For Sale 400L saltwater tank

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    Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 11:08am
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A few years ago I had a 400L tank, but for various reasons it is no more.

Now that my house has been rebuilt it is time to start getting my dream tank organised Smile

My laundry will be moved outside (where it belongs!) which leaves a space that will readily fit a 600L tank. My intention is to have a saltwater NZ reef basically. A kina, a mussel or two, some crabs, and NZ saltwater fish.
As I understand it I can have baby snapper and trevally if they are born in captivity - is that correct?
I would ideally like some baby snapper, trev, a gurnard, that style of thing, with living seaweed etc...the whole nine yards Big smile I will be gettingthe glass tank purpose built, and I'm considering having say someone like Hollywoods (Albany) provide and install all filters, pumps etc required to ensure the success and permanence of the tank and its residents.

Any help, comments and suggestions much appreciated, cheers.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ponty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 11:38am
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This would be very interesting to see how you get on with everything.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 11:41am
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Thanks Ponty - the first tank I had went well, until I overloaded it with fish with insufficient filtration etc...the old rule do it once and do it right...now is the do it right stage Smile 
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Quite amazing seeing our everyday fish in tanks. In Perth at fish market on the wharf they had a tank for Kingfish and one for Snapper. Quite obvious Kingfish grow so much quicker than Snapper. The sign said Snapper were like 12 months old, I wouldn't have put them past 15cm where the Kingfish were only like 4 months and were 30-40cm.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Shark-Bait Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 11:55am
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Hiya Grant, good luck on the Snapper, super agro when the lights go out, have been there & done that.
Had a marine setup in a 440lt tank doing exactly what you want to do.
Very frustrating when you get everything set up & looking good & put a Snapper or couple in & they kill everything else.
Everything i put in my tank got snotted by MR Snapper, fine during the day or when the light was on but as soon as it got dark, lights out it was all on.
Tried a couple of different Snaps to just incase the first was just an agro fish.
Kina, Crabs, small baitfish are fine alone with most invertebrates, they live side by side with no problems  but beware of the SNAPPER, its a natural born killer.
I know of a few people who have had the same problem.
Bottom sump is the way to go filter wise with a skimmer, bigger the surface area the better/cleaner it will stay & less smell.
Good luck & keep us up to date on how you get on, some pics would be nice to.
Cheers
John/SB

Life is short so make the most of every day.

   www.oceanangler.co.nz
   www.fullonfishing.co.nz
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote fishyrich Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 3:01pm
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From my own personal experiences with saltwater tanks, Snapper were never really a problem as long as you didn't let them go hungry, was always interesting throwing in some fresh live whitebait during the season, they would gorge themselves silly, until swimming around with whitebait hanging out there gobs while they waited for the digestion of the others to start.
we successfully had snapper, trevally, crayfish, mao mao, cockabullys, rockcod, shrimps, hermit crabs, snails, small crabs, sea horses.
Fish that didn't go to well were, kahawai, mackerel, sprats, gurnard, baby eels, some of these might of struggled with lack of water flow like natural current.
 
Good luck with it.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 3:34pm
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Aha, the plot thickens Smile

...I reckon I can go to 1300L or thereabouts...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote herby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2013 at 9:15am
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A small stargazer would be pretty awesome in there espresso. 

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mike_e Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2013 at 9:48am
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You have too much $$. We had  a tropical marine for 6 years. Winter powerbills needed hiding from the wife and our lives revolved around the tank. I miss it but but not the bills or the time involved
Here ya go this is what it looked like before we shut it down


If you can go home and pull a $100 bill out , and flush it down the toilet, and if that doesn't bother you, then go ahead and buy a boat
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Shilo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2013 at 10:30am
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I've only had native freshwater tanks and not salt, but I would assume the temperature requirements to be the similar.  If it is then look into a chiller unit to stop it over heating in the summer, your fish & crustaceans may still survive without it but being able to control the temperature means you can give them the optimum conditions to thrive (cool water = more oxygen content etc).
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2014 at 12:13pm
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Cheers guys, my how time flys...

The laundry was shifted two days ago to the other side of the wall, it is now outside in an alcove



Back inside, directly on the other side of the wall (same window), is now a prime spot for a saltwater tank setup Smile. I still have my previous wooden tank stand, which may do the trick, but I will see what the experts say - as I am getting someone from Hollywood to come and start making the real plans.



The tank will probably be around the 1100 litre mark I would expect. I will fix the GIB back up on the rear wall once I know what spaces to leave, whether I need taps/drains, extra lighting etc.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Kevin.S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2014 at 3:42pm
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Look forward to following progress. I had a big marine tank quite a few years ago, 6'x2'x2' so nowhere near as big as you are planning. I ran undergravel filter plates with several powerheads and an external canister filter with siporax filter medium. Filtration is the big issue, but you already knew that. it took me about a year to get a good number of anaerobic bacteria working in my external filter.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote NumnuT_AUS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2014 at 5:09pm
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Hi Espresso,
 
I also had a 6x2x2 for about 6 years in Sydney,
 
had all the usual suspects of a marine tank, plus lots of small local species.
 
sold the tank about 18 months ago.
 
MASS - Marine Aquarium Society of Sydney
 
 
i was a member for years, a great website for marine tanks.
 
a huge amount of reading for you as marine tank methods have changed alot in the last 5-7 years.
 
UG filters & canister filters are now really only used in freshwater tanks.
 
I got plenty of pics of my setup
 
send me an email
 
 
also what is your rough budget, i think my tank & equipment alone were 5k minimum
 
Cheers
Craig 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 May 2014 at 9:42am
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Many thanks!
Already I have learned that it will take a lot more input than I expected, well I guess that shouldn't be a surprise really, life's always like that Tongue
After many discussions around the place, and especially since my mate has a glass supply business...however, without going stupid on custom build costs, it appears logical and far more economical to buy an existing new tank, with all bells and whistles, get the expert to come and install and monitor for the first month or two while the living environment establishes itself properly. I can't quite get a nice 600L tank in, would have to move the wall 10cm...so will have to settle for a 400L job, around $2k, with plenty of space around - it comes with various guarantees etc - and the shop has them for 30% right now to clear the last one, so I'll go for simplicity first, get my head around this properly over the next year, then look at whether or not the full monty is the go.
So - off to the shop later today to set the wheels in motion.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote GreenBack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 May 2014 at 11:12am
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Hi Espresso, have you seen http://www.austmarine.com.au
They specialise in a more commercial application but Mike's knowledge is second to none. He maybe worth a chat to.

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Sounds like a good plan Espresso,
 
to keep marine fish healthy & happy in a glass box the following are must haves.
 
Tank - Wink
lights
powerheads (in tank circulation)
protein skimmer
heater
sump - (a smaller tank under display tank to hide all of the equipment)
 
One of the most important habbits to get into are water changes
 
i used to do approx 30% of the tank volume every month(approx 250L).
 
how will you do water changes?
 
where will you get fresh saltwater from, can you collect it yourself?
 
now the fun stuff really starts, nothing like setting up a new tank.
 
Enjoy Smile
 
Cheers
Craig
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2014 at 8:20am
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Thank you very much guys, ya'll helped me make the right decison (I think) at this stage of the general proceedings, lots to consider. Anyhoo, what was an eyesore of a laundry, is now far better looking I reckon, must be, I seem to be gawking at it a fair bit

So I ended up getting pretty much a plug 'n play aquarium. Small enough but big enough to test the waters as it were. If I can handle this and take a liking to it I can then go custom big Smile , until then it is me who is the weak link and must learn 'Grasshopper', patience does not come naturally.

So out into a picture perfect and calm bay, northern Tiri, for the source of the first half of the seawater fill, 10 x 20L pails and another quick trip to the open waters beyond the local bay did the trick. With a morning walk along the local beach and shorline coinciding with low tide for the beginnings of a local re-creation, saltwater reef style hopefully Smile



There's a piper in the picture, but this is a fish that is not destined for captivity, head butting the glass continually for two days doesn't make for a happy camper.




One of two rock fish and and kahawai of about 8cm in among some sand, broken shell and a few bits and pieces from the local bay, shell crabs and minature tuatua ended up in there by chance when I did the sand grab below low tide. Fascinating watch them do a major swim effort and be holding midwater, to get to further afield I assume, worked even in here with the current.
Both these fish seem active and healthy, but the kahawi needs a mate or two. The mussels have started reattaching themselves within a few days of being ripped off the rocks on my walkabout.

Very cool watching a miniature village, stunned at how much bio-activity is going on!

I have test kits an the instructions are being read..so far so good.

Now to introduce fish species and other bio diversity gradually as Lilliput takes form. Quite a significant challenge to focus on catching the smallest fishes possible Big smile
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FishMan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2014 at 8:55am
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New Zealand saltwater tanks really need a chiller on them to control Summer temperature highs. Many of our species are quite happy at 20c but will show real signs of stress at 23/24c. The most successful NZ saltwater tanks are maintained around the 16/17c mark.

The great difficulty of course is that chilling is costly. Placing a large reservoir in a cool place and then circulating water from there to the aquarium can help a lot with temperature stability, but it will still be hard to avoid those upper temps during hot humid weeks of February.

Sometimes the most realistic option with NZ tanks is to start them in April, run them through to December and then carefully let your fish go.

Good temperature control is still important at the cooler time of the year. Find some aquarium heaters that have thermostats with good low settings (18c).
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2014 at 9:01am
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Thanks Craig. I decided to wait until Spring to buy the chiller, as it's another grand or so, I do have two heaters to put in just haven't got around to it yet. Many thanks for the tips on temperature, I wasn't sure what to run...around 18c so there could some breeding going on, maybe.? Ah I see you mention 18, cheers.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2014 at 1:26pm
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...just went for a low tide walk, picked up some fresh seaweed on rocks etc...managed to find this crazy looking sea slug, a gem nudibranch the colours are quite amazing..but online sources reckon these are impossible to keep in an aquarium? Worth keeping in there or not? This picture from internet as mine is camera shy at present. The slug is unharmed and wandering around - or will it just destroy all livings things like some intergalatic thing out of Star Trek?


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