A selection of useful tidbits of information for the aquarist. Readers are encouraged to send their tips to [email protected] for possible publication. For submissions that are published in Advanced Aquarist, the author will receive a $25.00 gift certificate from one of our participating advertisers.

Maybe you’ve heard about this already, but I use a battery operated blender (I got mine at GNC), used for mixing powdered protein drinks, to prepare frozen and powdered foods for my reef tank without using my wife’s blender. It’s portable, easy to clean, and inexpensive. Neal Yahata

If you are using a pH probe to keep track of your tank’s pH and your Calcium Reactors effluent make sure to do a three point calibration. Most people do a two point calibration using a 7pH calibrator and either a 4 or 10 pH calibrator along with it. I started doing three point calibrations using pH calibrators of 4, 7 and 10. I use them in this order and cycle through them three or four times – each time with finer tweaking. Make sure to dry off the probe in between each dip into the different calibration solutions. You will be able to get the 7.0 calibrator right on and should be able to get the 4 and 10 pH calibrators to within .06. My experience is with a Pinpoint pH probe. This leaves you with a very accurate probe with a much wider range that includes both pH ranges that you will be testing for. This can save you from trying to fix a pH problem that doesn’t exist, as well as making sure you are aware if you pH is truly out of your desired range. Jake

Hi Terry,

I have an external return pump that is not self priming; therefore, whenever the water level in my sump gets too low & I have to stop the pump, it can be a pain getting the pump running again if there is air in the line. Rather than set up a “T” with the ability to start a siphon, etc. as I have known some reefers to do, I recently worked out that if you raise the water level in your sump to above the level of the outlet of your pump, head pressure will do the work for you, effectively filling the line & the pump without the need to create a siphon.

Keep up the good work Terry, I never miss an issue, & look forward to it each month. Regards,

James Nilsson Sales and Marketing Manager Erskine on the Beach Email [email protected] Website www.erskineonthebeach.com

I have had the questionable pleasure of trying to rid my aquarium of flatworms. I have tried many means and methods, chemical as well as mechanical. One of the things that has helped a lot is the use of rigid air tubing. I attach a piece long enough so my hands don’t go in the tank to air tubing and siphon away. I have also bent the rigid tubing to get into the nooks and crannies or the rock. Just heat some water and put the rigid tube in and bend it to the shape you want.

The other thing I do is I siphon the flatworms into a micron bag in my sump and, in that way, I don’t loose any water. Then rinse the bag in fresh water and let it soak overnight to remove any residual toxins and flat worms. Mark Fellman