Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: A few Q's on setting up a reef
From: cctr128@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz (Mr K Osborn)
Date: 4 Sep 92 18:05:10 +1200
Reply-To: k.osborn@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz
Organization: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3


Howdy all,

I'm after a heap of net advice on setting up a reef tank.

I've already got the tank.  It's 150cm (60") long, by 35(14")cm wide by
40cm (16")deep, which works out to 210 litres (55? gal).  I want to create
a stunning reef with in these confines.  I hope to have a few fish to
provide a splash of colour and movement.  Other inhabitants would include
perhaps a sponge an anenome and a few corals ( none of which have been
decided on yet ).  I definately want a mixed invertabrate/fish tank.

As an aside, reef keeping is quite new to New Zealand ( at least to
Cristchurch anyway ) and my local fish dealer whom I trust greatly hasn't
kept a reef tank before, though he has seen lots overseas and read quite a
bit about them, I still would like to hear everyone's opinions.

I've bought a book called Marine Invertabrates (?) published by Tetra
Press, but I've found that it doesn't quite answer all my questions.
Suggestions on better books to purchase are most welcome.

I've also kept fresh water tropicals successfully for about 5-6 years and been
reading this group for about two.

Lighting - 

A general question to start with.  What is a ballast ?  I hear them
mentioned all the time, but don't understand what their function is.  Does
it provide an extra 'spike' of electricity to get a bulb started ?

What sort of lighting would be best?  I've talked to my fish dealer and he
suggested 2 MH's and 2 actinic's.  Is this sufficient ?  Are there any
better combinations - cheaper combinations?  Are there different types of
MH's and actinic's?  If so, which should I consider getting?  With the
above mentioned combination, will the tank appear too blue?

How high should MH's and actinic's be mounted above the tank?

The guy in the fish shop said that the ballast for the MH could be used on
more than one light.  Is this correct?


Live Rock -

How much live rock would you recomend I get.  It's imported from Singapore
and comes to me at $27 a kg (2.2 pounds) - yeah it's expensive but....

The book I got said that adding live rock was best done gradually,
preferably in 2kg lots.  Are there any major problems with adding a larger
ammount in one go?  I expect you'd get a massive ammonia - nitrite -
nitrate spike. Any others tho'.

When placing the live rock in the tank I should have a base of 'ordinary'
rocks first and put the live rock over these - right?


Filtration / water quality -

Should I build a wet/dry filter or just rely on a protein skimmer and the
live rock?  If you rely  on the the protien skimmer and live rock do you
need additional power heads in the tank for extra circulation?  Still have
a sump?

If I use both the wet/dry filter and a protein skimmer is there a 'best'
order to have these in?

Does a venturi protein skimmer do a better job than a counter-current one?

Is one protein skimmer sufficient?

I plan on collecting local sea water ( from an relativley unpolluted local
scource ).  Is this water likely to be missing any essential 'trace
elements' that would be beneficial to my guests environment?

Are there any additives that I should look at buying?

I'm sure I've got other questions, but I guess they'll have to wait for
another day.  If you've any more advice, please feel free to add it on.

If people mail me I'll post a summary to the net.

Hope to see some replies soon
Kelwyn.
k.osborn@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz
_________

He said that's alright babe,
I love you too.
But we were Tangled Up In Blue.
       - Bob Dylan


Newsgroups: rec.aquaria