Comments for Modern ReefKeeping http://modernreefkeeping.com Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:27:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on A New Outlook On Using Live Sand by J. Renton http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=573&cpage=1#comment-2391 J. Renton Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:27:56 +0000 http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=573#comment-2391 I chose this specific sand because of several factors. The price was comparable to other sands and gravel (minus play sand, of course). It claimed to come packed with live, good bacteria to help with cycling. It requires no rinsing. It buffers the pH, and it's an attractive sand. After reading all that, I thought it would be the perfect choice. Both processes of rinsing sand and cycling tanks are not things that I ever look forward to, so I was very excited when I found this sand. The tank has been set up (with sand) for a month now. Initially, the tank was quite cloudy for maybe five days - with an old filter running on it. The claim "doesn't need rinsing" led me (and probably many others) to believe that the product wouldn't create a cloud-fest in your tank. The live bacteria claim is a joke. The tank still isn't fully cycled. I should have remembered that the bacteria requires aeration and a source of ammonia to stay alive, or at least refrigeration. Not going to get much of that packed in a water-tight bag. The pH level is fine, but I can't say for certain that it's the sand doing it. I have tufa rock in the tank as well, and I've heard that water in my area is naturally higher in pH. The sand does look nice, and after the tank is established, it's not a bad product. The few mbuna that I have in there now love digging out pits between and under rocks. But the product's initial claims are a little far-fetched. I chose this specific sand because of several factors. The price was comparable to other sands and gravel (minus play sand, of course). It claimed to come packed with live, good bacteria to help with cycling. It requires no rinsing. It buffers the pH, and it’s an attractive sand.

After reading all that, I thought it would be the perfect choice. Both processes of rinsing sand and cycling tanks are not things that I ever look forward to, so I was very excited when I found this sand.

The tank has been set up (with sand) for a month now. Initially, the tank was quite cloudy for maybe five days – with an old filter running on it. The claim “doesn’t need rinsing” led me (and probably many others) to believe that the product wouldn’t create a cloud-fest in your tank.

The live bacteria claim is a joke. The tank still isn’t fully cycled. I should have remembered that the bacteria requires aeration and a source of ammonia to stay alive, or at least refrigeration. Not going to get much of that packed in a water-tight bag.

The pH level is fine, but I can’t say for certain that it’s the sand doing it. I have tufa rock in the tank as well, and I’ve heard that water in my area is naturally higher in pH.

The sand does look nice, and after the tank is established, it’s not a bad product. The few mbuna that I have in there now love digging out pits between and under rocks. But the product’s initial claims are a little far-fetched.

]]> Comment on Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Protein Skimming by Jason Kim by Iván Argüello http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-2387 Iván Argüello Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:34:28 +0000 http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=822#comment-2387 It's an incredible Mini Skimmer; I use it in a 20 gal. aquarium and now I have less algae and healthy fishes. The collector cup receive yellow to brown water that indicates Skimmer work perfectly. It’s an incredible Mini Skimmer; I use it in a 20 gal. aquarium and now I have less algae and healthy fishes.
The collector cup receive yellow to brown water that indicates Skimmer work perfectly.

]]> Comment on Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Protein Skimming by Jason Kim by Amanda Lambert http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-2354 Amanda Lambert Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:41:25 +0000 http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=822#comment-2354 This was the first protein Skimmer i ever got when I started in the hobby. I didn't know any better and when people would ask, and I'd tell them I had the lee's counter current they would scoff at me. I have had 4 skimmers since this one. All in the $100 range and all 80% LESS effective than this one. I've had the prizm, the excalibur, the coralife... I am now wanting to try the backpack, but if I ever get a sump, this baby is going in it! If it weren't an internal skimmer I'd already have another. I just don't want to look at my skimmer in my display tank. This was the first protein Skimmer i ever got when I started in the hobby. I didn’t know any better and when people would ask, and I’d tell them I had the lee’s counter current they would scoff at me.

I have had 4 skimmers since this one. All in the $100 range and all 80% LESS effective than this one. I’ve had the prizm, the excalibur, the coralife… I am now wanting to try the backpack, but if I ever get a sump, this baby is going in it! If it weren’t an internal skimmer I’d already have another. I just don’t want to look at my skimmer in my display tank.

]]> Comment on First Look at NextReef’s Solid Media Reactor,the SMR-1 by Tweets that mention First Look at NextReef’s Solid Media Reactor,the SMR-1 | Modern ReefKeeping -- Topsy.com http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=904&cpage=1#comment-743 Tweets that mention First Look at NextReef’s Solid Media Reactor,the SMR-1 | Modern ReefKeeping -- Topsy.com Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:50:33 +0000 http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=904#comment-743 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Jenkins. Adam Jenkins said: First Look at NextReef’s Solid Media Reactor,the SMR-1: Nextreef’s Solid media reactor, the SMR-1,  makes its debu... http://bit.ly/a4HJTE [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Jenkins. Adam Jenkins said: First Look at NextReef’s Solid Media Reactor,the SMR-1: Nextreef’s Solid media reactor, the SMR-1,  makes its debu… http://bit.ly/a4HJTE [...]

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