The Start - July 2011
Introduction:
After keeping a small tropical freshwater tank for a number of years, I started up my first marine aquarium in August 1999. This was a second hand 4x2x2 with a built in skimmer, wet/dry filter etc. The lack of a sump soon proved too much, and I purchased a new 4x2x2 with corner overflow in June 2002. This tank progressed well until 2006 when it was emptied to enable a house renovation to be completed - with two kids and an interstate move, the tank has remained empty until now.
This was a picture of the old tank taken in 2004 (loved the Rose BTA - I think I paid about $50 at the time) :
This is how it look after SW was added - a bit of aquascaping still to be completed:
System Objectives: Create an environment that my corals and fish will be happy with and to introduce my daughter (4 1/2) to aquariums - she insists on getting a 'Dory' but I don't like her chances
After having used Reeflections as my LFS in Melbourne I am going to struggle a bit in Hobart. We have a very limited local supply, and our quarantine laws makes mail order difficult - at least it should stop any impulse buys :rolleyes
System Type: Mixed Reef - I have mainly kept LPS and softies in the past but would like to try some SPS once the tank matures.
Display System:
Strike up Date: 18 December 2010
Display Tank: 4x2x2
Display Lighting: DIY LED's (previously 2 x 250w MH)
Stand: Hand made clad with blackwood, the same as our flooring
Hood: Hand made, currently using my old hood but will make a new one when I build a new LED system.
Sump: 30x15x12 with 3 partitions (skimmer, refugium and return).
Support systems:
System Water: Natural salt water - collected from Roches Beach
Display Water circulation: 3 x JVP 5000 L/h - will do until I can afford something better
Return Pump: Aqua One 2200 L/h
Skimmer: Aqua Medic Turboflotor Multi SL - not a bad skimmer but probably doesn't compare to current models. I will look to upgrade in the next 12 months.
Evaporation Top Up: Currently manual but will be converted to auto shortly when I finish my Arduino based controller.
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition: TBD
Alkilinity Addition: TBD
Current Water Chemistry: 21 January 2011
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10ppm
Phosphates: Not tested
Alkalinity: Not tested
Calcium: Not tested
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:
Controller
I have almost finished programming my Arduino based controller, which controls all the electrical equipment on the tank - I will provide more detail in a post shortly.
After keeping a small tropical freshwater tank for a number of years, I started up my first marine aquarium in August 1999. This was a second hand 4x2x2 with a built in skimmer, wet/dry filter etc. The lack of a sump soon proved too much, and I purchased a new 4x2x2 with corner overflow in June 2002. This tank progressed well until 2006 when it was emptied to enable a house renovation to be completed - with two kids and an interstate move, the tank has remained empty until now.
This was a picture of the old tank taken in 2004 (loved the Rose BTA - I think I paid about $50 at the time) :
This is how it look after SW was added - a bit of aquascaping still to be completed:
System Objectives: Create an environment that my corals and fish will be happy with and to introduce my daughter (4 1/2) to aquariums - she insists on getting a 'Dory' but I don't like her chances
After having used Reeflections as my LFS in Melbourne I am going to struggle a bit in Hobart. We have a very limited local supply, and our quarantine laws makes mail order difficult - at least it should stop any impulse buys :rolleyes
System Type: Mixed Reef - I have mainly kept LPS and softies in the past but would like to try some SPS once the tank matures.
Display System:
Strike up Date: 18 December 2010
Display Tank: 4x2x2
Display Lighting: DIY LED's (previously 2 x 250w MH)
Stand: Hand made clad with blackwood, the same as our flooring
Hood: Hand made, currently using my old hood but will make a new one when I build a new LED system.
Sump: 30x15x12 with 3 partitions (skimmer, refugium and return).
Support systems:
System Water: Natural salt water - collected from Roches Beach
Display Water circulation: 3 x JVP 5000 L/h - will do until I can afford something better
Return Pump: Aqua One 2200 L/h
Skimmer: Aqua Medic Turboflotor Multi SL - not a bad skimmer but probably doesn't compare to current models. I will look to upgrade in the next 12 months.
Evaporation Top Up: Currently manual but will be converted to auto shortly when I finish my Arduino based controller.
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition: TBD
Alkilinity Addition: TBD
Current Water Chemistry: 21 January 2011
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10ppm
Phosphates: Not tested
Alkalinity: Not tested
Calcium: Not tested
Salinity / Specific Gravity:
Magnesuim:
Controller
I have almost finished programming my Arduino based controller, which controls all the electrical equipment on the tank - I will provide more detail in a post shortly.
