DJ88's DIY square calcium reactor

Rx 6

The purpose of a Calcium Reactor is to create a constant supply of calcium in the reef environment. Numerous corals and invertebrates use calcium to build their skeletal structure, which depletes this element from the water column. Using a two part solution once a day is an alternative, but on larger setups it is more cost effective and efficient to set up a reactor instead. Below is the latest design I came up with which has worked quite nicely. It is easier to build than typical round reactors, and hopefully you can build one for yourself as well.

Via Melev's Reef

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Hair algae - removal tips needed

I can not seem to get rid of "film" algae that gets on my glass. This algae comes and goes. I may have to run the magfloat over my front glass every day or I may be able to skip a couple days. And then today I did it about 11 am and by 7:30pm I needed to do it again! I mean it's not so thick that you can't see through but you can tell it's there. I can't understand out why it is so irregular. I have been using ro/di water for a couple months now for top off and 10% water changes approx every 2 weeks. My phosphates read between 0-.05.

Via LivingReefs

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Can anyone ID this worm?

Tubeworm

I have a small colony of these worms. They have these iridescent hairs (that shimmer blue, green, red and purple depending on the angle the light hits them) sticking out of a hole with two tentacles in the center at times. I believe that the tentacles are used to spread a virtually invisible mucus or web on and in between these hairs. The hairs are usually spread out a little more sort of funnel shaped. After cleaning the tank or if sediment gets kicked up at all you can see the web because everything sticks to it. Then the tentacles are used to draw in all the food collected on this web.

Via FishGeeks

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How long do you guys run your protein skimmer for?

Fissionnanoskimmer

Just wondering if you guys run your skimmers 24/7 or do you guys turn them off from time to time. if so, for how long and why? I had mine running for a week straight. Got some thick and dark skimmate. It was nearly full today so i cleaned the collection cup out and then i kept it off. I know one of the reasons my tank is having such high temp problems is due to the skimmer. the pump does put out some heat.

Via FishGeeks

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Toilet cistern aquarium

Toilet TankHardly a product a responsible reefer should use or endorse, but the concept is still pretty amusing.

But don’t worry - the fishes are isolated from the flush water and won’t be flushed away.

That's a relief.

Via Fosfor Gadgets

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Pistol Shrimp digging

Pistolshrimp300

I know these little buggers do a lot of digging and tunneling, so I wasn't surprised to see him go nuts when I moved this guy to my new 135g tank this weekend. The question I have is in regards to how his digging and sand shifting will effect my sand bed?

Via FishGeeks

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Does Coraline come in green?

I've been starting to get some of my purple back lately. But I've also started getting more and more neon green spots and bigger sections. I also have spots with some yellow. Are these both forms or coraline?

Via Living Reefs

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Lighting options discussed

Metal Halide bulb

plan on buying a 90 gal All-Glass Mega Flow Overflow Aquarium with matching canopy. My questions is what lighting options do I have with this setup and how do I mount the lights under the canopy. I plan on having a mixture of fish and coral leaning more towards the fish side of things. Do I need to use the metal halides or can I use Fluorescent lighting. I'm not even sure if theres a way to mount the fluorescent tubes underneath. I guess the best thing to do is go to my LFS where i'm buying the tank and see what they think but wanted to get your opnions as well. Maybe one of you guys have this same tank and could show me what you did with lighting.

Via LivingReefs

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Picoreef practicalities

Picoreef

Location isn’t the only problem with the picoreef, though. I really think that the tank is too small…or the rock in the tank is too big. I have a really difficult time changing the water or even testing the water because the rock takes up so much of the space in the tank. There’s about a half inch of clearance in the front and back and just 2-3 inches on either side. It’s hard to start a siphon, clean the glass or test the specific gravity without hitting the rock. If I had a bunch of invertes I’d damage them every time I did anything. I try to imagine a feather duster in that tank and realize that if I had one I wouldn’t be able to put either a siphon hose or a hydrometer into the tank without decapitating it.

Via Sea Creatures & Me

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Calupera Question

Caulerpa Racemosa1

I put some Calupera in my tank a week ago to help with the stabilizing of my nitrates. I just read from another post that this macro can over run the tank and actually could be a big problem unless it is pinched back. I have a handfull of it in a clump and placed it under some rock to keep it in place. How is it to be pinched back?

Via FishGeeks

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Coralline algae question

How long does it take for coralline algae to grow? I have been dripping two bags 1000ml of calcium and carbonate alkalinity refilling each bag every two days for the past week. How long before the coralline starts to grow?

Via LivingReefs

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Awesome acropora photos

Purple AcroTamarindThai of the ReefFrontiers forum has posted some amazing photos of his acropora tank. Check out the colour of this baby! Click through for more photos.

Via ReefFrontiers

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Red and Brown algae problem

Brown And Red Alge Pic 3 199-1

Hi can any one help me with my Brown and red alge problem? I have it growing all over my tank on the sand on the rocks over my soft corals and polips it is making my tank looks so dirty and horrible!

Via FishGeeks

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