camnbron

Whats happening then? Is somebody having a kick-arse party or something?!?

PM'd ya about some rock to get you going

Um, most teenagers were not even around in the 80's! But everything gets regurgetated Welcome George!!!

No mistake IMHO, but then being the buyer I am a little one sided!

Since the start of the year when I began my reef tank build - slow and steady - I have invested a reasonable amount on my 4 foot tank. Not that I am complaining, I'm enjoying the hobby and knew going into it that I would be forking out the dosh. I would put my system down on the fairly basic level (currently :lol: ) as I don't have reactors, computer, fish room. I need to get a grasp of the basics before I start doing that. Cost wise I've spent around $2500 on hardware (lights, pumps, skimmer, tank, stand, test equipment, dosing suppliments, etc) and I have already spent around $1000 on stock (corals, fish, live rock, etc) Some of that stuff has been second hand equipment and stock from other people. What I haven't taken into account is travel costs, (petrol, wear and tear, time, speeding tickets :oops: ) Luckily on my dash up to grab corals from Dogmatix I didn't get a ticket! Still cost me $50 in gas, but they look good (not going to onsell them Conch) and I'm happy :bounce:

I would say that is the orange shoulder tang. If you read the article it says:

Get a frag out of wilsons Pico tank :lol:

Hi there.

Yeah T5's would be sweet, since its not that deep. What do you do for flow?

Wow, thats awesome Wilson! What kind of lighting do you use for that bad boy?

Currently I am trialling an additional smaller overflow to reduce noise. I got the idea from the MASA forum (Aussie site) Here is the link to the discussion: http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=168430&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 Basically my new setup is like this: The smaller overflow is a "full syphon" The larger overflow is a back-up setup as a "durso" The full syphon has a ball valve to allow it to be throttled back but this take most of the flow. The durso only takes about 10%. What I have found is that it is now exremely quiet and I have no bubbles entering the sump. Since I only have 1 hole in the bottom of the overflow my syphon goes up over the back of the tank and in through the back of the cabinet (more fool me for not putting a second 1 in :oops: )

Those lucky Aussies, all those different variations of Acans they have.. interesting to see on the MASA forum how much the Americans are willing to pay for them (i.e. $750-800) Here are some pics from their "show off to the americans" topic This one is a really blurry pic but you get the idea...

Living waters used to have a tropical marine fish only set-up in their shop. If you could track down the owner, I assume that she's still in Tauranga, she would probably give you a run down on it.

Yup this is from a while back. I am assuming this is an acan. Were they imported into new zealand at some point? Would it be possible that the importer has records to show that they were bought in? I am asking this as I see they are not on the list

Hey there Dogmatix, I wouldn't have a clue, is there a New Zealand supplier of Profilux? They have dosing pump units with between 1 and 4 pumps. But then I assume you would have to get their controller to run it.

Hi Oliver, Yes the diatoms will eventually go away, when I had diatoms I syphoned it off the areas that I could to, my snails took care of the rest. Have you got any marine snails in your tank? Sometimes you can be lucky and get some good ones as hitchhikers on corals and rock. If not, another local reefer might give you some. Another option is to go down to the rockpools (St Kilda would be best bet for you - great rockpools there!) and get some cats eye snails (they are the black ones, when you pick them up their mouth/foot retracts and a green "cats eye" covers up the hole). Even though they aren't tropical marines they do well in tropical tanks if you slowly acclimatise them before putting in both to your tank water parameters and temperature. Take a few hours to slowly do this, and they will be sweet. I have a dozen in my tank since I started and they are quite good at cleaning.

Cool, has somebody gone through the system to get some other species added to the list? How wide reaching is the change?

Have a read of the beginners guide sticky, you should get an idea of the requirements to go tropical marine. Who is telling you its easier? Not sure how that works, I have found it to be more work - extra maintenance requirements, more testing. But, I can definately tell you it is more interesting! (ducks for cover from all the freshwater tank enthusiasts) I have found that all the fish seem to have their own personalities, there is alot more activity in the tank, it is more colourful. Just be careful it gets addictive....

I purchased some coralvue 150W Double end lamps. I have found the lamps to be good, they are 20K, so are a slight blue hue, unlike the 10K aquamedic ones you have, which would be more of a yellow. I haven't heard of the Aquarelle lamps. Are they T5 or T8? Do you have a local shop in Dunedin, they might have something Can you post a new picture of your tank on your build thread: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/next-vt21787.html?postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 Curious how it is going !

RE: Can't remember the name of this one, can someone enlighten me? Umm, looks like a hairy green mushroom to me, I got some frags off cookie also a while back (Top man), he would have sent them in a bag with other mushrooms

The kole tang seems to hide behind the rock alot, still active roaring up and down the back, but just not out the front where I would prefer him to be :evil: . Would this be because it is the only tang in the tank? Or is it just a settling in/freaked out by the nosey people type thing I'm keeping my eyes out for another different tang to add in later on (christmas time)just not a bog standard type.

One less kole tang now I grabbed the one that was in the top tank with the yellow tang.

It will be interesting to see in a month or so. I was talking to Harold (Ardies old man), and he was saying they have their Quarantine facilities approved and are heading overseas this month to arrange suppliers. They are adding another 12 marine tanks. "Where the heck are they going to fit those?!?" - the wall on the hard left as you come into the fish room. :bounce: yeehah! :bounce:

Hmm, might have to get me one of those them there flame angels. Tank and pics look awesome too by the way. Did you stock it from an existing tank?

Any chance you could put a larger picture of the tank shot up, I don't have a 42inch monitor! What is the red looking fish shape at the bottom of the first pic? edit - 2 minutes later the pictures are bigger! How good is that!