Reefkeeping South Africa » Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

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Posted: January 9th, 2012, 3:31am CST by Dane G

HI im Dane from cape town and im an....no await wrong forum, lol corny bit of humor to start things

first post WHOOP WHOOP, total noob been in fresh water a while, still busy with an oscar tank ATM, so any who

i will be starting a marine tank soon busy collecting the equipment etc sump, lighting and stands all DIY the rest i will be purchasing (eisch might aswell have bought a small island and go snorkelling everyday thinks its cheaper)

aim is to go between 1.5 and 2 meters, bigger is better right? bear with me i will be bombarding you all with questions soon enough. so this is just a HI prepared to be annoyed thread thread so HI!!
Best colour light for Algae scrubber

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 10:54pm CST by Quintin

Hi there guys.
What is the best colour light to put into the algae scrubber?
I have read that algae grows much better in low end light spectrum and was wondering if anyone has tried using a red light for more growth?
Glad you found it

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 10:54pm CST by Yousef

I hope to help with your knowledge
and the questions I can help aluminum.

Be well all ...:)
550 liter tank swop/sell

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 10:02pm CST by vincentputter

Hey guys! I'm moving into a flat and there is no space for my tank. I want to sell It for R2000 or swop It for a smaller tank (± 200 liters with sump, stand and return pump or for one of them nano cube thingies).

It comes with stand, hood, lights (see pic), sump, 2500L/h return pump + return pipes. Oh and the glass is 1 cm thick.

Please PM me If you want to do business.
5ft tank...

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 9:55pm CST by saaid

Hey guys & gals,looking for a 5ft tank. Preferably in EC area.

Thanks
Idol wanted

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 7:34pm CST by frankie fish

I am looking for a Moorish Idol. I had one about 2years back,before i had a auto top up,and wavemakers. Mine got sucked into a pump because my fish got startled when the return chamber got empty,and the resulting bubbles got into the dt. I would prefer one that is eating,or a local one. The tankmates are non-aggressive tangs,and the tank is relative ok,1800x600x600,i have some sponges as well.
Temperate TL 550

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 7:26pm CST by Myn

Did some upgrades and added a few specimens to my system. Running at 17c Celsius. Let me know what you guys think
[FS]: Free for collection: Weltevredenpark

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 5:00pm CST by Deon07

Hardware for saleThread title:
Free for collection
Location:
Weltevredenpark
Shipping or Collection only:
Collection only
Photo's and description/list of items for sale:
Hi Guys,

I got two old tanks, one used as a sump and some plumming for free, I am moving so I am getting rid of all the spares.

Cant remember the sizes of the tanks bud if I remember both are leaking, bottom bud you can maybe make one complete of the two.

Sizes plus minus 600mm x 500mm x 800mm, maybe bigger

Let me know, if no one collects then its going to the bin

Got some other items, RO unit, chiller, MH, pumps, full bucket salt etc that I will sell for cheap as well.

Will try to find some time tonight to make a list and take some pictures.
Notes:
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Anyone willing to donate a cup or two of mature sand?

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 4:16pm CST by coralline

Hi guys,

I've just started a fairly large DSB (roughly 150cm X 50cm) and would love to get some mature sand from an established DSB to get it going...

Is anyone out there able to kindly donate? I'll exchange it with fresh sand;)!
If the same person has a few pieces of LR they wanna sell, I'll grab that too, also in exchange for fresh sand:razz:, or cash!

Thanks:thumbup:
ESKOM: Warning

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 3:34pm CST by mytank

Hi guys,

Helen Zille just tweeted this, I work there (am a consultant ;)) and called the load management guys and confirmed this so HEADS UP for those that don't have any backup.

Quote:

Huge pressure on Eskom network. Must reduce demand or declare an emergency. Pls switch off all non essential appliances and equipment.
pods need a boost

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 3:23pm CST by Merman

Hi Guys,

I had the pleasure of seeing some other tanks in the past few days and what I have noticed is sumps that are swarming with pods.

I have a nearly new tank and would like top bulk up the amount of life in the sump.

I wonder if anyone would be able to help me get this right. maybe swop some live rock?

maybe some infested chaeto?

what would you all suggest?:P
Compatible tangs vs angels

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 3:13pm CST by ZeroCool

hi guys ...

i want to find out how compatible is tangs and angels ?

I have a yellow, purple and sailfin tang ...

dont know if they fight or not ... comments please.
Beginner nano start up advice

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 2:03pm CST by Renegado

Hey guys :)

I'm dying to start a marine tank (if my mom has her way I will only start when I'm finished matric- aka in 2 years) but unfortunately I'm stubborn, and I'm gonna get all my plans in order anyway.

I've got a nano (or is it pico?) Jebo tank, about 18liters, with the filter in the lid. It's small yea, but I can't afford bigger stuff. I don't necessarily have to keep fish.

Big thanks and rep to @dallasg who gave it to me- one of the nicest things anybody ever done for me :thumbup: he also gave me a blue light, 4 filter pads for nitrite, ammonia, carbon and phosphate and some substrate.

I have a bunch of q's.. Do I need a sump? I have a little 15l 1ft tank that I could use like this guy did, My 30L Nano - Marine Aquariums of South Africa, or something similar. It's the only tank I got that's not 2nd hand and cracked. What about the layout for making this a sump??

Skimmer? If there no sump, there no were to put one.. If this tank stops us from going on holiday, I'm gonna be in the sh1t, so I want to keep this as simple, cheap and low maintenance as possible..
Advice advice advice please!! Will add more q's as I think em up :P
Lyle's Shallow Existence

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 1:45pm CST by bothal08

hey all ive been inspired by some of the shallow tanks on our forum and others...ive been hooked.
so this is the start of my shallow existence.

DT-150x40x70
sump(for now)-40l i think
total volume +-440

lighting will be 6xt5 54w

return pump- hailea 2800lph

skimmer-AM 500 blue turboflotor (would like something bigger but all i have for now)

i want this system to be very clean so sump area is gonna be spotless and i want zero detritus in my DT...gonna have decent flow to stop stuff from settling.
i want to achieve something similar to tritonian's system...not an easy task but ill give it a bash

heres 2 picks for now let me know what u think
Red sea supplements

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 1:32pm CST by mark@northlands

hi again!! just want to share my opinion on the new range of red sea supplements. im thrilled!! been doing alot of experimenting in the shop on our various display tanks and tried the coral growth program, and the coral color program. the results are unreal! ive been testing daily and dosing accordingly, and have not seen such stunning colors in a sysrem before. the no3 po4- has worked brilliantly, dropped the phosphates and nitrates so low can hardly get a reading when i test, so feeding my scaled friends extra now they love me more lol. value for money, and ease of use the new range i think is one of the best you can get. worth trying, come in and see our red sea max displays, and the growth of the corals in the main show tank. :thumbup:
Too Much Emphasis Being Put on PO4 Readings?

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 1:21pm CST by Kunhardt

Lately I have read a lot of threads on SA forums, heard a lot of discussions in LFS and been involved in a lot of discussions with fellow reefers about Phosphates. There seems to be a lot of people thinking that getting ideal phosphate readings is going to cure all the problems with your tank. Below are just my feelings on the subject.

I am not a big one for taking readings of nitrates and phosphates as I feel I know my tank well enough to be able to see if there is a problem serious enough in those areas that I need to look into it, however with all the talk of late I decided to get my PO4 tested. The reading on the Hana Meter came back as 0.35ppm. On telling some fellow reefers this, the response was "Thats VERY high" "you should be concerned" "your corals are going to die" etc...

Yes I will be the first to admit that it is generally not an ideal reading, but here is why I think that those kind of comments are a load of rubbish...if we go according to what we read on phosphates corals growth should be stunted, lack of colour should be occuring and corals in general should be pretty unhappy but looking at my tank I would say there is nothing to worry about...SPS are growing at a decent rate, they are colouring up a lot since I got them a month or so back and there is good polyp extention. LPS are growing and looking good as well and there is no nuisance algae to speak of.

What I am trying to get at is, phosphates are not the only thing that is going to effect you corals in specifically your sps in terms of them doing well. Too much emphasis has been put on this Golden phosphate number of 0.03ppm and if your phosphates are not at this then you wont succeed at sps and I think a lot of people are beginning to think that if they can achieve this reading then all their problems are going to go away.

Phosphates are only one part of the puzzle, I feel that if you have ideal lighting, ideal flow, are keeping all your other parameters at the correct levels and corals are getting the suppliments that they are needing such as amino acids and vitimins your corals are still going to do well...granted if you do get your phosphates down to that almost undetectible level you will obviously get better colouring.

Another idea I have is that Corals will adapt to their environment and if po4 is constantly higher than ideally it should be I would think they will eventually adapt to this...just my thoughts on that anyway.

Anyone else got any thoughts on the subject? :blush:
Deltec products

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 1:10pm CST by mark@northlands

hi all! we are now proud stockists of the complete deltec and d&d product range! reef paste is now in stock, fantastic for feeding corals, anemonies and can even be crumbled and fed to fish. its a krill based formula enriched with additional vitamins and supplements. we have been using it extensively in the shop and having fantastic results on coral growth. something worth trying ;)
Aiptasia Zapper.

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 12:58pm CST by king squish

Hey guys happy new years to everyone, may this year be a great year!!

Can some one how has built a aiptasia zapper please give us a detailed list of what is needed and instructions on how to go about building one of these zappers as i am struggeling to understand and these buggers are poping up more and more everyday!!
Black plastic overflow

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 12:47pm CST by rudeboy1

Hi all

Im looking to find a place where i can buy the black plastic that is used to cover the bio balls and overflow in the tank?

Where will i be able to find that in Cape Town?
Looking to buy a marine tank. Anyone selling?

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 12:01pm CST by Shravan

My budget is R2000 including fish. I live in Centurion, Gauteng. The tank must contain clown fish for an avid 3 year old Finding Nemo enthusiast...
sun sun vibration pump spares

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 11:53am CST by wors143

Hello all

looking for the shafts. anyone know where one can get or maybe diy them. regards

Wors
Red Slime Algae Cure

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 11:20am CST by Ari

Hey guys:) I'm sure you guys are tired of this topic but Im fed up cause i dont know what to do anymore. Ive got a 300L tank with lots of LR and a sump with DSB. A protein skimmer Dymax (rated 700L). When i came back from holiday (after a month) my sand and rocks were covered with red slime algae.I have removed most of it from the sand but the rocks are difficult cause it starts drifting everywhere. Im starting with water changes like always but will weekly water changes really help? Im planning on doing a 60L change. Last year all my corals just started dissappearing and i just want to get my reef up and going again. Please any suggestions :)
Cut on hand meets hammer coral help.

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 9:27am CST by Furbz

hi Guys,

as the header reads.. i was working in the garden in Saturday and put a screwdriver into my hand, not deep only around 1mm, but a fairly good puncture.

on sunday my entire setup was purchased and moved out.
due to this my hands were in the tank lots collcting rock etc. so i think the puncture wound softened and the scab fell off.

i picked up a hammer coral and it swivelled and touched the small puncture wound.
i immediately dropped the hammer as it felt exactly like a bee sting.

i rinsed my hand in fresh water and then put vinegar over it to "clean it"

over the period of the night the area has swollen lightly, is a bit red, and warm to the touch.
so my guess is its infected.
i've been advised to go see the doc and get an antibiotic.

anyone else had a similiar experience?
and is a visit really warranted?

Thanks for the help!
Chaeto/caulerpa

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 9:11am CST by Helga

Now you guys have me worried. I have a refugium with a DSB and an abundance of mainly Caulerpa and also a healthy ball of Chaeto growing in it that is attached to my DT. I started this refugium 15 months ago when I had a 300liter tank mainly because I battled high phosphates in the tank and also as a display tank with maybe one day seahorses. That was the plan!.

Have now upgraded to a bigger tank. Had the refugium linked to the new tank as well. It really works perfectly, feeding my DT with lots of little critters. The caulerpa is growing at a phenominal rate so I prune it back vigorously every week. I dont want the refugium to become to overgrown and scraggly looking as it doubles as a nursery for any small or new fish that needs more attention. (still dont have the seahorses, and dont think I'm going that way.... theyre just to fragile). The refugium is teeming with small copepods and other little critters.

What worries me now is this "going sexual thing" of Caulerpa! Any telltale signs that I can watch out for before this happens. I found the caulerpa growing at such a pace in comparison to the chaeto. Will cut them back even more to give the chaeto a better chance. And then for peace of mind go over to only chaeto.
Advice : New Tank Build

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 8:17am CST by Express Reef

Good Day All,

After my tank have been running now for almost 3 months, I detected a minor leak of about 3mm a day, very small...:( Lucky I took Tobes advice to stock up very slow...

The Plan: To start up my Nano cube (Frag Tank) 500 x 500 x 350. To move my sailfin tang and clean up cube with my 3 corals...

Then start building a new tank:):thumbup: (10mm glass)

Current tank: 1200 x 600 x 600 water level @ 580 with a coast to coast overflow...

Want to build a tank 1200 x 600 x 600 again but lower water level... with a coast to coast overflow...

Need advice, what is the best way to silicone a tank? was thinking to cut the glass 2mm shorter and space it so that the glass dont touch with a 2mm silicone seam... ? and make use of polished glass edges?

Can anyone of the tank builders give some advice?