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Opinon on setting up small tank.


Bluetom

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My plan was $500-$800 for complete setup.

Dont want to put you off but at that price I would not even bother starting, Layton is right $3k-$4k minimum is much more realistic. It all adds up... and then there is maintainance costs. ASW (varies, not sure how valid 16c/litre is), test kits ($25 each on average for 50 tests), Mg, Ca, kH supplements (can be expensive), bulbs (typically halide bulbs need replacing more often and cost more), fish food, optionally activated carbon, algae control products such as rowaphos, etc etc.

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  • 4 weeks later...
For you, my suggestion would be to contact 2 or 3 nearby reefers and see if you could go look at their tank. When you are needing basic info to get started, you can learn more in 5 minutes seeing how a real tank works, and be able to formulate your own method.

So, any reefers in Auckland (pref. NS) willing for me to come around and have a look at their tanks?

I've been admiring a 4foot tank on TM, and I'm thinking that I want to revert my 3foot back to the state it was in when I got it - Marine!

I don't have space under the cabinet for a sump, so it will have to be running through a Fluval 404, for mechanial filtration (can't use it for biological filtering?), and i'm looking for a HOB Skimmer.

What size fish & how many?

Where to get Live Rock?

What kind of Gravel to use?

How to attach frags to rock, and what to use to make sure that the rocks don't move?

I'm not looking for the "normal" marine stock of clowns + blue tang, i'm looking for something a little more.. interesting...

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I'm in Mairangi Bay so you can drop over although I'm not sure if my tank is that much more.... interesting...... :o

Anyhow, give me a call on 479-5446 if you want to have a look. My name's Alastair

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If you want to see the sort of thing you can achieve on a lower budget you are welcome to come have a look at my reef- i have spent just over 2k so far and have been doing it on the cheap. give me a pm if you wanna have a look

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What size fish & how many?

For a 3ft we need more dimensions. in my 3 ft i have 10 fish i think. most of them will grow to 10 cm max except my CBB

Where to get Live Rock?

There is plenty of people on here in auckland which will sell you some. otherwise look on trademe

What kind of Gravel to use?

Don't use gravel in a marine setup- either coral balls or aragonite sand- i'd recommend bb to begin with though

How to attach frags to rock, and what to use to make sure that the rocks don't move?

for a 3 ft tank stacking rocks should be alright- if you want to stack them so they don't move use some quick cement- Alistair has some good stuff that he did some frag bases for me from, so ask him where he got it from... to attach frags to rocks most people use 2 part epoxy, some people use holes and pins fade from plastic like in this tank- http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/totm/index.php

finally- do lots of reading good places to start are-

http://www.reefcentral.com/

http://advancedaquarist.com/

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