Jellymeat
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Posts posted by Jellymeat
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It could just be your lighting, corals look different under different lights, your lights may be washing the colour out.
I have had many corals that i have purchased that look a lot different when in my tank compared to when i got them but they usually look better which is lucky.
on another note you need to lower your nitrates and raise your calcium by 25ppm.
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This is exactly my problem too. I had no ideal how to go about DIY. I would be open to it, but would need lots of help. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a marine tank to ask.
If I could just go somewhere and see a tank/sump/stand unit that looks tidy I'd be happy. I'm really keen to get something that looks like a nice piece of furniture as well. I have seen some setups online that look quite untidy. That might be a bit too picky but as looking to have a setup in the lounge would like something that looks nice overall too.
You are welcome to come and have a look at my custom tank i am on the North Shore
You can see some pics of my tank in the link in my signature
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really really nice tank !drool:
well done very tidy and great equipment, you certainly know what your doing mate :thup:
Thanks for that, this is only my second reef tank. but I put a lot of thought into it as i don't want to change it for the next few years haha
This time i decided to get some quality pieces and i'm glad i did.
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I've had mine about three weeks too with no obvious weight loss. I squirt the mysid and brine into the rock work and he seems to pick in that area. He cleaned out my apistasia on day 3 - it was there and ten mins later all was gone. He's also cleaned out all my fans
He was eating mysid and brine in the shop before I got him. Where do you get the clams from, my paknsave only has mussels and how long do you leave it in the tank for? I haven't tried garlic guard but was contemplating it this morning. I think I will try tomorrow.
I get the clams from pak n save normally in sack things with the mussels.
I leave in in for a couple hours, so i know he has had a good feed, then cut it up and fed it to the rest of my fish, they go mental over it.
nice build
Thank you it took a lot of planning and effort
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Looking good
What's the Copperband eating?
Seems to mainly be eating pods and stuff in the live rock.
I have been trying mussel with a cracked shell so the other fish can not eat it, cockle (clam), mysis and brine shrimp.
I have seen it eat the mussel but not so much the rest but i am trying to get the mysis and brine shrimp in to the holes of the rock so he can eat it out of it.
I put the mussel in a place that i know he is away from the other fish which seems to help
When i got him he was eating misys and brine, but he is a bit skittish when its feeding time as the other fish act like they haven't been fed in weeks haha.
I have had him for about 3 weeks now and hasn't lost any weight
Have you tried soaking food in garlic guard?
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Here are some pics from the other week
Latest addition to the tank
Colour of these guys is way better in person
Here are some growth and colour comparisons
3 months ago
Today
3 months ago
Today
3 months ago
Today
3 months ago
Today
3 months ago - was very brown
Today - it is so green looks like a different coral
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Looking bloody good mate!
Good job!
Thank you still have quite a bit to do to make it look better.
Looks great! Where did you get the fans for the stand from?I've got my chiller up for sale atm if you are interested in a near new one
I have one sitting in my garage. Just waiting for summer to see if i need if not it will be for sale to.
I purchased them off k-tech one of the cheapest places. Here is the link
http://www.impc.co.nz/products/list/fans_cooling-170-page0.html
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So i have just upgraded from a Aqua reef 400 to a fully custom set up
Current livestock:
Foxface
2x Ocellaris clownfish
Fiji devil damsel
Flame angel
Royal gramma
Reb bar goby
Purple tang
6x Anthia Lyretail (1x male, 5x female)
Numerous zoas
Leathers
Mushrooms
Frogspawn
Hammer coral
Red and green plating montipora
Bubble tip anemone
Upgrade equipment
Lights - 3x Gen 3 radions
Return pump: jebao DC6000
Skimmer: Skimz 162
Wavemaker: Jebao FS14000 on twins controller
Chiller: 1/2HP Hailea if needed
Heat and cooling controller
cooling 3x 120mm fans in the stand
Heater 2x jager
Auto top up: Auto Aqua
Tank
1500mm L x 600mm W x 700mm H
It will have euro bracing although the pic doesn't show it as i don't know the size of it.
I will be having an external coast to coast overflow with bean overflow system.
Sump design
Slightly varied from the design below but basically the same
This is my old aqua reef
Left hand side
Right hand side
And here is the start of the long process of setting up the new tank
Sump
Some of the overflow set up
Freshly vinyled background. Its vinyled on the inside of the overflow to hide the plumbing
Full overflow setup
Plumbing and stand cooling
Sump in top up tank in, plumbing done. Except for the mistake that i was fixing :facepalm:
Rock layout
Left hand side
Right hand side
All fish and coral in
Custom light hood and rail for the 3x gen 3
Light on no corals properly placed
Some corals placed but substrate still messy
Now to finish mounting corals and decide what to do with my frag rack probably will end in the sump.
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If you want a pretty good led light unit there is a guy on nzmas forum called Nautilus who may still have his maspect razor for sale you could find him and pm him
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:gpo2:
Thanks! I will get my rock and start cycling it. I was thinking I would do a road trip down to Christchurch with a sheet of cardboard with the same footprint as the tank. So I can go to one of the stores down there and layout the rock in store, buying the bits I like. Can anyone tell me how many KG's of rock I will need for this tank?
I would prefer to get just one light unit, this has stopped being such a budget build 1) I have a considerable bit of funding towards this coming my way in the up and coming future and 2) I will possibly be living in the same room as this tank in the near future, so I want quiet equipment.
Because I want one unit, will this light suffice?
I can ship it to NZ for $250 so for a LED unit it is a pretty good deal. And from my understanding Marineland is a trusted brand.
I am also interested in adding a wet/dry filter with a sump in it. This means I have a wider variety of Skimmers to choose from. I was thinking I would build my own for this as I would like the experience, and it seems like a fun project.
Regards,
Will
From experience it is best to spend the money upfront on you lights and skimmer do not skimp on them as they are a very important part of the system.
I'm going through an upgrade at the moment is it is costing over 4k for led lights, new tank, sump ad skimmer alone plus the 2k i have already spent on all the stuff in my current tank.
Those lights look ok but there really is not enough blue chips in it
Generally most people go for 50/50 white blue ratio.
If you were to get that light you would want the 36" to 42" since you have a 3 foot tank.
If i were you i would spend more on the lights so you don't get disappointed
As for a skimmer it is probably best o buy one so it works properly like this one
http://deepblueaquarium.co.nz//product_info.php?cPath=42_43&products_id=219
For coral rock if remember correctly is about 1kg per 10L
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Sorry big facepalm, put in the wrong link. I was meaning could I use a normal one like this one
With the reef grade actinic tubes. Will something like that work? Or do I need a specific fixture for aquariums.
Regards,
Will
No as the wattage is wrong for aquarium T5 tubes
You want something like this for t5s
http://www.trademe.co.nz/pets-animals/fish/lights-lamps/auction-735764649.htm
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Hi All,
Sorry for double post, but I found a relatively good LED light that I can get shipping for $320.
It says Reef Capable but I want to know if it is going to be a good light. Also can anyone tell me if it is the most cost effective solution for me.
Regards,
Will
This could be a better choice for you
http://www.fish-street.com/product_details.php?category_id=118&item_id=593¤cy_code=NZD
Same price but higher wattage. But for leds wattage isn't everything.
However all of the high end fittings usually use 3w chips.
Also this fitting has a built in timer
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In terms of lighting I was thinking something like this. http://www.wonderworldpetcentre.co.nz/shop.php?action=moreinfo&itemid=9826 Would it be a suitable light? I know I would have to get the correct marine bulbs. I am looking for lights in that sort of price range so sub-$200. Also thanks for the tip about going no sand bed. I will definitely not have a sand bed to begin with.
Will
If you are wanting to grow corals i wouldn't touch T8 fittings like that.
You may be able to pick up some second have hagen glo t5 light fittings or ballasts.
I have been using T5s for they last year and having great success. They are used a lot because they have a high output.
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Here are the last photos of this tank ever as it is closing down and is going to be replaced with my upgraded marine tank.
It will be sad once it has gone, have spent many hours and $$$ on it, but am wanting to only have one tank now.
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I have been trying to sign up with an orcon account. Even emailed admin but no reply.
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Hi guys,
my co2 solenoid is continuously letting co2 through it even when it is off.
Does this mean that the solenoid is buggered or the valve is buggered?
I can hear the tick of the valve moving.
Thank you
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So i had a busy weekend last weekend with the tank overhaul.
Tank:
150cm long x 60cm wide x 70cm high
On custom built stand with Rimu t & v cladding
Stocking:
10 discus
Approx 20 Rummy nose tetras
7 sterbai corys soon to be 20 in the weekend
3 butterfly rams
2 panda whiptails
Stubstrate:
4 bags of flourite black sand
75kg bright water river stones
Equipment:
3 x dual t5 hagen light fitting
Eheim professional 3 2080 filter.
9.5kg pressurised co2 system
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So this coming weekend i have some big plans for this tank.
I am completely removing everything from the tank. And selling off half of my fish most of which already have new homes.
The plan is for my planted 2.0 tank:
4 bags of fluorite black sand
3-6mm brightwater pebbles
Eheim profesional 3 2080. Amazing!!! Espically when it was $350 with only 5 months use :happy1:
Cutting out the overflow and removing the sump
Finally making a canopy Only taken about a year haha
Thinking about making an inline co2 reactor anyone have any ideas?
Stocking:
8 discus
7 sterbai - Thinking about getting 13 more. Anyone breeding these guys?
2 Panda whiptails
3 Bolivian butterfly rams
5 Apistogramma trifasciata
A big school of rummy noses
I lost 3 discus and a green and blue phantom and a flying fox due to lack of oxygen a couple weeks ago. There went $600 odd :facepalm:
Will post some pics after the weekend
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Flourite has worked well for me in the past, the grain size is a bit large for my liking though. For ease of use, I'd go Fluorite but personally I prefer 2-3mm grit with aquabasis below.
Thanks for that. I currently have grit that is 0.8mm to 1.4mm in my tank.
I have been reading on seachems website that the different flourites have different levels of nutrients.
The link below shows the different levels of nutrients. Which one do you guys think is best.
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I have a question to the people with planted tanks.
I am thinking of doing an overhaul on my tank, by replacing the grit in my tank to 3-6mm river pebbles (Brightwater).
and also adding in 4 bags of seachem flourite.
So my question is what substrate do you guys have in your planted tanks?
And you views on flourite?
And the price of flourite is not a factor for me as i work in a pet shop.
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Well i haven't put up any photos of my tank for ages so I though I should bring this thread back form the dead.
I still haven't even put the doors on my stand only been a year or so.
I have upgraded my lighting to three hagen glo 54w t5 light fittings.
So here are some photos after i got rid of alot of moss and plants.
Now i need to get some nice back ground plants. Any suggestions? Something with good size leaves and is tall.
Left side
Right side
Panda whiptail
Apistogramma trifasciata
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I went down to aquaworld today and her recommended this skimmer http://www.aquaworld.co.nz/estore/style/rdc-850.aspx
He said that they are really good has anyone used one?
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I have the BM curve 7 and it works awesome. I have only read good things about cone skimmers and them being better than traditional cylinder skimmers.
BM seem to be built well and are very quiet.
I just got some corals and the lady was running the curve 7 for about a year and she said it was pretty good and that she has had any problems with it.
How long have you been running your one for for?
I have also seen that aquaworld has some skimmers on for about half price and one had any experience with them
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I have the aquaone aqua reef 400 tank, Am i and in the process of getting a new sump made so that i can get a new skimmer to replace the crappy aquaone G220 skimmer.
So once i have my new sump my set up will be around the 550L mark.
I am thinking about getting a big skimmer.
I have been doing quite a bit of research on them and i have found a couple. I don't have the hugest budget for one.
I have been recommended this by HFF
Reef Octopus External Hangon - BH100
I have also found a second hand Deltec APF600
And i have also been looking at the
BUBBLE MAGUS CURVE 9 CONE ROCK SKIMMER
BUBBLE MAGUS CURVE 180 PROTEIN SKIMMER
I would like to know if some people have hand any experience with these, Or if there are another suggestions
Jellymeat's reef upgrade
in Saltwater
Posted
I haven't uploaded any photos for a while so decided to take some today.
Update on my tank
About 3 weeks ago i lost my CBB. Not really sure what happened he was healthy and eating like a pig. I found that he had some scuffed up scales at the bottom of his dorsal fins and then the next day it was all red at that spot. He died just a few hours after being in QT.
I also changed salts to Aqualab, but will be changing again most likely to Dupla marin, as i don't like the high levels of alk and Calcium as i would prefer colour to growth.
My current live stock (Fish) is:
Foxface Rabbitfish
Doliatus Rabbitfish
Purple Tang
Yellow belly Blue Tang
Flame Angle
Royal Gramma
Six Line Wrasse
Green Mandarin
Red Bar Goby
2x Ocellaris Clownfish
4x Lyretail anthias
Soon i will be adding two cleaner shrimp
Here are the photos please excuse the glare and the not so in focus ones.