Hi guys & girls (to be politically correct), I have been lurking around here for some time reading other peoples story's of success and the pitfalls of owning a reef aquarium.
The good news is that I have not been put off, and I am on the verge of making my purchase. (Scary)
I have been having a problem finding a tank which both my girlfriend and I like, neither of us like the big boxy style tanks with wood around them and this has been a sticking point. She also did not like the integrated ones like the Orca etc, so as you can understand the choice has been slightly limited.
The good news is that I have found the tank that we both like and I am set to go with it, its a little smaller than I had hoped but I only want to keep 1-2 small fish and some coral so I am led to believe that this should be sufficient.
I have not come across it before and apparently its a little known Italian brand called 'Wave' I am going for their 'Wave Box 45' which measures 45x28x30 cm and holds 37.8 litres (9.99 US gallons) of water.
On the first trip to the shop I will be purchasing the following items:
Wave Box 45 Including 18 watt Compact Light £53.14
Wave Niagra 300 Filter £16.86
Stream 230 l/ph Power Head £6.80
Wave Optimum Sea Professional Aquarium Salt 2 KG £4.71
Rowaphos sponges £15.95
R/O Water £3.20
Tetra TetraTec 50HT Heater £12.75 Already have
Digital Max/Min Aquarium Thermometer £10.20 Already have
Water Test Kit £19.99
This will bring me to approx £143 ($290 US)
The second trip will see me purchase:
2KG Sand approx 1 inch depth/ 4kg Live Rock £54.22 ($109 US)
Bringing me to a total of approx £190 ($386 US).
I plan to take it very slow and let the thing cycle for a three/four week period before adding any live stock, I want a cool clean up crew and am wondering if anyone can give me an indication of how many shrimp/snale/crabs I should pop into this tank?
Thats it for now, will keep you posted on the progress. No stock of the tank until next week so I have to sit and dream for the moment.
Cheers
Graham
P.S. If anyone comes across any of the above components cheaper could they let me know as I am on a tight budget but I want to get this right.
The good news is that I have not been put off, and I am on the verge of making my purchase. (Scary)
I have been having a problem finding a tank which both my girlfriend and I like, neither of us like the big boxy style tanks with wood around them and this has been a sticking point. She also did not like the integrated ones like the Orca etc, so as you can understand the choice has been slightly limited.
The good news is that I have found the tank that we both like and I am set to go with it, its a little smaller than I had hoped but I only want to keep 1-2 small fish and some coral so I am led to believe that this should be sufficient.
I have not come across it before and apparently its a little known Italian brand called 'Wave' I am going for their 'Wave Box 45' which measures 45x28x30 cm and holds 37.8 litres (9.99 US gallons) of water.
On the first trip to the shop I will be purchasing the following items:
Wave Box 45 Including 18 watt Compact Light £53.14
Wave Niagra 300 Filter £16.86
Stream 230 l/ph Power Head £6.80
Wave Optimum Sea Professional Aquarium Salt 2 KG £4.71
Rowaphos sponges £15.95
R/O Water £3.20
Tetra TetraTec 50HT Heater £12.75 Already have
Digital Max/Min Aquarium Thermometer £10.20 Already have
Water Test Kit £19.99
This will bring me to approx £143 ($290 US)
The second trip will see me purchase:
2KG Sand approx 1 inch depth/ 4kg Live Rock £54.22 ($109 US)
Bringing me to a total of approx £190 ($386 US).
I plan to take it very slow and let the thing cycle for a three/four week period before adding any live stock, I want a cool clean up crew and am wondering if anyone can give me an indication of how many shrimp/snale/crabs I should pop into this tank?
Thats it for now, will keep you posted on the progress. No stock of the tank until next week so I have to sit and dream for the moment.
Cheers
Graham
P.S. If anyone comes across any of the above components cheaper could they let me know as I am on a tight budget but I want to get this right.
