Reefkeeping South Africa » Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

equipment used and needed

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 6:31am CDT by gmohr

If this is covered please forgive me. Woke up with a bright light in my head:)

I have been keeping marines for years but am a complete newbie when it comes to all the new equipment available to help with keeping a tank in top condition.

How about a sticky with what equipment to add to your system. Some things like skimmers I know about but others not so sure. There must be "have to have" and "cool to have" .

Meaning ;
Skimmer. Most people will agree this is a have to have. As far as i know it removes small particles from the water.
calcium reactor, really needed or just make it easier to keep calcium at proper level?
Kalkwasser Have no clue what it does or if it is needed or just helps
Electronic testers, etc. Stuff you can leave on so that you can check all is ok without having to worry about getting out the test kit for this or that.

There is a lot of other equipment that I am not sure of where to find it or what it does and I am sure a lot of other people, "ecspeccialy" (dit is n groot woord:whistling:) those who are new to the hobby.

If this has been done please point me in the right direction.

Cheers
Geoff
!@#%

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 3:46am CDT by sihaya

Those Tunze Nanostream pumps need to come with a warning about the strength of those magnets. I got one the other day (because they are, in fact, awesome circulation pumps), and for the second time in my life, I underestimated the strength of the magnet, tried to pull them apart, lost my grip, thumb slipped and WHAM! I can't believe how much pain there was. And I've experienced childbirth, and a torsed ovary, so I'm no whimp... but damn that hurt! :(
common pink, brown and white xenia

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 1:02am CDT by henry888

Hi

Im looking for the common pink, brown and white xenia.

If you have some for sale to trade, pls let me know... ;)

Thank you
Henry
Overflow idea - Will it work?

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 10:50pm CDT by Fishman

Hi guyz. I need some advice, i need to do my overflow on a tank i built. Its not a big tank so im thinking of using 25mm pvc. I want to drill the bottom, but i DONT want to build a box of any kind, not even a skinny one. So i was thinking of using a 110mm pvc pipe to act as a overflow box. With a modified durso in it. When i say modified i mean i'll have no 90' elbow coming out from the t piece. So water will enter the standpipe horizontally. Will it be silent? I will install a valve on the outlet to control the water level in the 110mm pvc pipe...
my first tank quote?

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 10:08pm CDT by DMC8125

Hi

This is what my local shop has said to be a decent setup what do you think?

Tank 1.8x600x650
skimmer; skimz sk181
chiller; hailea 500
circulation pumps; sunsun vibration jup102
heating; jager 300w
lighting; t5 34w
tank stocking list help

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 10:07pm CDT by roderigo

hay guys and gals ive got 4x super tonga nasser snail and x4 turbo snails 2maxican and 2 indnesan ones, tank is running just over a mounth and few days now .
dt is a 1.2 x45 x45 total water voluem including sump is about 300 liters oh yes got one damsel in sump
would like to know how much trubo snails i can put in my tank and what reef safe fish i can start with and may be some other fish that could also work for this set up thanx :thumbup:

pic of tank
Newbie branch

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 9:58pm CDT by DMC8125

Hi everyone,

I am totally new to the marine setup as i have had tropical for the last 15 years.
So i will be scouring the site for knowledge and asking stupid questions from time to time if i cant find what im looking for.

cheers
The cube update.......

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 8:08pm CDT by Colin

hi everyone,been away a while from MASA,,,,so this was my tank in the begining,20-06-2011,running 6 T5 lights,NP pellets and phosban reactor,skimmer and colupra,overflow box with carbon,ceramic balls and filter,dosing with aquavitro seachem.tanks size is 650x650x550,sump450x450x500!
Regal tang,yellow tang,naso blonde tang,maroon clown,cromis,diamond back gobby,bi-coler blenny and the cleanup-crew!!

Cycel-stage 25-06-2011

30-10-2011:thumbup:
droped my sg to fast

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 7:30pm CDT by roderigo

hay guys i drooped my satiety from 1.030 to 1.024 in less than 48 hrs and when i was done i remembered that i was to do it slower and due to my error in judgment i almost lost my big Mexican turbo snail but he pulled though all the rest of the snails are fine but my xsaina is not pulsing as much as it use to how long will it take to get back to normal
i know bad move on my part :whistling:
New on the block

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 6:58pm CDT by mrbleeny

Hi Guys im new to this game i have a nano setup and looking for all advice i can get
Hallo

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 4:59pm CDT by Roekeloos

Hallo every one at MASA. Hope to learn alot!
Mantis/Pistol shrimp

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 4:29pm CDT by Yvonne

Hi,

I started noticing a clicking noise about 2 weeks ago and saw a little shrimp that lives in the one pump in the tank. Then last week my coral beauty disappeared and my Borneman anenomes aren't anywhere to be seen either anymore. It looks like a mantis shrimp or a pistol shrimp it's impossible to get a pic of him because he disappears into the pump everytime he spots me but will try again to get a pic of him to see what shrimp he is exactly.

I don't want to keep him in my tank in case it is him that killed my coral beauty and the anenomes. Is anyone interested in taking him?
Stand smaller than tank ?

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 4:18pm CDT by FransSny

How much smaller can I make my stand in relation to the tank ? I am thinking about 10 cm on the width , length would remain correct .

Any possible issues ?
waterproof endcaps for T5's durban

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 3:59pm CDT by mupwi

hi im looking for waterproof endcaps for T5's durban
Nico's new 4ft Reef

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 3:04pm CDT by Nico Kortenbout

Hi there everyone... I know I have been scarce from Masa for the last year. There is a sad story behind the absence but it is one that rears its ugly head from time to time in this hobby. To get you up to speed, I used to have a AquaH20 250 litre system with 100 lt sump. It was a nice system and was jsut maturing at about a year old when I arrived home to find the front pane had cracked from top right corner to bottom left. There was only about 5cm of water left in the tank. I lost all my corals, but the nennie, the shrimp, the fox face and the coral beauty survived thanks to some wonderful people who took them in at very short notice.

And there the story has remained for 10 months. 2 months ago, for my birthday, my wonderful wife managed to reaquire the Boyu nano that I had when i first started out in this hobby. I got the tank up and running after some TLC and we were finally able to get some of the livestock back :) However it was way too small for the nennie which has now grown HUGE so that was donated to guys who were looking after the fish. Currently I have a foxface, dragon wrasse, sergent major, hammer coral, soft orange coral (not sure of ID) and a clam.

Now as a pleasent surprise, our LFS had a tank for sale which included hardware. But since I still had my old hardware, in perfect working order, from the old tank, I queried the price sance equipment... and hay, now I have a great 1220(l)x450(w)x400(h) that I am now putting together. It came with a 100x350x350 partitioned sump.

The last 2 weeks have been planning how things are going to work. I am planning on keeping a mixed reef of softies and lps. I have planned a DIY light hood using aluminium and pine plywood, the design I will put up in the lighting forum once it is complete. However I will most likely be running 4x2ft T5 (2 white, 2 blue), 4x4ft T5 (2 white, 2 blue), 1x2ft T8 (actinic). I am not planning to keep sps and if in future I decide to go with another nennie I will look at perhaps a MH. But that will not be for a long time yet....

As for the sump, I am planning to run my Tunze comline Doc skimmer, small DSB (5kg aragonite), liverock/refugium, my DIY carbon reactor, 0.5 HP Halea chiller, and a 2500lph return. I will be fitting a 20watt standard energy saver light over the refugium. I have about 10kg live rock for the refugium.

As for the display.... I have chosen to go with Aragonite (a long and arduous internal debate as to the truth about sand releasing silicates and leading to phospate problems). I will have about 15kg in the display. I also have about 60 kg of live rock that I will be using for the scaping. The scaping design is still in the processes of being thought about.... and I was wondering about using egg crate to design a skeleton onto which I could fix liverock. (comments please ;)). For flow I have a Seio 550lph powerhead and a sunsun 12000 lph powerhead. There is also the return pump. I may add another sunsun.

I will post pics for you photo hungry buggers as soon as I get around to taking some. Any suggestions and comments are most welcome!! It is really the most exciting time to be back in this hobby!!
Intro

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 2:09pm CDT by dirk

Hi
I'm Dirk. I've had tropical aquaria for forty years, since high school and was always planning to also have a marine tank. The time is now. I've joined this forum to explore my options.
[FS]: JsREEFn's 2m setup individual coral,fish and equip : rondebosch east

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 1:03pm CDT by JsREEFn

Full system sales or multiple items for sale.Thread title:
JsREEFn's 2m setup individual coral,fish and equip

Location:
rondebosch east

Shipping or Collection only:
collection

Photo's and description/list of items for sale:
Equipment
-------
DT: 2mx600x600(10mm) ....R1500
ST: 1.5m x450x500(8mm) ......R250
Stand 2mx600x950 .....R200
Skimmer: reefocto xp5000int cone ....R6000
Heater: 2x300watt via aqua ....R150 each
Phos reactor: reefocto (1000l/h) ....R1000
Nitrate reductor powerLAB(1000l/h) ... R1000
Kalk stirer powerLAB (1000l/h) .....R1000
Carbon reactor powerLAB .....R1000
PowerLAB auto top off unit ...R450
PowerLAB ozoniser with skimmer and pump ..R800
3xsun sun (2x5000l/h R100each, 12000l/h R150)
Lighting: 3x150w MH +ballasts ....R150each
4x900mm dual T5 units 39watt oddysea ..R500each

Liverock
-----
±80kgs @ R75a kg ....the more u take ,the less the place,A-graded pieces an lovely flat pieces for ledges

Livestock
------
Regal tang R450 8-9cm(MAC)
Orange shoulder tang 5-6cm R295
Yellow tang R500 5-6cm(MAC)
Purple tang R1650 7cm(MAC)
Bristletooth tang 8-9cm R280
Percular pair 3cm R250 for both
Diamond back goby pair 5-6cm R400 for both
Bi-colour blenny R150
Midas blenny R100

Inverts
-----
4 cleaner shrimp @ R120each
2 fire shrimp @ R150each
Boxing shrimp R120
Bristle star R50
2 Nasarius R50each
8 Dwarf hermits R20each

Corals
-----
Slipper coral R250
Super trac lumo green R395
Sea apple R250
Whip Gorgonian R295
Green finger leather R200
Pulsing zenia R250 branching type (10-15cm round)
Mini lumo green trac R150
Larger rock green palyzoas R200
Acan lord howzensis 5heads R200
Acan lord green 3 heads R100
GSP lumo x2 R200 each (10cm x5cm pieces)
Large pincushion 25cm + R350
Green monti 6-8cm R100
Red monti 10cm+ R150
Super Green monti (scarce) 15-20cm R350
12 head candycane R350
Various moon rocks @ R250-R350 each
Branched alveopora R250
2 head torch coral R150
Large meat coral R400
Rock of ±12 red shrooms R250
Lumo green elephant ears R250
Lumo green hammer R250
Various palyzoa frags lumo green @ R100each
Fox coral 2 heads 15-20cm R250
Squamosa clam 25cm + R550
Crocea clam 15cm 350
Various purple shroom rocks @ R150 each
Blue/green Zoa rock R295
Vietnam (orange,red and green) zoas 195
Pink Zoas (rare) 12 head frag R150
Christmas tree worm rock ±12 worms R350
Red flower pot coral R395 (rare)
Cauliflour coral R150
Chilli coral x 2 @ R150each
Cabage coral R150
Orange sponge R150
Toadstool 15-20cm R170
Various sps Frags @ R50-R150 a piece

Notes:
Too many items to post pics, everything in healthy condition.. Refer to "JsREEFn's ocean83" and "JsPLAYn's 2m dream" threads for pics of everything..... All priced to go...

link to thread with items pictured: JsREEFn's Ocean83 - Marine Aquariums of South Africa
Nano Needed!

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 1:00pm CDT by blackghostknife

HI All

Does anyone have a second hand Nano with all the Bells and whistles thats not being used for a very good price or even for donation :blush: since we got an office tank I would love to get one for my small flat and also say Im part of the Marine group?

Thank you
[FS]: ATB Deluxe Internal SKimmer: JHB, Benoni

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 12:43pm CDT by Ridwaan

Hardware for saleThread title:
ATB Deluxe Internal SKimmer
Location:
JHB, Benoni
Shipping or Collection only:
Shipping at buyers expense
Photo's and description/list of items for sale:
Howzit Guys...

Ive got a Beastly ATB Deluxe Skimmer for sale.
Skimmer in excellent condition, no scratches, no coralline.

This thing pulls a mssive amount of air and is one of the best skimmers ive owned.

It has dual bubble plates for reduced turbulance and an ATB airstar pump pulling 1800ltr of air

Skimmer is still like new, only had it for 3 months at most.

Selling cos I need to make some money to buy myself a profilux.

Will accept SWOPS for profilux dosing pumps...depending on condition obviously...:1:

Price: R5500 NOT NEGOTIABLE
:thumbup:
Pics to follow
Notes:
-
Help with TS2 skimmer!

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 12:42pm CDT by Renier

I was trying to help a friend set up his TS2 over the weekend
did everything right from assembly to water level according to the little instruction pamphlet inside, no matter how high or low we set the skimmer it kept overflowing the collection cup. any advise please?

Thanks
Egghead??

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 12:30pm CDT by SteveZi

I took this photo a while back, but it still baffles me any opinions would be welcomed.

I was snorkelling and came across this filefish with these weird tufts of eggs in front of its eyes and on its snout.
It looked as if the fish was fanning the "eggs" with its pectorals, but this could just be coincidental, although it is interesting to note that the eggs were placed very symmetrical on both sides of the head.

I took some photos in a small glass container and a few of the eggs came loose and floated about they definitely looked like eggs of some sort.
Unfortunately (as is always the case) I didnt have a very good camera available, so the photo is a bit bad I keyed out the background in photoshop for a little contrast, but the eggs are not very visible.
Anybody with any ideas/theories on whats going on here?
Detailed form submitted: shiks

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 12:06pm CDT by shiks

Detailed help requestAre you experiencing any problems in your tank?
Yes
Brief Description
Over the last year or so water has taken on a green hue.
Tank size
1.5 x 700 x 700
System Volume
+- 700l
How long has your tank been running?
2 years
What livestock do you have?
Regal, Nasau, foxface, coral beauty, 7 Pygamas and 4 Flame Gobies

GTBA, Purple Nennie, Giant clam, Anemone torch corals, Gorgonian + too many more to mention
Water Parameters
temp @26/27
all other params are within med bordering to high but have steadily been coming down over the last 2 months.

Had an alk spike causing a major wipeout
Salinity is spot on
What lighting is over the tank?
6 x 54w T5s and 2 x 150w MH
Pumps and equipment
2 x Sun sun Vibration pumps 15000lph
2 X Resun Wavemakers 10000lph
with only 2 switched on at variable intervals
Maintenance
4 x 25l drums 3 times a month for the last 2 months but previously 4 x 25l every month

Have had this issue progressivley over the last 1.5 years or so ...and have done a full light change of all tubes 8 months ago with 2 brand new MH as well 3 weeks ago
Other info and photo's.
Green ish colouration on water looks worse from the side panes as it does from straight on ......

Green colour persists even with all the lights off and blue moonlights on.

It was very sublte at first but over the last year has been very dominant....i have always dismissed it thinking it had to do with params or maybe not enough water changes but when i had a mishap this year and practically restarted the tank again doing a 400l water change the colour did change then back to green ish after 1 week.
[FS]: 1.2m tank with stand/cupboard: Cape Town

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 11:57am CDT by maj

Hardware for saleThread title:
1.2m tank with stand/cupboard
Location:
Cape Town
Shipping or Collection only:
Collect
Photo's and description/list of items for sale:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

R1000

1160L X 500W X 600 H

with stand/cupboard.

no leaks ,just emptied out tank yesterday.
Notes:
-
Vitamin enriched brine?

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 11:18am CDT by Mc

Hi All.

I bought some ocean nutrition vitamin enriched brine on saturday, I was just wondering if I need to rinse it like I do with the regullar brine or if that would take away the vitamin content?
Cheato

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 10:42am CDT by regis

Anybody in the Bellville area have some Cheato to spare.

Would like to get hold of some

Thanks

Regis
Urgent help needed Upside down Jelly - killing my livestock?

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 10:01am CDT by Henkart

I Bought a Upside down jelly fish for my (500l) reef tank...

all my livestock were very healthy up till yesterday... and then 3 of my schimps died...

Since i put the jelly in it seems like all my fish are poisoned, is this possible?

But having said that, one of my clams died 1 day prior to that... i checked for ammonia but n very light trace (normal), not enough to kill any livestock...

PLEASE HELP - I am going to lose my livestock, if i dont react soon...

Please give me some help...

I am uploading a pic of the jellyfish!

:eek:
[FS]: maroon clownfis: Durban

Posted: October 31st, 2011, 9:12am CDT by ZaxXx

Fish for saleCommon Name:
maroon clownfish
Scientific Name:
-
Size of fish
5 6 cm
How long have you had the fish?
1 week
Is the fish eating?
yes
Shipping or Collection only:
collection
Your location.
Durban
Price:
R150
Photo's:
-
Notes:
-