Taking Your Wife To The Lfs!

[HappyGeorge]

I have recently set up a nano tank and am still in the process of stocking it having acquired it a few months ago and persuaded my wife that there was plenty of scope for a nano marine tank in the lounge given that we already have 100G of Malawi in there.

Well took a little trip to one of our LFS's today, not the one I usually use but this one has some lovely long shallow big open topped tanks, filled with coral, shrimps, snails and all manner of beasty.

My wife spotted an atlantic anenome and wanted to know if we could house one. Well it appears she has fallen in love with it and when I explained the limitations of the nano world and my unwillingness to attempt to keep an anenome in there, she told me we needed a bigger tank to house it!!

Now I thought this was a joke but I'm now measuring the gap where the nano tank sits and looking at the Red Sea 250. So any suggestions as it looks like it's a new tank to fill a 3 and a half foot gap, must be on a nice cabinet.

I like 2011 already.

 

[ozzie2011]

Top day

The trouble i found taking the missus was actually when I didn't take her, getting home and trying to convince her a box of fish and corals was only twenty quid

 

[chr15_8]

lol probably the best way to persuade some.

What was the shops name. I can think of a few around there with the best being the reef shack!

good luck with the new tank for the nem

 

[HappyGeorge]

I did not even know about the Reef Shack, just looked it up on net and will visit asap. This was Aylesford Aquatics, but I usually go to Swallow Aquatics in Gravesend. Can't wait to visit the Shack.

 

[jameshughes1989]

The reef shack is bloody amazing, will be going there again soon, well worth the trip. Swallow is rubbish, so disappointing, IMo they never have any nice corals in and the fish always look cut up. Aylesford have good and bad days, lately they have been good. I got my BTA from there the other day, I know the exact tank you are talking about, they seemed to have a few different nems in there. Where you based mate?

Your a lucky sod, the chance of an even bigger tank. Go big, thats my advice. When I set up my 60litre nano, it barely lasted 7 weeks, then I upgraded to a 2ft cube. So glad I did it. If money isnt really an option, if I were you I would look at the godiva range. I would love one, just something to think about.

HTH, James

 

[HappyGeorge]

Well looked at the Shacks website and looking forward to visiting although some of the equipment prices are just stupid. over £1000 for a light fitting is just stupid, I just ordered a new car and have had xenon lights fitted that are self levelling point in the same direction as the front wheels, light the way to my front door when asked and only cost £800. So unless it automatically tracks the fish round the tank don't think I will ever be persuaded that they aren't a case of emperors new clothes, a bit like mercedes spark plugs which are NGK ones with the Merc symbol but 4 times the price.

I must defend Swallow Aquatics, I have never had bad advice and all my fish stock from there have been healthy, they also buy my fry from me, not cheapest but a lot cleaner than most and don't seem to want to push anything they don't think you need, also their bagging system puts others to shame all double bagged, filled with oxygen and then outer bagged in dark bag to reduce stress.

Thanks James, Just looking at those Godiva tanks, the only stipulation on tank is that it needs a nice cabinet, it also needs to be about a metre wide but can be as tall as it likes. Don't really want to have to do too much DIY so plug and play would be good. Looked at the Aquaone 900 and the Red Sea Max 250d, but not much of a volume increase on the 250D and not convinced on the Aquaone Marisys thingy.

 

[chr15_8]

As above reef shack is well above all the other shops in the south. I travelled 2 hours after the bad snow we had a few weeks ago and was amazed. I know consider it as my LFS even tough its 2 hours away (4 hour round trip). Kev who runs it is a really nice guy.

He told me 2 weeks back he's getting a box of 40 sps this week sometime. I havent seen any like his before. He's also got a good range of acan (i think thats there name) I dont normally like them but my draw droped!

Like i said ive been there twice within 3 weeks!

 

[chr15_8]

Well looked at the Shacks website and looking forward to visiting although some of the equipment prices are just stupid. over £1000 for a light fitting is just stupid, I just ordered a new car and have had xenon lights fitted that are self levelling point in the same direction as the front wheels, light the way to my front door when asked and only cost £800. So unless it automatically tracks the fish round the tank don't think I will ever be persuaded that they aren't a case of emperors new clothes, a bit like mercedes spark plugs which are NGK ones with the Merc symbol but 4 times the price.

To be honest with out trying to defend Kev, but that price for the matrix unit looks about right compared to other unit the same on the internet.

All his SPS are £40 same as every fish shop. He has loads of sps frags which are £10 again these are stunning colours.

Ok he only has top of the range stuff for sale on the site but also has top of the range corals at a decent price.

 

[jameshughes1989]

Kev at the reef shack is a nice bloke. Them SPS are arriving thursday, he has said that they will be ready on friday so thats when Ill be going next!

Im not trying to slate Swallow, just lately they have not been good. Brown corals and ill diseased fish. Although as you say, the bagging system is great.

Let us know what tank you decide!

 

[HappyGeorge]

That probably read wrong I wasn't suggesting their prices were over the top, just that anyone would pay such money for a light unit. I'm sure the Shack are just fulfilling a demand and will be taking a trip there myself this week.

Those Coventry units look great, who on here has got one and are they a nightmare to set up? I need to research prices for lights, heaters, skimmers, pumps etc to see what my set up cost would be. Looks like about £700 for the tank I would want.

 

[chr15_8]

lol ok fair enough.

I got my braceless tank made by windsor aquatics. One of the cheaper qoutes and carnt really fault it. Only problem was is was 2 inch bigger front to back but i had asked for a quote of that size previously so it was probably a case of communication brake down. I prefer it the size it came as the light unit fits it better.

You could get a cabinet made by ACS if you really wanted to. I made my own using ply and 3x2 and have cladded it in gloss white panels and without sonding big headed you wouldnt be able to tell it was a diy stand.]

Have you looked at ND aquatics they seemed the cheapest for a complete system. Stand, tank, hood and sump. I had one before altough i didnt get the stand.

 

[HappyGeorge]

Thanks mate

I looked at ND and they don't look much less expensive than the Coventry ones, still tempted by the Red Sea and the Aqua One. I agree that the cabinets can easily be made to a better standard than the bought ones, but that is a DIY project I don't need, fishkeeping is my hobby away from doing house and garden so would really like something as maintenence free as possible.

Of course I haven't been in this hobby long so a lot of the names of companies are new to me, thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[GrayScale]

Haha this is why I'm picking the corals for my nano I'm starting up and letting the girlfriend pick the colors haha. We don't have the cash flow or space to go larger otherwise I would and I'm pretty sure she would too once she sees some the corals and fish that are out there.

 

[Harry1996]

Hi a ATI light unit wouls be best. Depending on how long your tank is from what you said i would get 4-6 39W unit http/coventryaquatics.com/marine-lighting-ati-lighting-units-ati-sunpower-pendants-atisunpowerpendant4x39w-p-599.html?osCsid=fc88fc113a5c18bc6817f1c6447e813d

or the 6 one
http/coventryaquatics.com/marine-lighting-ati-lighting-units-ati-sunpower-pendants-atisunpowerpendant6x39w-p-579.html?osCsid=fc88fc113a5c18bc6817f1c6447e813d

Also for bulbs you can get them cheap from here http/www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=34&Itemid=53&TreeId=6

Hope this helps

 

[ZoddyZod]

are you sure this wasn't all a dream? I find this all far to preposterous to be true!