Recent content by bstruss

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to answer all the emails I have received. Also, I have an individual planning on buying everything today. If this changes I will post it here and I will try to keep track of all the emails. Thanks for all the interest--

Due to circumstances, I am going to need to sell out of the hobby. I have two established 55 gallon reefs. One is about 4 years old and represents specimens I have collected by purchase and trade over the years. I have some rare and beautiful stuff! I will only consider shipping after selling...

I just ordered 4 medium size clowns from marinedepot and placed 2 in each of my reef tanks. The tanks are very stable and other fish are thriving. None of the clowns has shown any interest in frozen brine, flake food, or small chopped shrimp in 24 hours since they arrived. Otherwise, they appear...

Dizzy, Thats a good point you bring up. However, I really don't plan in doing much outright retail but my main reason is to be able to buy the supplies wholesale. This way I can stand a little better than a "snowball's chance in hell" of just breaking even in the propagation business!

In general, what are the requirements and criteria? I am aware of the need for local business licence and state sales licence etc. but don't know whats involved in buying supplies wholesale. My main activity is propagation but I plan to do some aquarium maintenance and a few sales etc. thanks--

I am going to add a mated pair to my reef tank but rather than going through the hassle of trying to remove the male at the last minute, I was hoping for a way to remove the babies soon after release in the main tank. My thought was to place a fake urchin in an area of the tank that would be...

ERIfish, Thats a very interesting operation and I will be following it with keen interest. Back to the original question. Does it seem feasible that smaller operations in the US could get in on the action by engaging in post larval growout to market size? What would have to happen at this...

Yes, I agree with what's been said and think that one day maybe smaller operations could suceed when and if post larval growout to marketable size becomes a reality. This link is one article that I read that alludes to a possible future niche. http://www.reefs.org/library/article/b_mankin.html

Thanks again for your feedback Judy. Can you suggest other marine fish that are possible to raise (and not face competition from the big boys). How about Bangaii? Bailey--

Judy, I'm glad you mentioned that because the more I think about it, the serious reef keepers grow their own (or trade) frags just like yourself. The non-serious reefers are not going to shop for frags on the internet but are usually going to be suckered into buying non hardy corals (or dyed)...

I am trying to get a feel for how big the reef keeping hobby is in the US. My goal for this is kind of a feasability study as I would like one day to aquaculture corals on a commercial basis. I am already doing so on a small basis and have one outdoor prop tank and plan to expand to another 600...

I am looking for some MO sources for unusual and colorful zoos. Can somone point me to some? I am aware of cquarium but was hoping for others. Also, if someone has some unusual colors they want to trade let me know what you have and what you would like for a trade. Thanks Bailey--

Thanks for the excellent diagram and feedback. From the perspective of the image, why is the sump so large compared to the refugium? I would have thought it the other way around. Isn't the primary purpose of the sump as a space to place the skimmer? I guess I'm still not clear on some of the...

I have a 55 gallon with a bakpak protein skimmer but am going to be upgrading to a 75 or 125. I am looking for some "very basic" plans for a sump (of course incorporating a skimmer). I have not found any good basic illustrated plans on the web that shows the big picture with different arangement...

I just had a similar event with my trocus. From my understanding the females are releasing eggs and a chemical messenger (pheremones) and the males are responding by releasing sperm. If you have a number of animals doing this its a good idea to turn up the skimmer and add some filtration as the...