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Many thanks to "Microcosmos" for accumulating this information :) Part 1: Q > What types of macro algae are you using, and how do you control takeover? farmertodd > i basically use any kind that i can find. takeover is prevented by monthly harvests. i get in and just rip it out. Q > What kind of demand does all this equipment have on the electrical wiring in the apartment? farmertodd > good question. because the apt is wired with 15 amp breakers, i have tapped out 3 breakers. we have to watch what devices (such as the vaccum sweeper, blenders, hair dryers) get plugged in where it took some experimentation to find what was going to do what. the electric bill is about $30 extra to run all this stuff. i think that's about one night where we stay home a month, and neither of us mind that :) Q > Have you done a cost analysis on coral revenue as against the power bill? farmertodd > i'm starting to work on that. we're trying to recoup things such as ro filter replacements and lamps. electricity will be next. well, you're not going to get rich at this :) the initial investement will never be recouped. Q > Typically frozen brine is considered to be very low in nutrition (for fish). Is the brine just a source of nutrients, and would there be any advantage to feeding varied or more nutritious foods despite the intended lack of fish in the systems? farmertodd > yes, i'm only using it as a nutrient source for the entire ecosystem. i do dump in things like formula now and then, but the brine seems to be doing the trick just fine Q > A couple of question for todd: what lighting does the 125 gallon use also what does he use for water cirulation? farmertodd >ah i think i left that out.. sorry. the 125 has 2 400 watt iwasaki and 1 250 watt iwasaki. dual 6' vhos are used for flourescense and warming up "the boys" in the morning and evening. i have a sen 700 for a return, a 2100 blowing across the top of the reef, and a maxi 1200 recirculating the opposite end. Q > Heavy feeding, how often do you do that 'heavy' feeding in your tank ? farmertodd > the big feedings have gone to twice a week now that i'm feeding daily. i used to do it 3 times a week minimum. daily feeding is probably about an ounce per day. Q > Do you have any problems mixing SPS and Soft Coral together in the 125. And do the brain corals cause many problems due to large sweepers? farmertodd >the soft coral present no problem, however, as i mentioned i would never put a new cut in the system. i move it to the multi. sweepers are always a definate problem and that is why i set up the multi system. trying to accomplish all these coral types in one system is just asking for trouble down the road. Q > Can you explain the reasoning behind returning the skimmate back into the system? farmertodd >i was finding that i wasn't keeping enough nutrients in the system. the algaes absorb the nutrients so quickly, that i would have to feed new food. i don't think i want a $20 a week brine shrimp habit, so i dump the skimmate back in. it's the equivalent of running a skimmerless system with the added benefit of pulling outside air in via the venturi adapter Q > What are the variety of common problems that dissapeared when adding a calcium reactor? farmertodd > mainly trouble with red cyano algae, and what i think is a biproduct of that.. flatworms. i find at an elevated alkalinity (11-13 dkh) the populations are contained Q > Your method of attaching the colt frag is interesting. So you just pierce the frag and and shove the toothpick in a hole? My experience would have my frag slide off the toothpic and blow around. I lose half my colt frags and I've tried both toothpics and rubberbands. farmertodd >yes, i just cram it in...i wonder how big the cuttings are that you're taking? perhaps there isn't enough tissue? Q > What are the benifits of using the "rose pick" to hold cuttings? farmertodd >mainly convience... a lot of times a smallish acro frag can get lost in the fray. as well, a nice base forms to glue or epoxy onto the rock. give it a shot, i think you'll like it :) Q > When do u pull the toothpick out? (for soft corals)? farmertodd >most of the time, i don't pull them out, the coral will just grow over it. however with some sinularia like coral, it makes more sense to get it out after the cutting has completely attached. if it is giving resistance tho, i'd just let it grow over it. Q > Can you explain more about the multi stand I'm a little confused? farmertodd >what part of the stand? i know those pics are crappy ;) Q> Anyone? Well, I guess the questioner has left. Perhaps how it was constructed? farmertodd >we kinda played that one by ear. i'll try to get the
dimensions and everything...like a real building plan in the next week. why i
don't do that... it's not like i'm hard to find most evenings ;) Part 2: Q > will the site stay up? farmertodd >absolutely. it will be integrated with the www.farmertodd.com site Q > how many gallons of iodine do you dose for all those softies? ;) farmertodd >dunno.. how much is in brineshrimp? ;) Q > I have one more question todd: Do you work on trying to get a good cycle of natural plankton larvae throughout the system with no obstructions to restrict them? farmertodd >absolutely. i have ZERO interruptions besides hungry mouths :) Q> when are you gonna get a tang to eat all that macro todd? :P farmertodd >yeah we can discuss that a little more this week.. you have
Q > todd, u ever tried mounting 2 colours together and joined encrustacionson 1 plug? farmertodd > no i haven't played with that yet Q> do you treat the brine with anything? (selcon, vitachem, etc) farmertodd > i considered using selcon, but i'm happy with the results as is for now.. i'll get bored later tho and start playing i'm sure ;) Q > do you feed anything besides brine? farmertodd > sometimes i'll dump in some formula Q> how many sps do you have in you system? farmertodd >individuals or "species"? prolly between 40 and 50 mother colonies. species would be about 20 not including color morphs Q > did you say you keep KH at 12? farmertodd > yes Q > do you perform water changes? how much%? frequence? farmertodd >i usually do a 25% once a quarter. not very frequently Q > so are all the LPS and softies going to be moved to the multi-system? so only SPS are in the 125? farmertodd >no i'm keeping some unaggressive lps and some key soft coral in the 125 Q > Do you feed your Acropora and other that expand there polyps greater
farmertodd > i trigger a feeding reaction at this point i put in some of the brine laden water (the juice) and wait 10 minutes then every one is ready for the inundation Q > does the method you showed for LPS work for an elegance as well?> farmertodd >yep, but i find that they want a bit more gentle presentation with it Q > you said elegance took a little more care to prop- what would you
farmertodd > not to prop, to feed... they don't like to get blasted with food farmertodd > well i'm going to wrap up here for the night.. i can usually be found running around here :)thanks all for showing up :) |