eDen

How old is your chiller?

Thanks for all the contributions. Here is a few more details to my tank: 1. Size of tank: 5 x 2 x 2.5 2. Residents: I haven't quite decided yet, but mostly likely to go for fish + soft corals. Was told that hard coral is very challenging and not advisable for amatuers like me. I am also going for something relatively easier to maintain as I travel quite often for work. 3. Budget - lower the better, but have been warned that I probably need to be ready to spent about $2-3k for the 3 equipments. This amount is probably what I am looking for. 4. Planning to upgrade? Do you mean getting an even bigger tank, not likely if that is the question. Additional questions: What is SPS? Any recommendation for on return pump? How much would that cost? Thanks.

I am thinking of setting up a 5 ft marine tank and was told that the 3 most important pieces of equipment is 1) proper lighting 2) good skimmer 3) chiller. Would appreciate feedback (or show me the link) on the brands / type / cost of these 3 equipments! 1. Lighting - metal headlight vs T5? Which is better? How much is the cost? What is needed for a 5 ft? Is brand important? 2. Skimmer - which brand is better? What is the cost? 3. Chiller - which brand is better? What is the cost? Thanks.

Thinking of adding some marine plant/algae to my tank because live rock without corals looks abit boring, so thinking of adding some colour to the tank. At the same time, could be food to some of the fishes. Is this recommended? Have anybody tried it?

They are beauties, but wonder whether 1) Anybody has any success keeping them? 2) If yes, can they adapt to community tank (of large fishes)? Feeding if at all is going to be difficult right? Welcome feedback and discussion.....

I am looking for a auto-feeder, any good recommendation? Which brand? Where to get? Roughly how much? Thanks.

is ammonia and nitrite zero now? Ans: Yes when was the last time u did a water change? Ans: 1 month ago what test kits u r using to test pH, kH, ammonia, NO2, NO3? Ans: All using Sera ur bio balls and rings will oso become a nitrate factory in future. and for a 5 footer!!! Qn: How then? dun ur skimmer will be up to it in the future too. Qn: The pump doesn't seem to be able to create enough bubble to skim off the protein.......wonder whether water OK or pump not strong???

Specifications: 1) CR Aquarium 5 feet overflow system (60x24x30) 2) PL Lighting 3) Filter tank filled with bio-ball & bio-ring (2 water sprinkle) 4) Weipro Skimmer Model 2012 with Ehiem Power Head 5) Live Rocks 6) No Corals 7) No Fishes yet Background: 2nd attempt! 1st attempt to start the tank early this year ended as a disaster - the tank became a poison pool (not sure of the cause). 1) suspect issue with use of sea water 2) NTS...etc. 1 month ago, removed all the sea water and replace with salt mixture completely. Allowed new water with LR (some new some old) to settle for 1 month. Tested ammonia and nitrite level ok all this while. Today, bought test for PH & nitrate and discovered they seem to be higher than recommended.

Hi, Found that my water PH is 8.5 and nitrate/NO3 is > 60mg!!! What can I do to bring these down to healthier level? Appreciate all comments. Thanks. eDEN

Hey guys, Thanks for all the advices......really appreciate it. Will try some of the suggestions, hopefully it works........ i) add no new entrants for the moment until system is more stable. (P/S: yes, yes....no batches........will be more patient! ) ii) get a few more test kits (only have the sera test kit for ammonia & nitrate now) iii) slow feeding iv) try to change abit more water.....haven't been changing water, just topping up only so far. Now deciding between 100% water change (alot technical problem....don't have the space to quarantine my live stock & LR......??? )....and gradual water change (does 1-2 pail change a week over a period of time sounds reasonable?) How long to mature the water by the way, one aquarium owner was trying to sell me aqua salt (suppose to be from US) that mature much faster.......like less than a week??? A few more details of my tank (for some of the questions) i) cycled my water for about 2-3 weeks before I start adding live stocks..... ii) skimmer - not sure how to describe it. Comes with the system.........in the filter tank...the kind of with pump....??? iii) water paramter ok......meaning that using the Sera test kit (for nitrate & ammonia) shows ok result. iv) mantis shrimp & crabs - many some crabs (<1cm) that comes with a rock. Once I saw a relative large mantis shrimp (4 cm), a suspect - but dont think it can go after fishes that is bigger in size, right? Once again thank you........hanging on.......desperate but hanging on.....still not willing to give up. wm

Specs: 1) 5 feet tank 2) sea water (purchased) 3) rocks (30-40kg) 4) some soft & hard corals + anemonie (before they die off & I ran out of $$$) 5) fishes (the few that still survived - survival rate < 10%!!!) 6) started the tank since Feb this year 7) weekly dosage of a) Pro-series Calcium Pro-series Trace Element c) Sera Stress Protection d) Nutrafin Cycle e) AquaPharm Hydro-safe f) AquaPharm Bio-Element. About 4-5 caps each. 8) test (hydrometer, NO2, NH3 & NH4 test showed that water seem ok). However, sometimes cannot add water everyday - sometimes every 2-3 days... 9) filtration system - overflow type with filter tank below (filled with bio-balls). Sprinkle system. As the water goes from bottom of the tank through a 'passage-way' to the overflow, I previously had the problem losing my fishes through this trap (got suck in)......I have since used some plastic net to block them. Description of problem:- With the exception of the few cheap coral fish that I bought initially when I started the aquarium, every other fishes that I introduce DISAPPEARED after 1-2 days. Very often, as soon as the fishes were introduced into the tank, they will hide in the rocks and I don't see them again!!! Gobies, Butterflyfish, etc..... Ocassionally, I saw them for a few days and then they disappear......don't even see the bodies!!! The only fishes that stayed with me for a long time is 4 clown fish (3 different species) + 1 damsel fish + 2 shrimps......poor lonely fellows! Last week, I decide give it another try.....so I decided to buy a batch of clown fishes (cheap kind) - 2 species (supposed to be imported and from local water).... just to test one more time (previously I always add a few at a time)......the 1st night was OK.......good thing about clown fish is that they dont hide in the rocks.....but after 2 nights notice these fishes were not well (some kind of white fungus appear on the skin) & very soon they just die off........after barely 5 days.....I only have 2 of the 13 left!!! Q1: Suspect that something could be wrong with the water, but what puzzled me is that why some of the fishes had survived > 3 months but others can't even survive for 48 hours? Q2: Is there something I miss? What other supplements I should add on top of those that I am adding? What other test can I use to check the water condition? Q3: How to do a total change of water (that is if it is necessary!!!)? Is it a good idea to purchase sea water again? Some said that using salt + water is safer - but the problem I have is that how am I going to find another 5 feet tank to mature the water!!! Q4: Anybody can solve this mystery??? I will be really thankful.

Cost saving suggestion - may save some $$$ if you use Vpost to consolidate purchases in USA and ship back. I will be trying it out! Cheers!

Thanks guys! This weekend will definitely get a few and try!!! Tough to keep coral happy & algae away at the same time!!!

Hey guys, Have some problem with algae growth in my tank. Working on not to switch on my lights for too long everyday but still growing. Anybody knows what fish/sea creatures I can introduce to help control the algae growth? Thanks!!!

Hi Dradttg, Thanks for your reply! Notice that the white cotton-like stuff on the rocks seem to be spreading.......can I ignore it?

Hey guys, I am facing the same problem with my live rock so would really like some advice.......also just set up a 5 feet tank.....using sea water......only had sand and live rock in the tank......started running the filter system 3 days ago and discovered white cotton like stuff spreading on the live rock!!! Area also turn abit greyish........ what should I do??? How should I treat them? Will they disappear if I just leave them in the tank and let the system run?

I am in the midst of setting up a 5 feet tank...... planning not to put in too much stones and corals so to have more space for fish.....pretty new to marine fishkeeping..........had been keeping tropical fishes in the past, only tried keeping a basic DIY 1.5 feet tank for 6 months......would really appreciate any tips/advice in getting the proper setup. Myth or truth? 1) Was told that all live rocks have be in placed from start and it is not advisable to add more live rocks after.......??? 2) Bought some live rocks from an aquarium yesterday.....went back today and the owner told me that the batch that he sold to me may have some problem as certain part of the rock turning whitish (abit fungus like)......he is also unfamiliar with the problem and so ask me to monitor the development!!!??? Any idea what could be the problem? 3) I only bought about 20kg of live rocks for a 5 feet tank.....probably going to increase it to 30kg. Is that amount of live rock sufficient for a 5 feet tank? Would that affect the alkalinity of the water? 4) Notice that there ferns / plants growing on the rock.......doesn't look very nice....... should I remove them? Are there live rocks that do not have these plants? Notice that most display tanks use rocks without......wonder how they do it? 5) Any other tips for a beginner??? All advice welcomed! Thanks!!!