to clean or rinse BioFLuff/BioBeads/BioBalls every so often? I understand the premise of using these materials is to increase surface area for good bacteria to grow. SOme like it, some don't. However, eventually algea or debris will build up in the filter or skimmer and need to be...

You may have a small crack in the bottom glass. However, get a light and check the back of the tank. I had the same problem 1 year ago and I tracked it down to a crack in my outside filter. A few drops at a time would leak and I would get salt build up at the front of my tank ( I guess due to...

The size of your tank will make the difference on how many fish you can get. You need to figure number of fish by their adult fully grown size and not the size at purchase -- quick rule is 1" of fish per 5 gal water. Quick rule: if you want 2 clownfish -- get a pair of the same type and size...

Thanks for the response, BUT it did not answer my question. WHich species of green algae are healthy/beneficial for fish to graze off of, and which are not (or simply are a nuisance which fish will just ignore). Still awaiting an answer, or... a website where I can get the answer.

I was able to find a website on my own to figure our 4-5 of the six types I see growing. (Searched on About.com) NOW......... (OK You techies out there...) Which type of green algae are HEALTHY for fish to eat and which are NOT? Can't find any info on this. Thnaks for the help.

You could also try a Foxface butterfly fish. Only problem you may have is that it may decline after al your aptasia are gone (they are finicky as to what they eat). Good Luck. (p.s>>>If you only have a few, you would probably be better off simply killing them with an injection of 0.1-0.2cc of...

I have at least six different types of green algae growing in my tank. Can anyone give me a source that will help me identify them and determine which I would want to keep as food (for a bi-color angel I plan to purchase shortly - I was told they require a lot of rock w/algae to constantly graze...

Unfortunately, your thoughts are correct.....it probaby is the Clownfish. I have 3 damsels in my tank. It USED to be four. My Clarkii has gotten quite large and is the definite King of the tank! I am sure it is the cause of the loss of my 4-Stripe and Green Chromis by the bite ratio on the...

Has it shrunk since it started acting as a host? My Clarkii "loved" its first atlantic too death by constantly squshing down into it and stealing the food from its tenticles. It is now doing the same with its replacement. When left alone, the anemone starts filling out again, when the fish is...

YEP.... You are on the right track. I "cured" my outbreak by less light for two weeks + a nitrate scrubber (course granules that you can add to you filter) + a phosphate scrubber (tiny pellets/granules - start off white and three days later are yellow!.. again that you can add to your filter). I...

LFS tank had a 3/4" course gravel base. Do you hink that since it couldn't borrow, that it had no choice but to swim all over the place? and... now that it has a more "normal" enviornment, it likes its own "space"? (Good for the fish, but boring for the viewer)

On saturday I purchased a FFW at a LFS. It was in a tank by itself and was swimming all around with its dorsal fin extended and looked grandiose! Got it home, aclimated it, and added it to the tank. By later that night it had dug itself a "cave" under a large piece of coral. Sunday it was just...

Any info as to the biology/care of a pearl scale butterfly fish? My LFS has a really nice one for sale at $29. It has been there for 2 weeks. I know that some butterflies require special food requirement to stay alive. Any thought on this fish? 65gal w/ 3 damsels, 2 gobies, 1 clarkii w/host...