Newbie Advice!

[Harry1996]

i have the same tank have a read of my journal. there are also a lot of other people with the same tank.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/314253-harrys-juwel-rio-125-marine-tank/

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

I also have the same tank as you
I would definatly take the internal box filter out. I did mine as soon as I got it. Its unsightly your tank looks so much better with it gone.

It is horrible to try and get out but it can be done. Try a stanley knife to cut through the selant holding the filter in place.

I learnt a lot from natwood's and harry13's jornals, Harry gave you a link to his above but take a read of Nat's

Nat's journal

Also my one My journal

Tom,

 

[seffieuk]

I have the 400 and took the black box out - however it can be used to hide your heater, but I would take it out!

Is the 'gravel' coral sand, agragonite or just plain old gravel?

Be careful about taking advice from lfs - they can on occassion not have your best interest at heart (that is not to say that they are all the same - there are some very good ones out there)!! However what you have been told so far does not fill me with confidence

Seffie x

 

[lucasfoster]

Thanks for all that guys!

Regarding the black box can the heater be in the tank without it? will this not be a danger to the fish?
So aslong as there is enough live rock there is no need for a filter at all??? just the powerhead, heater, skimmer (eventualy), lights, thermometer? (anything missing?)

Im am not sure what the gravel is exactly! im at work atm but i will have a look when i get bak and post what it is!
Yeah i am very wary, main reason i joined the forum to ensure i dont make too many mistakes!
Alot of the information I was givin confused me as I had read different whilst doing research.
For example i was told that i could go bak in a few days for a clown fish! (which I will not be doing).

Thanks for all the journals i will have a good read through them tonight

Cheers

Luke

 

[seffieuk]

Thanks for all that guys!

Regarding the black box can the heater be in the tank without it? will this not be a danger to the fish?

yes indeed it can be in the tank, any of who dont have sumps have to do that

So as long as there is enough live rock there is no need for a filter at all???

the live rock is the filter

just the powerhead, heater, skimmer (eventualy), lights, thermometer? (anything missing?)

Refractometer, test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph. 2 x powerheads, look to turn over at least x 20 an hour so, 125 x 20 = 2500 so you are looking for powerheads with a rating of at least 1250 each

The juwel tank usually comes with a heater and good starter lights of t5 ask the chap to change the bulbs to marine one (see if he will change them for cost as part of the deal)



Im am not sure what the gravel is exactly! im at work atm but i will have a look when i get bak and post what it is!



Yeah i am very wary, main reason i joined the forum to ensure i dont make too many mistakes!



Alot of the information I was givin confused me as I had read different whilst doing research.
For example i was told that i could go bak in a few days for a clown fish! (which I will not be doing).



Thanks for all the journals i will have a good read through them tonight

Enjoy reading them but remember to keep a notepad or Word open so you can ciopy and paste useful info. You can also start a fish and coral wish list woo hoo

Seffie x

 

[lucasfoster]

Thank you Seffie!

Just had a look and the gravel doesnt state any particular type! just that it is an ideal biological filter medium and its good for buffering should i take it back and swap it for somthing else?? that states what it is! it was just given to me by the person serving me!

Im still very undecided about the black box! cant make my mind up at all!!!

Gunna go an av a search on ebay for them bits and bogs!

I have salt water from the shop in my garage in containers! how long can i risk to leave them? they get no sunlight at all!

cheers
Luke

P.S im excited about adding live rock to see wat critters it may contain let alone a fish list

 

[john.o]

RO salt water can be kept for weeks at a time with no problems at all as long as no sun light gets at it {pop a black bin liner over the containers} and remember always give the RO salt mix that you’re going to use a good old bubble up for 24hrs before you use it for water changes ect..........!!!!!!!! {Gas exchange+ re oxygenate }

 

[lucasfoster]

Thats great! i would rather take my time too ensure everything is fine before i start putting any water in!

Cheers John,o

Luke

 

[john.o]

Absolutely slowly slowly is the name of the game on the salty side .
Plan as much as you can now and it will make your life so much easier in the long run and make for a better tank.

 

[lucasfoster]

I orderd all my tests last night - refractometer, amonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph and 1 powerhead koriala 1600 rating! when i come to add anything alive i will get another powerhead!

Ive decided to keep the black box! im not too fused about the image or extra space reli!

Tryed to put the backgroud poster i was givin on last night which was an inch shorter than the tank and cut very unevenly

That will be goin back to the shop!

Luke

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

Its up to you if you keep it or not. I think its down to personal prefrence really. If your not too fused then thats great!

On the background things I would recommend spray painting the back of your tank. Its not completely permanent as your can scrape it off and it will work out a lot better in the long run. You will find you will get salt creep forming behind it. It gives the tank a lot of dept too

I would go for a substrate like aragonite sand TBH as it is a lot safer

 

[john.o]

I would 2nd that there is nothing worse than salt creep and if you have your skimmer hanging on the back of the tank then you’re going to defiantly get some down between the back drop and the glass .

Now if you’re a little worried about painting the back then you could use blue or black sticky vinyl
Some think like this....
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/D-C-FIX-GLOSS-BLACK-SELF-ADHESIVE-VINYL-675mmx2m-roll-/190422478376?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c56106e28
I have it on my tank and it’s done the job perfectly!

 

[lucasfoster]

That Vinyl looks like it will do the job perfectly! thank you for the link
Argonite sand, Right! what sort of size particles is that? if im planning on a full range of reef fish, coral, cuc is there an ideal particle size?

Thanks

Luke

 

[john.o]

I personally use caribSea dry Fiji pink sand i think the particle size is about 0.5 – 1.5mm

but again it depends on what you’re going to keep , I have chosen that because I have a banana wrasse and it likes to hide in the sand at lights out and that size sand is soft belly safe
now on the other hand if you’re going to have a SPS coral tank they like lots and lots of flow so I would avoid any fish critters act that dive into the sand and go for a larger participle substrate that is not going to get blown all over the place by the large amount of flow

Hope this is of some help john,o
Oh I have just found this ... could help you out a little...
http/www.caribsea.com/pages/products/dry_aragonite.html

 

[lucasfoster]

I think I will head for slightly large particals and just make sure i stay clear of those critters

What size particles would be suitable in my 125L tank - 1MM - 2MM or larger

Thanks for all this info!!!

Luke