Tank Journal Archive

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
Update 15
ok so ive hit the go button on a Giesemann chiller, I went the 1000 to give me a bit of extra security.

I have also ordered a vertex automatic skimmer neck cleaner, between that, dosing, ato, controller and easy corals Im hoping this will be a fairly low work tank
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
out of interest why wouldn't you go a chiller/heater like the teco??? David from ELOS suggested it to me and said one of his recent customers did this? also did you go the e-vision? David said they are bringing out a thing called the Aquabee stream which he reckons blows Vortech mp40s away??
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
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Sydney
Teco are great, nothing against them. I think the Polaris looks a lot better and from the accounts I have read is a lot quieter. Having a heater in the sump or chiller is no real concern as long as it isn't in the display.

I grabbed the evision as I also went with.the four e strip upgrade and wanted to ramp the lights up and down as well as change the coloring.

The pictures of the aqua bee streams left me pretty unimpressed, how about yourself?
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
My concern with the teco is that if it breaks then you have two things out - a heater and a chiller...

As for the Aquabee just googled it and I agree doesn't look that inspiring but having never had a marine aquarium I am really in the dark and have to be guided by all the experts like yourself :)

I think you are almost forced to get the e-vision if you get the aquatop - David was recommending: AquaTop 120 with glass covers, 2 x E-Stripe white, 1 x E-Stripe abyss blue, 1 x E-Stripe Expo - is that what you are getting?
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
Excuse the naivety but is a chiller necessary? My hubby likes arctic conditions so we usually have the airconditioning running most days/nights

Also are you using the dosing pump for calcium, magnesium, alkalinity?
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
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Sydney
Ohhh god dont follow this mad man off a cliff :)

I subscribe to the Ada theory in that anything that interferes with the viewing of your aquarium should be minimalised if not eliminated, ie the smaller the footprint of a pump and the less you need the better. Vortech seems to fit this fairly well. Again I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the aquabees I just don't like the look of the 3 big black boxes that would need to be in my tank.

The telco chillers and e en the Halea chillers are great I would be surprised if you have any problems with them. The heater is an option in the teco and is also cheaper to get it without it. If you do go the heater option and it does break you can just replace the heater.

You can get split system chillers like the ac systems for a house that puts the noisy end outside, but these are expensive to install and is a fair bit of hassle. Remember that the chiller can not be boxed up so choose one that fits in with your decor, also be comfortable with the amount of noise they produce, they are not overly quiet things.

Depending on your home and the equipment list you have, ac may be able to manage everything, but Do you want to have your whole houses ac running when your not there or on holidays? Some people do it but I see it as globally managing a local problem with a still speculative outcome.
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
I'm not sure of the names of my tubes, they are white, blue with some red.

And I will be dosing, it's not really a must, but it just reduces the maintainence a lot.
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
is there room at the bottom of the cabinet for the chiller - personally the giesmann looks very nice to me... as for running ac 24/7 even while away - you do make a very good point ...

i am all for as low maintenance as possible ... leaves time to do the fun things! plus with 2.75 kids time is a rare commodity...

i like the look of the vortechs - nice and minimal ...

what lighting strips did you get...

are you planning to run a refugium in your sump?
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
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Sydney
You may be able to get a teco 15 into space on the left hand side of the sump. This gives you a rough visual idea of the space you are working with, which I believe is 45cm wide, the teco is 25cm wide but also has a power outlet on the right hand side that is an IEC connection so it will stick out about 3-4 cm

[Broken External Image]:http://gallery.me.com/maxreefer/100155/IMG_7162/web.jpg?ver=12970110260001

The issue is then you need to have forced ventilation installed into the cabinet as the chiller works the same as an air conditioning unit in it removes hot from one area and transfers it to another, in this instance it removes it from the water and puts it into the air, if that hot air is pumped into the same cavity space as the sump is without forced ventilation then that air will heat up the water the same amount as you just cooled it down.

I did it on a previous set up by building a wall between the sump and the chiller, removing the rear section of the cupboard, putting egg create in its place and installing ventilation fans from underneath

ai489.photobucket.com_albums_rr255_NiCd_album_IMGP0593.jpg


ai489.photobucket.com_albums_rr255_NiCd_album_IMGP0594.jpg


being locked in a cupboard did not reduce the sound, in fact it made it louder and on hot days despite the forced ventilation it would not get up enough air flow and would sometime end up increasing the temp of the water unless you opened the front of the door, which lost your clean looks straight away.

You will also forgo the room to have all of your dosing containers there so you would have to choose one or the other.

FYI A side by side of the Teco and the Polaris, both are not unattractive units, are the same price, both European made its personal preference but I think the Polaris is nicer in the cleaner lines, albeit I have an overwhelming desire to take the cover to a panel shop and have it sprayed a nice metallic silver to soften it off :)
teco-chiller.jpg

awww.sewatec.de_images_thumbnail_produkte_xlarge_Giesemann_Polaris.jpg
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
LED choice was

1 x E-Stripe 15 LED – white
1 x E-Stripe 15 LED – blue
2 x E-Stripe 15 LED – 8 white, 1 red, 6 blue

This gave me a slightly whiter than the normal 50/50 split alot of people do but still alot bluer than what David was suggesting. It also have me the mixed white/blue/red strips which I could run inbetween the single colour strips to avoid that disco light affect that I have seen on the straight out white and blue strips when in use.

Ill be running a refugium in the fact that ill have reefresh blocks for pods etc, but not a macro bed in the left hand side, I would much prefer to make use of the top up given that without it the skimmer would be in a variable water level and would constantly be out of tune. I will also be using carbon dosing which out competes macro ect and basically starves it to death, I have never been able to run the two successfully side by side, the carbon dosing it just too aggressive.
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
I like the Gisemann - it is not too unattractive so it can sit next to the cabinet - I'd prefer all the dosing pumps and controllers inside the cabinet - also I don't fancy cutting the beautiful ELOS cabinet.

what dosing pump did you get? where did you get it and the Gisemann? also where did you get your neat little gallon containers from? I buy heaps of kids clothes from the US (1/4 of the price) and figured i might get some of those containers thrown in with my order...
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
I went to kamoer dosing pumps, if you have a look in the equipment section I posted a review of them compared to the bubble magus yesterday. Vertex are meant to have a really nice one coming out at the end of the year but it's double the price, seems essentially the same but with a touch screen controller.

I got the chiller through sewatec, you can get it through Dave as well but I think it was nearly double the price so I am risking the warranty.

The gallon containers came from bulk reef supplies. They do not ship outside of the us so you need to have N address set up with a freight forwarding company, but it sounds like you already have that susd out. We do it for Asics shoes ect as they are less than half price over there
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
thank you so much for all your help and sorry about all the questions - you are a legend! :worship

yeah US address sorted ... couldn't live without it! we get so ripped off over here... I hardly buy anything in Aus anymore (unless it is heavy)

hope you don't mind another question for you - if I get a QT tank (which I assume is necessary?) - what size do I get? how do i set it up - with sump etc or something simpler.

Also what ro/di do you recommend - have been looking at the sydney water analysis (i never want to drink tap water again!) - does the presence of chloramines in our water mean we need a double di filter - is that right? also how long can you store it and how do i make up the salt water - just ro water + salt mix (is it that simple?) - which salt mix? thanks again for all your help - you are a champion!!!

BTW - hubby gave green light to order tank and aquatop light woo hoo... just want to check out the mini at Aquaristic before I commit - hopefully they will have it up and running by next weekend :)
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
Any time, ask as many questions as you like.

Qt is best practice but something that the majority of people do not have or do. The kiss methods applies and it's usually best to grab something like a standard four foot tank with pine stand and a large canister filter and heater and that's it done for about $400. Its not so much the expense but the pita of running two tanks and once you have your display up and running these usually get shut down and are just taking up space in your garage.

I buy my fish small as they seem to adapt better so Im using an 18" cube I has with dosers, ato and auto feeders so it runs itself. Ideally it would be larger but after the initial set up phase it should be just for one fish at a time max.


Ro di, everyone says this but there is a reason. Speak to Pete at psi filters he will do discounts, give you the best equipment, advice and price, if you don't walk away preaching about him like everyone else I'd be amazed.

I do 200l batches and store it in a rain water tank, in the right containers it can be stored for many year. Salt water you can either collect it yourself from a region like rose bay or mix up artificial water with a synthetic salt and do water. Generally you add around thirty grams of salt mix per liter of water, put in a pump to mix it and let it sit overnight, you then test your salinity with something
Ike a refractometer and add some more salt or water go get your levels right.

You basically get what you pay for bright well is by far the best and most consistent with its levels being near perfect each time, Then you have your red sea! d and d and a few others that are really good as well, cheaper in price and suitable for most systems.

Just to throw some confusion into the matter have a look at the new red sea s 400 tanks, full star fire, great quality, just about everything you need for 4k with a chiller in the cabinet.
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
I did look at the Red Sea s400 tank - its not bad looking - i don't like the back panel and I don't like the lighting in it or the look of the hood - really its a holden as compared to the ELOS ferrari IMO... I am too emotionally committed to the ELOS now :) - I also LOVE the aquatop light - I think it looks amazing - no wires and also a lid so my little boys don't see if fish like to eat their toys ... my 3 yr old was throwing things into the tank at daycare (much to my horror) - it certainly made my decision clear that I needed some sort of cover for my tank!

with your RO storage do you run a heater and air stone to keep the water moving?

with the QT why so big? couldn't i use a cube as my QT? like the one you are using to mature your fish in?
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
Those are exactly the same reasons I didn't go with it, just thought Id throw it out there as something that is 80% there but a third of the price. Helfrichi gobys were what sealed the deal on the aquatop for me.

RO doesnt need to be heated or have water movement in storage, infact airtight in darkness and at lower temperatures is better.

The idea of a large qt tank is that it is less stressful on the fish and improved water quality. Things like tangs etc are not recommended to be in small enclosures. If I put three full sized tangs in my cube it would be a blood bath or they would die of white spot. Again I like to buy my fish small and grow them up so the tank size is sufficient for this, but not larger fish. Having said that i find it easier to get new fish to feed in a smaller tank than a larger one. I have always previously gambled without QT and its sort of a half measure that will allow me to QT 80% of my purchases.

What size is your cube?
 

PMac

Member
Apr 18, 2012
51
5
Sydney
I don't own a cube ... but whatever 2nd tank I have will have to be in the garage/basement so I want to keep it small if I can - we have far too much "stuff" as it is so if I could find one that could serve as a QT, fish grower and a frag tank (down the track) then perfect.

That is great about the RO makes like really easy - do you go to Rose bay to collect or just use salt mix - seems like a lot of hard work to me - mind you I haven't checked out the price of the salt mix...

I would like to buy small fish as well - part of the fun is watching them grow - I LOVE your little yellow tangs you got - though hubby isn't as keen - I am trying to get him to have some fish input so that he becomes more involved - all he has requested is clown fish - I can't have more than one pair in the tank can I?

the helfrichi gobby is pretty wild - obviously a good jumper - it is amazing what beautiful creatures there are out there!
 

parrdog

Member
Sep 19, 2011
349
127
Engadine
I will jump in and I'm sure Ads won't mind :).

I think a great sized quarantine tank that isn't too big and isn't too small is a standard 3 footer.

Also, best to have one pair of Clowns, there are always exceptions, but one pair would be safe. Just be careful which Clowns you decide on, as some variants are very aggressive. Maroon Clowns are quite agro especially if they are spawning.

Occelaris or Percula would be good variants to go with, as well as having classic Clownfish characteristics.

Sorry for the grandstanding :p,
Jamie.

PS: I can't wait for this tank to arrive!
 

NiCd

Lead Moderator
Jul 29, 2011
4,296
1,586
Sydney
As always Jamie has hit the nail on the head, but if a small QT is all you can fit well I think that is better than no QT, well at least that is the theory im running with. If space is at a premium maybe get friendly with a local reefer and see if you can share their QT tank?

The exception jamie is talking about is tank raised Occelaris or Percula that have been raised together and are introduced together, If you have a look at my last tank photo there are four clowns in there. Below is another great example with a bit of elos porn thrown in.

Ive always run with groups of clowns as I find them more entertaining and love they way they school in a ball.