water params

ph       7.7 (low res)
NO2   0
NO3   20 (could be higher)
Ca       470 ppm
PO4    0.03
Amm   0
Mg      1200-1260 (low res)

NOTE: re-introduced male clown after all clear

NOTE: added pincushion urchin

Who could resist?

NOTE: got 60l tank

from Wavertree Nook Rd

NOTE: Upgraded cooling fans

very noisy! but no variation in tank temperature at all. :)

NOTE: clown in temp QT

in kids plastic toy storage. Needs a glass tank.

+ heater

+ lump of live rock

+ circ pump

After consultation, decided to take no action other than to wait to see if it escalates before dosing meds.

NOTE Whitespots on male clown

NOTE: upgrade skimmer & return pump + hydor flow

* V2 120 Nano skimmer

* MJ1200 power head

NOTE: bought frags from Wav

Bought following frags from local reefer:

* Galaxia/Galaxea frag

* Pom Pom Xenia frag

* kenyan tree

guy kindly gave me some extras:

+ free - Tiny Zoa frag

+ free - Small Toadstool frag

+ 2 free unknown frags (poss. 1x Green Star Polyp, 1x Monti Finger)

Moved tank

NOTE: Moved tank from old house to new one

Moving house

NOTE: moved house, left tank

NOTE: bought torch + zoas

from Thurcroft

NOTE: Perc Clowns from Bawtry + new heater

NOTE: Starry Blenny + 2x Emerald Mithrax crabs from Ecclesfield

NOTE: 10x hermits + 2x blue legs from Thurcroft

won: job lot of marine chems & tests

API Nitrate, API Nitrite, API Ammonia kits

SALIFERT pH, Calcium, Magnesium and Phospate kits

1/2 tub of Rowaphos and 1/2 tub of Purigen.

1/2 box of Milliput (for attaching corals to rocks etc)

Protozin (new/sealed) and Myaxin (5ml used) medications and almost full bottle of Apstasia X.

Almost full container of marine flake and net.

NOTE: bought Blood Shrimp from Viscum + 3x hermits

NOTE: bought pulsing xenia frag

from Viscum. VERY expensive!!!

First 24hrs

We got the tank home late last night and set it up quite crudely to ensure that the live rock was still able to act as a filter.

I removed the crab into a temporary home while I had the chance as I knew he'd disappear into the rocks and we'd never see him again. At least this way, I'd have the choice of re-introducing it when I found out what it was.

When it was all together the water was totally thick with fine sand particles, the live rock was dumped in the middle in a heap and the Humbug was quite crudely dropped in too. It was left overnight to settle and I'd sort it out then. The water level was quite low too, so the rear chambers were dangerously low so I knew I had to go out and get some water ASAP.

So, woke up this morning to find the water had cleared, the Humbug fish was swimming about but every surface was coated in fine grey sand, under that was red coralline algae and green algae.

The only local fish seller (LFS) I know is Viscum, so I toddled off there to get 25l of salt water and a small tub of food for the fish.

Nano marine - the beginnings

Well, I've always wanted a marine reef tank but was always turned off by the extreme expense and difficulty in keeping them.
Thankfully, technology has moved on to the point where it's not ridiculously expensive any more thanks to the new small complete tanks.

Having previously kept tropical discus fish I was aware that it was entirely possible to get a 2nd hand full setup at a massive price saving and also kickstart the whole process to boot avoiding all the tank filter cycling and other stuff.

So, I won and auction for a D&D 24g Nano tank as a complete setup. Below are some pics of it at the sellers house before I brought it home and here's an inventory:

• D-D 24gallon nano marine tank full set up which includes:
• Boyu 310 Skimmer
• Eheim 1000 return pump
• Spare stock return pump
• Koralia Nano powerhead
• Live Sand
• Approx 10kg of LR
• 1 Humbug Damsel fish (Black & White)

When we dismantled the tank it turned out there was a hitch hiker crab too.