Kermit

O'yeah i have i'm just wondering what the total weight the display tank is as it must be getting up there. :-? scary thought but that steel beam he has will hold it i'd hope.

Dam 9 people man, how did they all fit through the door i bet your stand weighs a bit to little to add the weight of water at 1.025Kg/L (again depending on specific gravity). How much water in your tank alone Pies? Robert

Just to keep it upto date. Well i rung glasstech as they seem to be the cheapest by far and the prices for me are 10mm @ $120+gst/sqm and 12mm @ $165+gst/sqm, now the lady at glasstech gave me this info as for how they calculate the glass thickness required, just a pitty it doesn't have my size tank bugger. http://www.metroglass.co.nz/138.asp One thing to add to the site above is that the pressure of 6kpa for a 600mm deap tank is correct for fresh as the specific gravity of fresh water is 1.000 but the specific gravity of salt water is 1.025 (depends on tank salt specific gravity) so for a marine tank the pressure is 6.15kpa @ 600mm deapth. Another interesting thing is that glass weighs approx 2.5kg/sqm/1mm thinkness so 10mm=25kg/sqm and 12mm=30kg/sqm and so on. Robert

Suphew , i agree with you but we don't know full detail and maybe the importers can let us know when they hear the full detail and what the situation is. Maybe the importers can respond to this post and let us know if they want us to hold fire or start the S*&% F*&%. Robert

I may have to go the SS way but i think i'll modify it like i mentioned here. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?p=50056#50056 Only if i can't avoid it, not looking good so far. Robert

Well i rung glasstech as they seem to be the cheapest by far and the prices for me are 10mm @ $120+gst/sqm and 12mm @ $165+gst/sqm, now the lady at glasstech gave me this info as for how they calculate the glass thickness required, just a pitty it doesn't have my size tank bugger. http://www.metroglass.co.nz/138.asp One thing to add to the site above is that the pressure of 6kpa for a 600mm deap tank is correct for fresh as the specific gravity of fresh water is 1.000 but the specific gravity of salt water is 1.025 (depends on tank salt specific gravity) so for a marine tank the pressure is 6.15kpa @ 600mm deapth. Another interesting thing is that glass weighs approx 2.5kg/sqm/1mm thinkness so 10mm=25kg/sqm and 12mm=30kg/sqm and so on. Robert

Yeah i agree 12mm it can't be that much more a. I'll give Rod a call thanks why didn't i think of that myself dir. Robert

Thanks Pies, Yeah i think i'll go 12mm now may then go 700 tall with that. As for bracing i'll have to think hard on what im going to do, might look at going to a larger size glass say 20mm thick by 100-120mm wide, hmmm damn braces. Robert

I'd like to beable to get away from any form of center brace if possible, i have concerns with the SS brace as posted in Pies thread. Thanks though. Robert

Hi all, can someone help? http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=7247 Thanks. Robert

Hi all, i'm in the planning period for my new Reef tank the overall dimensions are going to be 1800L x 900w x 650d made out of 10mm glass maybe 15mm depends on the price diff but lets say for now 10mm, now i don't want to have center braces restricting access through the top of the tank and i've been on the garf site and all tank sizes i've put in come out with the same top brace width of 2" (50mm) i just want to be 100% sure as i personnally think thats a bit small for the size i'm going. Can anyone help me on a safe brace width? Robert

Awsome slappers can't wait to some picks when your done. I may have to move to Hamilton so i can get a deal on the tank i'm building. Slappers are you going to put up thread on the Salties forum when you've got it done? Robert

Chemera you said this guy built you a 1500 x 600 x 600 tank for $300 man thats cheap, the LFS here charge $690 for a tank that size. Slappers go wider if you can you'l love the extra space. I too am building a larger tank myself and am trying to sorce a cheap supplier of glass as i require about 6 Square meters of 10mm glass and the cheapest is Glasstech at $120 + gst i've rung a thew companies and asked if they have any off cuts but they say no sorry, maybe people could PM if they know of anywhere down here in Chch that is cheaper or maybe have off cuts, or even better if someone works at a glass place here in Chch they could take pitty on me and PM to do me a deal . Robert

I too have heard rumors on this subject i don't know much more than mentioned above, but maybe just maybe members of this board could hold back from commenting on the subject in any negative way till after the importers have spoken to MAF to confirm the details and have tried to get the ban lifted or softened as anything said that may offend MAF could work against the hobby in end. I know it's hard but if people want to share their anger maybe we could all PM the people we want to share it with. Lets give the importers a chance to comprimise with MAF on this a, i'd hate to see this happen to the hobby. Robert.

Steve, i recomend Mana Island resort it's the only place in Fiji i've been to, beutiful surroundings and heaps of activities, the locals are really friendly and really go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. I've heard from a number of people that the Coral coast is very nice too but can't say i've experienced it for myself. Here's a link to Mana Island resort. http://www.manafiji.com/ Really lovely place, my wife and i would drop everything and live there if we could afford to, we loved it so much we're hoping to make it back at least ounce a year as we both love the place, as the locals say "Fiji time". Robert

Here's a link to help calculate your over flow size as the volume of water returning from your sump can change the size of your overflow required. http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/drain.php There's other calculators on this site that may help. Kermit

Welcome Steve, Awsome tank dude, awsome. Below is a link to MAF's allowed Marine/Freshwater Ornatental fish and inverts list, it'l give you an idea of whats allowed in NZ and maybe whats around in the local tanks. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/fisornic.all.htm O, and a link to show whats involved to be an approved importer. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/border/transitional-facilities/animals/154-02-06.htm#5

Sorry to hear .

I agree with Pies and Chimera on this one, my system was 260L and i was doing a 15% water change every week and when i missed my routen change i noticed it in my corals, my system is now around 400L and i can get away with doing it every two weeks before any signs show but i still do a 10-15% water change every week as i know its better for my live stock.

Good show Dave, Tank was looking great. Was good to meet everyone and have a chat. Roll on sunday again .

O yeah me to Layton.

1. Rod varies in lenght from 130-300mm long, thats why you'd probably through it out and buy a lenght from local hardware store, Mico Metals, electrical shop being 8mm diameter. 2. Long term in our enviroment are very good but i'd recomend covering it for the use around the aquarium, in an inclosure of some sort. 3. 24vac, 1.5va max. 4. 3 position, described above.

O, i should say we are the national distributors for Siemens HEVAC control/devices (except for Auckland which Siemens are the local suppliers) and sell these at work, they are 24vac 3 position control, meaning that they have two motor windings one drives one way and the other drives the other way. I have a data sheet here but dont know of how to post it so if anyone can tell me how to or maybe i can e-mail to you if need be. Robert

Motorise those lights with this bad boy. We use these to drive air conditioning grills up/down depending on heat/cool demands, (they come with a threaded rod that you'd probably through out) i was thinking you could use this to drive your lights across your tank on a threaded rod that runs long ways, you could have it drive back and forward when the lights are on using micro switches at each end to change the direction, or you could make a controller to drive it intermitently so that it drives across your tank ounce over the period your lights are on. They have more then enough torque to do the job at 150Nm. As for price they sell around $180 mark but may be able to do it cheaper. Robert

I asked about T5's they dont have them and said they couldn't get them but if you ask one of the lighting dudes they might beable to look into it more as the guy i spoke to just picked an answer out of the sky i think. You can get ones for the old fatties too. A, i get trade minus discount