My 6 ft marine adventure

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

Hi all <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" title="Question" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":biggrin:" title="Happy" />

Here i go jumping into the deep end here again.<img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/PMSL.gif" alt=":laugh3:" title="laugh3" />
Im going to start up my very own reef tank with a few fish and maybe some inverts.
And i figured i mght aswell start this thread so i can bring all of you along for the ride . And i know you all love pics so its gona be pic overload <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/hysterical.gif" alt=":laugh4:" title="laugh4" /> and make your eyes go square from having to look at the screen so long <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/PMSL.gif" alt=":laugh3:" title="laugh3" />

Well here's my setup im going to have ( hopefully ). Its a 6 ft tank( which im going to have a look at today and buy hopefully) drilled with a sump made from my old 2 1/2 ft x 1ft x1ft freshy tank with a skimmer, heater, fuge and a return pump. In my main tank ill have a powerhead and led reef tank lighting.

Sooo maybe later today or sometime in the near future Il have pics of my tank posted up on here and then i can get on with the serious business of buying all the fancy gadgets and gizmos that i need to be able to keep my corals and fish alive.

Chat to yall soon
Cheers
KELLY

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

Well I went and picked up my tank the other day and thought I mite put a picie up .
The dimensions of the tank are 180x 40x 65cm

After Christm <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/rofl.gif" alt=":laugh1:" title="laugh1" /> as I'm gona start buying all my gear and when I've got enough to start ill pick up some live rock and start to cure it .ill be sure to get some photos of my collecting trips.
Bye and sea yall soon.

Mooo · December 2011

wooohooo, I'm in for the ride, love watching a set up from whoa to go...awesome,,,Can't wait... <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" />

Brengun · December 2011

Looks like a proper marine tank too. Marines tend to have a bigger lip each end so if you use a wavemaker the water doesn't slop out.
Keep the piccies coming. <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" />

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

just a quick update <!-- s

--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="

" title="Smile" /><!-- s

-->

this is my stand as a before shot. will post a after shot when i finished fixing the top and making a shelf underneath for my sump

after christmas and new years i might go for a dive with some mates and collect some live rock <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":biggrin:" title="Happy" /> and then the fun can begin
cheers and have a happy christmas

fletch95 · December 2011

good luck,
sounds like a great plan <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":biggrin:" title="Happy" />
i would have thought that you living in the tropics would need a cooler, even tho the fish will come from your area they'd be youst to cool ocean currents of 26c(?) ?

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

Well the ocean temps can get up to 30 c at certain times of the year but i will have a chiller/heater just to keep it at a constant temp

Doug · December 2011

yeah, i would never attempt a marine tank without a chiller.

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

Hey guy's i wanna paint the back glass on my tank blue but i dont know what paint to use if anyone has an idea what kind id appretiate If you could tell me. Oh and by the wayquick update i have some led lights coming and orderd a chiller and then im not far of from being able start up.

yay getting excited <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" />
Talk to you all soon

adman · December 2011

It shouldn't matter what type of paint you use as long as you paint the outside of your tank.

I've done that before and it worked fine.

Looking forward to seeing more pics!

Adam

321clayt · December 2011

What kind of led lights?
Sounds like its all coming together <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/droool.gif" alt=":drool1:" title="drool1" />

Fishful thninkin · December 2011

Hi Clayt the lights I got are from a eBay store i think the brand is zhilo . Here's a bit of info on them from the page

120 Watt LED Description

The brightest and the most perfect light spectrum for optimal coral growth!!
Features necessary to grow your corals;

* Lumens (strength/intensity of the light) = 6,500 Lumens <---- MASSIVE!!
* Wattage (power consumption) = 120 watts of LED power <--- EFFICIENT
* Light temperature (light used by corals) = 460nm blue 20,000k <---- PERFECT
* Light penetration (how deep) = up to 4 feet <

HUGE
* 2 separate power cords for white blue <

INTELLIGENT

I didn't write this stuff myself just got it from their site.it sounds like an awesome light but it could all be a load a ####
i don't know ill find out when I get them. <!-- s

--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="

" title="Smile" /><!-- s

-->

Doug · December 2011

I like it!

Good to see you are going about this the right way and getting the good gear before you start. saves you heaps in the long run. Cant wait to see the up and running thing.

Brengun · December 2011

You may be disappointed in the lights. Counting them I got 144 leds? Which means they are less than 1watt each.
You need 3watts to get any sort of decent light penetration to the lower levels.
I got these ones at auction. They are doing well. Only time will tell if the intensity keeps it up over years.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-AQUARIUM-LIGHT-3ft-90cm-36-inch-TANK-FISH-MARINE-GROW-CORAL-REEF-75w-24-LED-/200694656365?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item2eba556d6d">http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-AQUARIUM ... 2eba556d6d</a>

321clayt · December 2011

Hi there lights look good but as Bren said they wont be much good for a marine tank worse luck.

If you buy LED lights make sure they are 3watts each LED.

I have tried the low wattage leds and found them to be useless on plants little lone corals. Dont mean to knock the lights but it will save you a lot of pain in the future.

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

thanks for letting me know i only went by the listing on the ebay site, thought they would be good since was from an Aussy store with nearly a hundred percent satisfaction rating ,but i guess even aussies will scam you on ebay <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_thumbdown.gif" alt="thumbdown:" title="thumbdown" /> . well anyways ill see how it goes when i get them, if their no good for corals ill just do a FOWLR tank and not worry about corals (for now <!-- s

--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="

" title="Wink" /><!-- s

--> )

Brengun · January 2012

Its not that they are scammers, they probably don't know exactly what light is required in LED's for marine corals. For some of the deeper low light corals it may be quite ok. Worldwide its cutting edge technology and even if they get the par and lumins correct, they haven't been around long enough to know if they intensity maintains over years or they fade off like the T5's do over time.

Doug · January 2012

not to mention a lot of the aussie stores are actually run from asia. Check the postage when you get things. I just bought a new steering wheel for my car from a shop that was listed as being 10 mins down the road...postage came from thailand. Dont be fooled by it being an 'Aussie' store, most of the times its not. Just an address to make it seem like it is.

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

Silly me <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/rofl.gif" alt=":laugh1:" title="laugh1" /> i shoulda looked at the pic of the lights closer and read the info properly <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" />
I was looking at the pics of the lights on eay and reaslised that there is two seperate cables for the light one for the blue's and one for the whites, meaning that there is only 56 white lights and 63 blues each drawing 120w all depending on which one youave powered up. <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> which makes me happy cos i can still do corals <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" />

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

hi all just a quick update
i finally recieved my lights <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" />
here is some pics of them just sitting on top of the tank iam going to make a frame that hangs from the ceiling and have the lights suspended just above the top of the tank
one light by itself

light with blue and white on

light white only

light blue only

on tank shots three lights all with blue and white on

lights white only

lights blue only

im gonna buy myself a few cheap timers and have the lights come on sequentially and have the full power around the middle of the day and then get them all to shut of at different times.
gees ive set myself up for a task and a half. <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/PMSL.gif" alt=":laugh3:" title="laugh3" /> because with all the stuff needed for the marine tank i have to get a new power cicrcuit put in just so i dont keep tripping the power circuit already there, as well as doing all the plumbing for the tank and modifying my old tank to make a sump but when that is all done i can have fun going diving looking for some live rock and reseaching the reefs around up here so i can replicate it as close as i can.
well thanks for viewing
see you all again soon
cheers

Brengun · January 2012

I would love to go diving in some cool water today, its a hot stinker!

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

here you go bren some photos to cool you off <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" />

and if your thirsty

Brengun · January 2012

Awwww wonderful. It just hit 42.2C now. Fortunately the fish room is closed with evap cooler on and its 31C.
I would go down there but the humidity would kill me. <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/hysterical.gif" alt=":laugh4:" title="laugh4" />

Mooo · January 2012

Wow that tank is going to look good, can't wait to see how it ends up <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" />

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

hi all just painted the back of my tank blue today. so here's a picie

looks like its slowly coming together

Brengun · January 2012

Blue is purdy.

Mooo · January 2012

Very nice <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/dance.gif" alt=":dance3:" title="dance3" /> keep those updates coming <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_thumright.gif" alt=":thumbright:" title="thumbright" />

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> The rest of my gear has finaly arrived <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/WoohooSmiley.gif" alt=":dance4:" title="dance4" />

Mooo · January 2012

Kool ..updated photos coming?

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

here's my tank so far. i set up my new skimmer and chiller doing a wet run through of the whole setup.

my new skimmer

my new chiller

everything is a bit of a jumble at the moment with hoses and wires going everywhere but when i get time i will tidy it all up <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/PMSL.gif" alt=":laugh3:" title="laugh3" />
two hours after running <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" />

love my skimmer <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_thumright.gif" alt=":thumbright:" title="thumbright" />

321clayt · January 2012

Thats looking great <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/droool.gif" alt=":drool1:" title="drool1" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/droool.gif" alt=":drool1:" title="drool1" /> Love that skimmer. Keep the photos coming love watching this being set up <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" />

Just a suggestion you look to have a very power sump pump there maybe put some O clips on the hosing at the joins so the lines dont blow off. I got some at bunnings in the garden section for underground sprinklers.

That's if you haven't already <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lol-1.gif" alt=":laugh2:" title="laugh2" />

[Deleted User] · January 2012

Hi Kelly
Welcome to the wonderful world of marine aquariums, looks like you have put a lot of thought into what you have set up already <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_thumright.gif" alt=":thumbright:" title="thumbright" />
Just on your skimmer if it's that wet and diluted you should lower the water level in the main reaction chamber, so it's running a bit drier than what you currently have.
Good Luck with it exciting times ahead.

Fishful thninkin · January 2012

Thanks 2oscar I did that and it seems to be working even better
Thanks:)

[Deleted User] · February 2012

"Fishful thninkin&quot wrote:

Thanks 2oscar I did that and it seems to be working even better
Thanks:)

Good to hear just remember take it all slowly and you should have no dramas.

Fishful thninkin · February 2012

Hi all quick update: first up my wave maker finally turned up had to get reordered a second time because when it finally come into the store it had damage on it so had to wait for that to get resent.

So anyways here it is now

Unfortunately I haven't been able to get any LR because of the bad weather that's been hanging around for the last couple of weeks, but when that clears up I'm def gonna go out and get me some so I can get something happening in my tank <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/ROLFSmiley.gif" alt=":laugh6:" title="laugh6" /> oh and more bad news one of my led lights died on me we'll sort of have of the white lights stopped coming on but I got onto my supplier and they diagnosed my problem through email and is sending a replacement part to get it up and going again .

Bye bye talk to y'all later

P.s. I bought myself a digital refractometer for testing the salinity in my tank but it didn't come with any calibration fluid and I was wondering if anyone knows where i can get it from on the Internet ( no fish store in my town )
THANKS

Brengun · February 2012

Can usually pick it up easy on ebay in australia.

Fishful thninkin · February 2012

hi all another update was out fishing the other day and decided to go pick up some l.r. so wnet and found my nearest reef and went looking and found a couple nice pieces of l.r
heres cuople of picies. Enjoy

a litlle fish the tagged along for the ride

side view

found a few interesting c reatures on the rock and ive just been sitting watching them for ages <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/ROLFSmiley.gif" alt=":laugh6:" title="laugh6" />

went and got some more lr and i think i lucked out this time <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/Boogiedancing.gif" alt=":dance6:" title="dance6" />

Fishful thninkin · March 2012

Hi all tanks doing great, but have a little algae outbreak going on a.t.m I've got green hair algae and and brown diatom algae ( or whatever its called) sprouting up all over the place. Also went and got some fish to help cycle the tank

Doug · March 2012

looking good mate!

get some snails to help control the brown and green slime algae. For the hair algae grab a carpet blenny, they love it!

TrevorR · March 2012

loving it wish I had the money

Fishful thninkin · May 2012

Hi all it's been a little while since I've been on here, so I'll let everyone know what's been happening.
I found out that going on holiday for a couple weeks invites disaster in the world of fish keeping.

so I left the looking after of my tank to my parents while on holidays and unfortunately when I got back my tank was infested with aptaisia, my skimmer had stopped working properly and with all the aptaisia in the tank my fish got stung unmercifully, so they went back home to the sea. But not everything is doom and gloom, now that all the fish have gone I have noticed some new good anenomes growing and I have oysters now and my christy tree worms look really happy. Just wondering what to get to help control the aptaisia now?

Heintz.G · May 2012

Sorry to read about the problems you came back to, you could get one of these it might help.

http://www.guppysaquariumproducts.com.au/additives-chemicals/aiptasia-eliminator/cat_84.html

I have enjoyed reading about your marine adventure. ;;)

Fishful thninkin · May 2012

Thanks heintz , It has been fun doing it
But I think the aptaisia are beyond the injection method, there is so many of them in there that they would multiply before I'd even be able to get rid of the first bunch of them. Here is a pic of just one of the rocks in my tank.

Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App

I've heard of peppermint shrimp do a good job of getting rid of them. Is this true?

Heintz.G · May 2012

Wow that's bad. With the shrimp it's the luck of the draw, some will eat it and some won't
Have a read of this It's very interesting should give you some ideas.

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/breefcase/aiptasia_control.html

Good luck with it.

Heintz.G · May 2012

Well Fishful thinkin, how is the aptaisia doing. Don't forget you can always start again with the live rock.

Mooo · May 2012

Wow!! you sure have a few there :-O
I think, not sure tho, Brenda was injecting her's with something..Vinegar maybe, can't be sure..

Doug · May 2012

Yeah, people use viniger or another mild acid. At the shop we use a super concentrated does of KH/Calc buffer. We mix a teaspoon of buffer into about 20mls of water and inject that right onto their mouth. Works best if they are fully open but as long as it hits the goal then they are pretty much cactus. Also helps bring you KH and calcium levels up if they are a bit low like most normally are.

Mooo · May 2012

Thanks Doug

Fishful thninkin · June 2012

Hi everyone thanks for all the comments they have been very helpfull, but I have decided I'm gona have to sell my tank and everything that goes with it.

it just takes up to much time to look after and with everything I have to do nowadays I just can't seem to find the time to keep it maintained, I might just go back to a cheap little freshwater tank with a goldfish or two in it.
Thanks again for your help

Mooo · June 2012

Naww That is a shame :-S

Heintz.G · June 2012

Bugger, ok then why not keep the tank and sump, sell everything else off, get an American cichlid like a Cichlasoma trimaculatum (Trimac) or another large cichlid, easy to look after and and will give you hours of enjoyment, especialy at feed time.

)

My 6 ft marine adventure

Comments

Categories