Sven's 4'8" x 2' x 2'6"
After having contemplated this on and off over the years I have finally bitten the bullet and started on a marine setup.
35 years ago I got a custom made tank for my freshwater fish and first job at age 12 was cleaning the inside of new tanks for the local manufacturer in Hornsby, of which every cent went straight back to the LFS!
This will take a bit of time as I am setting everything up with used equipment.
It’s a very good time to thank everyone for all their help, particularly Nick and Frankie who have tolerated all my calls and emails....thanks again guys.
System Objectives:
Aim is to have a fantastically aquascaped tank and provide a natural healthy environment for fish, invertebrates and corals.
System Type:
To be honest, don't know how to describe what I want technically
Display System:
Strike up Date:
TBA
Display Tank:
Used 140 x 60 x 75 (l w h)
630 litres
Display Lighting:
Aqua Medic Sunlight NG 2 x 250w MH + 4 x T5 + moonlights
Bulbs TBA
Am planning for a shadow box light at the rear so tank resembles a swim through in the reef
Stand:
Steel frame clad MDF
Hood:
No hood - floating light
Sump:
Dimension 80 x 50 x 40 ( l w h)
160litres
Standard 3 sections -- skimmer / refug / return
Refugium:
10cm sand bed / macro algae / live rock
Refugium Lighting:
Power compacts
Support systems:
System Water:
Natural Sea Water
Display Water circulation:
2 x Vortech MP40’s
Return Pump:
Eheim 1262
Skimmer:
Aqua Medic Turboflotor Multi SL
Evaporation Top Up:
TBA
PSI-020B-DI-GM 4 stage RO/DI unit for supply
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition:
2 part eventually
Other Chemical Maintenance:
TBA
Current Water Chemistry:
pH:
Nitrite:
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:
Images:
I have to thank Rodney for letting me use images from his tank and stand
Hopefully I can do his old tank some justice and have it looking as great as his
The start:
Day 1
Thanks to Frankie I have sand and LR but tank still a few weeks away and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, thanks Frankie.
Ended up in the dark and rain picking up NSW at the boat ramp and a kids wading pool to get me through the night.
You can see it was all quite late but wanted to minimise any die off only managed to get heater and circulation pump going
Day 2
I couldn’t keep things like last night so got myself a 250 litre garden pond, picked up the skimmer and light and now have a more permanent (temporary) set up.
My wife now refers to my pet rocks....
Day 4 and onward
I can’t believe the life I am seeing after, snail eggs, pods, small urchins, bristle worms and stuff too small to identify.....have to add have now seen part sighting of some kind of shrimp....can't see enough to identify it, and also a tiny blue starfish....really amazing to see all the life.
I love the skimmer it keeps the water crystal clear and very easy to adjust
Have ordered test kist so hope these arrive soon so I can test the water. Want to start trying to work out the regime for maintenance as will make things much easier than learning with the tank....figure I’ll have enough on my hands.
Anyway still collecting all the bits and pieces I need so could be a few weeks away before I post more.
Fish Wish List:
Once the tank gets established I would love 2 x Green Red Mandarin Dragonets but not enough life for them and the gobies...maybe one of each as hard to find pair of either...I love watching the gobies "work" but love the look of the Mandarin Dragonets. Both will be lots of work but worth the effort....I think.
This is only a wish list and as you can see lots to decide still.
35 years ago I got a custom made tank for my freshwater fish and first job at age 12 was cleaning the inside of new tanks for the local manufacturer in Hornsby, of which every cent went straight back to the LFS!
This will take a bit of time as I am setting everything up with used equipment.
It’s a very good time to thank everyone for all their help, particularly Nick and Frankie who have tolerated all my calls and emails....thanks again guys.
System Objectives:
Aim is to have a fantastically aquascaped tank and provide a natural healthy environment for fish, invertebrates and corals.
System Type:
To be honest, don't know how to describe what I want technically
Display System:
Strike up Date:
TBA
Display Tank:
Used 140 x 60 x 75 (l w h)
630 litres
Display Lighting:
Aqua Medic Sunlight NG 2 x 250w MH + 4 x T5 + moonlights
Bulbs TBA
Am planning for a shadow box light at the rear so tank resembles a swim through in the reef
Stand:
Steel frame clad MDF
Hood:
No hood - floating light
Sump:
Dimension 80 x 50 x 40 ( l w h)
160litres
Standard 3 sections -- skimmer / refug / return
Refugium:
10cm sand bed / macro algae / live rock
Refugium Lighting:
Power compacts
Support systems:
System Water:
Natural Sea Water
Display Water circulation:
2 x Vortech MP40’s
Return Pump:
Eheim 1262
Skimmer:
Aqua Medic Turboflotor Multi SL
Evaporation Top Up:
TBA
PSI-020B-DI-GM 4 stage RO/DI unit for supply
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition:
2 part eventually
Other Chemical Maintenance:
TBA
Current Water Chemistry:
pH:
Nitrite:
Nitrates:
Phosphates:
Alkalinity:
Calcium:
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:
Images:
I have to thank Rodney for letting me use images from his tank and stand
Hopefully I can do his old tank some justice and have it looking as great as his
The start:
Day 1
Thanks to Frankie I have sand and LR but tank still a few weeks away and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, thanks Frankie.
Ended up in the dark and rain picking up NSW at the boat ramp and a kids wading pool to get me through the night.
You can see it was all quite late but wanted to minimise any die off only managed to get heater and circulation pump going
Day 2
I couldn’t keep things like last night so got myself a 250 litre garden pond, picked up the skimmer and light and now have a more permanent (temporary) set up.
My wife now refers to my pet rocks....
Day 4 and onward
I can’t believe the life I am seeing after, snail eggs, pods, small urchins, bristle worms and stuff too small to identify.....have to add have now seen part sighting of some kind of shrimp....can't see enough to identify it, and also a tiny blue starfish....really amazing to see all the life.
I love the skimmer it keeps the water crystal clear and very easy to adjust
Have ordered test kist so hope these arrive soon so I can test the water. Want to start trying to work out the regime for maintenance as will make things much easier than learning with the tank....figure I’ll have enough on my hands.
Anyway still collecting all the bits and pieces I need so could be a few weeks away before I post more.
Fish Wish List:
- Indian blenny (edited and have him now)
- Pair of Barrier reef clowns (akindynos) have them now
- Pair of yellow watchman gobies with a pistol shrimp if I can
- Pair of CBS (edited)
- Zebra moray eel
- Anthia Cooperi, Lyre tail or Bi-colour 7 or 9 of them
- if there's room
- Bi colour angel fish
Once the tank gets established I would love 2 x Green Red Mandarin Dragonets but not enough life for them and the gobies...maybe one of each as hard to find pair of either...I love watching the gobies "work" but love the look of the Mandarin Dragonets. Both will be lots of work but worth the effort....I think.
This is only a wish list and as you can see lots to decide still.
