Finding Egg Crate 3/17/09
Hi everyone,
<Hello Tom>
Ok, I think I have pulled my hair out enough now to warrant asking you this:
Is there a specific place on the web where I can buy plastic egg crate grid? For the life of me, I can't find a retailer... only wholesalers.
<Here is one place. http://www.goodmart.com/products/1101445.htm>
Thank you!!!
<You're welcome.>
Sorry to bother you with such a mundane question.
<No problem. James (Salty Dog)>
-Tom

Filtration Question 3/5/08
Hello everyone,
<Hello.>
I really enjoy your site and find your information and suggestions right on the mark. My question to you is, can you recommend books that
discuss the science of water quality and filtration in the home aquarium?
<Reef Invertebrates by Anthony Calfo and Bob Fenner covers filtration and what is does for your water quality.>
I am very interested in learning about the science and in building my own filtration systems; not to save money, but rather as a sub-hobby to the aquarium hobby. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
<For the fabrication aspect of it I would contact some plastic suppliers. Most have literature on acrylic fabrication that they will send you. Fabricating your own filtration and other equipment is definitely a worthwhile hobby to pursue. Unfortunately, I know of no one resource that covers the filtration and fabrication of (Bob may?),
>>Ah, no... hence, in part, my urging to have you produce such a work. RMF<<
 it is something that is something that it coming to fruition, slowly. What you seek can also be found cruising the net and using common sense processing what you read (remember everyone is an expert online). Have fun, Scott V.>

Coldwater Tidepool filters, nitrification
Dear   Bob,
Don’t mean to pick on you, but can’t find the FAQs on  DDB, or the name of the person who answered it.
<Okay>            I plan to have a 90g. Too ignorant to buy now.  Tide Pool tank for No. Oregon Coast Wild Caught TP critters. ( NOCWCTPC)  I have a permit.  No fish unless they are very small, and I find them in the same pool.
<Adventures galore>
I am more than a little intrigued by a filter system that is best Left Alone.  But I still have some problems with DSB.   (1)  100 dollars of my tanks height is lost to, well… dirt.  Do we want to see the actors, or the stage.  (2)  Killroy’s first law of filters is, get the crud outta  the tank.   If I had a sump with a floor roughly the size or the tank, could I put the DDB there?
<Yes>
I build canisters out of 12 inch diameter, or  better, PVC irrigation pipe. A cap at both ends, tubes for water in & out, and a 2-3  inch plug for material  in & out, and Shazam, really big (20inch long), cheap and tough canister.  Fill with porous sand, coarse enough  to not inhibit water flow and Shazam,  really big, vertical sort of sub sand filter, or ??.  One not enough, make four.  Some well placed hack saw cuts in the water in tube,  and the unit can be back washed with a hose.  Once you have the 12 inch pipe, it’s all down hill. As this is, so far, fresh water technology., your comments would be greatly appreciated.
<Sounds fine... just a bit of a pain to open to service>
Please name the most  desirable Ph buffer material.
<None... simple water changes... if slight daily/diurnal shifts... sodium bicarbonate (Arm & Hammer) will do... can get involved in mixing carbonates to elevate more, borate for non-caking... if you find that water changes won't "do it", it might be worthwhile buy (at discount) a commercial "ph Buffer">
I think of myself as a clever guy, but I make a lot of mistakes. Clever is not experience, or proven knowledge. So glad you guys are here.  I will still make mistakes, but  hopefully fewer and less disastrous ones.
<And hopefully share, help others in the process and reflection>
Thank You
Terry Southwell
<And you, Bob Fenner>

Filtration Configuration
Scott,
<Hello again!>
Thank you very much for the response.  Since I wrote you initially, I have received the wet/dry.  It is an Amiracle MR200.  I would really like to use it since it has the overflow box hoses and skimmer, but I was wondering if I could hook it into a 30 or 40 long tank somehow, making the 30 or 40 long tank a refugium and then pump the water back into the main tank from the refugium.  Could I go from the wet/dry to the refugium?
<Sure...Consider yanking the bioballs from the wet/dry, however...>
I am not sure how I would do that.
<Lots of ways to go, if you're creative...You could try feeding from the sump into the refugium via submersible pumps...Check out the DIY site Ozreef.com for some cool ideas...>
It is fitted with a 1" prefilter bulkhead and a 3/4" sump bulkhead.  My intent (best laid plans...) was to put live rock in the first chamber where the water comes in, put the skimmer in the second chamber, and then have the water go through the refugium and back into the tank.  
<Sounds pretty good to me, but I'd reverse the rock and the skimmer here. The most nutrient rich water (directly from the display) is what should feed the skimmer. Then, the skimmer return water could pour out over the live rock. If you could somehow position your refugium above the display tank- that would e optimum!>
Also, any ideas on the size return pump I should get (and brand).  The Amiracle literature said that the overflow box was capable of handling up to 400 GPH.  I was told by someone not to use a Rio pump.  It can emit electrical current and cause problems, like hole-in-the-head, with my fish.
<Well, IMO, Rios are not the most reliable pump out there...They are abundant, commonly used- but I am not convinced of their long-term reliability. I'd look into a Mag Drive or an Eheim for greater reliability, if you're looking at a submersible pump>
Thank you very much for everything, Paul
<Have fun planning and assembling this setup, Paul...Take the time to research it right, and you'll be great! Regards, Scott F>

How to tell if a plastic is toxic?
I went today to Home Depot trying to get a plastic bin for a) making and aging salt water b) using it as treatment tank for sick fish and also for quarantining new fish. I've heard there are some plastic that can be very toxic to fish, even if just used to mix the water and salt (brief period) but none of the buckets and bins were labels as water/food safe or gave any other indication. How can one tell which plastic is good and which is the bad one? thank you, Luke
<contact the manufacturer or be conservative and simply avoid any that do not say food-safe, my friend. There are so many plastics available and most nearly every one is safe. Anthony>

Oh Reef Guru!
I have ordered a new 90 gallon, 48 inch tank and stand to set up in our living room. Wanting to minimize mess in the living room, I plan to put all filtration, skimmer, u/v, mixing/water change tank, underneath in the basement with other tanks. The tank will contain 100 pounds of live rock, 8 - 10 2"fish, inverts but no coral. Money no object - I want the best. Please give me your recommendation for Mechanical Filter, Pumps, U/V, Skimmer,
<Hmm, hard to do... in terms of service factors? Efficiency... how much head pressure? the UV would be a TMC unit... imported by a few folks... have your source bring in from Quality Marine in LA... the pump... one of the direct drive fractional horsepower units... Probably a Dolphin... the skimmer... a Euro-Reef or knock off of the same... powered by Eheims)... the filter... for what sorts of life?...>
and other equipment to make this a great environment with remote treatment in the basement. Is there a reference on the very best way to drill the tank for inflow, outflow, and overflow? Can one inflow and one outflow serve both mechanical filter set up and skimmer??
<Maybe Phil Escobar's reference tome... but better, easier perhaps to seek out a "reef guru" in the way of an accomplished accomplice who can give you hands' on assistance... find them through... your fave store? Service company? Hobby club nearby? Acrylic is easy to cut... too easy to make mistakes of where, how big to cut if you haven't good input...
Bob Fenner, who wishes he could be "there">
Many thanks

Filters?
I wrote you before about the Skilter 400. I have ordered a SeaClone Protein skimmer and am wondering if the magnum 350 with bio wheel 60 would work well enough with a 55 gallon tank. I know that wet/dry is the best filter method. The Bio Wheel says that it is a wet dry and would work with salt water. I have been told to build my own but am unsure how to build my own wet dry. 
Thanks for you help
Jonathan Finley >>
<Much to investigate here... can't encourage you enough, even if you're going the store-bought versus the DIY route, to get/read recent issues of the hobby magazine, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium... many manufacturers strut their wares there... and offer URL's to their websites where you can purview about what they have, their basic designs... The gear you list will work... minimally... and "wet-dries" are not, repeat definitely NOT the best route to go... A sump is a very good idea... but you need to study further.
Bob Fenner, who encourages you to visit our site: Home Page for much more on these issues.