With all of the resources and threads on Reef Central, it can sometimes seem overwhelming to find what you want. Well our very own resident saltwater guru, capn hylinur, has created another great thread showcasing some of the more informative sites, threads and resources all in one spot!

The New Capn's Log Book-sites of interest on RC

So, you dream of the day that you can collect for your own tank? I know many of us do and some of us are luckily enough to do so. You may be asking yourself "How rare is this"? February's Thread of the Month by Lewy will show you how rare this can be. Read more....

In my opinion, do-it-yourself homemade frozen foods are a great way to feed all of the picky fish in your tank, and it also offers a way to find something that all of them like. So, I thought I would write something up and show how I make mine.

I will start by suggesting you find as much fresh seafood as you can from the seafood market at better grocery stores. Some of the frozen stuff has a lot of extra additives that I just don't feel comfortable with, so I typically avoid using any of that.

Here is what is in mine:

From the seafood department at a grocery store-

• Salmon
• Scallops
• Halibut
• Shrimp
• Oysters
• Mussels
• Squid
• Clams

Already frozen prepared food-

• Brine shrimp
• Mysis
• Silversides
• Bloodworms
• Formula 1
• Formula 2
• Prime Reef

Dry foods-

• Formula 1 pellets
• Formula 1 flakes
• Formula 2 pellets
• Formula 2 flakes
• Prime reef flakes
• Brine shrimp flakes
• Marine complete pellets
• Marine grow flakes
• Jullian Sprung's algae
• 3 different types of Spirulina: red, green & brown

I also add-

• Phytoplankton
• Garlic
• Vitachem^®

Throw all of this in the food processor and blend away, trying not to make it into mush. Just blend it enough to get all the pieces so that they are very small. I then take a couple of large cookie sheets, and cut a piece of eggcrate to fit into the cookie sheet, then spread out the food and press it into all of the squares on the eggcrate. Throw it all in the freezer, then take it out the next day, and press out all the new "cubes." I usually put them in bags of 20 and keep them in the freezer.

My fish seem to love it and they eat everything!

Thread of the Month is here! Here’s your chance to vote. Each month TeamRC selects three of the best threads for all Reef Central members to vote on. There will be three threads to choose from, and you are only allowed to vote once. We encourage you to follow the links provided below, to read and enjoy these threads. All three are full of information and are each equally worthy.

Thread of the Month Poll

This month we are featuring the beautiful 180-gallon mixed reef aquarium of Mark Poletti from Sacramento, California. Learn how he has created this beautiful system. Read more...

Be sure to check out the SLASH Spring Frag SWAP.

Every reefkeeper loves seeing pictures of other successful reefs. Here is a thread that features progression shots of various reefs.

Enjoy!

Full Tank Progression Shots

In honor of some of the great threads that have been shared here on Reef Central, we decided to update the list of the past Thread of the Month winners. We hope you enjoy.

2010

January 2010
"Best tanks from around the world."
by reefsahoy

2009

January 2009
"27 Clowns in the Same Tank 27 Months"
by mobert
February 2009
"Wet Skimmate Water Changes?"
by JMBoehling
March 2009
"Let's See Your Big Colonies!"
by LobsterOfJustice
April 2009
"DIY LEDs - The write-up"
by Soundwave
May 2009
Just a few tips and tricks for those new to SPS and reefing....
by SunnyX
June 2009
Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
by BeanAnimal
July 2009
"How not to build a 750/1500 gallon build thread"
by khaosinc
September 2009
DSPS Tank From Thailand (1000 gallons+)
by chingchai
October 2009
"Mojo~'s DIY Skimmer Build"
by mojo~
November 2009
"My Bacteria Driven Journey"
by Tswifty
December 2009
"Rarities underwater"
by Luiz Rocha

2008

January 2008
"Post Insane Ric Pics!!"
by XxMutedYouthxX
February 2008
"Past Pictures of Your Clams"
by skinz78
March 2008
"Modern Reef Aquariums"
by CamBarr
April 2008
"Coral Maternity in Portugal"
by Machado deSousa
May 2008
"My 150-gallon Cuttle Farm Army Reef!"
by Paradox009
June 2008
"Great Barrier Reef WARNING LOTS OF PHOTOS!"
by edr42
July 2008
"Refugiums and Macroalgae - The Good, the Bad, the Ugly."
by capn_hylinur
August 2008
"DIY Wavebox Tutorial from start to finish!"
by xtm
September 2008
"Gone Solar"
by hobogato
October 2008
"Tswifty8's 220-gallon Upgrade"
by Tswifty8
November 2008
"Bonsai Tree inspired Aquascape"
by crazy4acros
December 2008
"All SPS (Small Polyped Stony) Tanks"
by Hargitai

2007

January 2007
"Amphiprion percula "Onxy" (Onyx Percula Clown) Breeding Log!"
by mwp
February 2007
"T5s vs. MH... What would be the ultimate faceoff?"
by Sanjay
March 2007
"It begins... 345-gallon Starphire in-wall system"
by mrcrab
April 2007
"Custom 18"x18"x18" Cube in England"
by jemram
May 2007
"No Lights for 3 Days Every Couple of Months Works Wonders!"
by Aquabucket
June 2007
"Sun Powered Reef"
by vitor pestana
July 2007
"Calcium Reactor vs. Two-part System"
by Rovert
August 2007
"Difficult and Special Care Species List"
by Peter Eichler
September 2007
"GFO (PhosBan) - Just How Good Is It?"
by JetCat USA
October 2007
"MACNA XIX pictures!"
by Andrew
November 2007
"New Aquarium for St. Jude Children's Hospital"
by bshumake
December 2007
"Favia Show Off Thread"
by kev apsley

2006

January 2006
"What Color is Your Carpet? {pics please}"
by Gary Majchrzak
February 2006
"Has Anyone Tried a 'Rubble Bottom?'"
by algaeguy
March 2006
"Acro Eating Flatworms in a Bowl: Test Time!'"
by Bigred
April 2006
"The Continuing Adventures of Tim (Supermantis)'"
by DensityMan
May 2006
"The Georgia Aquarium (VERY Photo Intense)'"
by jwedehase
June 2006
"Soft Coral Dominated Tanks... Let's See 'em'"
by reefnewbie54321
July 2006
"Let Them Flash!'"
by H.Tanaka
August 2006
"My BEST hitchhiker is an OCTOPUS!'"
by Buddy Pine
September 2006
"Show Me Your Teeth!'"
by Max_Strandberg
October 2006
"I Fragged My Carpet Last Night'"
by phender
November 2006
"Show Me Your Best Colors!!!'"
by jackson6745
December 2006
"Italy's Best! Matured SPS Aquariums'"
by invincible569

2005

January 2005
"Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread"
by melev
February 2005
"Best Aquascaping Designs"
by Shlou
March 2005
"Ghetto Tanks!"
by Yellotang
April 2005
"Let's See Those Peek-A-Boo Shots!"
by melev
May 2005
"Let's Talk About Water Movement in an SPS Tank"
by JB NY
June 2005
"240 Gallon Cube Tank Photo Diary"
by sonofgaladriel
July 2005
"Rebuilding the Reef - Log of a 90-Gallon Restarted"
by Jamesurq
August 2005
"DIY "Stream" Style Pump"
by thunt
September 2005
N/A
October 2005
"Updated Photos of 2 Gallon Cube"
by ninjafish
November 2005
"Home Reef Videos?"
by fishman805
December 2005
"YWG: lost *another* nest!"
by NicoleC

2004

November 2004
"240 Inwall Construction (Image Intense)"
by weatherson
December 2004
"What does your tank room look like?"
by JB NY

Have you been kicking around the idea of setting up a small nano tank in your office or dorm room, but you were not sure you could keep the corals you could in your big tank? Well, check out this thread and see what can be achieved.

Nano SPS keepers....lets see watcha got

Recommended marine emergency kit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing worse than being caught short---especially on a holiday weekend.
I've been at this a few years: here's what I recommend you have on hand...in order of price,versus benefit, versus likelihood of need.

1. Enough salt to replace 50% of the water in your tank. You never know when you will have an accident.
2. Carbon and bags or ladies kneehigh nylons: carbon can remove ammonia, among many other things, and save your tank. When something bad has happened, you will not go wrong running carbon as a first try at fixing it.
3. Alkalinity test: do this weekly: your reading should be between 7 and 11. IMHO, this is an important test for all tanks, FOWLR to reef.
4. Test strips for ammonia/nitrate
5. A bottle of Amquel or equivalent. Read the instructions, you don't have to use this, but it is good to have it just in case. I use it in the kitchen, when I've gotten bleach on my hands. It's good for that.
6. A stack of old towels: when you need one, you will be glad you have them!
7. Enough polystyrene 5 gallon buckets to replace half the water in your tank.
8. A mixing pump, or powerhead: the Maxi-Jet 1200 is good choice.
9. Some Gutterguard(from Lowe's or Home Depot) or some plastic needlepoint canvas(from hobby store) AND plastic sewing thread or fishing line.
10. A sheet of white lighting grid/eggcrate(found in the Lowes or Home Depot lighting department).
11. A spare thermometer for a fast crosscheck (I stick mine onto the sump).
12. Spare hose of every diameter. Couplers(hose barbs) for these sizes: no reefer ever has too many varieties of hose.
13. If you can afford, it/employ it---a backup generator; or at very least a plan. I have kept fish alive for 3 days with a hand squeeze bulb...this is how basic you can get if you are stuck for a solution, and do NOT over-stock your tank: you never know when ice or wind is going to hand you an 8-hour power-outage, or worse.
14. Also, if you can afford it, a spare main pump. Your tank can live without lights for a week, easy; without a skimmer for a week, easy; but without the main pump, you are in increasing trouble after a few hours.

Brought to you courtesy of Sk8r

Have you ever wanted some good random flow in your tank but your wallet tells you that you're on a budget? Check out this thread for an inexpensive way to add some good flow to your tank without busting the bank.

 DIY Swirler Stein

Things that may seem difficult for us to replicate in our closed systems, happen in nature quite regularly. Check out what one Australian reefkeeper found in his back yard...

How Rare is This?