Tatura - Small Lagoon
- Thread starter BigC
- Start date
funkngroovy
New Member
Awesome, and inspiring, could you please give more details on your set up or link to another site with that info?
BigC
New Member
G'day mate.
Well would you credit that, been holidaying round your way for the last two years. Love to live there it's paradise mate. But alas I've left it too late as always. LOL Where do you buy your stock from, dry goods. I wondered into that shop near Labrador, fairly big place, but not much by way of marines.
Below is a tank run down some things have changed though.
Okay!
Tank is a standard self made 24x12x18 all glass tank (with sliding coverglasses to keep critters in) Drilled with 25mm overflow into 20mm drain.
Sump is a small 12x12x18 all glass tank with 3 compartments
1st compartment intake chamber holds Carbon and Rowaphos.
2nd Compartment houses Cheato algae and my Nano Skimmer
3rd Compartment contains small frags and LR and that dreaded Pistol Shrimp.
Return pump is an Eheim Hobby 1250 pump, which sits outside the sump due to space limitations
The sump is lit 24/7. I now culture Rotifers and Copepods in vessels alongside the sump. Next to the brineshrimp hatchery.
The main tank has a aragonite sand bed to a depth of 50mm
Live rock totals around 30kgs maybe a little more.
Lighting is provided via 2x 55w T5 Interpet Power Compacts (1 daylight, 1 daylight/blue) & 1x 36w T5 Internet Power Compact (daylight/blue)
Alongside the Eheim return pump 2x Maxijets complete the circulation job (1x mj600 and 1x mj900)
CUC is pretty extensive for a nano and comprises of the following as of today
2x Cleaner Shrimp
Snails:
4x lrg Trocus
4x Star Astrea
8x Jumbo Cerith
3x Tongan Nassarius
Crabs:
4x Blue legged
3 Red Legged
The fish population numbers four
2x Common Clown (starting to show signs of spawning behav.)
1x Royal Gramma
1x Yellow Watchman Goby
Corals: Gee where do I start. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves probably around 30 varieties.
Maintenance is upped a little of late. Before I was only doing 1x 12 ltr waterchanges whereas now I perform 2x 12ltr waterchanges per week. I find the inhabitants enjoy this much better and seem more vibrant. I draw all water from the sump and dont disturb the main tank unless I really have to.
I add Two Little Fishes C-Balance twice weekly (2x 5ml medicine spoons) again via the sump
I guess I've become a wee bit lazy with the testing side of things of late only really performing a full batch of tests once a month. I sorta can see when things arnt just quite right now with constant observation, then I would get the testing kits out.
I test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alk, Ca, Mg, ph, phosphate. and thats about it.
I have little log sheets copied from Bloozoo aquatics site. (pdf)
Feeding,
As I now have an SPS (would like to add some more) and a Sun Coral I feed the main tank the following food stuffs.
Live BBS, Live Copepods, Live Rotifers, PhyotoFeast Live Photoplankton, Frozen Cyclopeeze, Frozen Brineshrimp, Frozen Mysis Shrimp, Frozen Krill pacifica. Dry marine flake.
I make a point of starving the inhabitants at least one day a week, this makes them hunt for food rather than waiting to be fed a ready meal.
Cleaning:
I used to syphon in and around the wall from time to time but I now refrain from doing this as its alive with copepods and the likes so I now leave well alone. I use a magnet and some filter floss wedged between the plates to clean the front glass.
I think thats it really. It does take up a great deal of my time to keep it in shape but I enjoy doing it and problems are not as frequent now as they were in the beginning.
For the future I'm looking at incorp some reef bones, branching pieces (nice shapes) into the scape (cheap from a german source) perhaps after christmas. LOL and also to up the Copepod and Rotifer production so as I can maybe distribute among friends and forum members.
Thanks for taking the time to view this thread and I hope it helps some folks along the way.
Regards
BigC (Glasscutter)
PS I'm upgrading a few things at pres.BigC
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:52 am
Well would you credit that, been holidaying round your way for the last two years. Love to live there it's paradise mate. But alas I've left it too late as always. LOL Where do you buy your stock from, dry goods. I wondered into that shop near Labrador, fairly big place, but not much by way of marines.
Below is a tank run down some things have changed though.
Okay!
Tank is a standard self made 24x12x18 all glass tank (with sliding coverglasses to keep critters in) Drilled with 25mm overflow into 20mm drain.
Sump is a small 12x12x18 all glass tank with 3 compartments
1st compartment intake chamber holds Carbon and Rowaphos.
2nd Compartment houses Cheato algae and my Nano Skimmer
3rd Compartment contains small frags and LR and that dreaded Pistol Shrimp.
Return pump is an Eheim Hobby 1250 pump, which sits outside the sump due to space limitations
The sump is lit 24/7. I now culture Rotifers and Copepods in vessels alongside the sump. Next to the brineshrimp hatchery.
The main tank has a aragonite sand bed to a depth of 50mm
Live rock totals around 30kgs maybe a little more.
Lighting is provided via 2x 55w T5 Interpet Power Compacts (1 daylight, 1 daylight/blue) & 1x 36w T5 Internet Power Compact (daylight/blue)
Alongside the Eheim return pump 2x Maxijets complete the circulation job (1x mj600 and 1x mj900)
CUC is pretty extensive for a nano and comprises of the following as of today
2x Cleaner Shrimp
Snails:
4x lrg Trocus
4x Star Astrea
8x Jumbo Cerith
3x Tongan Nassarius
Crabs:
4x Blue legged
3 Red Legged
The fish population numbers four
2x Common Clown (starting to show signs of spawning behav.)
1x Royal Gramma
1x Yellow Watchman Goby
Corals: Gee where do I start. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves probably around 30 varieties.
Maintenance is upped a little of late. Before I was only doing 1x 12 ltr waterchanges whereas now I perform 2x 12ltr waterchanges per week. I find the inhabitants enjoy this much better and seem more vibrant. I draw all water from the sump and dont disturb the main tank unless I really have to.
I add Two Little Fishes C-Balance twice weekly (2x 5ml medicine spoons) again via the sump
I guess I've become a wee bit lazy with the testing side of things of late only really performing a full batch of tests once a month. I sorta can see when things arnt just quite right now with constant observation, then I would get the testing kits out.
I test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alk, Ca, Mg, ph, phosphate. and thats about it.
I have little log sheets copied from Bloozoo aquatics site. (pdf)
Feeding,
As I now have an SPS (would like to add some more) and a Sun Coral I feed the main tank the following food stuffs.
Live BBS, Live Copepods, Live Rotifers, PhyotoFeast Live Photoplankton, Frozen Cyclopeeze, Frozen Brineshrimp, Frozen Mysis Shrimp, Frozen Krill pacifica. Dry marine flake.
I make a point of starving the inhabitants at least one day a week, this makes them hunt for food rather than waiting to be fed a ready meal.
Cleaning:
I used to syphon in and around the wall from time to time but I now refrain from doing this as its alive with copepods and the likes so I now leave well alone. I use a magnet and some filter floss wedged between the plates to clean the front glass.
I think thats it really. It does take up a great deal of my time to keep it in shape but I enjoy doing it and problems are not as frequent now as they were in the beginning.
For the future I'm looking at incorp some reef bones, branching pieces (nice shapes) into the scape (cheap from a german source) perhaps after christmas. LOL and also to up the Copepod and Rotifer production so as I can maybe distribute among friends and forum members.
Thanks for taking the time to view this thread and I hope it helps some folks along the way.
Regards
BigC (Glasscutter)
PS I'm upgrading a few things at pres.BigC
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:52 am
funkngroovy
New Member
Thanks Big, that's great.
the members of MASA (marine aquarium societies of Australia) forum would love to see your set up and for you to start a tank journal.
Your feeding and breeding regime is quite impressive and I think your contribution would be valualble.
If you would like to have a look. www.masa.asn.au to register and have a look at some of the other set ups.
my email is [email protected] if you have any further questions.
thanks again, your tank is f'n awesome!
the members of MASA (marine aquarium societies of Australia) forum would love to see your set up and for you to start a tank journal.
Your feeding and breeding regime is quite impressive and I think your contribution would be valualble.
If you would like to have a look. www.masa.asn.au to register and have a look at some of the other set ups.
my email is [email protected] if you have any further questions.
thanks again, your tank is f'n awesome!
TimSchmidt
New Member
Wow. :shock: That is beauty of a tank! How about some shots of the "works"?
TimSchmidt
New Member
Yep. That's new all right! So clean too!
funkngroovy
New Member
The best sun coral I have ever seen. How much and often do you target feed?
BigC
New Member
Folks seem to get hung up on constantly feeding Sun Corals. Mine only gets target fed around three times a week with Frozen Brineshrimp, Mysis or Krill pacifica. I feed the tank Live BBS (hatched daily) live phyotoplankton and frozen Cyclopeeze.
I feed the sun after I've fed the cleaner shrimp. I use a large syringe with a length of airline attached and feed each polyp in turn.
Regards
BigC
I feed the sun after I've fed the cleaner shrimp. I use a large syringe with a length of airline attached and feed each polyp in turn.
Regards
BigC
funkngroovy
New Member
You are certainly committed! I 'spose that's why your tank looks so amazing!
TimSchmidt
New Member
I really love the colors too.
funkngroovy
New Member
jardinii is looking good at the front there. How often and what do you feed it?. Also is there a powerhead aimed at it or is that shot taken while it is in the middle of a 'wave'?
BigC
New Member
Hi
At the very top back there is a spraybar return from an Eheim 1250 Universal pump which runs the sump the bar runs the full length of the tank which is angled downward and to the front, The Cat is recieving the up draft on the way back after the flow bounces of the front pane.
I do not feed the Cat directly, so it must be recieving some sort of nutrition via my feeding regime which includes the following
Dry Flake and granules
Frozen Mysis, Brineshrimp, Krill pacifica &Cyclopeeze
Liquid Live Photoplankton, Live newly hatched brineshrimp
Live Copepods which I culture myself.
So as I say it must be drawing something in as its looking pretty healthy at the moment.
Hows the weather down there by the way....
Regards
BigC
At the very top back there is a spraybar return from an Eheim 1250 Universal pump which runs the sump the bar runs the full length of the tank which is angled downward and to the front, The Cat is recieving the up draft on the way back after the flow bounces of the front pane.
I do not feed the Cat directly, so it must be recieving some sort of nutrition via my feeding regime which includes the following
Dry Flake and granules
Frozen Mysis, Brineshrimp, Krill pacifica &Cyclopeeze
Liquid Live Photoplankton, Live newly hatched brineshrimp
Live Copepods which I culture myself.
So as I say it must be drawing something in as its looking pretty healthy at the moment.
Hows the weather down there by the way....
Regards
BigC
funkngroovy
New Member
Thanks,
Hot as usual for this time of year. It is fine up here on the Goldie but Melbourne and Adelaide just had a full week of temps beyond 40C.
Lots of reefers down there lost thier entire systems due to heat and power loss. Was a real shame.
BTW dived the seaway last weekend, 25m vis and lots of life!
Hot as usual for this time of year. It is fine up here on the Goldie but Melbourne and Adelaide just had a full week of temps beyond 40C.
Lots of reefers down there lost thier entire systems due to heat and power loss. Was a real shame.
BTW dived the seaway last weekend, 25m vis and lots of life!
BigC
New Member
Well I'm gonna holiday earlier next time 2010 or 2011.
I usually stay with relatives in Eagleby nr Beenleigh.
or the Australis Sovereign on Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise
I have been over in March/April time but the weather has been a bit hit and miss on those occasions.
Cant wait to get back over, such a lovely, vibrant, colourful and relaxing country and the people are great.
Regards
BigC
I usually stay with relatives in Eagleby nr Beenleigh.
or the Australis Sovereign on Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise
I have been over in March/April time but the weather has been a bit hit and miss on those occasions.
Cant wait to get back over, such a lovely, vibrant, colourful and relaxing country and the people are great.
Regards
BigC