Aquatopia

anal fin - thats interesting. might be worth posting the info on the post. do you know if the paint comes in different colours (im thinking one which matches coralline algae

Yeh dude - thats probably 1000lph at zero head though. Which means without having to pump upwards. Once a pump has to counter the force of gravity and push the water back UP to the tank, its flow rate reduces. Most pumps will give you a flow rate chart to show how it alters as the height (head) increases. Thus, if you want to achieve 1000lph you have to get a pump whose standard flow rate is greater than that.

Nope A good glazier can drill a hole in a tank that has already been made. Many will shy away from the job, but there are those that can and do do it.

Thanks Layton - i see what u r getting at. Livebearer_breeder... Absolutely, i believe Tunze do a weir box system that sits on the tank. They may well be noisy though, and i believe they are a last resort. The return can easily be put back into the tank using piping over the top too, in conjunction with a spraybar or other products like Oceans Motions revolutions - some of this can be unsightly and cluttered though, depending on tank location. I believe Chimera had his tank drilled even after he had set it up (am i right there Chim?) - just a case of getting a glazier who knows what he is doing.

Control - From my post, you will see I was merely expressing my concern that we should not even be discussing the possibility of a BEGINNER keeping an ANEMONE. Let alone at $500. I think its a valid point - as so many other experienced aquarists on here have said - it CANT be done right at that price, and it SHOULDNT be done by a beginner ANYWAY. What is the point of telling people what they CANT do for a fixed price? The initial question on this thread (which is what we should be addressing) is what a beginner CAN do, and what it would cost. I simply cannot understand why there is this sticking point about telling people what they cant do and why not. Surely its better to concentrate on the positives? And please stop getting so frustrated and defensive when anyone expresses an opinion or concern which might contradict what you want to say or do. We are all entitled to our own opinions and to state them on here freely.

Peter - next trip is Christmas - Im taking orders....... lol :lol:

Im sorry - I have tried to keep reasonably quiet, but talk of a BEGINNER (no disrespect - I was one and am still learning all the time) doing a tank to keep two clownfish and an anemone for $500 is still not on. The price is rubbish to start with, and the notion of a beginner who has not had any experience in marines is even worse. They are difficult to keep. They need specific (expensive) equipment (we HAVE said we are not going to factor in DIY). They need an understanding of water parameters, what affects those parameters, how to monitor them, and what to do if something goes wrong. This is something a beginner just is not set up to cope with (there may be a few lucky exceptions). Could we at least take the notion of an anemone out of this? I dont think beginners should consider keeping them untill they have acquired significant experience in marines in the first place. The budget would be blown on the tank/stand and skimmer BEFORE you even bought the lighting that an anemone requires.

Steve - what are "eductors" ? Thats not a word im familiar with. Cheers Chris

I put that link on regarding the compact halide unit but i gather it may cost a lot to ship over here - i am currently looking into that myself and if i get any sense out of the UK courier companies i have emailed i will post my findings. Does anyone else know a cheap way of getting stuff from europe? My personal stuff came over by ship and took 6 weeks. I reckon for big equipment we could all wait that long if it was non essential (ie a new project). If they can send 22 crates for $1000 how much can it cost to send one small light !! Will post the answer soon i hope.

Nop blitz - i think yo are right and i am wrong :oops: It seems that its the size of the pectoral fin in that pic which could be the defining factor. Again that could be pants too, lol. But hey - thats better if they are both beautifully coloured aye ! I also like the ruby red ones which have a tinge of blue on their fin edge. Another fine fish.

In terms of a tank that size, it may be worth considering the compact metal halides that Sevenoaks Tropical Marine produce. Here is the link link I hope that works. They are in the UK - i dont know if anyone over here does anything similar. I have seen them on their coral tanks and they rock ! Ideal for a little tank too.

Hi Size and volume aside, can i advise you against a hexagonal tank? The multiple angles will make viewing your corals a pain due to refraction. If you are limited to size then may i suggest having a cube shape made up which contains the same volume ? At that sort of size it wont cost alot. It will also make it easier to hang on the skimmer.

Hi I was always led to believe that the females were a murky brown colour - even in the cobalt blue - but I am probably wrong (again :roll: )

Houses is cool with me - put me at the bottom of the list to host though or you will be looking at a blank wall till i get my act together, lol. Joeblog - you git ! Raratonga whilst we are freezing our chestnuts here in Chch. Grrrr :evil: If any members of your party breaks their leg and you need someone to fill in.......

Extra Note to Chimera (well it gets my posts up) You are, of course, right though - i should get out of the habit of comparing $/£ :oops: Its a hard habit to break. :roll:

I guess it would be best to be squirting this stuff when there is not too much turbulence in the tank? Or wouldnt that matter ?

Chimera LOL - its funny that you should have used a coke analogy - because you are dead right - it IS 60p in England for the same size bottle you buy here for $1.50 ! :lol: As far as my comment regarding the cost of live rock here as opposed to the UK, what i was TRYING to say was that you pay more for for LR in the UK compared to here, but that it follows that you would because it is not the same thing. But lets not get drawn into an economics debate, thats not the purpose of my thread. All i am trying to do at the end of the day is work out the best way so sort out rock for my tank dude. :lol:

Well thats the nail on the head !

Lol - Pies, I think you just have to look at the evidence aye. A respected and successful reefkeeper IS using it, to no ill effect. It even seems he has covered the chemical issues involved, and he DOES have a point regarding to solubility of kalk. Im gonna trust Layton on that one. (Not that i will get Aiptasia is my tank when its finally setup - it wouldn't DARE) I was only half serious about the "hot tips". Look at the 'debate' that has ensued regarding someons question on what they need to change their 4x2x2 tank into marines! I reckon by the time we got consensus on any hot tips there would be no fish left in the ocean, lol.

Right, i must contact the patents office So you just squirt it in the close vicinity of the aiptasia? What quantity? 1ml ? More/less ? Sounds great !. Thanks for the tip. Maybe we should set up a "hot tips" thread.

Layton, Since it is you who has put the posting about Draino _ I will not question it. But had i read that elsewhere i would have baulked at the idea. (Yes yes, there are plenty of others on here i trust too - don't get upset) Does it not contain any other nasties that may be detrimental? I guess not since you use it with success. How do you apply it and it what quantities (as application and quantity seem to be specific with the other options). Maybe i should say "patent pending on this idea", but have you considered the possibilities of rebottling and selling as "Miracle Aiptasia Cure" ?? Chris

Chim Lol - that figures. Just like i will probably get a dwarf angel that is a real muncher !!

RnB Ahh, thanks mate ! Just what i DIDNT wanna hear, lol. (But feared would be the case). I had seen on video that they are difficult to keep but if they are that bad and fussy I will skip it - dont believe in keeping something just cos it looks nice if you cant cater to its need. Bit like seeing Mandarin Fish in a fish only aquarium with no bloody rock !! Grrr.

Hi - are you saying the rock that comes in is not "live rock" in the first place? I thought it was just the case that it comes in like it is shipped to any other country, but then it has to be washed off and then left to dry for 3 weeks. Does it actually arrive dry in the country then? I have been looking at the price of live rock in the UK, and it IS EXPENSIVE. Here for "rock" you pay what $10-12/kg (And some places charge more for "cured rock" - fair enough). In the UK, to buy "live rock" (ie cured and with lots of coralline growth and plenty of inhabitants) it is the equivalent of (hang on while i do the math) $25/kg. So, double. It seems its just a bit more of a waiting game here for the rock to get to a nice stage so ultimately its not a bad thing. Out of interest, is Coralline algae porous? IE, once it has encrusted a piece of rock, does that restrict that piece of rock's ability to perform dentitrification ?? Just a thought - probably totally wrong. Cheers

Eheim thermofilters without a doubt - they rock and are easy to maintain. Especially the professional ones.