My marine tanks progress (pix inc.)

[mabl87]

Hey guys, hope your all well??

Just thought I'd put a thread on to show how far I've got with my little project.

(I'm sorry if I go on, I'm quite excited about it)

Well, it all started back in a little aquatics shop in Bromsgrove on the 1st March 2009, I saw an exdemo tank and stand for £300. Should of been £849.99.





Well, as I had birthday money and a few pennies saved, and cant miss the bargain of the year, I bought it (much to my mothers dislike, but I must say I think shes warmed to it now)

I got it home, and quickly started the setting up process.



Heater and gravel in,



Filter aswel.

It wasn't until this point that I noticed there were parts missing from the filter

So, back off to the shop to see if the bits were there, but they wern't there, so they kindly ordered them for me at no additional charge.

Mean while, I bought some tuffa rock to put in and painted the back of the tank black while i wait for the filter bits.



Well a week later I get the parts for the filter and the ball starts to roll again.

Yesterday I added the water and salt, sorted a small internal filter out and got it all running. Today I hooked up the external filter, in / outlet and the spray bar.



Alls looking great at the moment, temperature is rising gradually.

I do have a couple of things I'm not 100% sure on though.

I bought the salt in a 10kg tub, this will treat 300 litres of water. The tank TOOK about 200 litres altogether (The tank is 220l, I worked out the wated added, then the salt to the water)

I worked out that the kg / litre ratio is 0.033333(r)kg/L so 200l needs about 6kg of salt. I've added the salt and ordered a refractometer to test the salinity.

Is there any advice you guys can give me? Or is there anything I might of left out from my equipment?

I know I'll need a protien skimmer, but not until I have livestock?

When can I add live rock?

Thanks for your patience, and I'll add more when it happens.

ALL comments and advice will be greatly received.


Thanks Mark

[Aquai]

Get the live rock in asap as it will be the source of your bacteria...

[alpharoyals]

If you can afford it, replace that ocean rock with more live rock as the more you can get in the better your water quality.

I personally would have used sand as its more "marine" like. Or even live sand to help speed up the cycle. There is plenty to choose from, crushed shell, white sand, black sand, pink sand...

also try and hide the heater a bit as mechanical objects arent as appealing as natural objects.

Have you considered a sump?

looking good so far anyway and an absolute bargain

[mabl87]

cheers guys, so the fact its only been set up for 3 days won't affect the live rock?

[boadave]

Hi mate Mom has PM'D you

[AshMashMash]

Ooh, looking good! I do love pics. Keep us updated with more pics

Also, loving the purchase of the refractometer. I couldn't afford it, but its the best way. Nicely done.

[Love_snakes]

Are you going to use the filter to filter the water or are you useing live rock?

[Corsetts]

Originally Posted by alpharoyals

If you can afford it, replace that ocean rock with more live rock as the more you can get in the better your water quality.

I personally would have used sand as its more "marine" like. Or even live sand to help speed up the cycle. There is plenty to choose from, crushed shell, white sand, black sand, pink sand...

also try and hide the heater a bit as mechanical objects arent as appealing as natural objects.

Have you considered a sump?

looking good so far anyway and an absolute bargain

What he said

I'd junk all the Tuffa and replace with live rock once your salinity and temperature have settled, it'll be far better in the long run.

A Deltec MCE300 should be a good skimmer for that tank and won't require a sump to house it.

Great bargain

[mabl87]

thanks for all of your thoughts and info, I won't be taking the rocks out just adding to them, the gravel will also be staying as I've been told it is fine for a marine set up. Im using a filter for the filtration and the rock will be a bonus.

considered a pump but the external filter is capable, and i dont really have the space for one.

The heater will be hidden before any fish go in, I went to the sea life centre and i was really dissapointed because its so fake, no live rock at all (well the odd piece)

[Love_snakes]

Originally Posted by mabl87

thanks for all of your thoughts and info, I won't be taking the rocks out just adding to them, the gravel will also be staying as I've been told it is fine for a marine set up. Im using a filter for the filtration and the rock will be a bonus.

considered a pump but the external filter is capable, and i dont really have the space for one.

The heater will be hidden before any fish go in, I went to the sea life centre and i was really dissapointed because its so fake, no live rock at all (well the odd piece)

The substrate you use is up to you, gravel, sand, nothing.. its up to you. All will work. I like the rocks also, and if you add enough LR to them they will become "live" themselves.

In most of my marine set ups i have used a filter for filteration and added small ammounts of live rock for decoration which all worked out. Although you could just run the filter and no live rock at all and just keep fish.

I think everything about fish tanks is fake. I also dont think you need LR to make it look "natural".