No Going Back Now.

[CageUK]

I just can't wait to see this tank when more mature, it will be amazing.

I guess there will be competition as to who's side is best... that will be interesting to watch

Just to echo the sentiments about the algae growth. The tap water does seem to be one of the prime suspects.

To eliminate this then maybe do your next water change with RO. I appreciate on a tank that size, it will cost you quite a bit until you get your RO unit but you have put a lot of time and money into the tank and I'd hate to see it spoilt! The other option perhaps is getting a nitrate remover of some kind but of course that'll end up costing as much as the RO!

You could also try a shorter photo cycle, say 5 hours to begin with and work from there.

Good work so far

 

[shibby]

stunning, that west side is stunning


one question though whys the tv still on!

 

[garybuk]

My water stats all seem to be perfect at the moment

You say they are perfect but your only testing a few! When thers more then a few! you need to be testing phosphat!! As said water will contain phosphat! defo need a ro unit or some phosphat killer to kill it from your tap water!!!


But other then that NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving the your side and your wifes side do you clean your own side of the glass

 

[ben1987]

looks great. Bet there was some heated compettiton for the best bits of LR.
Cant wait til your competing on whos corals are best

 

[john.o]

My water stats all seem to be perfect at the moment, do I need to do a water change at this stage? If so will it be ok to use tap water one last time or is it better to delay the change until I get the unit.

Hi V,M
You say your water stats all seem to be perfect at the moment, so I guess the reason why you’re doing a water change is to try and get on top of the algae problem. If I where you I would test for Phosphate in the tap water {if you don’t already have a test I would recommend the Salifert Test kit } if the tap water has a trace of Phosphate, then I would not bother changing any water as your just going to add more unwanted elements {phosphate ect} you would be far better off saving the money you would have spent on the salt and get some rowaphos this will help bring the levels down in the tank and will work ok as a short term fix, but I would recommend getting a RO unit ASAP then just do your weekly water changes with RO mix keep a eye on the Phosphate test and change the media if there are any spikes once all the tap water has been mixed out of the system with RO water changes I would keep on using the rowaphos. You should find you want have to change it as much though
And like cageuk has suggested{really good idea also} try a shorter photo cycle to begin with and slowly build it up over a week or two
best regards john

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi all

I am going to order the RO unit online today, does anyone know of a good one to get, i am only looking to spend about £60, i am also going to order soon rowaphos at the same time. If i order that today it could be here by monday so not to long to wait. Is there anything stopping me from adding the clown fish? i can't wait to get something swimming around in there.

I will also be pricing up a reef test kit soon.

Thanks
VictorMeldrew

 

[john.o]

Hi V.M
Take a look at this one and see what you think!!!

http/www.ro-man.com/shop/product_info.ph...products_id/256
It’s a good well known make and it comes with a pressure gauge, so you can see how much pressure is running to the membrane. This will help you to determine how well the system is running and see when the sediment filters are getting block so you know when to replace them to keep your system running to its maximum potential. I have the next model up my self and well its really good can’t fault it at all.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hello John
Thats certainly within the price range i was thinking of, would it be easy to install. I know very little about RO units, can i turn it on and off when i need or do they stay on all the time? How often do things need to be changed with this?

Thanks
VictorMeldrew

p.s Am i ready to add a pair of clownfish now

 

[john.o]

Hi V,M
You have a number of options when it comes to fitting them
1) You can use the Self piercing feed valve { I personally don’t like the idea of this method}
2) You can screw it on to a garden tap
3) Or buy one of these and connect it to the washing machine water feed

[URL="http/www.screwfix.com/prods/15272/Plumbi...ine-Y-Piece-BSP"]http/www.screwfix.com/prods/15272/Plumbi...ine-Y-Piece-BSP[/URL]
The unit then has a small tap on it you use to turn the water on and off . It then has two outlet pipes one with RO water out and one for waste water out from the system. The ro man units also come with a flush kits {its used to flush the membrane which will extend its life} the recommended life of the filter membranes is about 6 months but another added bonus of the ro man units is it has a Pressure Gauge so once you see the pressure drop you no its time to replace the membranes


{ just to note If your water supply in your area dose not have a lot of pressure you could also add a pump later on to boost the ro units performance . It will still work just don’t expect it to produce 75g a day with low pressure}
Hope this helps john

 

[CageUK]

Yes I see no problems with adding the clowns now. If you are confident that the tank is cycled and is not producing Ammonia or Nitrite there there is no reason not to add the fish. Acclimatisation should be an hour plus, especially if you are adding them to the tap water mix that you currently have in the tank.
It is always a good move to add fish to a new tank without too much delay so as to keep the rock live (not that two clowns are going to have much effect in a tank that size). Some clean up crew as well but maybe hold off on the corals for a week or two.
Adding things slowly is the key here to give the environment time to adjust to new additions.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hello all

Thanks for the help with the RO unit John, i think i will go for that one

Cage you have just made my day i will go out and get two clownfish tomorrow, thanks very much i am in no rush to add loads of fish but i have got to get something in there, the rock watching is ok but i have to look so closely at the tank its starting to hurt my eyes

Thanks guys
VictorMeldrew

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi all

I have been out today and brought my first fish i got two common clownfish, they are only small but look to be perfect, i decided against mixing them as every shop i spoke to today advised against mixing a common with a black and white which is what i would have liked. The fish have been in the tank a few hours now and seem very happy, they look so tiny my tank compared to the shops the shop i got them from is new to me, its in a garden centre just 5mins away do not know why i have never thought of looking there before, its pretty good. I have now decided against getting a RO unit as this place is so close and sells RO water for 10p a litre so if i do a 10% water change it only works out to be £4 which is not to bad and i will avoid the hassle and long process of getting water myself I also got a 250ml tub of rowaphos and have put that in the top of my filter to get my phosphates levels down, i now know they are high as i also brought a Salifert phosphate test kit. When i tested the water it was in between 1 and 3ppm so the rowaphos was defo required.

I will try to get pics of the fish very soon, the camara on my phone has a bit of a shutter delay and every time i try to get a good snap the fish have already moved away

Thanks
VictorMeldrew

 

[CageUK]

Excellent well done

You should make sure you keep some unmixed RO for top ups. A tank with the surface area of yours is likely to lose quite a bit through evaporation and as I'm sure you already know you need to use plain RO to top it back up. You'll need to add this to your RO budgeting.
I keep a container of RO for top ups and a container for mixing.
I'm sure that after a couple of months of lugging containers of RO back and forth you'll end up getting a unit which will also ends up more cost effective.
I'm looking at getting one for my nano... It's just so much more convenient.

I bet the fish look tiny, looking forward to the pics.

The phosphates are the main reason for the algae so you did the right thing there.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Thanks Cage, does RO water go off if you keep it for a while? I am planning on keeping it in 25l jerry cans.

Thanks
VM

 

[CageUK]

No it should be fine. Don't leave it exposed to light though as it will develop algae in time. I have translucent containers so I just put a black bin bag over it.