Newbie down under... g'day mates!

[blackwater]

I've been reading these forums for about two weeks now and I finally decided to sign up so I can start posting. Today also happens to be the day I went out and bought my very first batch of LR for my new marine setup.

I guess I've been facinated with coral reefs and marine fish since I was a kid and went snorkelling/diving on nature's biggest playground, the Great Barrier Reef. If you guys ever come down under (Australia for those who haven't seen Crocodile Dundee - and yes we do all ride kangaroos to school/work :D ) you'll have to visit the GBR.. it's amazing.

I've previously kept freshwater fish as I knew I didn't have the skills to jump straight into saltwater, but finally the time has come to convert! I have a 70L tank (~18.5G), I know I don't have much room, but here's what I've done so far...

http://www.myfunction.com/marine/DCP_1267.jpg

Not very exciting yet I know.. but my tank's only been running for a week and the rock only went in about 3 hours ago. I've already had fun watching a few critters come out of the rock.

Can someone tell me what this might be - a small starfish like critter with 5 striped tenticles? I've seen two of these and one came out and had a walk around on my rock. Pretty cool.

I think I got some good rock with some nice growth already on it.. well it had better be good rock considering how much it was! :)

Here's my equiptment list (sorry about the metric units) :

70L tank
Atman 3336 cannister filter (approx 550L/hr)
15Kg aragonite substrate
10.6 Kg LR
50W heater - intend to upgrade
Cheap lighting from my freshwater setup - also intend to upgrade
Small Lees protein skimmer (in the mail)


From what I've seen this forums has some great members - people who seem to be real experts. I look forward to talking with you guys and sharing my experiences with you. :bowing:

Cheers!

[got2lb]

Glad to see you aboard mate!:D (just a little croc dundee humor) I'm actually pretty new to this forum myself, I've been reading on here for about a month now and am finally getting everything figured out how I want it. I was kind of wondering where you bought your live rock. Did you buy it online and how much did you have to pay? I have a 100 gal. (not sure how many liters sorry) tank that's just sittting empty now so I won't bore you with any pics unless you like seeing an empty tank! Well I hope your tank turns out good for you. What type of fish are you planning on putting in it?

[K9Decoy]

Nice lookin' tank, blackwater! Can't wait to see what you're going to stock it with. Since it is only 18.5 gallons, I guess you'll join the group of us "Mini-Reefers" whose passion is cramming as much sealife as possible into as small a tank as possible! Not the best idea for us beginners I hear, but you've gotta start somewhere!

I have a 5.5 gallon myself with 5lbs of live rock, live sand, and a Bicolor Angelfish (this won't be his permanent home). I do want to keep more than 1 or 2 fish to a tank, so I'm upgrading soon to a much larger tank (55gallon or bigger), but best of luck to you, and welcome to an AWESOME forum!

[blackwater]

Hey got2lb, sounds like you have a pretty big tank mate! I guess you're also in the "so-excited-can't-wait-to-get-started" category. :D

I bought my LR from a LFS about 10 mins from my place. There are a couple of LFS's I have found, but these guys really know what they're doing. It cost me $10 a Kg - that's about US$7.75 a Kg and 1 Kg = 2.2 lbs (i think). So basically about US$3.50 per pound.

I don't know how much you guys pay for your LR in the States, but I don't mind spending the money.

got2lb, as soon as you get your tank up and running, post some pics and take more every now and then so we can see how you're doing.


Hey ClownAround, thanks for the welcome!
Yeah I slot into the mini-Reef category too... remember, it's not how big it is, but how you use it. ;)

I'm planning to start with one (or maybe a breeding pair?) clown once I've finished cycling. I would love a blue tang, but I don't think I have the room. I'll be buying new lights soon so that I can grow some nice corals in the future. I'll post pics whenever things change or grow.

I'm loving it!

[K9Decoy]

I live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL right by the ocean, and I still have to pay an average of $7 US dollars for a pound of Fiji live rock. You can sometimes find Haitian live rock for about half that price, but I'm fearing the day I have to stock a 55gallon or larger tank with live rock (1-1.5lbs/gallon). It's going to cost me a fortune! Sounds like you have good prices down there. Are fish and corals just as cheap?

[got2lb]

I've been checking prices online for live rock (unfortunately where I live in Iowa there are no places that sell it) and it ranges anywhere from $3.50-$7.00 shipped. I found a place called www.harboraquatics.com that looks like they have some of the best stuff I've seen! It should only be about $5.00 a lb shipped.

QUOTE]I'm fearing the day I have to stock a 55gallon or larger tank with live rock (1-1.5lbs/gallon). It's going to cost me a fortune![/QUOTE]

I know what you're saying when it comes to this! My 100 gal. I figured would cost about $700 just for the live rock!

What brand of protein skimmers do you guys have. I haven't bought one yet but am planning on it real quick. I think I'm going to make a sump and put it under my tank so I don't have to have all that other crap hanging on the tank. Plus that way it gets the heater out of the tank too.

[TKOS]

Blackwater,

Hello. Just wanted to mention that once the tank gets established you will probably want to get rid of the media in that canister filter. The meida is great at trapping and breaking down debris but unfortunatly that eventually turns into nitrates. Nitrates aren't too harmful to fish in low levels but can be deadly to inverts like starfish, hermits, snails etc... Just run the canister without any media and use it to create the needed current in your tank. The LR will take care of doing the filtering and any inverts will eat the bits of leftovers int he tank.

[K9Decoy]

Well, right now I don't have a protein skimmer at all since I only have a 5.5 gallon tank. I don't really need one. When I get a bigger tank, I will be making my own DIY sump, and I'll see from there if I'll need a protein skimmer or not. Yeah, having an undertank sump saves alot of space and trouble. You can add medications and do water changes by way of the sump too, so it gets mixed a little bit before entering your main tank.

[blackwater]

Hi guys,

I bought two little clowns today - the first addition to my tank! :)

I was like a kid in a candy store at my LFS!

They're still getting used to the move and their new home, but they seem to be doing quite well.

I'll post picks sometime soon. :D