Taking Your Wife To The Lfs!

[seffieuk]

Nice one, a new tank and with the swmbo's blessing, even better

I like the Godivas, they are a nice tank........ and cabinet, you could even let swmbo choose the cabinet

Seffie x

 

[HappyGeorge]

It's true Zod, I woke up this morning and she hadn't changed her mind and told me I could go out and get it on credit card now to get it started........must put the reins on this a bit and do it at my usual super slow pace, at this rate I will come home to an anenome sitting in the sink.

I really like the look of those Godivas too, but means some serious research on stuff to fill sump and I am concerned about the noise from the weir system, and containing the light seepage. This is going to sit in my front room and don't want to listen to running water and have too much light leaking into the room from top of tank.

 

[JoshuaA]

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...

I might not know much about Marine tanks but I do know something about hilarious quotes...

 

[HappyGeorge]

So it looks like a custom built 39x18x30 tank with sump and cabinet for me (not sure I can be bothered with the hassle of plumbing and joinery myself), so about 350 litres. Currently working on Seabray and Godiva and looking at between £1000 and £1400 for everything up to the point of buying rock. I have got to travel to Coventry to see a Godiva which is a good 5 hour round trip but I have loads of places to see Seabrays. My main issue with the Seabrays is the finish and durability, I have seen an old display tank in one shop that is completely blown, almost every panel expanded from water ingress, but of course I don't know how much it has been mistreated. I'm not sure the seal on the melamine is that good and even if you go for the vinyl wrapped, it appears only the front panels are wrapped and the main structure of the cabinet and lid are still melamine with with stuck on edging.
Anyone had any experiences good or bad with either of these companies? Would be nice to be able to see a Godiva without having to drive for 5 hours just to find there is nothing to choose between the makes.

 

[ozzie2011]

The godiva is excellent.
Its entirely up to you on what you spend the money on but £1400 is too much to spend on glass and chipboard, too much deprecriation in my opinion. I just missed out on a mint Osaka 260 for £150.

I would check out http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk, your money will go further but its your choice

Best of luck

 

[HappyGeorge]

That does include sump and all the plumbing, skimmer, UV sterilizer, pumps, powerhead, heater and lights so it is basically a high quality plug and play system with decent components (including ATI 6x39w Sunpower lighting) at about the same price as the Redsea Max system.

Main problem with second hand is finding something scratchless and perfect that I would be prepared to have in my living room think new is my only real option unless I spend the next few months waiting for the right deal to appear. Think I may have to try and schedule in a trip to Coventry then.

 

[ozzie2011]

Sound like a decent deal then

Might want to check those lights though, you want a nem and I have only ever had them under halides. Others might be able to advise better though

 

[HappyGeorge]

I did say to all the LFS's and the custom tank manufacturers about my requirements and that I wanted a tank that would support anything in it without the need to upgrade any time soon, (don't fancy SPS, but you never know) and they all said that T5's would be sufficient also all stated that SPS needed more than Nems. Some of them don't seem to like halides? I have no opinon or knowledge on lights, just not having an intrusive light unit suspended above the tank in my living room.
Just as a matter of interest, I remember seeing Nems as a child in tanks, well over 20 years ago before Halides and T5 so what did they light them with?

 

[ozzie2011]

20-30 years ago i was in to trops, marines were way out my budget.

Maybe thats why the success rate with nems used to be so bad and so many died?

Hopefully someone brighter than me can clear that up for you.

I know some of the high end leds are close to halides now.

 

[Tolak]

Somehow I read Taking as Trading in the title. That's what I get for just waking up & looking at the computer.

 

[seffieuk]

Somehow I read Taking as Trading in the title. That's what I get for just waking up & looking at the computer.

is that legal in your neck of the woods Tolak

Seffie x

Many nems require a lot of light, but i have 4 x t5 and keep bubble tips

Seffie x

 

[ozzie2011]

Many nems require a lot of light, but i have 4 x t5 and keep bubble tips

Thats cleared that up, thanks seffie