DIY projects

So this happened to my reef today...

Lately, it just seems like one thing after another breaks on the 400g setup. I've been having problems with two MH ballasts within a single month. I'm still trying to get that one sorted out, so for now I've got a Radion providing light where one MH belongs. Thought it was fixed last night, but today no light so the Radion is back on the light rack as of this afternoon.

Last week, the RO/DI system blew a fitting sending water shooting out in front of my face, and I had to fix that ...

I've scoured Reef Addicts and Melev's Reef looking for these pictures, only to find them in my history on facebook today -- at last.

For many years, I've used foam sheets from Hobby Lobby (most hobby craft stores have these) to keep the refugium light off the rest of my gear. People often think they need colored or black acrylic in their sumps to avoid algae growth in other compartments and within their skimmer / reactors. However, that's really not the case. While we can see light ...

I met a local artist at Dallas Comic Con events two years ago, and discovered she used to be in the saltwater hobby herself. Lhars Ebersold does some beautiful work, some of which I've shared from her Instagram account from time to time. This is her.



I hired her to create some special light switch and outlet covers to dress things up here at Melev's Reef, and she did an incredible job. Here are some pictures. ...

It has been over a month now since I added the three Fish. They are still alive and seem healthy. I have lost 5 of the snails now. All are the margarita snails. I guess those are not for my tank. All others seem fine. I still have some diatoms popping up. The nitrates are still high. They have been at around 30 for weeks. They don't seem to budge. The phosphate reading has gone down to a reading of 0 for weeks now. I would guess it is being used up as fast as it is added. Not much else to tell I ...