My Marine Tank

[Jessica13]

Hi,

I thought i'd post some pictures of my new Marine tank. This is the first marine tank i've set up so its taking me a while! So far its been set up about a month! I got the live rock (3kilos) last weekend and i shall hopefully be getting more next friday, about another 5-6 kilos. I will then wait for a couple of weeks and if everythings ok i'll add some shrimp and crabs. Then after a few weeks, some Common clowns, then after about a month, some corals!! Thats if everything goes to plan though which it probably wont...

Anyway, the tank so far has 2 internal filters which may eventually be upgraded to an external (money is an issue at the moment!lol), heater, powerhead and T5 lighting unit thing. On advice from others who know WAY more about marine tanks i've decided not to get a protein skimmer just yet. Im planning to in the future, but as i said money is an issue i've decided to go for the things that are essential now but if anyone spots any cheap skimmers anywhere let me know

Anyway... Here's a pic of my tank as it is today! Not the prettiest i know...

 

[Jessica13]

And here's a picture of my lovely live rock! IMO anyway!

 

[debiasir]

looking good

i have the same filter as you (the blue one) pretty good filters i think.

lookforward to more pictures

 

[wwestar2000]

can you tell me your expensize on this. I am thinking or saving a big black something fish they have in those cramp tanks at the asian food store. Those fish can barely move i was thinking if i take the biggest one and give it a good home everyone would be happy. less cramp in tank. tnk

 

[Jessica13]

Im not sure what you mean... What fish are you talking about? This tank is only two foot long so nothing big is going to fit in it! Its also a marine set up...

Did you want to know how much i'd spent on the tank so far?

 

[wwestar2000]

yeah thats what i mean i wanna try to save a fish form the asian food store.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...how much rock is that (?weight)...looks like you could use more LR. Fill us in..how old is the tank? homw much sand in there? Welcome aboard. SH

 

[GSD]

i hope it all goes well

 

[Jessica13]

I have 3 kilos of live rock in there at the moment to help cycle the tank. I will be buying another 5-6 kilos next friday and will give it a few weeks to finish cycling and make sure there are no other problems.

The tank has been set up for about a month but i only got the live rock last weekend! I cant remember how much sand it was actually... It was one and a half big bags! I'll see if i can dig up the rest of it later to see what weight it was!

Im going to be stocking the tank very gradually as 1) im on a budget and 2) im very new to SW so dont want to mess it all up!!!

EDIT - Forgot to add how much it all was.

Tank (with filter and heater) - £60
Extra filter - £20
Lighting - about £15 i think!
Sand - £10
Live Rock - £33
Powerhead - £16

 

[Chac]

Have you got a skimmer on there Jessica

 

[Jessica13]

I haven't actually. I was hoping i might be able to get away without one, but i am looking for one! Im waiting on someone who's trying to see if their spare one is suitable, if it is, i will be getting it!

 

[Navarre]

Hi JEssica, i dot like ot intrude too much on other peoples diareies with lots of info etc as its supposed to be a diary of their developments and there are others parts of the forum where this info can be given (however i have yet to see you in the Marine section so here goes ).

Is the liverock you already have fully matured when purchased? and is the liverock you will be getting at the weekend fully matured also? If the answer to both of these is yes then you will not need to wait 2 weeks before adding things to the tank as the tank will be cycled instantly. I setup a tank for a friend last weekend in Lancashire (800 mile round trip for me ), we added sand and salt water on day 1 and allowed this to settle. Day 2 we added 25kg of cured liverock, 60 cleanup crew, 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 clowns. This is a 300 ltr tank but the principles are the same.. add good quality liverock and the tank is instantly cycled.

If you wait 2 weeks before adding livestock to the tank then the bacteria already present on the liverock will have nothing to feed upon in such a sterile environment and by the end of 2 weeks the bacteria poplulatio will be smaller than the liverock already had 2 week previous... This is in turn means only 1 fish could be added and you then have to check all over again for spikes etc.

Good luck withthe setup, always nice to see people take up the salty life

 

[Jessica13]

Hi Navarre,

I did post in the Marine section asking for advice, you obviously missed me

The live rock i will be getting is fully matured and im hoping to buy a couple of inverts (hermit crabs maybe?) at the same time, i assume they will do the same job as fish as far as providing bacteria for the live rock?

I was going to just have inverts (a couple of hermit crabs, couple of shrimp and some snails) in the tank for a month or so as im wanting a few corals in there eventually! I was going to make sure everything is settled before i buy those. Unless i can get the fish before the corals for them to live in?

Feel free to post any info in this thread! As its my first saltwater tank im very grateful for any information people can give me!

Thanks!

 

[Bloo]

Hi Jessica13. I'd love to see how this progresses as (like you) I've never had a marine tank before and have been contemplating for years. It's not something I'd be able to take up within the next year unfortunately (due lack of space) but will probably move house in a year's time so I have plenty of time to do some swotting in the mean time, and lurk in the marines section to pick up loads of tips

Edit: it would also be interesting to see you keep track of the costs involved with any new addition and / or general upkeep.

Good luck ! B)

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

nice tank keep us posted