Salty Fish keepers, advice required please.....
Discussion
I always wanted to try Reefing, but build costs and evrything else scared me right off.
Now, some months later, I have decided that I miss my fishkeeping way to much - been tankless since Feb after 30 plus years of keeping a range of different FW Trops.
A bit more research leads me into the FOWLR idea, and I think thats what Im going to do.
Looking at a 48x30x24 ND Marine tank and cab, as last 600 litre came from them and was fine.
Have no real idea on hardware after that tbh, really like the Nyos Skimmers, but open to all suggestions on HW/Lighting/Filtration etc ect
Stockwise, I really like the Anthias/Wrasse/Goby/Blenny, want a flame Angel and pair of clowns, but very open to suggestions.....
Now, some months later, I have decided that I miss my fishkeeping way to much - been tankless since Feb after 30 plus years of keeping a range of different FW Trops.
A bit more research leads me into the FOWLR idea, and I think thats what Im going to do.
Looking at a 48x30x24 ND Marine tank and cab, as last 600 litre came from them and was fine.
Have no real idea on hardware after that tbh, really like the Nyos Skimmers, but open to all suggestions on HW/Lighting/Filtration etc ect
Stockwise, I really like the Anthias/Wrasse/Goby/Blenny, want a flame Angel and pair of clowns, but very open to suggestions.....
I would ask all your questions over at www.ultimatereef.com
I ran an Acropora (hard coral) reef tank for 10 years.
FOWLR are a pain in my opinion - as you are always polluting the water with feed. You will almost certainly need a phosphate reactor of some description. A reef tank out of sync - just looks like a horrible brown algae mess! The algae will cover everything!
Personally, I preferred running a more natural ecosystem, running a natural sump with various algae and sandbeds to help process excess waste, along side a skimmer, calcium reactor, phosphate reactor etc. I also needed to run the system computer controlled - due to all the other additives and monitoring etc being required.
Once stable the tanks can be kind to the aquarist - but cycling the tank and getting all the parameters correct is not easy! Working out what change caused what effect is part of the pleasure and the pain of reef keeping.
Also remember, you need to do a 25% water change weekly. Being salty, you will need to 1) Run a RO system to get purified H20. 2) Then add the salt mix and pump and aerate for 48 hrs.
With all the extra equipment - salt water tanks are much noisier. (SWMBO was not happy over time). Also due to coralline algae build up - float switches fail .. leading to significant water leaks!!
For me, that meant having 100s of litres of salt water kicking around the house!!
Have you kept Malawi cichlids before? That would be my recommendation unless your heart is set on Saltwater.
Whatever way you go - good luck.
I dearly miss my reef tank .... but love the fact I can leave the house for more than a day at a time.
Edit : If you go salt - get a watchman goby and the pistol shrimp. I had two pairs. They are incredible to watch as they have a symbiotic relationship!!!
I ran an Acropora (hard coral) reef tank for 10 years.
FOWLR are a pain in my opinion - as you are always polluting the water with feed. You will almost certainly need a phosphate reactor of some description. A reef tank out of sync - just looks like a horrible brown algae mess! The algae will cover everything!
Personally, I preferred running a more natural ecosystem, running a natural sump with various algae and sandbeds to help process excess waste, along side a skimmer, calcium reactor, phosphate reactor etc. I also needed to run the system computer controlled - due to all the other additives and monitoring etc being required.
Once stable the tanks can be kind to the aquarist - but cycling the tank and getting all the parameters correct is not easy! Working out what change caused what effect is part of the pleasure and the pain of reef keeping.
Also remember, you need to do a 25% water change weekly. Being salty, you will need to 1) Run a RO system to get purified H20. 2) Then add the salt mix and pump and aerate for 48 hrs.
With all the extra equipment - salt water tanks are much noisier. (SWMBO was not happy over time). Also due to coralline algae build up - float switches fail .. leading to significant water leaks!!
For me, that meant having 100s of litres of salt water kicking around the house!!
Have you kept Malawi cichlids before? That would be my recommendation unless your heart is set on Saltwater.
Whatever way you go - good luck.
I dearly miss my reef tank .... but love the fact I can leave the house for more than a day at a time.
Edit : If you go salt - get a watchman goby and the pistol shrimp. I had two pairs. They are incredible to watch as they have a symbiotic relationship!!!
Edited by BigJonMcQuimm on Thursday 30th August 15:54
Turn7 said:
Cool Mart said:
Where abouts in Herts are you ?
Tring....Always happy to chat/advise about marine systems, I've had various systems over the years and ND built my current 1500ltr full reef tank on-site.
This was the initial build thread I had on Ultimate Reef - http://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/and-then-there...
but the tank looks a little different now
Send me a pm if you want to come and see my system and chat about your plans.
Martin
Edited by Cool Mart on Friday 31st August 09:50
Cool Mart said:
Turn7 said:
Cool Mart said:
Where abouts in Herts are you ?
Tring....Always happy to chat/advise about marine systems, I've had various systems over the years and ND built my current 1500ltr full reef tank on-site.
This was the initial build thread I had on Ultimate Reef - http://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/and-then-there...
but the tank looks a little different now
Send me a pm if you want to come and see my system and chat about your plans.
Martin
Do you have an MEV kit car as well (from your pic) ?
Turn7 said:
Cool Mart said:
Turn7 said:
Cool Mart said:
Where abouts in Herts are you ?
Tring....Always happy to chat/advise about marine systems, I've had various systems over the years and ND built my current 1500ltr full reef tank on-site.
This was the initial build thread I had on Ultimate Reef - http://www.ultimatereef.net/threads/and-then-there...
but the tank looks a little different now
Send me a pm if you want to come and see my system and chat about your plans.
Martin
Do you have an MEV kit car as well (from your pic) ?
Yep, the Rocket takes care of any money I don't spend on the kids or the Reef tank .... I need a cheap hobby like train spotting or Origami
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