PH Marine Fish Tank Thread
Discussion
For sure, I, well.. the other half, made that error with the tropical tank. Cave home from a few days away and the three week old tank had about 20 fish in it. Only 4 or 5 survived.
I've still got my 120 litre tank so will migrate the livestock across gradually before adding more.
The cycle has started, but I'm not totally happy with my Nutrifin test kit, so picking up a new test kit at the weekend.
I've still got my 120 litre tank so will migrate the livestock across gradually before adding more.
The cycle has started, but I'm not totally happy with my Nutrifin test kit, so picking up a new test kit at the weekend.
KarlMac said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Watching this thread with interest. I've got freshwater tropicals which I've had for years, but have got a marine tropical 'itch'.
I know it's a world of difference and a lot more work, but I think I want to have a go at it.
Same here. I've kept exotic reptiles for years but always wanted a small marine tank, never felt confident enough to take the plunge though I know it's a world of difference and a lot more work, but I think I want to have a go at it.
For some reason the itch really kicked back in 2 weeks ago but it feels like such a minefield. You get so many different things from different threads you really don't know how to start. Just fish? Just reef then fish, or just jump right in with both, then its a case of which corals, soft, nitrogen cycle? its a lot to learn and take in
S11Steve said:
Aquascaping is tedious. Tank is cycling nicely, skimmer is bedded in and starting to lift out the muck from the initial blooms, and all seems to be running along as expected. If water tests permit, I'll be adding the clean up crew next weekend, but want to finish the rock work before any beasties move in.
I would be really greatful if you were to make a new thread with a full write up of how you done everything and chose everything. I think it would really benefit any others who would be interested in doing something similar. Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Roastie ITR said:
What forums are best to start learning about marine fish keeping?
Recently bought a Juwel Trigon 190 as my goldfish outgrew their little 60l tank, but now fancy converting it to Marine.
I've been doing a bit of research, it does seem like a very expensive hobby
Like any subject, what you read on Forums will vary and fact and opinion are often clouded. I tend to browse on Ultimatereef.net or reefbase.co.uk - both UK based. There are a few facebook groups that I bounce ideas around, and tend to find that between the three sources I can decide on something that works for me.Recently bought a Juwel Trigon 190 as my goldfish outgrew their little 60l tank, but now fancy converting it to Marine.
I've been doing a bit of research, it does seem like a very expensive hobby
It can be very expensive, but like anythingm start small and upgrade over time, The Trigon can be converted easy enough by changing one bulb and adding the Juwel Skimmer. I've run a Lido 120 for a year now as a practice - on the assumption that if you can maintain the water quality in a small tank, then bigger tanks "should" be easier due to the stability of a larger water volume!
IATM said:
I would be really greatful if you were to make a new thread with a full write up of how you done everything and chose everything. I think it would really benefit any others who would be interested in doing something similar.
Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Cheers - I will be documenting it later in the month, when I have a few days off, on UltimateReef, so will copy it across here as well. It's been a learning curve, but also has required advance planning for livestock etc.Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
In the final stages of cycling now, Ammonia and Nitrites barely traceable, Nitrates rising, fine dusting of green algae starting to appear so time for some clean up crew to move in at the end of the week.
Cyano is a nightmare, I had a big battle with mine. I had none at all then I used some fauna marin balance and it suddenly dropped the nitrate to zero and triggered cyano.
In the end I used a product to get rid of it which it did, however it's coming back....... I just don't know why. No nitrate, no phosphate, I've even turned my rowaphos off and just have a refugium now, algae does grow in there but not prolific.
It's a pain because you just upset the balance somehow and it's so hard to solve. Flow in mine is bordering excessive, a jebao dc12000 return, a jebao wp25 aimed at the bottom and two gyres, one on 100% the other on 90% and both are on at the same time quite a few times in the day!
My bulbs are a year old now, I must say there's no cyano in frag tank, I do wonder if it's the bulbs, have some new ones coming any day now.
In the end I used a product to get rid of it which it did, however it's coming back....... I just don't know why. No nitrate, no phosphate, I've even turned my rowaphos off and just have a refugium now, algae does grow in there but not prolific.
It's a pain because you just upset the balance somehow and it's so hard to solve. Flow in mine is bordering excessive, a jebao dc12000 return, a jebao wp25 aimed at the bottom and two gyres, one on 100% the other on 90% and both are on at the same time quite a few times in the day!
My bulbs are a year old now, I must say there's no cyano in frag tank, I do wonder if it's the bulbs, have some new ones coming any day now.
IATM said:
I would be really greatful if you were to make a new thread with a full write up of how you done everything and chose everything. I think it would really benefit any others who would be interested in doing something similar.
Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Stated the diary on UltimateReef - it should be public view http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?...
S11Steve said:
IATM said:
I would be really greatful if you were to make a new thread with a full write up of how you done everything and chose everything. I think it would really benefit any others who would be interested in doing something similar.
Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Ps. That is one gorgeous tank.
Stated the diary on UltimateReef - it should be public view http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?...
Livestock is slowly being added, mainly in the form of a pair of Naso/lipstick Tangs...
I've also started to transfer a few corals across from my 120l tank to add a bit of colour.
I still have a few fish, shrimps and inverts to move across, but it's quite a stressful process with catching and acclimating them.
Levels are pretty stable, but PO4 is picking up a little, so on the look out for a fluidised reactor to put in the sump.
Whilst moving stuff in the smaller tank, I've found a few zoas and mushrooms tucked away the back, so have done my first "fragging" - or at least attaching them to a piece of live rock. I'm over cautious about palytoxin, so gloves and goggles were donned.
I'm Steve, and I superglue animals to rock...
I've also started to transfer a few corals across from my 120l tank to add a bit of colour.
I still have a few fish, shrimps and inverts to move across, but it's quite a stressful process with catching and acclimating them.
Levels are pretty stable, but PO4 is picking up a little, so on the look out for a fluidised reactor to put in the sump.
Whilst moving stuff in the smaller tank, I've found a few zoas and mushrooms tucked away the back, so have done my first "fragging" - or at least attaching them to a piece of live rock. I'm over cautious about palytoxin, so gloves and goggles were donned.
I'm Steve, and I superglue animals to rock...
Well I picked up my first Marine tank a week or two ago, I've gone for a Aquael Reefmax 105 (only £65).
I've decided against converting my Trigon 190 due to costs involved, I would have needed to upgrade to T5 or LED lighting and add a skimmer.
Not going to get the tank wet until the new year, so just trying to workout what bits I need to add to my Xmas list.
Jecod RW-4 wavemaker (ordered last night)
Aquael 150w Easy Heater
Red Sea Marine test kit
Red Sea Refractometer
Any other thoughts on essentials that I am going to need to get myself started?
I'm going to order 10kg of Marco dry rock, but I don't think anyone would want to wrap that up as a present
I've decided against converting my Trigon 190 due to costs involved, I would have needed to upgrade to T5 or LED lighting and add a skimmer.
Not going to get the tank wet until the new year, so just trying to workout what bits I need to add to my Xmas list.
Jecod RW-4 wavemaker (ordered last night)
Aquael 150w Easy Heater
Red Sea Marine test kit
Red Sea Refractometer
Any other thoughts on essentials that I am going to need to get myself started?
I'm going to order 10kg of Marco dry rock, but I don't think anyone would want to wrap that up as a present
Return pump if it is sumped? Algae scraper (tunze or flipper floating ones are rather effective)
I need to update my UR thread - lots has come on since my last post, a few new feature fish are in, like this pair of Naso/Lipstick Tangs, a coral beauty, couple of watchman gobies and various corals. Phosphate reactor and sump light are also being installed this weekend.
I need to update my UR thread - lots has come on since my last post, a few new feature fish are in, like this pair of Naso/Lipstick Tangs, a coral beauty, couple of watchman gobies and various corals. Phosphate reactor and sump light are also being installed this weekend.
S11Steve said:
Return pump if it is sumped? Algae scraper (tunze or flipper floating ones are rather effective)
Thanks for the quick response, I'll look into the Algae scrapers.Unfortunately it is not sumped, it comes with 3 chambers at the rear of the tank & is powered by the pump on the skimmer.
I had a read of your thread a few weeks ago, looks very impressive.
S11Steve said:
For sure, I, well.. the other half, made that error with the tropical tank. Cave home from a few days away and the three week old tank had about 20 fish in it. Only 4 or 5 survived.
Talking of other halves, not long after I had my first marine tank I got some inverts, to feed them I used to drop small bits of raw fish in as you do. One evening I came home to find the tank floor covered in a stange white lumpy mass. I started to franticly remove the stuff as fast as I could when the Mrs wandered in........she then fessed up that she'd dumped half an uneaten fish pie in the tank as she thought the shrimps might like it!
Crikey, some fantastic work in here! I'm especially liking the look (and girth!) of your tank/cabinet combo, S11Steve.
I currently have a fair setup on a tropical freshwater, really wanting to upgrade to a bigger tank but the constraint is dining room size! Have looked at marine setups before and they do seem a lot of work to set up and run effectively, not something I'm ready for yet but would love to in the future when time/space/funds allow
I currently have a fair setup on a tropical freshwater, really wanting to upgrade to a bigger tank but the constraint is dining room size! Have looked at marine setups before and they do seem a lot of work to set up and run effectively, not something I'm ready for yet but would love to in the future when time/space/funds allow
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