Best Reef Store in the Northeast?

[MattM]

Mark -

What we've done is broken down the 75 gallon show tank that was in the dry goods section of the store and moved to a 122 gallon MP-Aquarian tank from Germany with a 2 x 250W SE + PC Giesemann pendant. We installed a custom made island overflow and sump from AquaC, and an AquaC EV-180 skimmer, although we may replace that with an EV-120 - the flow rate is a bit much with the 180 and we're getting some microbubbles.

We will post photos this week, but I'll start a new thread for that.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

I would give it a few weeks at the very least before downsizing the skimmer, after juggling a dizzying amount of skimmers the last 18 months, I have found that they all output those "microbubbles" to some extent for at least a few weeks. It has also slipped my mind possibly, but are microbubbles bad for the main display tank? I cant think of any reason why, just the aesthetic thing? I know alot of folks dont like the bubbles, but I always thought it looked somewhat natural, at least in my book. Everytime I watch those nature shows the water column always seems to have plenty of planktonic food and microbubbles suspended. I for one have never been bothered by them and always though they added to the tank, even in a form of helping to remove waste, kinda like the skimmer extending itself into the main tank. But thats just me I guess?

Also, are those Kenya stars at full size, or do they actually get bigger? Can they be bought smaller to allow to grow in a tank? Any clue as to their life span?

 

[johns120]

www.thehiddenreef.com in philly, Pa

 

[Anonymous]

I would give it a few weeks at the very least before downsizing the skimmer, after juggling a dizzying amount of skimmers the last 18 months, I have found that they all output those "microbubbles" to some extent for at least a few weeks.

The Microbubbles aren't coming from the skimmer but the overflow itself. The skimmer's flow is exacerbating the problem by washing more of the bubbles through the baffles of the sump. Basically it's the problem of having a large tank with a tiny sump (sump size was dictated by the funky stand). The skimmer has been off for the weekend. We first need to redesign the baffles in the sump to prevent the basic microbubbles before we tackle the skimmer problem.

It has also slipped my mind possibly, but are microbubbles bad for the main display tank? I cant think of any reason why, just the aesthetic thing? I know alot of folks dont like the bubbles, but I always thought it looked somewhat natural, at least in my book.

Microbubbles tend to be an irritant to many corals - especially SPS. Also because of the extreme bouyancy they tend to stay suspended for quite some time making the tank look cloudy.

Also, are those Kenya stars at full size, or do they actually get bigger? Can they be bought smaller to allow to grow in a tank? Any clue as to their life span?

What is in the description online (and thusly our store label) is about the extent of the knowledge of these stars. As far as size I think I saw Shimek post somewhere that they get to be about 12 inches in diameter but Baench's Marine Atlas indicates 17 cm or 6.7 inches. What you see is what you get as far as size goes - no size indications are ever really given when ordering echinoderms from wholesalers. These came from Mary at MSI so she may be able to find smaller ones but I doubt it.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Microbubbles tend to be an irritant to many corals - especially SPS. Also because of the extreme bouyancy they tend to stay suspended for quite some time making the tank look cloudy.

Really? I kinda thought that SPS woundnt be too bothered with them considering most SPS corals are within 1-10m of the surface where breaking waves etc and even low tides allow for "harsh" conditions where microbubbles would be relativly common and even where harsher problems may lie, like low tide actually exposing SPS to air for hours at a time.

 

[MattM]

Being exposed at low tide does sometimes happen to these corals, but this is different.

With a micro-bubble problem in a closed system, the bubbles stick to the coral, essentially leaving small sections out-of-the-water permanently. That section of tissue dies and then a bacterial infection speads from that spot.

Also, wave action in the wild will help to knock the bubbles off.

 

[jav]

nice talk tom
For a reefer who is suppose to be here to help people on this board,
as everyone says ,,,and then print what you did in the memo below
about Balls to a customer who Just expressing his opion about your
serivce A GOOD SAYING IS THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT.

your quote
Finally Gimpy, no your little gibe wasn't appreciated, nor IMO well thought out considering it's pretty obvious that it would be read - I'm often amused by the comments said on the 'net that most wouldn't have the balls to say in person. FWIW I'm sorry if you have been inconveinienced but I don't think it warrants the personal commentary.
_________________
Tom O'Toole
Inland Reef Aquaria
Nashua, NH

Tom is this HOW you treat your customers

Gimpy if you DARED to make this kind of a comment about inland reef
on this board you would be tarred and feathered
and folks like Karen would be at the head group

sorry

 

[ChrisRD]

nice talk tom
For a reefer who is suppose to be here to help people on this board,
as everyone says ,,,and then print what you did in the memo below
about Balls to a customer who Just expressing his opion about your
serivce A GOOD SAYING IS THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT.

Please don't take things out of context in an effort to contribute to further bantering in this thread. The "customer" which you're referring to did not mearly express his opinion. Tom was needlessly insulted by this person and was responding to it.

I, for one, agree with his statement completely. My job frequently puts me in confrontational situations with people and it's interesting how much more aggressive and insulting most people are via email, telelphone, internet, etc. than they are in person. I think that speaks volumes about a person's personality. Unfortunately, these boards, as with other anonymous forms of a communication, seem to be an outlet for this type of behavior.

How about we all just play nice

-C

 

[Anonymous]

If Matt and Tom had to nancy around here as a couple of yes men they wouldn't be much use to anybody. Thankfully that ain't the case.

Any other positive experiences with stores in the Northeast? There must be more...

 

[wade1]

It has also slipped my mind possibly, but are microbubbles bad for the main display tank? I cant think of any reason why, just the aesthetic thing?

Another issue is the stress on fish. There are scientific studies on the physiological effects of micro bubbles and they are very positively not good for fish.

 

[Marcosreef]

I agree.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Any links showing this "stress" from microbubbles, I have been doing research on it now the last 2 days and still cannot find any proof or articles on potential effects, not that I question it or anything, I just want links for my own thinktank!

 

[MattM]

I don't know of any references. We have seen it happen many times to corals, so my basis is personal experience.

Another thing that happens in really bad cases is that the bubbles collect under live rock. They all join up and you get a big air pocket under the rock. Now, if there happened to be a big section of sponge living there... well, you can figure out the rest.

 

[tinyreef]

been and bought from many of the ones mentioned but the best i've seen is Underwater World in roselle, nj. it's the tiniest of stores and i can't imagine how the guy earns a living based on its size but his corals & inverts are the best. beware he's pricey but you get what you pay for.

he typically carries the corals & inverts everyone else avoids because they just can't keep them alive. so you can find some obscure specimens. he just sits on the specimens until they sell. that to me is the mark of a talented reefkeeper. the guy maintains carpet anenomes for pete's sake! his batfish was also there for ages.

he also only uses icecaps. the store looks less than impressive but don't judge the book by its cover. saw the rest his is the best! :wink: