HelifaxNZ

Also recommend waiting a couple of days or three after rain before collecting.

From the boat ramp. You do have to pick your days and time. Never had any issues and never had any fish die. A lot of marine people do this and have no issues. Saves a lot of Moolas!

Where in NZ are you from? Up in Auckland I collect Saltwater from Takapuna when the tide is rising. Maybe you can do the same which will save you salt costs. Takapuna water salinity is around 1.026 so I have to add a little RODI water to dilute it down.

I'm trailing the lights. If it is a goer which I think it will be, I'll import some in and sell them. Will be around the $180 mark which includes the stand. If you decide to start a nano. I might consider loaning or selling you the other light I have so you can test them out. I've taken some video footage of the Zoos I have. Once I have collated them I'll be posting it up.

HFF already have stock. I know they were selling like hotcakes! I have not used any supplements yet. Waiting a little longer before I start. Might use Zeovit Starter. Still thinking about it. I definitely use a refractometer to make sure salinity is right. Usually betweek 1023-1025, but with an auto top off it's pretty stable. Made it myself as buying one just costs too much. Easy to make using a battery powered air pump. Check on Youtube for DIY. You will have to import the floating switch though as I haven't seen any small ones in NZ. Skimmer is still breaking in. Did change the airstone (wooden one that came with the skimmer) to a Redsea and 100% better. Smaller bubbles which is what you need. No sump and no refugium. Here's a link to my tank... http://www.nzmas.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12479

I've just setup about a month ago a nano tank. Dymax IQ5 with a Dymax 30w heater and a Dymax Venturi Protein Skimmer. I got a lid made as HFF did not have any stock of the Dymax lid. I've imported a couple of Cree PAR38 lights. One is 6x6 - 6 white and 6 blue. The other is 8x4. The 8x4 is brighter and would be good for Acros. The other is a nice balance. The tank comes with lights but is not strong enough for Marines. Hard to say which I prefer as both are just as nice. I've just this week added some Zoos. They seem to be enjoying the light. I'm working out an auto top off as evaporation is faster on a nano, but has reduced since I put the lid on. Definitely cheaper to run than bigger tanks, BUT you need to be more meticulous with maintenance. I personally think top up water is the most important as the salinity will fluctuate greatly if a lot of water had evaporated.

What size tank are you going to have? Deltec is a good product, but is very very expensive and there are alternative brands out there if you cannot afford a Deltec.

Great to have someone who works at the Antarctic on this forum. Creepy critters!

They look soo cool. Well done.

Don't be too put off. Check out http://www.nano-reef.com for more beginner information.

Cost me $75NZ (shipped to door) from USA. So you also need a transformer which will covert 240v to 110v. Made by TAAM has had good reviews for such a small skimmer.

You would only do a cup at a time. I will see how things go. Maybe every 2nd day.

I'm setting up a new Nano Tank. Approx. 27 litre. So far for the tank, 55w heater and a Rio Nano Skimmer it has cost me $199.00. Tank is curve front, 60cm (l) x 20cm (h) x 23cm (w). Will put up a new thread when I start setting it up which hopefully be soon. You can get a smaller version of this tank at Pupuke Aquariums.

Do you know how to use the power meter? I got myself a couple of them but can't understand the manual, nor do I know what exactly I'm looking at/for.

Hey dwalker, Did you use one of those plugin power monitors?