[WIZE]

I have Started a Project on Building a Reef Tank
This is currently in the early stages and this tank will not be using a sump .

I bought the following so far

Aquarium - 300ltr Jinlong Aquarium
Lights - 2x T8 Tubes --> JBL SOLAR MARIN DAY T8 30W
Filter - Fluval FX5 -Maximum flow rate: 2300 l/h
Wave Maker - 1x 1600ltr/h ( Will need a second one )
Ocean Rock - Got 15kg which is about 7 pieces
Background - Black
Heater - A big one 37cm : )


I will still need the following
Coral Sand - Picking up tomorrow for Seahorse Aquariums
Wave Maker - Going to need a second one
Salt - Hopefully Picked up tomorrow
Hydrometer - Picked up tomorrow

Questions :

Will I need a Skimmer ?

[Riamfada]

I use a skimmer in my sump to remove waste build up from the inhabitants. I keep it in my sump and its very noisy. It will be extremely noisy and ugly looking if you have it hanging off the top of a tank.

[WIZE]

Originally Posted by Riamfada

I use a skimmer in my sump to remove waste build up from the inhabitants. I keep it in my sump and its very noisy. It will be extremely noisy and ugly looking if you have it hanging off the top of a tank.

Are you using an external Filter also ?
I also plan to do weekly water changes so im not sure of using a Protein skimmer ,

[Mr Whirly]

Just a few observations. I've had a couple of marine tanks over the years btw.

The fx5, if it is filled with sponges, ceramic media etc is going to be a nitrate factory. I'm assuming you are planning to keep corals if you are calling it a reef tank. Nitrates need to be kept very low for most corals. I would advise replacing the sponges etc with crushed live rock.

You will need some biological filtration, the best being lots of live rock. You'll pick it up quite cheaply on the fish forums. If you stick to soft corals you can do it without a skimmer. I'd change the solar bulb for a marine white bulb. It has a higher kelvin rating which will allow you to keep corals more successfully.

Get NO2, N03, PO4 and NH4 test kits and test regularly for the first few months. A refractometer for measuring the salt is also important.

[WIZE]

got my tank up and running yesterday ready to cycle

Some stuff i bought:

[WIZE]

So I currently have the tank at
temp 25oc
Salinily 1.026

Just need to get live rock to cycle it now

[WIZE]

So latest update

Over the past 3 weeks I have been cycling the tank using live rock and fresh king prawn to boost the ammonia level which went sky high

Currently I have the following levels

Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5 ppm
Ph 8.4
salinity 1.024
Temp 25oC

Strange enough a baby starfish has now appeared this evening

[fred funk }{]

Looking good. When are you going to put some fish in and what are you putting in it?

[WIZE]

Originally Posted by fred funk }{

Looking good. When are you going to put some fish in and what are you putting in it?

No sure yet

. This weekend I will be adding 2 x 5000lph wave makers

The fx5 will be getting carbon , nitrate and phosphate remover media

Also another 40kg of ocean rock has been posted to me today

I think I will get a cleanup crew in first before I get fish

I also don't know if I should add some coral or fish first

[fred funk }{]

Originally Posted by WIZE

No sure yet

. This weekend I will be adding 2 x 5000lph wave makers

The fx5 will be getting carbon , nitrate and phosphate remover media

Also another 40kg of ocean rock has been posted to me today

I think I will get a cleanup crew in first before I get fish

I also don't know if I should add some coral or fish first

Looking forward to more pics

[WIZE]

here are some things i found growing in the tank

baby star fish


no idea what theses are but they come out when the lights are on

[fred funk }{]

They're pretty cool. Love the tiny star fish. I presume it came with the rock or gravel?

[WIZE]

Originally Posted by fred funk }{

They're pretty cool. Love the tiny star fish. I presume it came with the rock or gravel?

Yeah the starfish is called Phillip

I think he came from the liverock

[Degsy]

Originally Posted by WIZE

here are some things i found growing in the tank

baby star fish


no idea what theses are but they come out when the lights are on

They're anenomes i think..they grab particles from the water with thier sticky fronds..animals not plants though.

[fungun]

looks great, looking forward to pics when all set up