Tank Journal Archive

[Sidd]

Hi all,

Own a 4*2*2 mixed reef tank which has been up and running since 2009.
Have learnt so many things on the way and the best advice I can give anyone starting is not to rush into anything. Always research and read as much as possible. But at the same time have some fun and you dont need lots of money to get a nice system up.


System Objectives: Hours of enjoyment for myself and family.
System Type: Mixed Reef!!
Display System:
Strike up Date: 10/04/2009
Display Tank: 4*2*2. Back painted black!!
Display Lighting: BSLED Led units (2*120w).
Stand: Made my own. 1.23m by 1m by .7m.
Hood: None. Open top!!
Sump: 2ft*18*18 with two baffles in place.
Refugium: None as yet.
Refugium Lighting: None

Support systems:
System Water: Natural salt water purchased at Aquarium stores.
Display Water circulation: 2* JVP 12000L/H power head. So total 24,000L/H.
Return Pump: 4000L/H no name type
Skimmer: Reef Octopus Vortex 800
Evaporation Top Up:4 Stage PSIFilters RO/DI Unit
Chiller: Teco RA-680 Chiller

Live Stock:
- 2 ocellaris Clown fish with one being black n white
- 1 Yellow tang
- 1 Blue tang
- 1 flame angel
- 1 green chromis (did have 4 but sold them as I wanted a school of firefish gobys)
- 1 firefish goby
- 1 x very large clam (and i mean very large)
- Mixture of corals (finger leather, duncopsonamia, some other bits and peices)
- 40-50kgs of live rock.
- Im sure im missing few things..

Latest Tank picture:

Nearly got all my fish in one shot. Just missing the firefish.. next pic :p

 

[MagicJ]

How long have you had the big clam?

 

[Sidd]

I have had it since 2009 and the previous owner had it for 4 years. Not sure who owned it before that.

 

[MTG]

More pics Sidd!!

 

[Sidd]

Will do :)

 

[marineclass]

Looking good :) love the colour of that tang

 

[Sidd]

My fav fish.. So beautiful.. Would love to have a purple tang also one day (but not till I get a bigger tank).

 

[Sidd]

Some more random pics:

Before shots:

Sun 04 Apr, 2010
Check out the frag on far right:

Sun 23 May, 2010

One year on:

May 4th 2011
Taken by the back side to show the growth. Has amazing purple tips and its growing on the frag rack too :)

damn snail climbed on top of the frag on far left and knocked it down. To hard now to find the small fluro green frag. Well it happened a year ago. You can actually see it in the first pic.

The frag is even bigger now. Will take some updated pics soon. Can i borrow someones macro lens please?

 

[Dynamic]

Love this tank.

 

[Sidd]

Cheers :)


I got two leather coral frags if anyone wants them? Had to do a massive trim as its just growing nuts!! taking over the whole tank.

Given away so many frags already. two left :)

come and get it.

 

[marineclass]

Looking so good:) thats a big clam - very nice :)

 

[Sidd]

Thank you :)

Im hoping to upgrade to a 4*3*2 very soon. Starting to get some quotes etc. Cant wait!!!

Btw... has anyone used or heard anything about this calcium reader: WEIPRO CALCIUM METER KC-5000
Only about $130 bucks. Worth it?

 

[MagicJ]

Sidd - havn't heard of them at all. Google doesn't shed much light on them either so I would be a bit wary.

The Hanna Calcium Checker can be purchased for about $55 delivered - for example http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hanna-HI...0&clk_rvr_id=271809572783&hash=item5644c2fc87

And there is a nice review here http://www.thereefuge.com/threads/hanna-calcium-checker-review.834/
I think I know which way I would go :D

 

[Sidd]

I already have a hannan calciuim checker but would love an automatic one that displays the readings in real time.

Yea I couldnt find much info on the net either, but fair few users on other forums are using the PH meter and it seems to be fine. Will keep asking around and report back incase someone else is interested also.

 

[MagicJ]

You might have to be the guinea pig!!

 

[Sidd]

Just did a small water change and haven't cleaned the glass so ignore the crappy pics. Maybe I should have done that before the water change.. oh wells..
Some quick photos. Nothing special just point and shoot. Hopefully one day I can afford a macro lens.. sigh

My finger leather coral

My beautiful flame angel

My blue tang chilling

My fav fish. So peaceful and majestic. Love it!!!

Meet my mighty clam!!! So majestic. So beautiful

My elegance having a winge at me coz there isnt enough space for it to expand properly. So 4*3*2 tank coming soon!!
Its actually shrunk a fair bit in this pic as I accidentally touched it when moving my glass cleaner. Oh a smaller elegance on the far left (it actually split from the main one)... how cool is that :)

My green zoo rock. I have a feeling I got some sort of crab living in there. I can see these round googly looking eyes that pop out every now and then. Its not my pepermint shrimp. I can never see the rest of its body. But looks like a shrimp or a crab. Atleast its not eating my fish.

My hammer corals chilling in the background sun baking :)

Oh and my frag has grown so much in the last couple of months. Check my previous posts to compare.

 

[Sidd]

Still got two frags if anyone wants them.

 

[carlientz]

Still got two frags if anyone wants them.

I would love them but im in Sydney! :(

 

[MTG]

Stunning as allways Sid! Taken a fts?

 

[Sidd]

Im in Sydney as well.. Come over and get them :)
Give me a call or sms on 0423180545.

Matt - cheers man. Nah didn't end up taking a fts as I didn't have my wide lens on. Will do it soon.