Marine Aquarium

[davo]

Something that I have thought about for ages, recently spurred by my gf getting a freshwater tank, was to get a marine ecosystem going. Anyone else into this?

Well I came across a tank and substrate, testers, chemicals, skimmer, salt, etc etc on ebay and thought what the heck I'll put in a bid. I need something to sit next to my workdesk, and this was the right height and size.

Well I ended up getting around a grands worth of gear for $150.

First step after picking it up when I get back into Brisbane is to look at modding it to get some high quality LED lighting going to replace the stock PC lights then getting some water into it, along with some live rock to start the cycling process!

Anyway, I will post here with the updates on how I go. Mostly I would like to get some soft corals, anemones, zoanthids, couple of clown fish, snails

New to this, so if anyone else here has experience I would be keen on input as I go.

Here is the tank I got, of course looks smaller than it is at 49cm x 48cm x 40cm

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

That tank looks... ridiculously small... Can't even fit a piranha in there.

[Darwinsbulldog]

@ Davo:-

It might pay to go and check out some of Calilasseia's fish/fish tank threads over at RatSkeps:-

http://www.rationalskepticism.org/

Cali is a Green Mod over there. I visited him in England...he could talk [very knowledgeably] about his beloved fish for hours.

[Worldslaziestbusker]

Hi Davo
That's a lot of kit for the cash. My only experience with such systems is in keeping a mantis shrimp for six months. I had to go this alone because everyone in the aquarium industry tries very hard not to keep them because they kill all the expensive fish.
Despite being a swave and deboner marine scientician who has worked at several aquaria and aquaculture facilities, I can't offer much help regarding water quality or filtering, as most large facilities cheat by drawing water from the harbour on which they are sited.
Looking forward to seeing the system progress and hope it brings you much satisfaction.
Matt

[davo]

Originally Posted by Worldslaziestbusker

Hi Davo
That's a lot of kit for the cash. My only experience with such systems is in keeping a mantis shrimp for six months. I had to go this alone because everyone in the aquarium industry tries very hard not to keep them because they kill all the expensive fish.
Despite being a swave and deboner marine scientician who has worked at several aquaria and aquaculture facilities, I can't offer much help regarding water quality or filtering, as most large facilities cheat by drawing water from the harbour on which they are sited.
Looking forward to seeing the system progress and hope it brings you much satisfaction.
Matt

Yes indeedy, I wouldn't think of getting into it if it hadn't happened along, I was just going to go freshwater ...

I think I will have a lot of fun from the start with this, just getting the water right and viewing what pops it's head up from the live rock. Slow and steady is the game, the longer I am willing to build things up the less work the whole tank will be in the future.

[davo]

Originally Posted by Worldslaziestbusker

Hi Davo
That's a lot of kit for the cash. My only experience with such systems is in keeping a mantis shrimp for six months. I had to go this alone because everyone in the aquarium industry tries very hard not to keep them because they kill all the expensive fish.

Apparently they can also break the aquarium glass!

They basically destroy everything in their way...

Despite being a swave and deboner marine scientician who has worked at several aquaria and aquaculture facilities, I can't offer much help regarding water quality or filtering, as most large facilities cheat by drawing water from the harbour on which they are sited.

Not a problem .. you can however have the fun of identifying hitchhikers after the live rock goes in :P hehe, never know I could drag in one of those dreaded mantis shrimps

I'll email it to you if I do ..

Looking forward to seeing the system progress and hope it brings you much satisfaction.

I think it will, for me it's the getting the whole thing right ... fish just being one aspect (I will probably only have a few fish in this setup, a couple of clownfish, lawnmower blenny and possibly a six line wrasse. The rest in various soft corals, zoanthiniaria, corillamorphs, shrimp, snails (stop me now hehehe) I'd like a clam, but may have to upgrade light.

[Centauri]

You can order some of those Sea People - remember those ads in the old Archie comic books?

[Loki]

Cali has tropicals (Cichlids in particular), not marine.

There's lots of work in a marine setup, specially a small one.

I'm keen to have a look and maybe give a few general pointers, but only if you fill it with beer first.

[wolty]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

I am never going to live that down.

One Sunday morning, dicking around in the mod forum. Serves me right.

[davo]

Update, I have the aquarium now, it's coming together.

Under the hood you can see 2 sets of blue and white lighting (second set hidden in pic) also with moonlight LED's for nightime viewing, 4 chambers at the back, one to the right has a skimmer in it, the next filtration (going to replace this foam etc with crumbled live rock, next heater (150w) and the left a pump back into the tank, the arm coming out stirring up the surface.

Those two things either side are powerheads for pumping 1600 litres an hour around the tank, each.



You can get an idea of the size here (usually that window is shaded all day, just opened it so you can see the tank better) :



Head on :



Photos aren't the best coming off my phone, I should charge up my camera

lights are bright!