Show me your aquarium
Discussion
I’m thinking of having an aquarium made next year.
I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
Edited by usn90 on Thursday 24th September 20:47
usn90 said:
I’m thinking of having an aquarium made next year.
I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
That would cost a huge amount of money to setup, plus running costs.I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
Have a peruse here to get some ideas....
https://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/large.490/
And then watch this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krQ4Bvotf7A
I wouldnt recommend a noob to Salties going that far initially....
Set up a new planted tank in our dining room. Evolution Aqua Freshwater 900. Plants are all tropica 1 2 grow. I do have a lovely piece of driftwood to go in the middle I’m going to attach some Anubias to, however I can’t get the damm think to stay sunk. It’s currently soaking in the bath and tomorrow it’s being attached to something heavy it it doesn’t behave.
Thanks! Always been a bit sceptical of filter starter, but I guess the soil is leeching ammonia, dumped a bottle of JBL Denitrol in yesterday and I'm already seeing nitrites today. Ammonia has come down a touch too.
I've got some fish from my tank in the old flat I need to get out and into this one, having just moved, I was going to take some filter media but looks like I might not have to!
I've got some fish from my tank in the old flat I need to get out and into this one, having just moved, I was going to take some filter media but looks like I might not have to!
Turn7 said:
Love the Hawkfish...
IIRC, they dont have a swim bladder, son make short bursts from rock to rock ?
He's a coral goby. IIRC, they dont have a swim bladder, son make short bursts from rock to rock ?
They are a little 'odd' - effectively an additional set of pectoral fins that can create a suction to a bit of rock or coral (they live on sps colonies in the wild, in massive surfing flow).
I think he does have a swim bladder, but is definitely more of an ambush type feeder!
Cool little personality though, and great for a nano. In theory, I could have a little group of them - and their bioloading is so low it doesn't really make much difference (I'm feeding super heavy at the mo just to keep nutrients up).
Need to decide what my final stocking will be, but I am tempted.
What I really want though, is a little wrasse but I think that's a bad idea with my little pedersen anemone shrimp. Maybe a royal gramma.
Sway said:
Turn7 said:
Love the Hawkfish...
IIRC, they dont have a swim bladder, son make short bursts from rock to rock ?
He's a coral goby. IIRC, they dont have a swim bladder, son make short bursts from rock to rock ?
They are a little 'odd' - effectively an additional set of pectoral fins that can create a suction to a bit of rock or coral (they live on sps colonies in the wild, in massive surfing flow).
I think he does have a swim bladder, but is definitely more of an ambush type feeder!
Cool little personality though, and great for a nano. In theory, I could have a little group of them - and their bioloading is so low it doesn't really make much difference (I'm feeding super heavy at the mo just to keep nutrients up).
Need to decide what my final stocking will be, but I am tempted.
What I really want though, is a little wrasse but I think that's a bad idea with my little pedersen anemone shrimp. Maybe a royal gramma.
Gramma's can be nasty I think? or I am confusing the Gramma with the fish thats simialr but actually a dotty back ?
Turn7 said:
usn90 said:
I’m thinking of having an aquarium made next year.
I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
That would cost a huge amount of money to setup, plus running costs.I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
Also if I was to do this I be going the salt water route, I’ve been there and got the ticket a few times with freshwater, I feel a marine look would suit the room aswell as it’s kind of a function room with a small bar and pool dining table.
So, Is there any drawback to this sort of tank? I’ve had a few in my time but only your traditional kind.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
Have a peruse here to get some ideas....
https://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/large.490/
And then watch this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krQ4Bvotf7A
I wouldnt recommend a noob to Salties going that far initially....
We initially looked at an 8ft tank for our dining room, and built to a mid-range spec with lights, pumps skimmers etc. Work on it costing £1000 per foot to get it wet.
Up to 6ft though, is closer to £500 per foot to get wet.
The cost difference is because of;
- Thicker glass for bigger tank (also consider the floor it is going to sit on - a 6ft wont sit on standard joists without a LOT of risk, 8ft no chance. It will also need a steel frame cabinet, even if you can't see it behind a wall.
- More rock, and live sand - I have about 150kg of rock in my 6ft system, that even buying bit by bit cost around £1000
- Bigger pumps - powerheads and return pumps. 8ft tanks are getting into commercial territory, budget on £500 for Jecod heads and return pumps, £1500 if you want Vortex pumps.
- Lights - most individual light units will cover a 2ftx2ft area down to 24-30inches depth. You'll need 4 for an 8ft system, and a cheap set of lights will be around £175 per unit, or up to £500 per unit for Radions.
- Skimmer and reactors. Anything that is capable of dealing with 1000l upwards is disproportionately more than anything for smaller tanks. - budget on £600 for a decent skimmer, and a similar cost for a 1000l capable phosphate reactor.
- temperature controllers - you'll need at least 1000w of heating and a thermostatic control unit - about £300 ish, more if it the room it is situated in is not heated like the garage.
Electric - £1 per day if everything is super efficient DC pumps and LED lights.
Food - about £30 per month with various fresh, frozen and seaweeds/algae based products.
Water - You'll need about 50l per week of RO for evaporation, and some way to change around 250-300 litres every couple of weeks. That in itself can be a massive chore. Mine costs about £125 per month for RO and 250l of natural seawater. (NSW is much easier and more stable than mixing salt and RO, but is not available everywhere.)
My 6ft system was built to a mid-range budget on a wooden cabinet, and still had an initial cost of just under £2800. I've since spent about the same again on upgraded lights & pumps and other hardware.
It is a huge investment, both in cash and time - be very very aware of what you are embarking on. Speak to a number of local fish shops about possible set ups - a tank is not just a tank - there are many different types of sump and chemical systems available to run them, and you really need to make that call at the beginning.
If I'm being brutally honest, if I were to start again, I'd go for a bare bottom FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank - no corals no crabs/shrimps/snails/urchins etc, and have a variety of bitey type fish - triggers, puffers, angel fish, big tangs, rabbit fish, lionfish etc, and a huge amount of flow and bigger skimmer to deal with the waste.
Corals are stunning to look at, but a PITA to monitor and make thrive.
I don't want to put you off a big tank, but it's like getting a puppy at Christmas, some will become a lifelong friend and companion, but many will end up on Preloved.com after a few months .
Turn7 said:
Ah, yes, having looked at the pic on the PC rather the phone I can see, I tohught it was hawk....
Gramma's can be nasty I think? or I am confusing the Gramma with the fish thats simialr but actually a dotty back ?
Exactly that - there's a dottyback often confused for a gramma (although the difference is very clear, gradual versus sharp colour change along the body) that's one of the seriously mean fish that essentially kills everything up to five times it's size! Gramma's can be nasty I think? or I am confusing the Gramma with the fish thats simialr but actually a dotty back ?
Just as I was typing that, goby moved onto the side glass and gripped on with his suckers:
Crap photo - but essentially the pectoral fins are two independent lobes each, with the inner lobes joined into a 'cup' they can create suction with.
@steve - spot on there.
I know what I've spent on my little 52l nano. I know what I need to spend to get to where I want to be too...
I will be doing a bigger tank, but where I went into this think it'd be a nice 1.5m long (and I'm a huge fan of shallow and deep front to back) - now, despite keeping fish for decades, it'll be 900mm x 600mm max. It'll also be at least a year later than planned (partially covid impact, partially increased knowledge and planning which has upped the budget).
To put it into perspective - I now realise that what I originally planned to spend on a 450-500l tank and equipment, won't actually build and populate a 300l system (including sump volume)...
Fortunately, there's a load of really cool wrasse and small fish!
I know what I've spent on my little 52l nano. I know what I need to spend to get to where I want to be too...
I will be doing a bigger tank, but where I went into this think it'd be a nice 1.5m long (and I'm a huge fan of shallow and deep front to back) - now, despite keeping fish for decades, it'll be 900mm x 600mm max. It'll also be at least a year later than planned (partially covid impact, partially increased knowledge and planning which has upped the budget).
To put it into perspective - I now realise that what I originally planned to spend on a 450-500l tank and equipment, won't actually build and populate a 300l system (including sump volume)...
Fortunately, there's a load of really cool wrasse and small fish!
usn90 said:
I’m wanting to have it placed so it’s flush with the dining room wall, the garage is on the other side so will have the other side and all equipment based in there, obviously I won’t want to see through Into the garage so will want a background of some sort. I was thinking of having it 7foot x 3/4 foot.
And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
My 10*3 was £1800 or so to buy but this was a while ago now. It would have been cheaper but I went for 19mm glass and starfire on the front panel (which is clearer glass).. It cost me 1.5k to get the wiring (I had a new ringmain just for this tank) adjusted. The switches cost me about £500 or so IIRC (i had switches that would come back on in the event of a powercut) and they were put in the stand on each side to allow for plugs each side for pumps etc. The stand was about 1k I think (it was a 75mm steel on 4 newton blocks IIRC and could hold a car, which with the weight of water and rock it did) and the sump I just used an old 6ft I had in the garage.And also what sort of running costs should I expect in order to properly maintain such an aquarium
Once fully established? I know the fish are quite expensive, I would not want any live corals, so I’d be looking to have convincing fake ones.
I put about 400kg of Live Rock in there (around £7/kg at the time but I think it is now lower if you get a break up tank or you get the fake rock and mature it instead) and my powerheads were Tunze Streams which were a few hundred each and I had six. I then had a triple halide in the middle for lighting so my leccie was higher than you would expect these days with LEDs which for Fish Only could be a fairly cheap and cheerful ebay unit if needs be. I use radions and they are about £600 each but IF you are going Fish Only you won't need it. My electirc bill was I think £250 for my tanks only pcm.
You are going to need a few MP40 QDs for that tank and they are £350 or so each which should be better than the streams (and can control them on an app). You will need a strong return pump or two - possibly £300 each if you use the flash ones that you can control by app....
Oh it cost me a few hundred in salt to fill it in the first place and a bucket of salt per month (£50 now).
You are going to need a good RO unit really you want to be running 2-300GPD just to cope with evap..
And one thing, make sure you are absolutely, totally, and utterly certain you only want Fish as once you think you might want corals the tank design and kit is different and you need to account for that (especially lighting).
Oh you will need a skimmer, IIRC mine was about 1k at the time. You want to over skim a little really. IN the sump ideally you would run chaeto or some other form of natural nutrient export and a good light for that is about £50 (cheaper ones available).
Also when you say fish only, what fish do you want? You need to ascertain this first - for example if you fancy a few tangs (especially an achilles) you might want to go slightly larger on the tank length.. Then clean up crew, I just use snails and you would want 30 at least in there, around £3 each...
Yeah - I forgot about the electrical ring that we put in too. Absolutely crucial that if a bulb blows in the house or a toaster trips a ring of sockets, that the tank does not go down with it. We had them put in whilst other electrical work was being done on the house, but I think that was around £3-400 added to the bill.
Having the joists replaced for bigger units was another £1k, but again was part of the house refurb budget as other floors were being replaced at the same time.
I currently have an invertor generator in the garage to keep the pumps running in the event of a power cut. A half hour power cut is about the limit I'm comfortable with, and even then I have a few USB battery pack powered air pumps to keep a bit of oxygen and movement in the water.
Having the joists replaced for bigger units was another £1k, but again was part of the house refurb budget as other floors were being replaced at the same time.
I currently have an invertor generator in the garage to keep the pumps running in the event of a power cut. A half hour power cut is about the limit I'm comfortable with, and even then I have a few USB battery pack powered air pumps to keep a bit of oxygen and movement in the water.
The mention of achilles tang prompted another thought - quarantine setup, which for the bigger fish needs to be a decent sized tank all by itself!
(prompted by a friend's acquisition of an achilles, only for an outbreak of ich and the loss of a couple of k worth of livestock - the emotional loss being far greater than the financial).
(prompted by a friend's acquisition of an achilles, only for an outbreak of ich and the loss of a couple of k worth of livestock - the emotional loss being far greater than the financial).
My own feeling is that it is almost immoral to keep wild Reef fish without a quarantine regime and aslo hospital tank.....
Another reason and cost that stopped me going forward.
These fish suffer a huge amount before being plopped into your (to them) little puddle, and then you add them to established communities, it no wonder Ich is such a huge issue.
I gave up on Facebook Marine groups after seeing sooo many people spank a good £5k into a tank, and almost immediatly overstock it and then add a Powder blue tang and wonder why they lost everything to Ich, so sell up at a huge loss.....
Another reason and cost that stopped me going forward.
These fish suffer a huge amount before being plopped into your (to them) little puddle, and then you add them to established communities, it no wonder Ich is such a huge issue.
I gave up on Facebook Marine groups after seeing sooo many people spank a good £5k into a tank, and almost immediatly overstock it and then add a Powder blue tang and wonder why they lost everything to Ich, so sell up at a huge loss.....
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