Gavlaaars Diary!

[gavyshake123]

Hi Everyone.....

I currently have a tropial set up which is 20 Gallons, about 80 litres. with a Fluval 3 "I Think" Internal Filter.
and a basic heater "will give the name later" Sorry for lack of precision, at work and not sure on name!

Im looking at going in to marine, ive been reading over the forum and books for some time! the only thing I lack,
is confidence to go and do it"and knowledge on sumps"! so my 1st step it to write down a list of, "Things i need" and "Should consider's"

I would really apreciate it if you could advise on what im saying, pro's and con's and if you have an idea which may help!

Im planning on using the tank i have "once cleared" along with the heater and filter...if possible??

I have a halogen Bulb on the tropical tank atm, would you suggest upgrading it? or having a diffrent one? ideas?
I plan on keeping a arrange of coral, couple of clowns, maybe a goby, some cuc, any thing else?

as for skimmer, would a skimmer that hangs from the side of the tank be worthy? or would it have to be with a sump?what would you suggest for the size of my tank

Im not planning on investing in a RO unit, i think its to early, so getting Liquid from my LFS should be fine?

A refractometer? i see this is a MUST NEED piece of equipment as it tests the concentration in salt water? what would people suggest as a good beginner piece of hardware?

Test kits? ive searched a few on the net, would you say this was a good one? http/www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_Marine_Test_Kits.html

On too power heads, as im not sure what to plan, im not sure which power heads will do the trick? can i stay with my filter, or do i need to get an additional pump??

let me know if ive missed some thing!

Next stage...Thinking about substrate and rock??

Lovely Jubbly.

 

[seffieuk]

Hi Everyone.....

Gav, nice to have you jumping into the salty stuff

I currently have a tropial set up which is 20 Gallons, about 80 litres. with a Fluval 3 "I Think" Internal Filter.
and a basic heater "will give the name later" Sorry for lack of precision, at work and not sure on name!

Right, its a do-able tank, BUT if you can go bigger, then do?

Im looking at going in to marine, ive been reading over the forum and books for some time! the only thing I lack,
is confidence to go and do it"and knowledge on sumps"! so my 1st step it to write down a list of, "Things i need" and "Should consider's"

You can do it, im sure - we will help you

I would really apreciate it if you could advise on what im saying, pro's and con's and if you have an idea which may help!

No problem

Im planning on using the tank i have "once cleared" along with the heater and filter...if possible??

Yes, but a 20 gallon tank is very limiting

I have a halogen Bulb on the tropical tank atm, would you suggest upgrading it? or having a diffrent one? ideas?

Not sure about halogens, so will leave that to someone who does

I plan on keeping a arrange of coral, couple of clowns, maybe a goby, some cuc, any thing else?

20 gallons is not really big enough to keep anything else apart from corals

as for skimmer, would a skimmer that hangs from the side of the tank be worthy? or would it have to be with a sump?what would you suggest for the size of my tank

If you stick with this tank and ensure you do weekly water changes of 25% then you could get away with either no skimmer or skimmer on the side. Not all of us have sumps, but it would increase your water volume

Im not planning on investing in a RO unit, i think its to early, so getting Liquid from my LFS should be fine?

Yes can understand this, as long as the water coming from your lfs is good quality

A refractometer? i see this is a MUST NEED piece of equipment as it tests the concentration in salt water? what would people suggest as a good beginner piece of hardware?

Indeed it is, D & D do a good one, just stick to a known name and you should be fine, will cost you about £30

Test kits? ive searched a few on the net, would you say this was a good one? http/www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_Marine_Test_Kits.html

Buy salifert, a bit more expensive but more reliable - to start off you will need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

On too power heads, as im not sure what to plan, im not sure which power heads will do the trick? can i stay with my filter, or do i need to get an additional pump??

Ok, I would go for either a Koralia 1 or a tunze nano - you are looking for at least x 20 turnover

let me know if ive missed some thing!

Dont get live sand, its a con - buy aragonite sand. Look for a reefer breaking down a tank for your live rock

You will need some phosphate remover like rowaphos

Next stage...Thinking about substrate and rock??

Exciting isn't it I like the carib sea bahamas mix

Lovely Jubbly.

Lovely jubbly indeed

Seffie x

ps how about starting a journel in the Journel section (which is in this section) so you can post all your questions and photos in one place - that way you have a great record but also helps others

 

[gavyshake123]

Hi Everyone.....

Gav, nice to have you jumping into the salty stuff

I currently have a tropial set up which is 20 Gallons, about 80 litres. with a Fluval 3 "I Think" Internal Filter.
and a basic heater "will give the name later" Sorry for lack of precision, at work and not sure on name!

Right, its a do-able tank, BUT if you can go bigger, then do?

Im looking at going in to marine, ive been reading over the forum and books for some time! the only thing I lack,
is confidence to go and do it"and knowledge on sumps"! so my 1st step it to write down a list of, "Things i need" and "Should consider's"

You can do it, im sure - we will help you

I would really apreciate it if you could advise on what im saying, pro's and con's and if you have an idea which may help!

No problem

Im planning on using the tank i have "once cleared" along with the heater and filter...if possible??

Yes, but a 20 gallon tank is very limiting

I have a halogen Bulb on the tropical tank atm, would you suggest upgrading it? or having a diffrent one? ideas?

Not sure about halogens, so will leave that to someone who does

I plan on keeping a arrange of coral, couple of clowns, maybe a goby, some cuc, any thing else?

20 gallons is not really big enough to keep anything else apart from corals

as for skimmer, would a skimmer that hangs from the side of the tank be worthy? or would it have to be with a sump?what would you suggest for the size of my tank

If you stick with this tank and ensure you do weekly water changes of 25% then you could get away with either no skimmer or skimmer on the side. Not all of us have sumps, but it would increase your water volume

Im not planning on investing in a RO unit, i think its to early, so getting Liquid from my LFS should be fine?

Yes can understand this, as long as the water coming from your lfs is good quality

A refractometer? i see this is a MUST NEED piece of equipment as it tests the concentration in salt water? what would people suggest as a good beginner piece of hardware?

Indeed it is, D & D do a good one, just stick to a known name and you should be fine, will cost you about £30

Test kits? ive searched a few on the net, would you say this was a good one? http/www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_Marine_Test_Kits.html

Buy salifert, a bit more expensive but more reliable - to start off you will need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

On too power heads, as im not sure what to plan, im not sure which power heads will do the trick? can i stay with my filter, or do i need to get an additional pump??

Ok, I would go for either a Koralia 1 or a tunze nano - you are looking for at least x 20 turnover

let me know if ive missed some thing!

Dont get live sand, its a con - buy aragonite sand. Look for a reefer breaking down a tank for your live rock

You will need some phosphate remover like rowaphos

Next stage...Thinking about substrate and rock??

Exciting isn't it I like the carib sea bahamas mix

Lovely Jubbly.

Lovely jubbly indeed

Seffie x

ps how about starting a journel in the Journel section (which is in this section) so you can post all your questions and photos in one place - that way you have a great record but also helps others

Hey Seffie

thanks for your reply. thijnk it will be a week or two before i get busy and start buying..."Xmas has taken its toll on my funds" but i will sure to be reading and looking for equipment in that time.

what size bag mix would suit the aquarium? im thinking that a skimmer will be gd in the long run, so i prob will get one. ive looked over your tank, looks great. i remember looking about 4 months back at the small marine tank you done, prob a while back now.

Thanks

Gav

 

[seffieuk]

Hey Seffie

thanks for your reply. thijnk it will be a week or two before i get busy and start buying..."Xmas has taken its toll on my funds" but i will sure to be reading and looking for equipment in that time.

know how you feel

what size bag mix would suit the aquarium?

Well, I bought a 20lb bag for my nano and it was plenty big enough

im thinking that a skimmer will be gd in the long run, so i prob will get one.

I would agree

ive looked over your tank, looks great. i remember looking about 4 months back at the small marine tank you done, prob a while back now.

Thank you kind sir, must admit I miss the nano

Thanks

Gav
[/quote]

Seffie x

 

[gavyshake123]

Hey Seffie

thanks for your reply. thijnk it will be a week or two before i get busy and start buying..."Xmas has taken its toll on my funds" but i will sure to be reading and looking for equipment in that time.

know how you feel

what size bag mix would suit the aquarium?

Well, I bought a 20lb bag for my nano and it was plenty big enough

im thinking that a skimmer will be gd in the long run, so i prob will get one.

I would agree

ive looked over your tank, looks great. i remember looking about 4 months back at the small marine tank you done, prob a while back now.

Thank you kind sir, must admit I miss the nano

Thanks

Gav

Seffie x
[/quote]



Hi Seffie "And Everyone Else"

would a Aquaria Fluval Roma 90 Aquarium be adequate for what i want to achieve?

Thanks

Gavlaar

 

[Gallagher]

The roma 90 looks better, but in hindsight of my experiences, id still go bigger, bigger is better.

and lol @ "gavlaar@, from gavin and stacey i presume?

james.

 

[gavyshake123]

Hi Chaps

Been a little while since my last post, reason being...I've been keeping an eye out for a tank that fits the bill.

WWEEELLLLLLLLL, finally i have one, picking her up tonight, 180 litres, 4 ft long, baragin 60 quid.....CANNOT WAIT.

SIZE OF TANK

LENGTH ~ 4FT (48")

DEPTH ~ (15.5")

HEIGHT ~ (22.5")

SIZE WITH STAND

LENGTH ~ 4FT (48")

DEPTH ~ (15.5")

HEIGHT ~ 4FT (48")



i decided to buy a used tank "excluding Fish" because it was a little cheaper, and ideal, seeing as im kinda new to marine, and i can make mistakes. in a few years i will get a nice new one i think.

i got a few bits with it, external pump, bag of fittings....some books...the stand blah blah blah.

so i pick her up tonight, think she needs a good clean though so that will keep me busy tomorrow night after work.

on the down side, im saying goodbye to my smaller tropical tank, had it for a while now and didnt want to keep hold of 2 tanks. so its going to my friends house, who will look after them.

also i will "in the next week" be looking at sorting the protein skimmer, power heads, and LR, does any one know of any places around essex "stortford" or online? and any ideas for the best equipment, also refractometer?

will put pictures up when home.......

Lovely old job

 

[seffieuk]

Woo hoo and he is off................looking forward to watching your journey.

Most of us buy our hardware online, much cheaper and you can often pick up a good second hand bargain.

Seffie x

 

[gavyshake123]

Tank ATM. NOT CLEAN, and i broke the front door off when mving it...WHoops.

ill be sure to put a photo on tomorrow with it clean and none broken....

 

[gavyshake123]

Hi Ya Hoo

just in the proccess of cleaning some stubborn..i mean REALLLY stubbor stains from the inside of my new tank.
its sitting in my front room with a layer of vinegard, a layer of fine tissue, and a layer of cing film to stop evaperation. gotta get home and pour some salt on the glass n use some good old elbow grease to remove the stains!!!! IF this doesnt work im a bit lost......Any one got any ideas if this fails?

ALSO...i have a Rena Filsta XP3 which i got with the tank. would this be suitable for a marine?

Ta

 

[seffieuk]

Soaking in vinigar usually shifts most stains in a tank, particularly if they are calcium based


Seffie x

 

[gavyshake123]

Hi

cleaned the tank out, just got to fix the door now.

i have a Rena Filstar xp3, which i want to use for the tank, any one used cannister filtration on there tank? what do you put in them? i spoke to a guy at amwell, he gave me some names but just wanted to see if any one had any better ideas?

im looking at lighting next and a skimmer, what would be good for a 200 litre tank?

 

[seffieuk]

my first choice would be the deltec mce 300, look for a second hand bargain if you go this way

Seffie x

 

[gavyshake123]

Thanks Seffie

 

[gavyshake123]

Hi

Just a little update,

Just picked up all my Rena Filstar fittings, so gotta sort that tonight. Got the door which was broken fixed, so thats now fitted correctly on the cabinet. sorted the lights and lights units. im also watching all the other stuff i need on Ebay...Refractometer, Skimmer, Argonite Substrate, Test Kit.

think thats about it........

GAVLAAR