looking good................
a black bag at a guess.. ???
or a good paint job.?
if using a black bag.
if you spread baby oil on it then smooth out with a credit card
it takes all the bubbles out.
ph suppose to be around 8.2 I think
but mine never has
Its always been lower,
and was told not to mess with chemestry,
starting up add your own marine salt you buy in a box,
but this isan't cheap either, instant marine salt water
it has a pic of clowns on the purple box add to normal tap water,
it tells you on the box.how much to add.
set everything going, then the waiting game and rock watching starts..lol
apparently I have read that marine tanks cycle alot faster than tropical.
some can take just a week.
pity you dont live nearer i have a full box.also a spare refractor.
the salt water I buy is usually at 22.
in my tank its at 24/25. just remember 28 is too high 21 too low
so do a bucket water change with pure.
mine is already warm when I get it,
but if its cold i stand it in kitchen to get to temp before adding
add slowly....
if its really cold i stand it at the front of the radiater
I find mine goes up with condensation.the little salt grains stick to the
inside of the lid,like crusty bits,then with the condensation
it must drop back in the tank causing the water to get more salty.
and remember where these fish originate from the tempreture only drops
gradully 1 degree in about 3 weeks,
and shock of cold water can kill......
although the marine fish we buy are tank bred, so never had the pleasure
of swimming around the tropical reefs.
you can do your own ro water but need to buy a unit that fits
on your cold water pipe.I think the unit is about £80 you can get these on ebay.
then add your own salt,and test.
im lucky my L.F.S is at the bottom of the road.
I beleive ro and salt water last's around 3 weeks kept in a dark place.
so once you have set up maybe just get your water when you are
out and about,and put in a dark place,till needed.
I do about 25% water change every week
I use a small bucket for this.and it takes 1 bucket.
but I only have 2 clowns 1 shrimp 3 snails and 3 hermit crabs
in your size tank I think you maybe get away with about 5-6 small fish
if you are getting clowns get 2 together and no more.....
as I have been told you buy a pr and thats it, or bully'ing starts.
when placing your live rock in think about how you place it.!!!
or you may find it awk'ward cleaning the glass,
you usually see the rock in a pyramid shape in the middle
and nearly to the top of the tank in the middle.
this helps to covers all the unsightly brown algae up
that clings to the back of the glass.
you might want to get a cover for the heater too
my snails slide up the heater.
you don't want to burn there feet.. ;o)
I have a rubber unbreakable one in both tanks.
on saying that the one in the marine is playing up now its at 82
but I dont know if its the heater or the hot weather
or its gone like Elvis's. so may be taking them both back......
its expensive starting up isant it
good luck K hope this has helped a little.
Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:10 pm
