tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:24:06 +0000Reef Loghttp://www.melevsreef.com/log.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)Blogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-859303679143558735Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:17:00 +00002008-09-22T01:24:06.271-05:00After dosing vodka to my system for 10 weeks, I can definitely say it is helping reduce Nitrate and Phosphate in my system. One week ago, I tested PO4 and the result was zero, which I expected because I'd used Blue Life's Phosphate Control to get them down overnight. In the meantime, I'd fed my tank heavily and expected phosphates to rise. Today's test revealed it was still at zero. Yes! http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/09/after-dosing-vodka-to-my-system-for-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-7441379466027218268Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:59:00 +00002008-09-12T03:12:20.600-05:00Reefcast Episode 29a is online at last! You can download it from iTunes (look for Reefcast in the Podcast section) or directly from Reefcast.com The September issue of Reefkeeping Magazine came out early this month, because of my trip for MACNA. http://reefkeeping.comhttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/09/reefcast-episode-29a-is-online-at-last.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-7145184185702898536Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:15:00 +00002008-09-10T01:11:29.756-05:00Another trip was added to my site recently: Peppermint Shrimp Collection Trip I've had a few emails come in asking about how the Vodka dosing is going. I've been dosing daily for six weeks as of today. The last test results I took showed Nitrate at 25ppm, and Phosphate at .25ppm - so I'm still not to the point of making these numbers drop quite yet. However, during that time period, I didn't http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/08/another-trip-was-added-to-my-site.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-5751705956327767055Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:10:00 +00002008-08-17T14:18:42.136-05:00It took a while to get the images edited and the page complete - My trip to Cleveland: Cleveland Ohio I'm testing out a new skimmer by Red Sea called the C-skim 1200. It is a recirculating skimmer, and I'm using a Maxijet 1200 to feed water into it. You can read some of the facts about this skimmer here: Red Sea C-skim 1200http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/08/it-took-while-to-get-images-edited-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-4562057710351124882Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:41:00 +00002008-08-11T01:44:48.932-05:00Doing a little math to see what it costs to run my tank... 3 MH bulbs - 900w x 6 hrs per day 2 VHO bulbs - 187w x 11 hrs per day Return pump - 141w x 24 hrs per day 3 Vortech pumps - 63w x 24 hrs per day Calcium Reactor - 65w x 24 hrs per day 3 Fuge lights - 62w x 8 hrs per day 2 Skimmer pumps - 116w x 24 hrs per day Prop light - 147w x 7 hrs per day 2 Icecap Fans - 12w x 7 hrs per day All of http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/08/doing-little-math-to-see-what-it-costs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-1324763579724654888Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:23:00 +00002008-07-24T02:48:23.632-05:00Ten days ago, I started dosing with Vodka to see how that does at lowering Nitrate and Phosphate levels in my reef. I'm taking a very slow approach to this to avoid harming the livestock. It will probably take another week to determine if it is having any effect at all. Water parameters have been updated. I discovered this bright orange worm in my reef. It eats both snails and clams. Its http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/07/ten-days-ago-i-started-dosing-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-7075331433281340979Tue, 27 May 2008 21:55:00 +00002008-05-27T17:12:18.197-05:00A new page was put together about resizing images so they actually fit the screen -- which allows us to see the entire picture on our screen and prevents text scrolling offscreen like it always does. Image Resizer Tutorialhttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/05/new-page-was-put-together-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-515471094679788964Mon, 26 May 2008 04:09:00 +00002008-05-25T23:15:49.972-05:00I just got back from my trip to Cincinnati, Ohio. The weather was wonderful, and the club there was a happy group of hobbyists. I look forward to visiting the Cincinnati Reefkeepers Society again one day. Here are some pictures from my trip: My Visit to Cincinnati, Ohio And some eye candy, just because... http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/05/i-just-got-back-from-my-trip-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-7279223326890055163Mon, 12 May 2008 05:32:00 +00002008-05-12T00:32:58.141-05:00By popular demand, another episode is up. You can find Episode 28 on our downloads page. http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/05/by-popular-demand-another-episode-is-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-2327707364668264989Fri, 09 May 2008 05:48:00 +00002008-05-09T00:50:59.835-05:00All the PAR testing has been concluded, and this page has been finished. PAR measurements - Spider vs LuminBrite reflectors I'm driving down to Austin later today (Friday), to speak to the club there on Saturday, and will be back Saturday night. Hopefully my tank will be fine whilst I'm gone.http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/05/all-par-testing-has-been-concluded-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-1736213854980056684Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:22:00 +00002008-04-24T15:26:03.765-05:00I just got my first order from Zoanuts.com, and thought I'd share my experience. Ordering online from Zoanuts.com My trip to Cleveland was great, and I got to meet a number of enthusiastic members of the C-SEA club. Yet another page I need to do at some point soon. The next presentation I'll be giving will be in Austin on May 10th at 2pm at MakoJ's home. His beautiful reef was features as http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/04/i-just-got-my-first-order-from-zoanuts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-3157928657800439008Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:36:00 +00002008-04-03T11:46:49.921-05:00Evan called me last night and let me know that Episode 27 of Reefcast is ready for you to download. Enjoy yet another show. :) Episode 27 I'm in Southern California for the rest of the week. Yesterday it was beautiful. Today, cloudy but mild. My host took me to visit a few fish stores: Jeff's Exotic Fish, OC Aquariums, and Ali's Amazing Aquariums And Reefs. I got some great pictures to sharehttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/04/evan-called-me-last-night-and-let-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-4544214494033474918Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:22:00 +00002008-04-02T02:33:35.941-05:00I'm heading out to Southern California for the rest of this week. If you need to reach me, you can email me at melev@swbell.net and I'll try to reply when possible. I'll be visiting some local fish stores, some wholesalers, a number of hobbyists' reef tanks, and then Saturday & Sunday I'll be at the Marine Aquarium Expo in Orange County Fairgrounds. If you are in SoCal, I hope to see you therehttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/04/im-heading-out-to-southern-california.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-1279072460859450203Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:27:00 +00002008-03-22T13:58:35.309-05:00I'm currently doing some PAR tests on my lighting. If you are interested, here's the page: PAR - Measuring Lighting Intensity with a Meter For now, keep this under your hat and don't discuss it on any message boards. I'd like to get all my findings completed before posting it on the forums. Still, I know y'all are always interested to know what I'm up to, so enjoy this in stealth mode, and http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/03/im-currently-doing-some-par-tests-on-my.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-4977946522416560898Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:19:00 +00002008-03-04T02:25:34.065-06:00OMG - I totally forgot to upd8 y'all about the latest Reefcast! Evan worked to get it out ASAP, and released it just before March 1st. You can download it from iTunes (via subscription) or directly from our site at Reefcast.com: Episode 26 - Right Click & Save As to your harddrive please BTW, here's a recent shot of my Yasha Goby, who lives in the Suncoral Tank. No more acronyms from me http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/03/omg-i-totally-forgot-to-upd8-yall-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-5357115723526425022Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:55:00 +00002008-02-16T01:01:25.531-06:00Denver Colorado, here I come! February 23, the Rocky Mountain Reef Club is having a full day event, and I'm scheduled as one of the speakers that day. If you are in Colorado, it isn't too late to sign up. http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/02/denver-colorado-here-i-come-february-23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-5980426249288995971Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:23:00 +00002008-02-11T05:24:03.344-06:00New page: How to replace the seals in a Sequence Dart pumphttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/02/new-page-how-to-replace-seals-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-3446536047026378733Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:11:00 +00002008-02-10T04:18:30.223-06:00Here's a macro shot of my Tyree L.E. - years ago I got a beautiful tricolor Acropora sp. from Steve, and after some major issues, it died. However, prior to that happening, I'd banked a small piece with a friend who's been caring for it ever since. I just got it back recently, and after a brief quarantine period and coral dip, it is back in my reef. I'm excited to see how this piece does, and http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/02/heres-macro-shot-of-my-tyree-l.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-6725882955908000759Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:29:00 +00002008-02-01T03:33:09.133-06:00The newest page added to my site is a propagation tank I built recently. 90g prop tankhttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/02/newest-page-added-to-my-site-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-9027649859467559049Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:45:00 +00002008-01-30T13:47:37.748-06:00Evan released the missing episode of Reefcast. #24 is now online. :) Download pagehttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/evan-released-missing-episode-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-1848330182132528699Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:14:00 +00002008-01-21T00:15:36.903-06:00Two images from tonight. http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/two-images-from-tonight.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-2777226227579104081Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:37:00 +00002008-01-20T04:38:59.753-06:00I added a page about the little Suncoral Tank, which can be found in the left hand column of My Reef Tanks. It has been running for about a year, and deserved to be featured on its own page. Suncoral Tankhttp://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/i-added-page-about-little-suncoral-tank.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-2461209163431967619Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:30:00 +00002008-01-15T21:51:37.767-06:00I get emails quite often asking if I can build a sump for them, and if I can ship it. Yes, I can and have for some time now. However, I've finally gotten to the point that I just have to review and update the shipping part of the equation. For a long time, I boxed up sumps for free, only charging what it cost in materials plus what FedEx charges. After taking the time to box up three sumps http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/i-get-emails-quite-often-asking-if-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-2091567881535382911Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:07:00 +00002008-01-06T22:08:39.410-06:00In the January 2008 issue of Reefkeeping Online, my new article on sumps may help some of you. Reefkeeping 101 – Sumps!http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/in-january-2008-issue-of-reefkeeping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6117580.post-4139908572272631556Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:13:00 +00002008-01-02T01:26:50.432-06:002007 is behind us, and I thought it would be interesting to post a few statistics for the year. Website Traffic: Unique Visitors - 351,998 Pages read - 3,036,558 Bandwidth used - 1.7 terabytes Over 42 million hits!! Reef tank Parameters for the year: Temp - 80.3F pH - 8.13 Salinity - 1.026 sg Alkalinity - 10.9 dKH Calcium - 470 ppm Phosphate - .13 ppm Magnesium - 1369 ppm Nitrate - 35 ppm ORP -http://www.melevsreef.com/2008/01/2007-is-behind-us-and-i-thought-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Marc)