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biggreeny_101
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biggreeny_101


Number of posts : 213
Age : 38
Location : australia
Registration date : 2008-07-20

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PostSubject: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 6:17 pm

i think i could be lost! OR! im actualy thinking about it!!!

dont get me wrong im definatly keeping my cichlids but was concidering converting my 3x18x2 into a "yes you herd it" marine tank.

from the info i have gathered i think i would like to atempt a "reef" tank (with corals/fish) is that the right term?

ok but what im more trying to find out is what i need to do/ buy

firstly its a 3x18x2 (aprox 230lts) with tank top filter, (will this filter work with marine?) the lfs i asked in said i needed a canister filter then sugested one of the deerest ones with a "UV sterilizer" in it.
1. do i realy need a canisterfilter?
2. whats a UV sterilizer and do i need one?

then sugested a skimmer................ what the hell is that? what do they do? again do i realy need one?

lights:
the tank in question has 3 lights in it already one blue light and two daylight lights, the blue one can be turned on independantly from the other two (thats good! isnt it?)

live rock (damn thats expensive) but gathered im going to need a fair bit of it

cycle time: because the filter in this tank has already cycled will i have to recycle every thing again or will the bacteria be sufficiant already?

thats enough questions for now but will have more dont worry about that!
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Guest
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 7:51 pm

hI b.g welcome to the salty side....

No bacteria in marine its salt
so you will have to cycle as a salt tank.

skimmer you need this as it gets rid of the protine out of the tank

heater you need mines set at 78.

no need for filter sponge as the live rock does this
I Just have a very small peice that floats in one of the back chambers
to catch the finer bits

the lights sound ok, as long as the light is enough for your corals to open.
some corals like a brighter light than others.
depending how deep the tank is ,
how far the lights reach in down in the tank.

blues on 1 hr before you put the others on
and blues 1hr after turning them off gives the corals chance to open slowly
and close up.
I love my tank with the blues on.

you will also need 1 or 2 powerheads.for the flow over the corals.

don't forget you Dont have bubbles in a marine tank. Airstones etc...
so if your top filter throws out bubbles then No.

dont know about this UV sterilizer I havant got one.

I dont have one of these > canisterfilter either,
but I know that some do have them.
mines built in,
mine has a top filter nossle and one at the bottom,for water movement.
and a powerhead, on the oppersite side,so 3 in all.

mine is the marine tank that has 3 compartments at the back.

you will need water movement on the surface...
point one of your powerheads that way.
it needs to break water, but not to make bubbles.

cycle time. can't help you there but salt test is 1.025
salt water I buy at L.F.S And the pure R.O
I do 1 small gallon bucket water change every week with the salt water
and this seems ok.
If the salt goes too high take water out replace with pure.
cycle time can be faster than tropicals.

make sure the temp of the water your putting in matches the tank water.
I put mine at the side of the central heating radiator for a few hours.

keep your water in the dark.. Not in any sunlight....
I think your water lasts about 3 weeks..

try add all your live rock at once if you can,as when you add new live rock
this can cause the tank to mini cycle (diatoms,algae)
as mine did.;o(

you will need a refractor meter... this checks your salt.

good luck hope some of this has helped.

if you look in marine upgrade what kb
has added he is building the marine tank up from scratch
you will get some great ideas there.
and in marine articles





oh and nearly forgot......................



you will need plenty of money...lol
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Diana
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Diana


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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 8:47 pm

You TRAITOR bg!!!! why am i posting here?? Affraid

Sounds a great idea actually, and there are (fortunately) a few people who have had experience of starting from scratch so will be able to give you loads of advice and info.

Just make sure you give us loads of pics and a step by step diary please Smile
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biggreeny_101
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biggreeny_101


Number of posts : 213
Age : 38
Location : australia
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 9:27 pm

im no traitor, i still have my beloved platys and guppys. and my cichlids wich i will never part with!!!!
but im all for something different too.
why do i have the feeling that you(diana) and mary wherever you are.... will soon join too.
diary definatly! when i start.

thanks on the info too chez!
damn im glad i dont need the canister!!!! (i have done some more reading and found out that its more advised to naturaly filter the system using live rock than to mechanicly do it)

the inbuilt filter does/does not airate the water as it has a little atachment on the powerhead side of it to alow air in or block it off.
and in the tank top part it actualy comes out of a spray bar onto 4 cages that have the ceramic noodles in them then they over flow back into tubes that sit just below the water surface, some times you get the odd bubble but i wouldnt say it airates the water. (is that ok???)

the heater i have there should be sufficiant.

powerheads i have no probs with.

from what i have read live rock is exactly that rock with living "things"
what i would assume causes a higher price tag?????

can i just walk down to the beach and colect some for myself??????

i think after i have cycled then i will decide what fish/ coral too keep
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kbekl
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kbekl


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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 9:30 pm

no filter is needed if you are going lr route just power heads i would advise sunsun ones as they are cheap and just as good as the expensive ones

you will need about 25kg but start with 18kg as you will get lr with corals if you want i will see if i can get a decent price for you chepest i have seen it is £5 a kilo and retail is £8 via net sources

skimmer dont need to be huge and expensive i would advise a mce300 or v2 400 just have a serch on the bay their is a few cheaper ones but unsure about them

cycle can be a week - 4 weeks depending on the quality of the live rock

i would advise a ro unit this does work out cheaper in the long run i would also advise a sump but this isnt always nessisary

check what bulbs you have as you need blues and marine white which i would advise 10000k for the white and narva blue for the blues but any in the 400-700 area will be fine

if you need any extra help just shout
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Guest
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeSun Sep 27, 2009 11:26 pm

we took our noodles out and replaced with a bag of phosphate remover.
as the noodles suppose to hold bacteria....

all there is in my back compartments is
a bag of phosphate
a small peice of white filter pad
the heater
you can put small peices of live rock in there if you want.. for more filtration...

buy your live rock thats best from your l.f.s
I got figian that was £100 it was just over £20 a peice

this will do all the filtering,
when I do a water change and disturb the sand it gets all cloudy but clears in no time. > minutes.
I Guess you can't have enough live rock.

post pic's for us from start to finish as you know we are nosey buggers.. why am i posting here?? Icon_smile


Last edited by chez on Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:10 am; edited 1 time in total
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Diana
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Diana


Number of posts : 6033
Age : 72
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 2:23 am

biggreeny_101 wrote:
im no traitor, i still have my beloved platys and guppys. and my cichlids wich i will never part with!!!!
but im all for something different too.
why do i have the feeling that you(diana) and mary wherever you are.... will soon join too.
diary definatly! when i start.

I was only joking bg Smile I think it's a great idea. I would actually LOVE to have a marine tank but I just dont have the space for another tank, but when I win the lottery, buy the house of my dreams and have my fish room all set up, it will definately be on the agenda Smile

As for Mary though...................I think she has a big house, and a bit more space than me??? why am i posting here?? Icon_smile
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dekker
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dekker


Number of posts : 2030
Age : 67
Location : rotherham
Registration date : 2008-08-26

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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 2:59 am

hi B.G
so going over to the salty side then mate - i wish you all the best you have more
guts and Patience than me + you must have more time as well - looking forward to the
diary of the setup B.G i know its a bit early but any idea on the fish you intend to keep.



dekker
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biggreeny_101
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biggreeny_101


Number of posts : 213
Age : 38
Location : australia
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 8:48 am

lol! i knew some one would ask that question.
im not 100% on what i want to keep yet..... i know it sounds corny but my daughter has just recently gotten into finding nemo and will watch the dvd at least 4 times if she was allowed.
and one of the last lfs window shopping trips we went on, she got soooooo excited about the nemo and dory fish lol, so silly me just said we will change one of daddys tanks and have a nemo tank. little did i know 2 days later she remembered what i had said and was asking why nemo was in the tank. (looking into my breeder wich is in the main lounge).
but i think im more interested in the creepy crawlys that will come out of the live rock and the corals,
my main aim is lots and lots of colour!
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dekker
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dekker


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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 4:50 pm

so very good to me B.G bet your daughter will love it too mate


dekker
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Guest
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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 5:56 pm

Make sure you check they will live happily together
the same as tropicals..
worse film they brought out,
gets people thinking all them fish in the film can live together. why am i posting here?? Icon_mad
so they just go out and duplicate them..
even know one person buy a stingray why am i posting here?? Icon_eek

I Loved that film as well.lol
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biggreeny_101
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biggreeny_101


Number of posts : 213
Age : 38
Location : australia
Registration date : 2008-07-20

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PostSubject: Re: why am i posting here??   why am i posting here?? Icon_minitimeMon Sep 28, 2009 6:37 pm

as for compatibility so far i know i cannot have a blue tang (dory lol) as it can be quite agressive/teritorial........

but who knows i could go moster fish on you yet and decide on an eel or the likes lol!

dont think that is gonna happen though as it is "only" a 3 ft

but my mind is made,
im going to go the slow and stedy add as i go way!
firstly im going to keep some of the cichlids in there and rehome/ trade the others.
(my breeding project is going on hold for now).

then im going to empty the tank and start again with LR and SW to start the cycle.
probably going to use activated carbon in the tank top filter compartment.
while the cycle is under way im going to save my pennys and get an internal skimmer. (this should fit nicely on the opposite side of the tank to the filter pump, and i can still access the cup from the top that way.)

i will also be changing the globes, im not sure what type they actualy are yet but that doesnt matter as im changing them to the correct spec to suit the fittings already there, im guessing the power compacts????? how can i tell???

im assuming it is going to take quite a few weeks b4 i can add any fish/corals so i should have some time to save up.
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