New To Marine And Have Questions

[itobin]

Hi fellow fish keepers,

I currently look after fresh water and turtles. Having looked at Coral/Marine fish i am looking to setup a marine tank with coral.

Firstly i have a Juwel 125 fish tank to use, is this ok?

Can anyone recommend how to setup the tank and what are the dos and donts? I have an fish centre in Peterborough that do Coral so i can get hold of it though does anyone know where i can buy cheaper? maybe online as it is expensive.

Im unsure how you would put it in the tank and build it up. I dont think I would buy any fish until i was sure the tank was setup ok.

Please be gentle with me as i have never done anything like this before.

thanks

Ian

 

[lljdma06]

Hi Ian. Welcome!

I'm in the middle of running errands when I saw this, so I can't give a detailed response now. I've seen several Juwel setups here, in fact Harry1996 just updated his journal, so check it out.

When I get back, I'll offer more & address some of your questions as will others, I'm sure.

But again, welcome...

Llj

 

[itobin]

Hi,

thanks for the reply, ill look forward to the answers. ill have a look Harrys thread in the meantime.

many thanks

Ian

 

[ALW]

A Rio 125 would be fine to use. It would limit the amount that you can keep, but that goes for any tank. You will need around 15kg of Live Rock. How deep a sand bed would you like? Would you be using the T5 unit that comes with the tank or would you upgrade? The lighting will limit what can be kept and what cant. The best way to get your Live rock is from a tank break down, this way you can save alot of money. Lfs normally sell LR for about £10kg, from a break down you can get it for half. The main Do's is take your time dont rush it. Ask any questions that you have.

 

[lljdma06]

I'm in the process of converting a tropical to Marine, so we're kind of in a similar situation.

Tank's ok unless you've treated for ich or another disease using a copper-based medication. My own tank was treated two years ago, so I invested in a copper test and tested the tank filled with water for copper. If the tank does indeed have copper, you'll have to remove it. If it doesn't then you're good to go. Invertebrates are sensitive to copper and it stays in the silicon of tank seams then leeches out. Then you wonder why your shrimps and corals are doing poorly.

What is the lighting in a Juwel 125? I'm not in the UK, so the lighting for these all in one systems are not familar to me at all. Lighting will effect what you can keep with regard to corals. There are different types of lighting too. All of them have advantages and disadvantages. For example, I'm using Compact Flourescents and Normal Output T5s. Advantages, cool operation, decent light penetration. Disadvantage, not as much penetration as metal hallides or LEDs, ugly look, no pretty shimmer effect. My light choice gets the job done, though, and I didn't have to pay extra for new fixtures.

Do's - Read a lot. Check out books in the library, or consider investing in a couple of good books. I read Jeffrey Kurtz's Simple Guide to Mini-Reef Aquariums and Michael S. Paletta's The New Marine Aquarium. These books are a pretty simple to read and are great. I've got many other books that I've read too, but hold out on that until you know what you want to do with your system. Reading better prepares you for asking questions, IMO.

Don't - Rush. Take your time to plan the system and figure out what you want to do. "Beauty comes slowly, disaster comes quickly."

Don't - Buy fish or inverts thinking you'll upgrade later. You might not upgrade, so the animal is left in a tank that's too small. Buy animals for your tank that'll be fine as adults in your tank. Most of the time you'll get them as juvies and it'll look a bit empty while they grow, but in the long-run, it's healthier for the fish.

Haha, this is all for now. If you've got questions don't hesitate to ask. Others will chime in I'm sure. All the best and enjoy. There is so much to look forward to. This is geared for nano reefs, which yours technically is.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/286587-marine-nano-aquarium-resource-centre/

Hope this helps. Just saw that somebody else answered.

 

[itobin]

Hi,

thanks again for the replies.

I would probably just use the T5 strips that come with the tank but replace the bulbs. Are there 2 certain types i need to put in? to encourage growth?

Im planning to get a bigger tank one day but I have reserved that for my turtles, im not sure you can mix turtles with marine?

im at work at the min but will check out the link later on.

BTW what is LFS? is it an online shop?

many thanks

Ian

 

[ALW]

Hi,

thanks again for the replies.

I would probably just use the T5 strips that come with the tank but replace the bulbs. Are there 2 certain types i need to put in? to encourage growth?

Im planning to get a bigger tank one day but I have reserved that for my turtles, im not sure you can mix turtles with marine?

im at work at the min but will check out the link later on.

BTW what is LFS? is it an online shop?

many thanks

Ian

Ok as you are using the T5 unit in the Rio you will need the following two bulbs:

http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/juwel-highlite-marine-28w-590mm-p-1550.html
and
http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/juwel-highlite-blue-28w-590mm-p-1556.html

Under those light you will be able to keep a selection of Soft Corals, including the likes of: Leathers, Mushrooms, Finger and Xenia. LPS's (Large Polyped Stony) you can get away with having Elegance Coral, Candy Cane Coral, Trachyphyllia (Open Brain Coral) and really any of the Euphyllia (Hammer, Torch, Grape, Frogspawn). As for the SPS's (Small Polyped Stony)I cant really say as I dont keep them as yet. Someone may come along and be able to help with those. LFS s short for Local Fish Store.

Hope this helps
Andrew

 

[itobin]

Hi,

thanks for the update. Ok im going to do some research on coral as i have no idea what any of those names are

LFS = local fish store i was thinking it would be a technical name shortened

So my last questions before i do research

1) can you provide a list of must have in the tank in terms of equipment etc?

2) ive read somewhere about sumps, do you need one and what does it do?

3) can fresh water fish live in a marine tank? the only reason i ask is i have quite a few at the min currently living in the tank, i understand if not.

many thanks!

Ian

 

[ChilliPepper]

You don't have to have a sump. You can use an overflow box and hang on skimmer. Though sumps have so many advantages, it is worth getting the tank drilled for one. The main advantages being an increase in water volume through the system, and also you get to hide most of the ugly equipment in there

 

[ALW]

Must haves:

Tank and Stand
Lights
Heater
Thermometer
Powerheads (As you want corals aim for 20x turnover an hour, so for a Rio 125 you are lokking at 3000lph. Its best it this comes from at least two powerheads)
Refractometer (This measures the SG)
Skimmer
Live Rock
Live Sand
Test Kits
Water -Do you want to make your own or buy it?
Time

You dont have to run a sump/refugium its upto you, some pleople do other dont. As for Freshwater fish in a Marine tank, in short NO. Although there are a few species that can tolorate SW. An example are Mollies that can live in saline upto about 85ppt. Why would you want to keep Freshwater fish in a Marine Aquarium though?

 

[itobin]

Hi,

ok great.

Im not to sure what the following are or do

Powerheads
Refractometer
Skimmer

I dont want to keep them together but was just curious, i have another smaller tank for them.

thanks

Ian

 

[itobin]

Hi,

Im getting to grips with what is what.

Can someone just answer these?

1. what is the purpose of a skimmer? is it just to provide water flow?

2. I dont understand the sump concept and why there are some sumps with dividers in it and 3 pipes coming out of the main tank?

3. I assume all these unexplained creatures that appear have been living in the live rock already and have just have not come out to be seen yet such as the worms and the baddy crabs?

thanks

Ian

 

[Markpolo123]

You don't have to have a sump. You can use an overflow box and hang on skimmer. Though sumps have so many advantages, it is worth getting the tank drilled for one. The main advantages being an increase in water volume through the system, and also you get to hide most of the ugly equipment in there
cant agree with more

 

[itobin]

what is the purpose of the skimmer? does it work with the sump?

 

[lljdma06]

A protein skimmer removes excess organic material from the water column. I'll get more precise later, but I have an early meeting tomorrow. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with a sump. Skimmers can even be placed in a sump. I'm opted to only use a skimmer in my tank, but others have used both with success.

Like I said, I'll try & go into more detail tomorrow.

Llj