Re: Plumbing Questions (Sorry Bob, I don't know what this goes with)<This be it. RMF> -- 04/12/08 Hi EricR, <<Hello, mystery writer>> Thanks for your plumbing answers. <<Quite welcome'¦although since you did not include our previous exchange in your email, I'm not sure who I'm talking to/what we are talking about specifically>> I believe this tank that I am refinishing is an older DAS tank. I noticed Mr. Fenner's comments on these older tanks as having mechanical and "Gaseous" issues. <<'¦?>> We've all had bad days, particularly after eating broccoli, but I am unsure what the gaseous problem was <<Hmm'¦I too am unsure>> ...just under-plumbed? <<Don't rightly know'¦maybe something to do with entrained air'¦aspirating plumbing lines'¦>> I am hoping that with my two 1.5" drains drilled in and a 30 gallon sump with an ASM G2 I shouldn't need to throw Beano in the tank. ;-) <<Ha! Perhaps Bob will see this and explain '¦ EricR>> John J. Traynor <Will try... Dutch Aquarium Systems (DAS) have gone through a few re-iterations in design, but all have been seriously faulty in their arrangement of circulation and filtration, particularly for their intended application... as commercial holding systems (both fresh and marine). They just have too little capacity and flow rate... by engineering... After suggesting, helping sell a few million dollars worth of their fixtures to PetCo (where I was a consultant and the buyer for aquatics for three years in the early nineties... before their first go at being publicly traded), I/we massively increased their pump size, automated water change-out processes... to address the too-puny water movement, aeration, and protein skimming in the marine units. Bob Fenner>

Re: Plumbing questions. And books on coral husbandry  -- 04/12/08 Dear Mr Fenner. Thanks for your response. I really like the aquarium itself, an having removed the useless corner box, drilled two 1.5 overflows <Ah, good sized, am glad to see/read> and installed a 35 gallon sump with 1100 GPH and an ASM G2 I will hope that I have overcome these shortcomings. <I do believe you are correct> If I may ask one more question. Having enjoyed your book greatly I was hoping you could recommend your favorite book on coral husbandry. <Oh! The very best one currently (that I'm aware of, of course) is friend Anthony Calfo's re-done "Book of Coral Propagation"... there is a huge amount of material (though less profitably found) one can glean from other works... V.2 of The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium by friends Fossa and Nilsen for instance... and the usual ra experience of attending hobby functions... Cheers, Bob Fenner> Respectfully
John