The Pacific Alex

[Alex Brown]

Well im 8 months into my tank now, I really wish I had started a thread at the beginning so I could show you guys the changes I have seen in my first ever fish tank.

I will start with this week, then Im going to stick some pictures up of my tank.

Week starting May 4th 2009

After cutting my Pussey coral away from the rock to stop the BTA from stinging it, the BTA retreated into its cave and hasnt been seen for a few days. Its nearly time for a weekly feed so hopefully it will come out.

Towards the end of the week, Mini Me, my baby clown was lying on the sand in the corner of the tank. The larger of the clowns always beat him to the food, wouldnt let him in the BTA and generally gave him a hard time. He died Thursday night. Water parms fine.

The BTA has been back out also, but not every day. It ate its food fine and still comes out the same cave enterance during daylight hours.

After looking for another baby clown at a few LFS, finially found the perfect sized Yellow Tang for my tank . It was a toss up between the Purpel and Yellow, so glad I got the yellow now. It brings a whole new colour to my reef!

 

[Alex Brown]

The start.

Im back dating this thread, but always ment to start my marine journal! I never aprechiated what was under the sea to be honest. I actually worked right ontop of it, travelling the world as a professional kiteboarder. 6 years in and on a video shoot in the Maldives during September 2008, I tore all the tissue and ligaments in my foot while we were filming. I spent the rest of that trip recovering, well, snorkelling on arguably one of the best reef sites in the world.

I wasnt even home for 24 hours before dropping a small bomb onto my credit card. Welcome to my tank!

Week starting 22nd September

Current stocking - Pre setup

Trying to film some finial parts for the promotional movie, and shooting pictures on the reef.

Fly home, wake up, Google nearest fish shop.

 

[1entra]

Nice1 for having started this Alex, but need more pics to follow the progress of your tank... so keep em coming pal!

also shame about your foot but on a brighter note least you got to experience a beutiful reef with memories to last a life time, i was hoping to go maldives this year but aint happening now so fingers crossed for next year!!!

 

[Alex Brown]

For sure! I will add another post each day this week, got thousands of photos to go through.

Thats a shame you wont make it out there this year, but it really is one of the best places on Earth as they say. Its worth any amount of waiting!!

 

[1entra]

For sure! I will add another post each day this week, got thousands of photos to go through.

Thats a shame you wont make it out there this year, but it really is one of the best places on Earth as they say. Its worth any amount of waiting!!

yea cheerz mate, it is a real shame but hoping to go next year.

anyways looking forward to seeing the rest of the pics

 

[seffieuk]

oh, another one from the start..............this day just keeps getting better and better First 1entra and now yours, excellent AND the bonus of one entry a day from you Alex - am really looking forward to seeing how you got to the place you are now at with the tank

Seffie x



this is a good day - just got a bargain wavebox as well

 

[SkiFletch]

Wow, love the current pic. Amazing how it got from just rock to that huh? :

 

[seffieuk]

ehhhh, cough, cough - where's todays entry then Alex ?

Seffie x

 

[Alex Brown]

Sorry, just drawing some things for my new frag tank! Let me get on this after.

 

[bagu]

Sorry, just drawing some things for my new frag tank! Let me get on this after.

what is that?

 

[Truck]

Sorry, just drawing some things for my new frag tank! Let me get on this after.

what is that?

over flow box, to deliver water to a sump/refugium

 

[Alex Brown]

Overflow pipe and surface skimmer in the corner of my frag tank

 

[Alex Brown]

Week starting October 2008

Current stock - 35ish KG live rock, 2kg live sand

I came back from the fish shop last week with a car full of gear. I think looking back on it now, they saw me coming and sold me some right crap - mainly their knowledge on reef keeping. The tank is a real nice glass unit, with think black silicone seals and wooden top+bottom. TMC V2 Skimmer 400. 2x interpet powerheads. 2x Aquaray LED (one white, one blue) + tank lighting 2x T5. Aqua One external filter. Test kit. Book. 25kg tub of Redsea salt. 300w heater.

I actually ordered 20kg live rock after filling with water, as that was what I was informed would be all I would need. 20kg didnt even make a dent in my display! I got online and this week and handed another few hundie over for rocks... Also made use of my test kit, here was the stats after 10 days of tank running:

Temp - 26°c
pH - 8
Nitrite - 0.05
Ammonia - 0.058
Nitrate - 20
Alkalinity - 2.8
S.G - 1.023


Week Starting 13th October 2008

Current stock - 35ish KG live rock, 2kg live sand

Currently writing...

 

[seffieuk]

Keep them coming ............

Seffie x