HelifaxNZ

Hi Guys, Got my two tanks on Friday before the weekend My wife was not too happy as she thought she could have the desk where the tank will be sitting on, all clear for her to work! :oops: But after a few compromises and a lot of sucking up - A LOT of sucking up, I'm sweet!!!! The tanks were made by Greg - Tanks2U. He's done an awesome job. The main tank is a cube (well almost) 500mm(H) x 450(L) x 450(W). The sump is 500mm(L) x 300(W) x 360(H) with a couple of baffles and a fuge. I am getting some acrylic sheets to make the overflow for the main tank which will be at the back in the middle of the tank. Also will make a corner box in the sump for the overflow water. After much deliberation I had decided to make 2 durso standpipes in the main tank. This is just incase one is blocked for some reason. I have spoken with Jetskisteve on this and he did say it wasn't necessary, but for my piece of mind, I decided to keep it in the plans. So here's some photos. Before painting the back: After painting the back: Plasticote Marine Blue Spray Paint I was meant to make it two tone, marine blue up top and black below. Unfortunately I was happily spraying the blue then remembered about the black!!!! So decided to spray the black on the bottom half anyway, which works ok because the bottom does look slightly darker than the top when looking through. Finished product looking through: You maybe able to see on the right of the last photo, there is a gap. This is where all the plumbing is going through down to the sump. So no need for holes through the table. Oh and I will be buying another table leg to help support the tank because I'm sure the end is not going to hold sand, water, and rocks!

That looks awesome.

Just looked up on DSE website and they have a 5mm White LED 16,000mcd!! 3volt. Not sure what the wavelength is for this. $4.18.

Feelers, I did see at DSE having white LED lights 8000mcd and I think even brighter. The only issue is whether they have the full spectrum that MH has.

I've seen a few using a strip of LED's and they look really good. Yes they can look quite focused, but if you put them higher up, it is much better. Also you can shape them into a circle so it will look more like a full moon.

So if a lot of fish eats these shrimps, why don't they eat any of the other types of shrimps like cleaner or fire shrimps?

Hi Folks, Searched for a thread on Moonlights and found this old one. Just tonight have wired up 5 blue leds bought at DSE for $3.38 each. They are 5mm High Intensity 8000mcd Blue LED. Looks really good. What cost the most was the AC Adaptor. For 5 LED's, you need 15v (each light requires max 3.4v). The wavelength range is 465-470nm. Here's a couple of pictures. I'm going to find a plastic tube to put the lights in to protect against water splash.

Can you actually keep rock pool shrimps in with your reef? How do the fish cope with them?

Well, went out and got the paint. For those who wish to know, it is the Plasticote - Marine Blue spray paint. I have some black lacqueur of this brand and might experiment on my small spare tank, having the blue up the top half then fading to the black for the bottom. Then I'll get the best of both worlds!!

No, Mt. Eden. North Shore does not have any marine tanks.

Yeah. Wives are good when they stay in the kitchen while we guys work on our tanks!

Bakers hands??? I recall your wife cooking the day I came over! :lol:

What's the brand, and is it spray on? I like it so much, I'm going to do the same when I get my tank. Cheers HelifaxNZ

Hi Folks, I've been trying to find information on how you handle the Corals and Anemones. I've read that people have been stung by corals. Do you wear protective gloves(like the latex or plastic) when handling them? Cheers HelifaxNZ.

Your tank looks good. Is the blue background a stick on backing or did you paint it? IF you did paint the back, what did you use, colour, etc. Cheers

Hey I have two of those fish you have in the tank. They're expensive to keep, and need constant supervision! :bounce:

I bought one from Ebay. Me and Jetskisteve tested it out and found his refractometer showed 1.026 and my digital to be 1.023. Temperature was accurate and it automatically adjusts to the temperature. So we're none the wiser which one was better. The digital came with salt water to calibrate the unit, and it was slightly out, but not so much to make that much of a difference. My conclusion is for the convenience, the digital is good.

Thanks Guys, Sorry for all the questions, but I also read the salinity of NSW is higher (1029). Is that ok, or do you have to dilute the NSW?

So do you guys heat it up first? and do you pour it into the Sump or the main tank? Cheers.

Hi folks, I found this thread about keeping NSW. I always thought you had to filter or keep the water for a couple of days before you introduce it to your tank?

Isn't there gloves that go right up your arm that you can use?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not looking for anything in particular as I'm still getting all the kit to setup a tank, but when I see all the pictures of amazing coloured corals from the US sites, and what I see at the LFS, it just looks disappointing, but it is a good point to ask the LFS what will be coming in and what they can get for me. When I'm ready, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks

Hey Brianenome, Do you travel up to Auckland to get your corals, etc.? Or are you saying Jansens in Hamilton has a good selection?

Are you saying you're a supplier Jetskisteve? By the way, I have received my electronic Salinity tester, so I'll arrange a time with you to come over and put it to the test, if that's ok. PM me with some times. I'm free Sunday and Monday from late afternoon or one evening this week.

Hi Reef, Majority of the fish are just ok, and the corals I have seen at HFF on North Shore and from Jansens Mt. Eden isn't very impressive. Maybe I went in at the wrong times. I have not been to HFF in Mt. Roskill, but I do hear they have a much better selection.