RnB

Just wondering how much overlap there is? For the record, I dive.......

there is a really cool hydroponics shop on SH1 north of WGTN about 1hour... they do ph monitors, pumps etc etc, halide lighting........ next time you passing its worth a quick peek.

search for transformer on trademe

I like this tank more then the steve west one.......... uber

nz retail good, two legs bad!

Pies We have done this to death..... I suggest each of us just continues to support the people we think are doing the most for us, the hobby etc etc I can 100% say that the increased competition in AKL has reduced prices in the retail channel, and I suspect other channels as well......

maybe, i think the retailers have to charge a lot to support their outdated massive markup biz model. The wholesalers are only selling direct because their retail clients are leaving their downstream channel to buy via the international mailorder channel..... really all but the livestock importers are pretty much doomed. They add only a little value, and the US based internet mail order guys can offer such good prices. Once you went to the LFS to compare eheim products... now there is a whole raft of latest technology and you go to the INTERNET to get unbiased commercial free advice and product comparisons... hell you even get rec's as to who has the cheapest online price...... Their will always be people prepared to give the local importer 20-30% simply because they do not feel comfortable dealing with international payments/shipping/customs etc. so the Marine guys i see surviving are Aquanet. Pacific Aquaria. Anyone who goes heavy for Trademe based model.

like who cares We already have importers selling direct for livestock..... Same will happen soon in other areas......... Parrallel and grey imports..... Each of the backyards is a business.. just like the shops, only setup with a different model...... they maybe your friends, but they are making a margin = BUSINESS. by the way, last year in the US, $40billion dollars of vehicles went via ebay...... support the BUSINESS that gives you the best deal..... its your choice you are the consumer....... and its their choice as importers if they want to bypass their established distribution channels.

pome next time you go home, go online on www.loot.com and travel up to manchester..... buy heaps of kit and pack it up in a tea chest, much cheaper 2nd hand there then here...... Peter

imported Iwaki for return pump .. why (you will get a great pump for the same price as an NZ sourced ehiem, and you will be able to use it on the next bigger tank too. I would say buy a Iwaki 55, cost ??? if you don't have the patience to wait for delivery... give up the hobby now! Payless plastics etc for 25L water carriers. Get 4 so you can collect NSW cost about $20 each Old plastic drum to cure your own rock, will save you a fortune. AKL 240L rubbish bins are EXCELENT if you can find one.

suphew - great post, sums it up....... Its a waste of time looking at all the display tanks in most shops, without being willing to spend the dosh that they cost to setup, can only end in tears. Its why at the budget car places they have all the nice autos out front, and the cheap stock in back..... hook the dreamer and close the deal! I would say that a minimum spend is $1000, but if you are looking at any of the $5k+ tanks that members on this site have... why are you so smart that you can do it for less? don't even dream it will look like them, I have over 150kg of rock in my TANK! DIY is cool and you can get some awesome results, but it STILL costs lots for the acrylic sheets, special blades etc etc...... I collect 3k worth of 2nd hand kit before I even added water.

CB yes they will clear your tank of them, and feather dusters etc... if you get one that eats these guys but you will struggle to feed them once they have eaton everything they want to eat. only get one if you have the ability to remove it from your tank and feed it in a quiet environment, pref with lots of rock as well.....

what is the floor made from? how will you deal with the evap? extracter fan or dehumidifier.....

no thats your hypothesis.... and i think its a lousey one. since when did a major water quality problem effect a single coral in your tank. it would be a reasonable hypothesis if something else turns south in the next few days tho. maybe you have too low phosphate/nutrient levels....

pies frag it and put some in your sump/refugium.... maybe it just got chemical attacked by something else in the tank..... rather then try to work out what happened try to salvage the situation. you may (read prob will) never know for sure...... I think you need to be disciplined and almosta perfectionist to keep an awesome tank.... but you also have to be able to let go and realise that you will just never know........ thats a lot of water change, I really doubt iodine is low but trust your instruments, c if you can borrow a kit locally? clownfish book will be in post before weekend! sorry its taken so long.

see a few, most in the past have been sold directly wholesaler to reef keeper. Some stores do not have water quality sufficient to keep acros in good condition..... or the lighting required.

I have been running two skimmers over the last month Got the H&S off zeo and added it to the sump to compare them side by side. I have looked at the needle wheel on the H&S and the needle wheels on the Deltec, there is little difference. I think the same size deltec = the same size H&S in ability to skim. more pumps = better skimming. I have plans for the H&S skimmer, prob not on my small 500L system tho. Peter

deltec TS1060 and a H&S 2 x 1060 unit.... the H & S pulls out maybe 1-1.5L per week, the deltec about 1/2 that. But they are two differnt beasts, the H & S is rated way higher then the Deltec in tank size its capable of skimming.

there are two places in NZ who could frabricate an acrylic tank this size. PM me if you are serious and I put you in touch with the pros.....

go and see it, i doubt he will sell for less then 3k, as you say easiy to move bits for more..... using trademe to get sales leads..... perhaps he has little time..... Edited (Mod)

not much missing.............

This sounds like a very good initial setup for someone. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Lifestyle/Pets-animals/Fish/Fish/auction-24526713.htm

I have watched pies setup grow from the original tank and sump to the current outstanding effort. It may just be that I have not seen enough other tanks, but the thought and research and effort Mark puts in does deserve recognition......

Yep, even I think that only market growth will drive further falls from here.....

I was at hollywoods sunday..... Prices have come further down on corals...... and Tomatoe clowns at Jansens $49