Reefkeeping South Africa » Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Needed expert here

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 7:17am CST by Phyrannus

I gez i needed some expert to help me make my water param stable.
I am posting my Water test data for 3 consec months using API reef master test kit and it shows that my water param really unstable.:whistling:
Inputs:
3yrs old Tank from FOWLR converted to Reef 1 yr ago
100g including sump water.
50g sump with, JEBO520 skimmer, DSB, Phospad, Cheato and refugium
Additives Calcium plus and reef buffer only

Tests done 30 mins after every water change

i can't make my Phosphate down.
Nitrate controlled by my cheato
Calcium raised up by calcium plus but suprised by my KH going down
Anything i could do in terms of additives?

TIA...
What is this?

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:57am CST by Phyrannus

Help me pls. What happened to my rock? part of it turned white in just overnight.

the rock is almost 3yrs old in my tank and this is the first time it happened.:(
New to MASA

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 4:01am CST by smitchell

Hello all!

My name is Scott. I am happy to be a part of this group. I am best friends with Brenda/Anemone. We have been friends for about 20 years. I’ve spent a lot of time on here already reading some of the threads over Brenda’s shoulder, so I’ve decided to create my own account.

Several years ago I kept four seahorses in a 55 gallon tank. This lasted about two years. With little to no knowledge of seahorses, they managed to survive those two painful years until a heater malfunction cooked them. I like to think I’ve come a long ways since then. I now know what a refractometer is and how to use it and why you can’t just mix salt with water and dump into your tank! I also know that you shouldn’t have a heater with seahorses, and they shouldn’t live on frozen brine shrimp. Brenda was NOT impressed with my seahorse keeping skills. Needless to say, after a lot of these looks :nono::1hissyfit::arghh::hammer: I learned a lot QUICKLY when I was asked to help build her seahorse fry set up. After many failed setups, we finally got it right. Raising fry has been put on hold for the time being, but I know I’ll be back at it someday soon.

At this time I have 2 reef tanks that each contains a pair of clowns, assorted corals and some RBTAs. I also have three 35 gallon salt water mixing stations so there is always fresh saltwater for the reef tanks as well as the seahorses. It has been an educational ride, learning as I go, but having Brenda as a tutor has been less painful. I am enjoying each day, the frustrations of mistakes made, and the rewards of things going well. This hobby is truly one of the most unique that I’ve ever seen.

My future plans include a 120 gallon seahorse tank, and a 90 gallon reef tank. I’ve got a long ways to go, but I’m definitely looking forward to the build.

I am interested in learning more about the algae turf scrubbers. So any help on ATS would be appreciated.
Shroom burned my brain

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:41pm CST by Munky82

I found a stray mushroom up against my open-brain this morning. I removed the shroom with no obvious problems.
Then I got home today finding my open brain in a poor state.
Would it recover? Is there anything I can do to help him improve or is this the beginning of the end ?

Any advise ?
Amazing corals ....coming in the next 4 months

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 5:39pm CST by lanzo

We would like to share the following corals pictures that our supplier sent us today

The location will stay secret for now...until it lands;)

Lets just say South Africa is in for a whole new range of AWSOME new corals that we have drooled about only in books

Arraival...May-July

Here we go:
I would like some freebie frags

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 4:22pm CST by samier

Hi all, does anybody feel generous enough to give me some frags.
I am running a Nano with a total of 48watts of lighting.
soft corals would be my best bet with this lighting.

I will also pay for frags if they are priced right.
thanks guys.
Manic's 550L SPS Cube

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 2:57pm CST by Manic

Hey Everyone,

So finally got my cube up and running, it is 900 x 900 x 600 (High) black silicon rimless cube with 12mm glass and c2c overflow.

Its been running now for about 3 weeks. It is going to be a ULNS and at the moment I am using the full brightwell NeoZeo method. I just got the base rock from Lanzo, so once that has finished soaking I can start aquascaping it. At the moment it has about 30Kg's of live rock which I just threw in, no aquascaping attempted at all, so don't judge it just yet.

The equipment I am running is as follows:

Skimmer: Orca 135 Internal
Reactor: DIY NeoZeo reactor with zeolith stones and carbon
Return Pump: Lifetech AP 4660 (4800Lph which I have tuned down to around 3000Lph)
Lighting: 250W 20 000K MH (BLV)
Substrate: Around 40Kg of aragonite
DIY auto top with in-sump reservoir
Water Movement: 1 X Resun waver 15 000Lph and 1 X SunSun 5000Lph
I'm going to add more flow just indecisive on what wave maker to get

I tested the water every 2 days and added most of the sps after 2 weeks. All the parameters were in check, just remember I am running the full NeoZeo system in which a cycle usually only takes 2 weeks. All the live rock I used I have had in various tanks for about a year, so it was all cured.

I haven't added any fish yet and am still going to wait a while. The only tank inhabitants are two cleaner shrimp, a fire cracker shrimp and a boxer shrimp, also a few hermits that were hiding in the rock.

The tank is still far from finished, still needs a cabinet which I will be doing soon. Anyway enough talk here are some pics:

Notice the surface of the water, it goes like this every time I stir the NeoZeo stones, every time I stir the stones everything goes mad trying to catch all the crap in the water.
Urgent help needed Power out!!

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 1:08pm CST by Evo R

Hi all.

The local munisipality issued a warning today that the whole Mossel Bay's power will be down on Sunday the 14th from 8:00 to 18:00.Anybody with advice or good ideas on how to keep your tank(running) for +- 10 hours PLEASE help!!!
I've got 5 days left to go!!! :confused1:
Requirements for new marine.

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 12:33pm CST by kendall1012

Hi all,

As you can see i'm new here and really need some help.

I've have a Fresh water tank for about 4 years now and really getting bored of it.

I need a step by step guide of what exactly i will need for a 100l tank. Not sure which type of marine tank i want, i guess the least exspensive.

I have looked everywhere but here so i hope someone can help me.

Thanks alot
Students in JHB and PTA

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 12:02pm CST by dallasg

Right Ladies and gents,

I am looking for students in JHB and PTA looking to make some extra cash on weekends!

Please PM me your tel number and where you are based

Please guys not friends of friends, I would like MASA members to benefit if possible.

cheers
:peroni:
To skim or not to skim

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 11:33am CST by Nsteyn

Have been doing a lot of reading, and found a lot of conflicting views, so lets hear from the MASA experts :P

We all know skimming is nescesary, and most of us know that the skimmer also removes a lot of good stuff (trace elements etc) from the water.

I did a bit of reading, and found that most people say run the skimmer 24hours, other say a lot less.. even some stating for no more that 4hours a day.

Then others believe the added value of oxinating(spelling?) water is a huge benifit, while others say it is negligent.

Some remove the cup from the skimmer to allow it to oxinate the water but not remove the trace elements.

What is your opinions on some of the above - how long do you run your skimmer, if you switch it of, when - during feeding during dosing etc?

Do you think the skimmer contribute to oxinating the water - what about ATS then?

Sorry if it seems a bit confusing :P - thats just my mind on the way out.

Niel
T5's not working!

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:58am CST by Pads

Hey guys, I bought 2 x 54w Actinic's yesterday to connect with my ballast I wired up in my hood. They fit lovely and neatly but once they're connected up with the mains they turn on for a minute then go out. If I cut the power and reconnect then they blink on and off again.

Can anyone with electrical knowledge explain what the prob might be. Shot ;)
Nice equipment for sale: JHB, Benoni

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:56am CST by Ridwaan

Full system sales or multiple items for sale.Thread title:
Nice equipment for sale
Location:
JHB, Benoni
Shipping or Collection only:
Shipping at buyers expense
Photo's and description/list of items for sale:
Howzit Guys..

I have the following for sale....

1. Reef Octopus OCTX160 insump skimmer in excellent condition
R2000:thumbup:

2. AquaMedic Quad Reef doser.In excellent condition
Has 4 dosing pumps of which each one can be controlled seperatly by the built in computer/controller
R3000:yeahdude:

3. Reef Inmates 8 X 54w T5 Unit in good condition
Price excluding lamps - R2500
(Selling on behalf of a friend as he does not have internet access, He is selling
cos his tank build got delayed)
So if anybody is interested in this, I will PM you his contact details...

Thanks
Ridwaan
Notes:
-
Where to get 150w MH in EL

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:52am CST by Mudshark

Where are the East London guys buying your Venture 150w MH DE 20000k lamps from? Voltex no longer wants to help.

If this is an inappropriate post, mods please delete.
New zoas (pink /purple)

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 9:23am CST by clown

Hi Guys,

I got the folowing new zoas last week in my tank. I would like to here what every one think of this one. Purple /pink mix.

I will be getting some Organe Zoas today and Pulsing Xenias.

Purple /pink mix zoas
url='http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=23637'][/url]

Regards
Clown
reef safe wrasse

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 8:44am CST by magman

Hey all,

I got a friend who is about to become a newbie again, ;),

and we been trying to get him to add lots of nice wrasse, as he had a bad encounter I believe with a clown wrasse before!!!!

What wrasse are fine, stay smallish, don'ty turn rocks, don't chow inverts and other fish.
I was thinking the tamarin types, eg. the leopard, biphartus, leaf etc.
the dwarf kinds like banana, sixline-fairy, iridis
and avoid the coris types, or the ones that change from juvie colours and are the long round shape.

Please only advise on what fish you have ikept n their adult stage, for a while, and not what fish you have had for the last few months only, cause after a year they could become mental.

thanks guys