Tank Journal Archive

[Dynamic]

Display System:
Fluval Edge

Display Tank:
Fluval Edge - 6 Gallon

Display Lighting:
2X MR16 4W Cool White LED's
4X Single 4W Cool White LED's
30 Blue LED's
2X Blue bulb LED's

Stand:
Stock

Sump:
No


Support systems:

System Water:
Natural salt water

Display Water circulation:


Return Pump:
No

Skimmer:
No

Evaporation Top Up:
manual.

Chemical Support:
No

Calcium Addition: No

Alkilinity Addition: No

Other Chemical Maintenance: Magnesium etc

Current Water Chemistry: If applicable
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: Unknown
Alkalinity: Unknown
Calcium: Unknown
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 3.5
Magnesuim: Unknown





Hi there guys,

Well aside from having gold fish, I have never had any other sorts of fish. I have been researching on marine setups for a little over a month, and I decided to give it a shot. I think I did everything right, but if I am doing something wrong please let me know.

So, I have had this tank running for about 4 weeks now, and I only just added some coral in it five days ago. I modified it and it looks pretty cool.

Since it is already set up, I can't go step by step to show you what I did with photos, but I can explain it all.



So far I have taken the foam filter and the carbon filter. I replaced it with a purigen filter after the tank cycled.
I added a small submarine relic in amongst the live rock.
After adding 2 small hermit crabs, I let it keep cycling for another week.
I added a clown fish and a bicolour blenny.
I then modified the lights and added some coral.

There is no skimmer, but I do take out 1/2 a litre of water each day and put 1/2 a litre of new water in the tank.

Here are some photos.


This is the submarine relic I purchased with some fake plant. As you can see, there are two little hermit crabs in the photo too. This was taken when the tank had stock lighting in it.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34053-pn14p.jpg




This is another shot of the fake plant close up. When I saw it, I thought it would look really nice under just the moonlights. I was right. It does not look really natural, but it gives the corner of the tank a really nice atmosphere. Again, photo is with stock lighting.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34054-ygwm1.jpg




Shot of the whole tank. Stock lighting with a few blue LED's I added.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34055-p59tw.jpg



The little Blenny hiding out in his submarine. I really love the character of this fish.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34057-fw371.jpg



This little dude is only around 1.5cm long. He is very cute and he really brings the tank to life.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34058-7hez8.jpg



These little guys are awesome. They cleaned the tank of algae in two days! They are only 1cm each.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34060-an9yh.jpg

-----Modified Lighting------​

Okay, here are some photos of the tank with the new LED's and the blue LED's. I got everything off ebay for around $50, but I had to solder and do all the work myself.





The whole tank with new lights.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34177-8yxhb.jpg




These are the LED's I added. You can't see, but behind these massive bulbs there are also 2 blue LED bulbs.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34176-affbt.jpg



I could not find any powerful LED's so I purchased another bulb, un-soldered the 4 LED's and then added them in the middle of the unit. I am also going to add four 20,000K LED's under them.

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34181-qgz2d.jpg





I added some mushroom corals. These things look amazing when the moonlights are on only. Very very cool

[Broken External Image]:http://picoolio.com/photos/large/34179-yfhbw.jpg




Here are two shots of the tank with ONLY the blue LED's on. I keep these on all night.



[Broken External Image]:http://www.picoolio.com/photos/large/34266-dxzw3.jpg




[Broken External Image]:http://www.picoolio.com/photos/large/34267-6bmqx.jpg





Well I hope you all like my tank. Like I said this is the very first time I have kept anything other than gold fish so if I am doing anything wrong please tell me.

Thanks!

 

[MTG]

id remove the fake plant and ornermant. and get some more coral in there to fill it out!!

 

[MagicJ]

Sorry, but I have to agree with Matt. I am not a big fan of ornaments like this - I prefer the more natural look. I suppose you could cover the sub in mushrooms or zoa's :D

 

[Dynamic]

I want to remove it, but it seems the clown fish has hosted in it. I saw her feeding it today :/ If I remove it will it stress the fish?

 

[MagicJ]

I want to remove it, but it seems the clown fish has hosted in it. I saw her feeding it today :/ If I remove it will it stress the fish?

No, the clown will be fine. You have enough rock in the tank if she wants to get some cover. Mine are out in the open all day and spend the night at the top of the tank (opposite corners of the tank I might add) and seem happy. In my last setup my clowns would spend all their time in my rose BTA but my current ones are aquacultured and I am not sure that they would even know what an anemone was ;)

 

[MagicJ]

Just out of interest, where did you get your 'live rock' from? To me, it looks more like dead coral skeletons which may not be providing the natural filtration which you expected.

Others may wish to comment.

 

[MTG]

i agree it doesent look like the best quality liverock. if you ever make an order with darren at reef secrets he has some nice quality rock

 

[Dynamic]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I got it from Amazing Amazon. I check everything daily and everything seems to be fine... does this mean it is okay?

 

[MTG]

i just feel it doesent look very live. you might be missing out on alot of critters and potential cleanup crew and hitchhiker corals, although you also might miss out on the nastys to. adding new rock to your tank with that volume will cause it to cycle again tho. did that rock cycle much to begin with ? (amonia spike?)

 

[Dynamic]

Not sure, I never did any tests until about 2 weeks later.

 

[MTG]

will the intell heatsink fit into your hood?

 

[Dynamic]

Yeah, I will post photos when I am done with it. It will look good :D

 

[MTG]

are you adding a metal plate to it to maximise surface area?

 

[Dynamic]

Yeah, just to fit them on.

 

[MTG]

sweet ull have to take some pics im interested with how you do it. are you doing it all on the one driver?

 

[Dynamic]

Yeah, I think so.

 

[MTG]

have you concidered moving the heater down behind the liverock so you cant see it?

 

[Dynamic]

No...that is a really good idea. lol.

 

[MTG]

:D maybe even some black backing on the tank. i think it would look nice

 

[Dynamic]

I was going to do that this weekend actually. I hope it looks nice.