Hi

 

I think the red worms triggered off your puffer fish's appetite!

 

After keeping tropical for many years I always wanted marine, that is what I call fish, I stocked very slowly, 2 pieces of rock at a time, one fish at a time, always waiting for toxics to rise then fall to normal levels, a 10% water change every week keeps it under control, sometimes I do 2 a week if levels are too high.

 

Answering your question about lighting - I have purchased the all new T5 lighting, fantastic! less bulbs means less heat but yet more light, you will probably have to order them from your dealer which will have to be shipped in from America (not available in this country yet), cost me around £120 for 2 blue and 2 white small tubes, I have the blue on at 1pm then white lights join it around 2pm, white goes off at 10pm and blue at 11pm, a little more expensive than your average marine bulb but brilliant, you can order over the internet cheaper but can't say I would trust the source. As I have quite a deep tank the T5 penetrates to the bottom of the tank.

 

My marine speacilists are great, Maidenhead Aquatics - e-mail them, they will help you, my success is down to them and their advice.

 

I have had loads of advice - all different - but I go with Maidenhead as it has always worked and nothing has died on me.

 

Let me know how you go.

 

Ruth

brosna2001 <timothyfinnegan1@...> wrote:

Hi Ruth
Thank you for your reply to my inquiry, I feel sure it will be very
helpfull. Can you also tell me if I need any special lighting for the
live rock. As to what went wrong to my last marine-set up, I think i
tried to stock it too fast plus i got the wrong fish realy not
knowing what I was doing although I had two common clowns and an enem
for quite a long time they realy lived well Together and were a joy
to watch untill I bought this lovely porcupine puffer I guess you
know whats coming next. Yes you guessed it,He ate my clowns. Although
when I first got him he would not eat anything so I fed him little
red worms, Thats all he would eat. I was so pleased with myself when
i got him to eat. Then one morning I got up no clowns I think I was
the clown that morning, There was just bits of them on the bottom of
the tank,I was so upset So after that I decided to go back to
tropicals but know I feel I want to have another go with the Marines.
Once again thanks for your help.

Tim-- In tropicalsandmarines@..., Ruth Collingwood
<ruthcollingwood2002@y...> wrote:
> Hi
> 
> What do you think went wrong with your last marine set up?
> 
> You mention that you would like sea enems, with a reef tank you
have to be more particular about your water quality, testing more
regular for toxics, but the outcome is so much better.
> 
> My tank has quite a good filtration Ehiem for a 33 gallon tank,
built in heater, this is more effective as it heats the water when
passing through the pump, cost 2 years ago was £350.00, I also
have
an additional pump filter that sits in the tank, this is quite
effective as you can add polyfilter in it which draws out excess
nitrate, my protien skimmer is not the best, you really want a prism,
but as my tank is a corner unit I could not get a prism to fit so had
to go for a sea clone, I personally don't feel they are as good, not
a very good design either.
> 
> As far as what fish to get, you have to remember that each fish has
to be different colours and shapes as they will fight if too similar,
the exception is clowns and damsels, add 2 clowns at the same time,
if you add them seperatley they will fight, as your marine dealer if
they are tank reared or ocean reared, if they are tank reared they
may take some time to swim in the enems, damsels are not great to
keep, fight with everything, hell trying to catch them, pretty though.
> 
> In my tank I have 2 hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp and dancing shrimp
(the cleaner is the better one as less shy, comes out alot, in fact
climbs all over my hand when I am trying to clean the glass, also
good for eating parasites on any other fish, it will hitch a lift on
an angels back), I also have a mandarin, bi-colour angel, chevron
tang (very rare and can contract diseases very easily) and strawberry
fish, all different colours and shapes, all my fish are quite
peaceful.
> 
> I have loads of live rock with mushrooms, leather coral and polyps.
> 
> Now I have all my fish i can start on the reef side of things a bit
more serious, you need to add all your fish 1st before getting any
inverts, unless they are the hardy ones like mine.
> 
> I would add 2 great big lumps of live rock 1st then your clowns
(but no enems, add them later), you need to mature your tank, slow
but sure adding one item of livestock at any one time and waiting for
levels to rise and fall, even live rock can cause amonia.
> 
> Hope this has been helpful, e-mail me if you need anymore help.
> 
> Ruth
>
>
> brosna2001 <timothyfinnegan1@n...> wrote:
> I am thinking of starting a marine tank up,Have kept tropical for a
> long time so i have a little knowledge filtration etc  also tried a
> marine tank some years
> ago but without much success.I would be greatful for any
information
> on what i need for good filtration, Also what fish are best
> together, What I was thinking about getting was a couple of enems,
> a  couple of clowns, some living rock, some shrimps, hermit crabs,
> and mandarins. also a flame angle I would be greatfull for any help
> you can give me on what to stock with and good filtration. The tank
> I am thinking of using is 48ins x 18ins x18ins looking forword to
> hearing from you.
>
>
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