System Objectives:
After keeping freshwater fish and finding that a total bore <insert yawn here> I have decided to take the plunge and try something a little out of my comfort zone. I still do have a 4ft American freshwater tank but did sell my 3ft African tank to clear some room. But my objective is to create an easy to maintain reef system with a wide variety of coral and fish. I'm not sure what I mean by 'easy' but Im sure this tank will be no walk in the park. So after rolling my sleeves up and loosening my purse strings below is what I have so far...
System Type:
Colourful mixed reef with SPS, LPS and some pretty fishies... eventually
Display System:
System setup date: Began in March 2011
Display Tank: Drilled 1m x 600 x 800 (LxDxH). 2 intakes, 1 outtake
Display Lighting: 4ft suspended from ceiling. 4x T5's (2 blue, 2 white), 2x 150w MH, 2x blue LED moonlights. Seperate switch for each lighting option
Stand: DIY made by my lovely partner. Fully enclosed but still to be stained. Doors yet to be put on
Hood: no hood, open top
Sump: 900x 450x 450 single chamber (lot of mixed opinions here). Macroalgae and DSB, some LR that wouldnt fit in tank. No sump light
System Water: Natural salt water
Top up: Weekly with tank water
Water changes: 100L monthly
Display Water circulation: 2x 5000lph wave makers
Return pump: 3500lph (WAYYY too powerful but have reduced return flow by adding a T-piece to run water through chiller as well, control valve also used)
Skimmer: AquaWorld
Cooling system: Resun C650
Other support:
TLF phosban reactor with 250mL RowaPhos
Denitrator sn400 (currently out of action as of today but will be back in the mix soon)
Had 9w uv sterilizer but have sold and buying more powerful one
Livestock
Fishes:
1x black occy
2x damsels (sold just awaiting pickup time/day from buyer)
1x lawnmower blenny
Corals:
2x open/flat brain
1x bubble
1x elegance
1x leather
2x red morphs
2x purple morphs
2x green morphs
1x duncan 7polyps
1x sun coral 12polyps
1x fungus
CUC/Inverts:
2x peppermint shrimp
1x elephant snail
1x cowrie snail
5x turbo snail
4x trochus snail
2x strombus snail
10x nassarius snail
1x blue linkia
Livestock yet to purchase
Fish:
1x yellow tang
4x despar anthias
1x black occy
2x scissortail goby (possibly although not certain)
1x physodelic mandarin (WAYYYY down the track)
Coral:
2x blue morphs
Zoa garden
Really very open to suggestions here...
Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 2-5ppm
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia- 0
Calcium- 420
Copper- 0
SG- 1.024
Phosphates- yet to test as awaiting new kit
Temp- 24-26
After keeping freshwater fish and finding that a total bore <insert yawn here> I have decided to take the plunge and try something a little out of my comfort zone. I still do have a 4ft American freshwater tank but did sell my 3ft African tank to clear some room. But my objective is to create an easy to maintain reef system with a wide variety of coral and fish. I'm not sure what I mean by 'easy' but Im sure this tank will be no walk in the park. So after rolling my sleeves up and loosening my purse strings below is what I have so far...
System Type:
Colourful mixed reef with SPS, LPS and some pretty fishies... eventually
Display System:
System setup date: Began in March 2011
Display Tank: Drilled 1m x 600 x 800 (LxDxH). 2 intakes, 1 outtake
Display Lighting: 4ft suspended from ceiling. 4x T5's (2 blue, 2 white), 2x 150w MH, 2x blue LED moonlights. Seperate switch for each lighting option
Stand: DIY made by my lovely partner. Fully enclosed but still to be stained. Doors yet to be put on
Hood: no hood, open top
Sump: 900x 450x 450 single chamber (lot of mixed opinions here). Macroalgae and DSB, some LR that wouldnt fit in tank. No sump light
System Water: Natural salt water
Top up: Weekly with tank water
Water changes: 100L monthly
Display Water circulation: 2x 5000lph wave makers
Return pump: 3500lph (WAYYY too powerful but have reduced return flow by adding a T-piece to run water through chiller as well, control valve also used)
Skimmer: AquaWorld
Cooling system: Resun C650
Other support:
TLF phosban reactor with 250mL RowaPhos
Denitrator sn400 (currently out of action as of today but will be back in the mix soon)
Had 9w uv sterilizer but have sold and buying more powerful one
Livestock
Fishes:
1x black occy
2x damsels (sold just awaiting pickup time/day from buyer)
1x lawnmower blenny
Corals:
2x open/flat brain
1x bubble
1x elegance
1x leather
2x red morphs
2x purple morphs
2x green morphs
1x duncan 7polyps
1x sun coral 12polyps
1x fungus
CUC/Inverts:
2x peppermint shrimp
1x elephant snail
1x cowrie snail
5x turbo snail
4x trochus snail
2x strombus snail
10x nassarius snail
1x blue linkia
Livestock yet to purchase
Fish:
1x yellow tang
4x despar anthias
1x black occy
2x scissortail goby (possibly although not certain)
1x physodelic mandarin (WAYYYY down the track)
Coral:
2x blue morphs
Zoa garden
Really very open to suggestions here...
Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 2-5ppm
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia- 0
Calcium- 420
Copper- 0
SG- 1.024
Phosphates- yet to test as awaiting new kit
Temp- 24-26