It Started with a Book.

[reefwiser]

Thanks for the welcome [emoji23]

 

[Txdragonslayer]

I had been noticing that I was having a popping sound coming from the skimmer. I got a notification that my 6 month skimmer cleaning was due. So while I was off today I took apart my Tunze 9004 and cleaned it. Lots of sponges and calcium spots covered the skimmer when I took it out. What a mess. It was fun to take apart and put back together had to break out the manual to read on how to do it. It really is easy once you figure it out.

A lot of these images and videos are broken

 

[reefwiser]

Having posted in this thread much should of it more [emoji3]
Learning and finding new discoveries is what I love about the hobby. I found out new things this past year. I am always researching new ways to break thru the road blocks my aquarium throws up at me.
This year I decided to research if trace elements could be causing issues with corals in my aquarium. I had been doing AWC changing a gallon of water slowly over the coarse of 8 hours each day. But this really didn’t help the natural colors of the corals to develop.
So I had been watching my friend Tony Kudar develop his dosing supplement and I asked him if I could try it out and see what it was all about. What could I lose my tank was ok it just wasn’t great. So he sent me a pack to try out. Boy was I surprised and shocked. I have used every product on the market over the last 30 odd years and this product actually worked. It’s crazy that it did so much with such a small dose each day.

That 2.5 ml a day would cause corals to do this color change was just eye opening to me. Nothing else has changed in how I keep the tank or equipment added. I always lock down changes during these type of experiments. I don’t want to color the test.

 

[reefwiser]

Here is the same coral 2 years ago. It was really place cream color that Duncan’s get over time.

It was a dramatic transformation over the coarse of one month and I see the same thing happen to other corals in my tank. I have learned that corals will do OK but not great with out trace elements
and when they get the proper amount of trace elements in their aquarium water they will flower and show their true colors. Those that say that trace elements dosing is not important have not tried it and don’t really see that trace element s must be maintained just like alk cal and mag.
Such a great learning year for me. Thanks Tony for helping see the light [emoji3][emoji106]

 

[Greybeard]

Just had to reach back to the bookshelf behind me and grab this:

My first aquarium, circa 1979, was a 5g slate bottom, stainless framed garage sale find. Kept mollies and guppies for quite a while. The Moe book started my journey into the world of marine aquaria, as well

 

[reefwiser]

Me too. I am grateful to have learned a lot from Skip. He continues to do research and is breeding urchins now

 

[pompeyjohn]

where did buy get the uniseals?

 

[reefwiser]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/uniseal-bulkheads.html

Here you go. [emoji3][emoji106]

 

[pompeyjohn]

Thanks

For a moment then it looked like HD was now stocking uniseals.

 

[dantimdad]

I wonder just how many of us Martin got started in marine aquariums?

I was given a copy of his book by a local fish store.

I met him and had him sign my first copy of the book. It disappeared in a divorce. I have another now. And the Marine Aquarium Reference as well.

 

[reefwiser]

Many he is a great guy. He is still plugging away at work. He gave a talk at this past MACNA on his current work and was mobbed afterwards by everyone in the room.

 

[dantimdad]

Holy cow! I wonder if he remembers me?

We corresponded for a few years while I was breeding clowns. I literally used his book like a cookbook and was very successful breeding. I credit him with just about all the success I have had with DIY projects as well.

I even built 20 longs with undergravel systems from his plans. 21 of them! (back then you could get salvage glass for about 50 cents a foot)

 

[reefwiser]

image of my new tank for the living room

 

[tripdad]

Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[reefwiser]

The stand is coming today.
This space in the garage is where my saltwater lab will be next year.

 

[reefwiser]

New stand arrived late yesterday. Love when they don't call ahead like they where suppose too.
Custom Stand from Aquarium Design Group.