Let the good times roll and the fun begin!

[txmaverickmh]

I think I might have just paid the electricity bill at Aquarium Designs! *And I could not imagine being a more happy customer...3 WORDS.... IMPECCABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

Big "thank-you" to Jason and Herschel for everything you did to help me prepare for my first SWA, all the advice, products, equipment, etc...it is no wonder why you have been in business so long and why everyone raves about your business and customer service!

ALSO, big kudos out to fellow MAAST members for hooking me up with ACE who built me a first-class custom regium filter system, drilled perfect holes in tank with overflow box...he made it fit my small cabinet with not a 1/2" to spare, precise and unprecedented quality!

I am set to go live with my 40 Gal cube this Saturday with my pumps, refugium, LR and LS, etc...and i am getting my LR and saltwater from my #1 mentor, Dr Mark, from Gulf Coast Reef, which is right by my house in Corpus Christi. *Mark and James have fueled my passion for this hobby to insane levels, and I am so thankful for their help!

I believe that good work, service, preparation and EDUCATION are so vitally important in this hobby, and all of these fine gentlemen deserve high praise and recognition!

Quick update on decisions you all have been so gracious to provide feedback:

Went with Current USA Orbit light system (150W MH with 2 acinic bulbs and LEDs)

Ace built my refugium and drilled tank, incredible work!

Decided against bio media, first chamber in sump will have LR frags.

Went with Octopus 110 skimmer.

Mag drive 5 pump with 2 Koralia nano powerheads.

Putting base of Miracle Mud in refugium covered with bed of LS, adding LR and chalurpa or chaeto

Sorry such long post, I am just very happy with all that has gone on for the past 2 months, all of the fine people I have been fortunate enough to meet, and I have always believed that we are always so quick to shout out when people do us wrong or provide bad service yet we easily overlook or share stories when people go so far beyond their need to help us due to their passion for the hobby and underlying drive to help people, these guys deserve all that!

I will try to send out pics after I setup this weekend, still trying to figure out how to "trick" Dr Mark into coming over to my house to review my setup on Saturday, lol, any ideas???

If anyone else local in Corpus would like to stop by and give advice, review my work, talk about what aquarist talk about, I will have cold beer, soda or water ready and awaiting you!!! *Plan on setting up Saturday after 3pm or so.

Best,

Michael Hensley
Txmaverickmh*
"newest charter member"

[Ping]

Miracle mud should be used alone, you are mixing several different types of refugium systems and this will lead to problems in the long run.

A few small pieces of large rubble or small rocks, periodically replaced to seed a DSB is fine. They should take up very little of the surface.

LR can be added to a Shallow, 1 inch or less sandbed w/ vegatation refugium.

Miracle Mud is a great system, but most dont use it because of the setup and replacement price and other types of refugium systems work just as well.

The best live sand is home grown, the purchased products are a waste of money. A cup of sand from one or more established tanks is the best way to start a live sand bed, coupled with a small freshly cured piece of live rock.

Take it slow and let the system age before adding any higher life forms.

As for a frag tank, let the corals grow large and then set up the frag portion of your system.

Good luck, it sounds like your off to a great start.

[Squiers007]

Hey, if I dont have to work on Saturday I may stop by and see how things are going since I never did get around to chatting with you, sorry about that. I will email you and get your cell so I can get directions if I get a chance to come check out your setup. If I cant make it, good luck with the setup and I'm sure I will get a chance to chat with you soon.

[kenny01]

That store really has some good people working there. Good customer service.