Reefkeeping South Africa » Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

New to forum - quick hello

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 7:53am CDT by brianc47
Hi All,

Just a quick hello to the forum.

I make the transition from freshwater to marine about a year ago. Discus are beautiful fish but just dont have close to the colouration of marine and I decided to make the jump with no regrets.

Currently I have the following:
- Clowns
- Firefish
- Fairy Anthias
- Wrasses
- Dancing camelback shrimp
- Fire shrimp
- Boxing shrimp
Thanks for all the useful info on this forum.
Clam research

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 11:28pm CDT by mytank

Doing some research on Clam's before I buy one. I have got some interesting information on them from: They dam easy to keep provided:

1. Lighting is adequate
2. You don't have angels

To:

1. You have to have perfect water
2. They are very difficult to keep

Then there is WHICH clam to get and some items here:

1. Some are Rock boring clams which require a lot of LR
2. Some like the Sand rather than the rock
3. Some are easier to keep (will get the names got told but forgot) and some really require some serious horse power lights!
4. DON'T BUY clams under 3" or 6cm as they usually do not last!

Then there is where to position them and how to position them.

As I find interesting links I will be posting for the guys and gals out there like me that are tying to figure out the truth behind these wonderful creatures.

So far:

Mark Martin on Clams for the Saltwater Aquarium: Tips for Keeping Tropical Marine Aquarium Clams | Suite101.com

[www.aquacon.com]

Tridacna maxima - The Giant Clam

Pros/Cons of Clams??? - The Reef Tank

Feel free to add items to the thread or even experience.
70w 14000k metal haylide

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 11:10pm CDT by Bluemotion

Hi does anyone know where I can a 14000k 70w metal haylide bulb?
Cant get mushrooms to multiply

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 9:55pm CDT by Charl_Stanhope

hey Masa.

I bought two rocks like 8 months ago wih some mushrooms on them. on neither of the rocks has any mushrooms split. :banghead:on the one my green mushrooms are not even growing. At least my purple,brown blue(its like a mix) are growing and the one is probably like 8-10cm in diameter but it stays one. Ive moved them all over the tank but nothing seems to be working. Everything else in my tank is really growing(zoas,lps,other softies and even one sps coral.why cant I get a mushroom to split. maybe I should just frag em?
Red on base of pelvic fin

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 9:36pm CDT by Tobes

Guys, a friend of mine bought this yellow tang but it got hammered by his scopa's a bit. We took it out the same night and I took him to my place as I have a quarantine tank. After a day I noticed the fish has fin rot, the tipical white fluff on the edge of some of the fins. I started to treat him with Myxazin. Now, 5 days later, I saw that it is red around the base on one of the pelvic fins (fin is still there). Most of the white fluff has dissappeared and receided. So my question, is this red just because of the rot that is on the fin or is it starting to eat the flesh? Usually on humans the sore is still red around the area days after it healed, does the same apply to fish? What do you think?
Sorry for pic quality, he doesn't want to pose so lekka :whistling:
clams and snowflake

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 9:21pm CDT by Zuna

hey guy

will my clams be safe with a snowflake in the tank
VorTech or Tunze

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 4:49pm CDT by mytank

I am looking at battery operated pumps (not to keen on some sort of UPS think they suck :))

So I have been looking at DC and battery operated items.

So far there are two runners Tunze and VorTech.

Now the Vortech runs for 20 hours (flow pump) havent been able to fund the Tunze ratings.

What do you guys think - experiance and opinions which ones are better?
Safety Factor for Rimless tanks

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 4:43pm CDT by Louis Scheepers

Hallo Hennie

I am planning a rimless tank, but I'm not sure which safety factor to use on your calculator.

The Aqua Tools calculator is for rimless tanks, but give the same thickness as yours... so is 3.8 sufficient for rimless, or what should we be looking at?

Would be great to get a standard for future reference!
Algae on my Bubbles... :-(

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 4:18pm CDT by Christy

Hello...

A bit of brown algae seems to have taken hold on the on outside of some of my lovely bubble coral... just a little.

Should I be worried about this...is it harmful?... will the coral handle the situation itself... is there anything I can do to help it get rid of the issue??

Help!!

Thanks!!
Name for this Soft Coral?? :-)

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 4:11pm CDT by Christy

Hello...

What is the name of this pretty coral?? Thanks!!
advice needed

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 3:58pm CDT by Microdot

Please advise me.. I am currently using a 150w 14000k blv mh and 2 reeftek actinics
on my tank.. the bulbs need to be replaced soon. The 14000k blv doesn't bring out colours nicely. Should i add anther 2 actincs or should i go for a 20000k blv bulb with 2 12000k t5's.
iam a new marine enjoyer and i need help.

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 3:55pm CDT by 519franco

i just recieved a marine tanks and fillters today. but iam gona build a refugium this month for my tank and i got a few questions i want to ask...

like what is this dinosour.
Is this Heteractis magnifica a possible buyers specimen?

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 2:16pm CDT by pXius

Friend of mine is on the lookout for a H.Magnifica, his tank is well established, lighting consists of 2x 400W MH's and some T5's, not sure which.

His tank flow is also pretty high and he has 1 clarkii clown so I believe the environment is in order.

Here is a pic of one he is interested in, still in the LFS. Its a new shipment, 3 days old and under 250w MH's. The LFS tank has a fair bit of flow but the nennie, according to them has been under a arch in that spot since day 1.

We can't see the foot but they claim it is undamaged and a nice reddish colour.

IMO the tentacles are a bit retracted but its probably still very stressed.

Whats your opinion @Anemone ?
Hello from Sams

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:57pm CDT by ebrahim sams aquarium

Hi this is Ebrahim from Sam's finally made the move onto MASA and we will be spolling you all. Watch this space for up and coming specials and for all our shipments.

To start of here is a special of :

Aqua medic salt 20kg/600lt for R450.00
Aqua medic araganite 25kg R495
Sun sun vibration pumps jvp/101 - 3000lt/ph R79.00
Sun sun vibration pumps jvp/102 - 5000lt/ph R110.00

Seachem Stability 250ml R89.00
Seachem Prime 250ml R89.00

:thumbup:

Cheers Ebrahim
Urgent help needed PH too low!

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:35pm CDT by Landu

I found out today that the place i buy my RO water from's ph is 6.86, so i checked my ph in my tank seeing i've been using this water for 6 months now, and my ph round 7, what can i do to pick the ph back up again, increase the amount of bicarb i dose?
Prodibio and zoas

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:13pm CDT by rakabos

Hi all

So my zoa dominated tank was starting to show signs of high nutrients. About 2 months ago I added 2 reactors, one for removing phosphates, the other to remove nitrates. I also recently started dosing Prodibio (biodigest and bioptim).

One of my zoa colonies seemed to react to it by closing up. Hasn't opened in over a week or so.

Would such an attack on nutrients have a negative effect on the zoas? I have never fed them directly, except for the odd block of cyclops every other week

Cheers
NP pellets advise needed

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:13pm CDT by flamming angel

Hey All

So i am wanting to go the NP route. Currently have a dsb and looking at getting rid of that and running pellets.

System is approx 250l with a skimz 121 skimmer and a small dsb. Also running a phos and carbon reactor. Running the system for 6 months.

Here are my q's:

Always known to run the pellets and the dsb together at first for about 3 weeks and then slowly start removing the dsb bit by bit??? Any advise?

Can any of the NP gurus please advise me of the do's and dont's of this. Also the pros and cons. If you have links to threads etc. that will be much appreciated.

Thanks ppl
ATO which chammber?

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:08pm CDT by Mc

Hi All

I build an automatic top off for my boyu TL550:biggrin:, and I was trying to figure out where would be the best place to put the float switch.
As far as I can understand the display tank, and first two chambers should always stay at the same level, so I should be putting it in either the third ,or forth chamber, just not sure which one, or if it makes a difference?
5ft tank for sale.with sump and galvanised stand. for sale: East London

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 12:33pm CDT by clinton stanford

Full system sales or multiple items for sale.Thread title:
5ft tank for sale.with sump and galvanised stand.
Location:
East London
Shipping or Collection only:
collection or shipping and buyers expense and risk.
Photo's and description/list of items for sale:
10mm 5ft tank. 1.5L x 700w x 650h.front and sides are starfire.external back overflow.in black silicone.

10mm sump. 1.2L x 400w x 400h.in clear silicone.

galvanised stand. 38x 38mm square tubing.

Total water volume - 820ltrs

tank has never been filled:( it really is a neat build.

Asking price R4000.00neg.

contact me on - 0788032123

email- clintonstan@gmail.com

cheers.
Notes:
-
Colt Coral frag for sale: Centurion Pta

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 12:18pm CDT by Tiger eye

Single frag for saleCommon Name:
Colt Coral
Scientific Name:
-
Size of coral
+-3 cm
How long have you had the coral?
+-1 month
Shipping or Collection only:
Colection or Ship at byers expence
Your location.
Centurion Pta
Price:
R 60
Photo's:
Hi guys ive got 3 Colt Coral frags up for sale at R 60 a frag.

Notes:
-
Juwel lido 120

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 10:20am CDT by Bluemotion

Hi I recently aquired a juwel lido 120, the tank is aprox 120 liters, the dimensions are 61 by 58 by 41 (L by H by W), I would just like to find out from you guys. I was thinking about making my own metal haylide fixture. Would a 70w 10000k haylide be sufficient? I will also add acintic tubes for suplementation. Any advice
PH 7.4 , with brown hairy algae

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 9:08am CDT by Cgoodburn

some advice needed please. My tank is now 9 weeks old has been running well. i do all the regular maintenance. Weekly water changes 25l, i have a 250l system (red sea) Clean skimmer 1-2 times a week. i have the following inhabitants. 1 foxface, 2 small clowns, 2 small royal gammas. 2 zoa, a green star polyp and blue mushroom. clean up blue legged hermit, sand sifting star and blood shrimp. Water parameters are fine except for PH which is 7,4. Nitrates,nitrites, ammonia and phosphates are 0 or close to that. This week i did a water change on wednesday and then again yesterday to try and correct, but has had little effect. PH remains at 7,4 and i have this bad outbreak of brown algae, which has been around for 2 weeks.
Could it be related to the fact that a couple of weeks ago i did a salt water, water change in stead of the usual RO+RED SEA SALT home made mix.
The inhabitants of my tank seems fine and are still eating well. i feed flakes 2 times a day. should i cut down on feeding?
i have also added prodibio to boost bacteria.
Any suggestion ideas?
Craig