Random

For those of you wondering when the next Podcast will be out, Evan thinks by Wednesday night now. Sorry for the long wait guys.

Many of you enjoy my site for the latest information about my livestock and various ideas. Last year I participated in a book project, and am a co-author for Reefkeeping Basics. This is an e-book, one you'd download to read on your computer as you have the time. There are a total of 14 authors that participated, and each one was interviewed with the same questions, which allows you to compare the comments and learn from all of the combined knowledge. So if you'd like to purchase the book, click on the banner below:

The newest episode of Reefcast is available. Episode 4 can be found on the Downloads page. Remember, right click and save as will let you keep a copy on your harddrive. 

I took apart my Pico tank tonight to siphon out all the detritus. My seahorses are in a hospital tank, so all it contained was rocks, zoos, a dendrophyllia and a cleaner shrimp. I pulled everything out and picked off any fat bristleworms, as well as any razor caulerpa that continues to spread and annoy me. (Larger bristleworms are not good for seahorses, I've been told.)

The newest episode of Reefcast is available from our site at reefcast.com

Casper has gotten sick. She seems to have Vibro. To read what's been discussed and done so far, check this thread in the Seahorse forum on Reef Central

Evan and I are currently working on a reef keeping podcast. Simply, it is a pre-recorded internet 'radio' show. Each podcast is saved as an .mp3 file, which you can play from your computer, your ipod or other mp3 player, or even from some cellphones that can receive files from itunes.com

The site is www.reefcast.com

New images were posted in my thread on ReefCentral.com

In it, you'll see my new mandarin and a pretty coral that just had to come home with me. And a bunch of pictures of other corals in my tank that are doing beautifully.

I made a huge mistake last night. And it cost the lives of many of my beautiful fish.  I turned off the pumps to feed the suncorals, and forgot to turn them back on. The pumps were off from about 3am until 11am, and when I woke up and saw the tank I quickly turned on the pumps.

Within minutes I saw the carnage. Dead fish littered about the substrate, others gasping. I can't believe I made such a horrible mistake. It literally brings tears to my eyes even typing this out.

Okay kids, don't try this at home....

I've been battling PO4 (phosphate) for months, and this one coral has continued to adapt to whatever I've put it through. Originally it was yellow, then it turned vivid green. Then I pulled it out of the tank one day for pictures of an interwoven brittle star hitchhiker I discovered, and it turned dark brown. Lately, it is closer to milk chocolate, like a glass of the stuff kids love to drink.

Occasionally I'll see images of sundial snails on Reef Central. I'd never seen one in person until today. While buying some zoanthids at the LFS, I picked up a frag and found it underneath. Sundial Snails are predators and will eat zoanthids greedily.

If you own zoos, you would be wise to study your colonies late night when the coral is closed up to see if these snails are in your tank.