Reefkeeping South Africa » Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Finally! Choosing Substrate Article

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 11:08pm CDT by sihaya

This was in the June issue of FAMA. Now it's on WWM for free.

WWM Dig Cvr
Urgent help needed Moving Homes

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 11:05pm CDT by Rabbit

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this is the appropriate place to be asking, I bought a 120L nano tank with live rock and clown fish.

Whats the best thing to do while transporting the tank from point A to point B. I would like to keep the water thats in the tank (for its chemicals and minerals).

Has anyone done this before ?
Lightning unit

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 11:00pm CDT by wildbunny

Hi i understand there is memebers here that build light units to size order can sombod please direct me to someone that can quote me. my tank is 3meter long 600 wide and 800 deep

Thanks

:peroni:
Help

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 10:52pm CDT by Zoom

Hi There
I need some help ... I have done some reading up on green algae but you guys still use a llot of terminology that i do not understand.

My Tank has been running since November 2009 so that about 9 months.My tank is about 600 litres including my sump.

I have an RO Unit so i only use RO Water. I have a deep Sand bed in my sump with a skimmer ...

Lighting i have about six tubes two blue four white ....I asked my LFS to help me with the lights for coral....

I have a cleaner shrimp
A regal Tang
2 clowns
A blennie
1 Dwarf Angel
1 Fox Face
1 Damsel

All of a sudden this month i have this horrible green like agae growing. i had two turbo snails that died

I see some that some people recormend a Sea Hair.

How can i get the algae under control. Should I take out the rocks and scrub them won't this affect my whol ecko system

Please help
:(
Stand Design can glass overlap steel

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 8:42pm CDT by Tidy

Hi Guys

I want to build my 1st reef tank

I would like to know if one can overlap the glass over the steel

Tank base is to be 812 x 512

Note that i will build as Tank style B where the base is smaller and glass overlaps it.

Stand is 800 x 500 (25mm squ tube)

Total tank Size 832 x 532
Glass is 8mm Rimless
and 12mm for base is this ok ?

Tank will sit on a 16mm wood base

PS i was thinking of placing the overflow in the middle of the tank ?

Thanks
Our local Hermits

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 7:23pm CDT by Mrabkin

Hey Guys,

I collected some hermits today, and need to run by you whether or not they're all desirable.

2 x small white-looking guys
2 x reddish brown medium sized (R2 coin)
then there are 3 big (1' diameter) hairy dudes with one massive pincer.

They are all behaving themselves and cleaning up really nicely. The big dudes seem a bit grumpy and territorial with each-other which is normal hermit behavious i believe.

I have some SPS frags on order and collecting LR full of mushrooms this weekend.

Just need to check if they'll be ok with my new additions or will i have to move 'em to the sump/ocean?

Mike
Pictures of my tank

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 7:19pm CDT by Jinx
Cannon LED Pendent

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 6:10pm CDT by ziyaadb

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/07/23/c...tt-blue-white/

Awesome light Pity it would retail over here for over 5000 each. I would love to have 2 if i could afford it. No need for chiller plus they look awesome. Your takes?
__________________
Chaeto light cycle

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 5:27pm CDT by deadmeat2016

Sorry this may be a bit of a noob question but what is the best light cycle to have on chaeto in the sump? Reverse to DT or 24/7?

Plants need darkness to respire so.....:whistling:
Algae under rocks, explain that...

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 4:18pm CDT by RiaanP

I got a bit of a problem. I got green algae growing at the lower parts of my tank. Even under the rocks.

Phosphates are zero, all other parameters are zero. Everything else in tank is 100%. Except the Pincushion being killed by the phospate remover...
My new DSB and ATS

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 4:12pm CDT by Nico Kortenbout

Hi there. So after some excellent advice from the likes of crispin, tobes, sandlewood, monti and marco :thumbup:, I am planning to build a remote DSB and ATS. Here is the plan, for scrutiny by the gurus :)

I Plan to pump water from the sump to the DSB, collect the drain water from the DSB and let it run onto the ATS. From the ATS directly back to the sump for pumping to the DT.

Would it be better to run from the ATS directly to the DT?

The DSB:
I Plan to use a 1200lph pump to pump water from the sump (after the compartment with the skimmer) to the DSB. The DSB itself I have a medium size black plastic storage box with thick walls and fitted lid. I am going from 15mm outlet from the pump to 50mm PVC piping to reduce the presure and create a softer flow into the DSB. The sand bed I plan for will be about 35cm deep in a 40cm by 50 cm container. This will leave about 25cm clear above the sand. The inflow will be a 50mm Spreader pipe in a T shape. The outflow will be a 110mm to 50mm conversion pipe leading to a 50mm drainpipe for the outflow. I am not planning any illumination in the DSB.

The ATS:
This is where I will need the most help. I am planning to try and use a smaller tank, about 50x30x30cm. I will run a piece of 80% shadecloth at an angle (about 25 deg so as not too steep) in the tank. I plan to have the outflow from the DBS as the inflow for the ATS, Let the water run down the shadecloth and then drain out of the tank and back to the sump. I am hoping the water will flow through the shadecloth and hence the algae. I am planning on 2 100W powersaver lamps for lighting.

Here is a diagram of the planned ATS.
NP Reducing Rice Reactor (briopsis control?)

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 3:32pm CDT by Louis Scheepers

Hallo everyone

I have been struggling with a seriously bad briopsis algae problem for a year now. Believe me if I say that you have never seen anything like it before (I will upload photos later). My tank looks like one of those new Japanese style freshwater aquariums!

I have a diy coil denitrator for NO3 control and a Phosban 150 reactor for phosphate control. My readings are all 0, but it might be the briopsis using up all the nutrients. I have tried every possible remedy, but noting seems to work. The only solution that has worked for everyone is raising Magnesium, BUT Kent Tech Magnesium had to be used, with other types of magnesium it would be a hit and run. I raised my Magnesium with a diy solution, and it worked at first, but then the briopsis grew back. I bought Kent Tech, but it seems like the briopsis won’t absorb Magnesium anymore. It’s been growing like crazy but the Magnesium won’t drop anymore.

I wanted to convert to a ULNS for awhile, in the hope that it would mean the end of Bryopsis. When I read about the NP reducing pellets I knew that it was the answer. Then I found the following two threads on Reef Central:
[www.reefcentral.com] and
[www.reefcentral.com]

I decided that I am going to join the rice experiment. If you have any questions, you’ll be able to find the answers on those two threads. Here is the basic summary:

1. Rice is a solid carbon source and has delivered the same kind of results as the NP reducing pellets.
2. Rice will stay solid for at least a month (that is the longest the experiment has been running for).
3. ½ a cup will work for a 50-80 gallon tank.
4. White short grain rice seems to be the best (brown hasn’t been tested yet).
5. There are some vitamins and phosphate in rice, but if you rinse it properly it won’t be a problem. The amount is also so small that it shouldn’t be a problem; food contains more of the stuff.
6. I will run it in a reactor with a slight tumble.
7. Rice is super cheap (big plus for a student like myself).
8. This is still an experiment…

Because I increased my feeding schedule, my nitrate started going up. At the moment it is sitting at 2. I rinsed the rice till the water was clear, then I soaked it in RO for 24 hours, then rinsed again, and now it is going into a reactor.

I’m worried about my soft corals since I know they don’t like ULNS, but at the moment it is my only hope against the Briopsis. I know that a lot of people gave up their tanks, because of briopsis, I’m not going to be one of them.

Will keep you up to date.
clown

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 3:23pm CDT by callie

Hi every one. Hope you can help. I got 1 maroon clown in my tank, i bought myself Monday a true clown(smaller than the maroon clown). But now the maroon clown chase that clown around in tank. I tried to catch the maroon clown without any success. The true clown have already got some bite marks on its fins. What can i do
Fox Face

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 2:29pm CDT by vatso

Peeps my Fox Face is "changing" color the dark yellow is becoming light yellow & changes to dark over a few days?is it normal?

other then that its fine eating & the rest is normal.
Atman ph 2500 impellers

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 1:43pm CDT by SaltyReef

Does anyone know where I might get a new impeller for my Atman PH2500 pump,
I have a paddle wheel impeller on it and would like to upgrade to a mesh or needle wheel for better air flow
Atman ph 2500 impellers

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 1:40pm CDT by SaltyReef

Hi All,

I have a via Aqua skimmer with an Atman PH2500 pump on it. It has a paddle wheel impeller and I was wandering where I might be able to get a needle wheel or mesh wheel impeller for it?
Wanted glass info for diy

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 12:39pm CDT by Dikdaan

Hi people

My friend would like to build a tank in the near future but need some advice on glass price and thickness...

The tank will be 1200mm long, 600mm high and 600mm deep (If you have advice on better dimensions please tell me)

I need to know what thickness will be required for the glass and what would the glass cost me more or less. I would also like to know where i can get black silicone...
dv8's l8est

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 9:35am CDT by dv8

this will be my 3rd atempt at a total build. well perhaps you could call it a second build modification. well... lets get to the build. i want to tak my 2000x700x500 tank and make it a 1500x700x700. it will be going into a "hole in the wall" will post pics of the "hole" soon for better understanding. basicaly i will have a room 3m by 3m for all the plumbing, sumps, etc. etc. and the tank face outside the room.

so now for why i start the thread.. well i want to get as many ideas before i start as posible eg: making holes in the glass for external flow pumps and so on, not too keen on this plan as i suspect fish etc may go into the suction part, but they look realy awsome. so if you have sugestions pls let me know

my plans thus far to follow
Samsung Mini DV video camera

Posted: July 29th, 2010, 9:06am CDT by leslie hempel

Samsung mini DV digital camera (34 x optical zoom)
Accessories
Fire wire cable
TV output cable
Charger
3 x cassettes
Bag
Bracket to attach to a tripod. (no tripod)

R1650