Wouldn't this be an absolute pleasure to have this sort of lighting on our tanks.
SUNLIGHT DIRECT
A receptor that channel natural sunlight into the fibre optics and out in the form of a "light bulb", the receptor also pivots on one axis to track the sun's movement.
How awesome!
Feeds
23793 items (0 unread) in 5 feeds
Items by Pads
Marine Aquariums of South Africa
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Fibre Optic Lighting
Posted: March 15th, 2011, 1:24pm CDT by Pads
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Feeding a CBB
Posted: November 9th, 2010, 11:00am CST by Pads
I've had my CBB for 2 weeks now. It has taken to frozen brine but no dry food yet.
The trouble is it gets very little brine as the tank mates are quicker and greedier.
Has anyone used a feed box for the CBB? See my sketch below.
One would place frozen food in the box and only the CBB with its narrow jaws would be able to eat from it.
Would this work?, provided the CBB is not shit scared of it. Would it become dependent on being fed that way?
I suppose the box could have a suction cup mounted on it like the veggie clip fashion. -
Black Silicone
Posted: November 5th, 2010, 1:49pm CDT by Pads
Just a quick heads up guys, I just got off the phone with Den Braven Johannesburg
and they no longer stock the Black Aquaria Silicone :(
Only Clear available from them. -
Ask the Audience: Nano Cubes?
Posted: October 29th, 2010, 11:57pm CDT by Pads
I'd like to ask the audience on this one. Its not often you hear someone say they've got too much time on their hands, but here I am. I've always admired a small colourful Nano Cube. Although you don't get to stock with the larger species its convenience and compact design make it attractive.
What are the things you consider to be important on your nano and what would you like done better.
So far I've come up with a 500 x 500 x 500 cube, with a skinny overflow and some returns doubling as the CLS, if you will. I'd guess 1 x 150w MH with some Blue LED's for colour enhancement. Recirc Skimmer plumbed off the overflow into a return and back.
The efficacy of a DSB in such a small area concerns me and thus I'm leaning towards a great emphasis on water changes. Yes they are tedious and irritating but inevitabily the best way of nutrient export. A scrubber is another option but is the trade off in the amount of evaporation/top ups vs buying/mixing Salt really all the different, benefit of the salt is a refreshing of the calcium/alk etc.
Any advise would be greatly valued. :thumbup: -
The Irony of the Non Reefer
Posted: September 6th, 2010, 2:38pm CDT by Pads
Man this cracks me up. My poor wife has see her house turn into a small workshop with hose, tool, nets, pvc, silicone, buckets and all manner of goodies.
So gradually her frustration grows and she begins to moan, first to me, then our friends, then our family. Complaining that my stuff is always lying everywhere and the tank takes up so much space. In all fairness it does use up some space.
The thing that cracks me up is every time we go into a LFS she offers to buy a fish or a coral and then subsequently names them.
I think its a case of Men are from Mars and Woman from Venue. -
DIY Reactor
Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 1:55pm CDT by Pads
Hi Everyone, Thought I'd share what I'd built, like a good boy.
DIY Reactor:
Parts List:
1. 50mm Clear PVC Tube: 2 x 300mm Lengths
2. 50mm PVC Threaded Sockets: 4 x
3. 40 - 20 Threaded Nylon Bush: 4 x
4. 20 - 15 Threaded Nylon Bush: 4 x
5. 15 - 13 Threaded Connecting Elbow thingy: 4 x
6. Plastic Mesh
7. Sponge
8. Hose Clamps: 4
9. 10mm Clear Hose: 1m 'ish
Here the pics:
Now to add media/ pump and connect up the hoses.
My intention is to have this reactor externally mounted for ease of access, Sealing the joints may be interesting.
I may also need to add a ball valve to control flow and a slightly denser membrane rather than the plastic mesh. We'll see how the preliminary test go. -
Diy ato
Posted: July 12th, 2010, 10:48am CDT by Pads
So a while ago I designed my own with a little cistern float and a broken circuit that will connect when the water gets too low. This was flawed in that the circuit connectors were exposed and it malfunctioned. So I built a new one with better parts. Check it!
Parts List
Mounting Bracket: Measure 25mm off one side
Bent Bracket: Place in oven to soften PVC to bend
Drill Hole: Drill Hole for attachment of float switch
Float Switch: Screw Float switch to bracket
Wiring: Split Wiring and connect into strip connector
Neaten Wiring: Wrap wiring with insulation tape
Mount ATO: Hang or Glue Bracket to Return Chamber of Sump
Tah Dah! :yeahdude: -
Chalice Question
Posted: July 10th, 2010, 12:10pm CDT by Pads
Going through some threads and stocklists at the LFS I noticed the common term of Chalice Coral being related to two different species, could someone elaborate on the difference between Echinophyllia and Oxypora. -
Picasso Triggerfish for sale: Randburg
Posted: June 24th, 2010, 1:55pm CDT by Pads
Fish for saleCommon Name:
Scientific Name:Picasso Triggerfish
Size of fishRhinecanthus aculeatus
How long have you had the fish?5 - 6cm
Is the fish eating?Since Dec 08
Shipping or Collection only:Yes, anything sometimes even Nori
Your location.Collection Only
Price:Randburg
Photo's:R200 or Exchange for Cleaner Shrimp
Notes:
Picasso has coloured up more than the picture, was having trouble snapping a focused picture this morning. Will try again later
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What next!
Posted: April 20th, 2010, 9:44am CDT by Pads
Its bad enough you get poor service delivery from Eskom/City Power, then comes load shedding, we deal with it because what other choice do we have and they warn of the likely outtage times. Next they decide to re-align the amount we pay for electricity because of their inability to PLAN, so the people who do pay for electricity now get nailed again. Now for the last few weeks we have had the pleasant experience of having out power cables stolen. Last week it was out from Monday 12:30am until Tuesday 10:00pm. This morning I woke to find the power out since 12:30am. I can't be certain but my gut tells me the cables have been removed again. Seriously! How long before City Power gets the point and encases the cables or submerges them. We cannot go on like this. Rant mode off! -
? on Changing Impellors
Posted: April 13th, 2010, 9:59am CDT by Pads
Yesterday I had a break through with the help of Neil. I thought that the little Resun 2000l/h pump lying around was not gonna give me adequate return flow as a return pump. So when I got home I connected everything up and it works brilliantly apart from the noise. This could just be a noisy brand or the impellor. This too seems to "stall" which plays with my water levels. Now my question......
What are the chances of finding a generic impellor to swap. Currently its got a paddle wheel, I was wonder if there is a more efficient impellor before I decide that the noise warrants a new pump.
Any feed back would be appreciated. Thx ;) -
? on Changing Impellors
Posted: April 13th, 2010, 9:59am CDT by Pads
Yesterday I had a break through with the help of Neil. I thought that the little Resun 2000l/h pump lying around was not gonna give me adequate return flow as a return pump. So when I got home I connected everything up and it works brilliantly apart from the noise. This could just be a noisy brand or the impellor. This too seems to "stall" which plays with my water levels. Now my question......
What are the chances of finding a generic impellor to swap. Currently its got a paddle wheel, I was wonder if there is a more efficient impellor before I decide that the noise warrants a new pump.
Any feed back would be appreciated. Thx ;) -
? on Changing Impellors
Posted: April 13th, 2010, 9:59am CDT by Pads
Yesterday I had a break through with the help of Neil. I thought that the little Resun 2000l/h pump lying around was not gonna give me adequate return flow as a return pump. So when I got home I connected everything up and it works brilliantly apart from the noise. This could just be a noisy brand or the impellor. This too seems to "stall" which plays with my water levels. Now my question......
What are the chances of finding a generic impellor to swap. Currently its got a paddle wheel, I was wonder if there is a more efficient impellor before I decide that the noise warrants a new pump.
Any feed back would be appreciated. Thx ;) -
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 ;) -
Help, my mantis gone walkabout!
Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 4:05pm CST by Pads
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Order of Introduction
Posted: February 17th, 2010, 9:35am CST by Pads
Hey Guys, I'm looking to start stocking my tank and there is a vast range of fish.
I've got my own summation as to which fish to add at what times but I'd like to bounce it off ya.
Currently in DT
1. Picasso Trigger
2. Ocellaris Clown (2x)
3. Cleaner Wrasse
Wish List (in order to be added according to me)
4. Blue/Green Chromis (6x small)
5. Copperband Butterfly
6. Goldie (2x)
7. Naso Tang (small)
8. Regal or Yellow Tang (small)
9. Green Mandarin
I gotta make sure the shy fish aren't stressed too much when introduced. What you guys reckon??? -
Pads DIY Skimmer
Posted: February 11th, 2010, 9:14am CST by Pads
During the process of setting up my 5ft tank I was looking around for a new skimmer.
Needless to say I was a little shocked to see the amount of money I needed to shell out.
So I undertook to build my own. After some research and inspiration of ToppDoggs DIY Skimmer. I set off to the hardware to collect the parts.
The first attempt saw me attach an inlet pipe of 20mm and outlet of 20mm, First big mistake. The skim cup overflowed immediately using a 2000l/h pump. First Lesson Learned. Then I had to re-drill a larger hole around that fitting. Not easy but I managed.
Next once that was complete I got my OPT-2000 and with the 32mm outlet, connected it up and off we went This time the bubble level reached only 3/4 the way up the cylinder.
So I had to cut off 60mm off the top down (to 340mm from 400mm) and redo the neck again.
Finally its done, not the neatest job but with a little planning, and the use on my new Dremel, we can get the joins a little neater using PVC weld. Here are the pics.
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Phosphate Binder
Posted: January 25th, 2010, 10:04am CST by Pads
Hennie, quick question. I've been looking at doing a DIY Phosphate reactor but weighing up the costs and was wonder if it would not be cheaper to use a Phosphate binding solution instead of a reactor. Cost to make + Electricity + Reactor media VS. Chemical Solution + Top Water Top Ups.
Do you know anything about Lanthanum Carbonate as a phosphate binder and whether it can be used in a solution and if its reef safe?
Also mixing proportions and what quantity to add to our tanks. I can't seem to find anything on the web in relations to reef applications. Any advise? ;) -
Reektek T5 Question
Posted: November 24th, 2009, 10:38am CST by Pads
Hi Guys
Has anyone managed to get the lumens value on Reeftek T5's specifically the 10000k 54w bulbs. I've read through a few posts, notably Jaco Schoeman's on the some of the different t5's, but no references to the Reeftek globes. Anyone got more info. Shot ;) -
Substrate Going Black
Posted: November 3rd, 2009, 9:22am CST by Pads
Hi guys, I've had my system running now for about 6 weeks, I added reggies into the DT and virtually since I've had it one section has been progressively turning black. I can see that there's life in the sand but I'm thinking that the blackness can't be good. I haven't tested the water as I don't know what to test.
Any suggestions. Here are some pics
