New UK mini-reef

[clippo]

Hi everyone

I'm new to the board, so I thought I'd post details of my tank and a photo. The tank is pretty new - 10 weeks old - so its not got much in it yet! I am planning lots more corals soon though. At the moment it contains: 1 bicolor blenny, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 sand sifting sea star, 6 zebra leg hermits, 4 scarlet reef hermits, 2 electric blue hermits, 4 astraea snails, 1 red spotted mushroom rock, 1 green stripey mushroom/favites rock, 1 leather mushroom coral, hitchiker zoanthids, bivalve, fanworms, peanut worms, pods etc etc. Its also had an emerald crab in it, but I've moved him to my quarantine tank as he was swinging on the leather coral! I also have 2 tank bred percula clowns in quarantine right now. Here's the tank anyway....

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/tankweek10.jpg

Here's an equipment list.

Tank: Juwel Panorama 80 (30 UK gallons/130 litres)
Lighting: 2x55 watts compact T5 (75% 12k, 25% 7100k) plus 15 watts NO pure actinic for dawn and dusk - all lights contained within Juwel canopy, ventilated by 2 variable speed pc fans. All lights timed.
Skimmer: Aquamedic Biostar Flotor (HOT)
Filtration: 20kg Fijian Live Rock - plus polyfilter in Juwel internal filter.
Circulation: Approx. 10 tank volumes per hour (1 powerhead is a 'powersweep')
Heating: Temp is 76f (+/- 0.2f) monitored by digital thermometer with alarm - heater is a 150watt Hagen Tronic with guard.
Substrate is 1 inch caribsea aragalive (2mm grain size).
I use RO with Reefcrystals salt added - salinity is 35ppm - all other parameters normal - nitrate undetectable. I top up about 1 litre per day (not using Kalk at present).

Like I say, there's lots more work to do - I've recently got rid of the surface film by increasing surface agitation......I ultimately plan to introduce the clowns, 1 orchid dottyback and possibly a dragonet (depending on status of pod population) to complete the fish stock. Also more corals (lps, sps maybe) and some more shrimps. Total set-up cost less than £800 so far, pretty easy to maintain too...

Hope you like it! :mrgreen:

[Ty_05_F]

It looks good!

[Rossy]

That's is a very attractive tank.

Which supplier are you using for your live-stock?

How did you upgrade the lighting in the standard hood? I have a Juwel Rio 180.

Good to see some other UK members.

[Joey88again]

Very nice rock work how long has it been set up?

[clippo]

Thanks for all the replies - tank has been set-up for 10 weeks. I have just added some more stuff actually, so some more pics on the way soon (featherduster, bumblebee snails, asparagus tip bush coral).

Hey Rossy - I live near Chester UK, so get my stock at NW fishstores (let me know if you want names). I upgraded lighting by fitting ASL compact T5s under exisiting Juwel canopy and installing fans.

[Rossy]

I live in Chester. :o

I have tried Limestar and Cheshire Waterlife, but I would like to investigate more. If you have any recommendations I'd love to know your experience. :wink:

I was thinking of an Aquamedic overtank MH or maybe even a MH + T5, but they are pricy.

Have you any restrictions on which coral you can keep or have you enough watts for just about anything?

Cheers

[clippo]

Cool! - I live in Elton - go to places you mention...also Clearwater at the Wyvale Garden Centre (near Cheshire Waterlife) has a good marine section. Also Warrington Aquaworld occasionally, but its hard to find. Also, Wilmslow Aquatics a bit further away - I got a lot of equipment mail order and saved quite a bit.

I considered MH, but they would have been too bright in my dining room (the bulb would have been visible when sitting watching tv) also too expensive initially and running. May tank is only 16" deep, so I feel I can get away with a less intense light source - hence set-up above. Gives me about 5wpg anyway (not taking reflectors into account). I think this should be OK for most softies and lps - may try sps too one day.

I also post on reefpark.com 8)

[Rossy]

I upgraded my lights yesterday - Wow, it looks good now!!

I went for the Arcadia Series 3 (150w MH + 2x25 Actinics). I decided on the MH when compared to T5s or others for the ripple effect as well as the brightness. It would be a distraction if it was in the lounge, but fortunately it is another room (were I can get a bit of piece and quiet and watch my tank for a while).

I have also visited Aqua-world. Got some advice, a few bits and pieces and some ideas of how to make best use of that new light.

[clippo]

Here's an update of my mini-reef - now 10 months old.

[rememberme]

had an emerald crab in it, but I've moved him to my quarantine tank as he was swinging on the leather

lol, tank looked good! Even better now ;)