A beginner in marine aquaristics. I want to make friends.

Ross

Good day, dear forum members. My name is , I live in Kyiv. I'll start with the fact that I have a500-liter aquarium, a cichlid tank, and I decided to completely rebuild it. I looked at how the Germans do it, and it all began... I went to the basalt quarry in Rivne, collected about 200 kilograms of basalt, started designing a sump, a computer, and so on... Now to the point, while working on the aquarium, I came to the conclusion that all the work I've done won't bring me joy. And with all my heart, I'm drawn to a marine aquarium, but I'm afraid to start one due to the lack of knowledge. Rereading various forums and literature, the knowledge, of course, appears, and a callus in my head is growing with various information. But every night as I go to bed, I realize that I still have a lot to read and comprehend. So, why is all this written? In order to speed up the process of understanding the sea, I want to get to know, befriend, and collaborate with marine aquarists. If anyone has the time and desire to help, I ask you to respond to my appeal. Someone has gone through certain stages, someone is just starting like me, and someone is already a pro and ready to share their knowledge. I will be glad to meet

Ryan7682

The main thing is water; if you have a reverse osmosis system, then there are no problems. First of all, tap water is not suitable; without osmosis, starting a marine aquarium is practically impossible. The first point is that the salt concentration must be regulated. The device is called a hydrometer (it measures the salt dissolved in water; the acceptable range is 1021-1026). The second parameter is a protein skimmer or foam separator. You can use hang-on filters with skimmers. As for the sump, it's an overflow system (I do not recommend modifying an existing aquarium).

Travis572

In Kyiv, more than in any other city, the maritime industry is well established... There is no need to list the professionals; their addresses and phone numbers are well known. Contact them, and you will have a unique opportunity not only to see what a marine aquarium is like with your own eyes but also to enrich your memory with valuable information. Forums are good, but practical experience on-site is much better. Or am I wrong?

Wendy

You are 100% right, I have also been to exhibitions and have seen a lot.

Leonard

To get to know the forum members from your city, here is a link to a specially created topic. Forum Telegraph When you meet, you will be given so much information that you won't be able to carry it all.

John3165

In general, the calcium reactor is placed nearby, but if the sump is made to the full length of the stand and there is no space to place it nearby, it is put into the sump.

David7773

That's right, that's exactly what I suggested. The thing is, I don't know of any companies where people would refuse to properly explain the setup of a marine aquarium; they will provide detailed answers to any question. That's also true... there is already a wealth of information accumulated on the forum today; you can find any answers to any questions through the search engine. Check out Sergey from Starcomputer's profile and his thread; you'll find a lot of interesting and useful information there.

Maria6659

Could you provide a bit more information? What size is the aquarium? What do you plan to keep in it? I think it doesn't matter much. Don't forget to plan for the cylinder, or maybe consider going in the direction of balling? :)

Christopher1252

Thank you all and have a good day. I didn't say that. The guys from the stores kindly answered my questions and showed me examples, which is right since I am their future client. But the answers to my questions were different; for example, regarding the amount of live rocks for my 500 liters, the guy at "Ayrife" said 50 kg and not less, while Igor at "Aqua Systems" said that I could start with about 20 kg and add more gradually to avoid spending too much money at once.

Laura3615

For example, I initially bought 10 kg of live rock and 20 kg of dry reef rock, then gradually added live rock. Now I have 30 kg of live rock and 20 kg of dry reef rock, but you need to be prepared that when adding more live rock in the future, there will be a spike in the growth of lower organisms, which will eventually stop. Naturally, dry reef rock should be placed at the bottom, and you can put live rock on top of it; the bacteria will gradually transfer to it. But the decision is yours.

John3142

So there is an aquarium The size of the aquarium is 1500x550 h-650mm, the height of the column is currently 580mm. The volume of water is 450 liters. I will be redesigning the lower cabinet to a metal frame, the height of the cabinet is 780mm. 2/3 of the cabinet will be for the sump, about 1000x500. I plan to have a mixed aquarium. I have only decided on the skimmer, Deltec SC2560, if it fits in height. I'm still just learning about the rest.

Jason

Damn, why can't I see the photos?

Martha

I want to load about 30-40 kg of rock right away. Then I'll see, maybe more will be excessive. I don't want to clutter the entire aquarium. By the way, in the store with aquasystems, I liked the reef with hard corals, not heavily loaded with rock.

Joe

It definitely won't be unnecessary; the more stone there is, the more stable the system.

Cassandra1840

Thank you for the links. I have already read this and other topics. The frame is not a problem; the metal has been purchased, I provided the drawing, and it will be ready in a day or two. The drainage is also clear, two or three holes in the bottom, no Durso, just a 32 mm pipe at a height of about half the shaft. Right now, I'm thinking about how to arrange the equipment in the cabinet, specifically: the sump with the skimmer, the calcium reactor with the mixer, the chiller, the uninterruptible power supply with the battery, and the piping and electrical supply.

Aaron

Please recommend which manufacturers to pay attention to when choosing a calcium reactor, kalkwasser, and chiller. They also need to be super reliable, or can I save a bit and buy simpler ones? I'm asking in order to plan the placement of the equipment in the cabinet, so I need to know the sizes and the principle of operation of the equipment. It's just like designing a kitchen: we choose the equipment we want, and then we adjust the kitchen drawings accordingly.

Randy

You can also go completely without live rocks, using only dry reef rocks. Or you can use a certain proportion of dry reef rocks to live rocks. You can have a display of dry reef rocks and throw 5-10 kg of live rocks into the sump... you can do it however you like. I think you should start from the planned design of the display, and from there it will be clear how much rock you need, and whether to use live rocks or dry reef rocks is a matter of preference.

Javier5186

Maybe we shouldn't put the refrigerator in the cabinet? And in general, maybe we shouldn't immediately cram in all the equipment? Instead, we could add what is needed as necessary, when we have a clear understanding of what is required at the moment.

Mark7376

Everything is clear, we can also use chemistry. It has been decided to load 30-40 kg of live rocks at once. Pouring in chemicals also costs money, so it's a question of what will be cheaper later. As for the benefits of live rocks, I understand that not much can compare.

Derek7322

Regarding the refrigerator, it might not be worth it, that's still a question. I don't plan to stuff all the equipment in at once, particularly the KR and the mixer, as it will be some time before the hard corals arrive, and it will be several months. I just want to anticipate where to place it later and how to connect it; I want to consider as many aspects as possible. Although I will have to buy everything anyway, what difference does it make now or in a couple of months? There won't be any money later either.

Nancy758

Why chemistry? There’s no need for any chemistry. And no one mentioned anything about being cheaper. From J.K. (living stones), you can expect not only benefits... but there’s also plenty of harm from them.

Heather2018

Maybe later you'll sit on the baling... or get sick from non-photosynthetic organisms... who knows. No problem with the fridge. What about the heat it emits, what will it do in the cupboard?

Kendra2262

Balancing is definitely a no. I had an example at work of relying on one supplier, and that won't happen again. As I understand it, balancing involves adding certain microelements from a specific manufacturer, and you can't just change them easily. At least, after talking to Igor from the aquasystem, I came to these conclusions.

David3217

Micronutrient supplements with balancing have little in common. Essentially, it is the same calcium and carbonate compensation, just a different delivery method.

Melissa2062

I don't think he will work very often, so I will have to deal with heat dissipation; secondly, it is designed to combat heat.

Stacy6866

Which method is more effective, cheaper, and more practical?

Christopher4125

Cooling the water releases a lot of heat. I believe it can be done without it. Much will depend on the equipment (lights, pumps) and the room temperature. Any of these methods is effective, but each has its own drawbacks and advantages. A lot will also depend on the system's consumption. From this point, the practicality and cost-effectiveness of the entire endeavor come into play. That's why I advised not to rush into purchases.

Tanner

Right now, the temperature in the freshwater tank fluctuates around 2-3 degrees, between 25-28°C, with two T8 54W lamps for lighting, and an external filter. I read that such fluctuations are harmful for marine environments, so I think I can't do without it, especially if I leave for a couple of days and it's hot; it feels more reassuring that way. I didn't quite understand if their goals are the same. Essentially, it's the same calcium and carbonate compensation, just a different delivery method, so the effectiveness or cost of each method may vary. Also, in the stores I've been to, everyone had a calcium reactor, and the topic mentions that you can't do without one. Or maybe you could send me to read links about these methods.

Debra

How many liters is the freshwater tank? A marine aquarium is unlikely to have such temperature fluctuations; you can use the lighting from the algae tank at night. 28°C is not critical; only SPS will grow faster. If you don't use metal halides, using 80W pumps and instead using fans and air conditioning, you can manage without it. But that's not the main point; if you want to, then why not? Here it is... holy war. I'm not imposing anything; you will draw your own conclusions and figure it out... but if you're too lazy to read that much, I can share my opinion.

John

Sharp temperature fluctuations are harmful, but if the water temperature changes gradually, it's not a problem. I have two fans in the sump, and the air conditioner keeps the room at 27-29 degrees Celsius water temperature. Make the height of the internal compartment of the sump frame 700-800 mm; I think all the equipment will fit in height.

Chris

The press has a clean 450 liters. I didn't plan for the tank above the aquarium (I can't figure out how to insert photos). As for the pumps, I mean the flow ones; I still don't know which ones are needed, and it won't be less for the return. We don't use the air conditioner much, as we have a 4-year-old child. I can't say that I really want to get rid of $1000; I just thought it was necessary. I will definitely read up on it, but I also want to hear opinions.

Randall7906

Gradually throughout the day? 29°C happens very rarely for me, but that's with my lighting, and if I have 6 T5s at 80 watts and also an algae eater, who knows what it will be. What temperature is critical? Gradually throughout the day? 29°C happens very rarely for me, but that's with my lighting, and if I have 6 T5s at 80 watts, who knows. Right now, the stand is 780mm. I don't really want to raise it higher, but if necessary, then it has to be done.

Sydney

To upload pictures here (at least that's how I do it), I create an album in my account, upload photos to the album, and when writing messages, there is a small camera icon with a green arrow in the message window menu. You click on it, it brings up your album, you select the desired photo and click on it, and your photo is inserted.

Charles5941

Thank you, I'll try, but probably tomorrow or in an hour or so. Otherwise, I'll get kicked out of the house because I don't pay attention and spend all my free time on the computer.

Nicholas5194

In my opinion, for such a load, a well-aged live rock is needed! Live rock straight from the wheels can cause significant harm in this case.

Chris

Delete

Shane

Delete

Kimberly2102

The temperature fluctuates between 27-29 throughout the day: 07:00 - 27, 12:00 - 28, 19:00 - 29, and after 20:00 it starts to decrease. I will show you how to upload images. Extended mode In the window, type the text. Click on "manage attachments," a window like the one in the second photo will appear, click "browse" and specify the path to the photo or image on your drive, then click "upload."

Jeanne

1. Is there a problem finding such a stone? 2. The problem with the stone is the presence of all sorts of undesirable creatures in it, or...? I will think about it while traveling, maybe even at a. It's very tempting. But the topics on this method are from 2009-2010. At the moment, is anyone using this method and what are the results? Maybe someone tried it and was not satisfied. Although you almost convinced me... And where can I find prices for auto dispensers? I only found them at a. Oh, I found it; is this what I need or something else?

Charles5941

I'm posting my aquas that I want to redo.

Eric8832

Is it possible that even after six months, some organisms can appear in the stone that can affect fish or shrimp? I understand this is debatable, like balling and KR. I meant, is it the same device, or can a single one be used for each liquid separately, although of course a multi-channel one is more convenient. Thank you, I already found it. There are no reviews yet, but I think it's a decent product. Right now, I'm only working with numbers: KR + mixer + controller and the rest = $800-1000, balling = $200. That's a big difference. What side is it, can you provide more details?

Nicole263

I'm in shock, no words, just emotions. For the sump, or even in the aquarium, live rocks are not planned. So what should the sump be like then? What does "a lot" mean, and does quality depend on quantity? Well, this can be played around with; you can hide about 30-40 liters above the aquarium.

Nicholas5194

It's a bit easier for me... I have a stone in the aquarium that has been aged for 2 years, it will go into the display, and if there's not enough, I'll add dry reef rocks. He has soaked dry reef rocks that have been sitting in his stands for a long time, they can be used. Ceramic aquaroche can also be used. And I can throw in fresh live rocks into the sump, as much as it can hold. I meant to buy a bag of 25 kg of proven quality right away, instead of constantly buying 1-2 kg at a time. Or like here, barrels of 60 liters for 2-3 weeks.

Kayla7655

It's clear about the bag, but what about the quality? How can it be checked? Based on the growth results of the corals, that takes a few months. Or take 1-2 kg and analyze the water over a week, but then it's more complicated with wholesalers. Is it really 90 liters for 2-3 weeks? That's 10% of his aquarium.

Sara

Could you help with the following question? There is a Deltecc 2560 skimmer designed for 2000-2400 liters. The technical specifications state 2000 liters for high load and 2400 liters for normal load. It is unclear why a smaller aquarium volume corresponds to a higher load?

Jesse

Yeah, almost ... he has 3300 liters of water and barrels of 60 liters and 30 liters ... that is, calcium in a 60-liter barrel, and magnesium in a 30-liter one, because magnesium is added less frequently and the barrels last longer.

Christopher4108

Hello everyone. Could you please tell me if the containers for balling will be positioned higher than the sump, and in case of a power outage or a failure of the dosing pump, will the solutions flow by gravity into the sump, or will the pumps hold back the solution?

Charles

will not leak.

Melissa3200

Thank you, but what if the auto-fill is higher, and when the pump stops, the water drains by gravity?

Kristin

Check out the sump, I'm very interested in public opinion, are there any mistakes. The drain from the aquarium will be divided into the filter compartment and the plant compartment through a scrubber. And how it is planned in the stand.

Cassandra7840

Who are you talking to? It's better to make ballast tanks separately from the sump and to keep them closed.

Stephanie9175

Overstocked J.K. (live rocks) - it lacks dying organic matter (plants, worms, polyps, etc.). After receiving the shipment, the rock is cleaned and undergoes a light trimming for about a month, after which the plants die and all the waste is removed with the help of skimmers. Regarding sulfur - take a look at this option (I think it will suit you, as I didn't see enough space for sulfur in the sample).

Joshua448

Probably with myself, although I don't think so. And you respond, for which I thank you. Why separately, it's unclear? I planned to make a lid from acrylic glass for the containers. Maybe you can show me how you did it, I might pick up something useful.

Michael3221

Recently, I was at ireef, and they said that on the contrary, everyone wants to buy fresh live rock. You are right, and they seem to be too; we will figure it out.

Keith7534

The same capacity as mine is drawn, just separately. In principle, I agree that gluing it from acrylic and placing it next to the sump would be more practical. Thanks for the advice. Why isn't the balling method homemade, as mentioned above? Is there a lack of trust in the method? I think it's an effective thing in the fight against deposits on the glass, cyano, and various lower forms. I'm making a compartment for algae eaters, but I don't plan to have many algae. If I can't do without them, then I'll plant some; if I can manage without them, then the compartment can be like a frag tank.

Joshua

What are you going to use to glue the acrylic glass?

Erica

Silicone. Yeah, I just googled it, silicone is not suitable. But that's not a problem, we'll glue it.

Chad231

How can there be no trust in a method used by half the world? I just ordered a balling light kit; when their reagents run out, I'll use non-branded ones. It seems more logical to grow corals rather than algae, and there are other ways to deal with lower organisms. Maybe I'm not fully informed, but it seems to me that silicone won't bond acrylic.

Jessica9188

What I also liked about the fauna is the use of traces in solutions. Trace B heavy metal complex. Trace B strontium/barium complex. Trace B iodine/flour complex.

Courtney4094

The logic is solid, it's just that the thing isn't complicated and it seems effective to me, especially with the coating on the glass. We'll figure out the acrylic glass.

Nicole7122

I wonder if they can be used with the classical method?

James

Acrylic glue Acrifix 116 is available for sale in stores; it is free of dichloroethane and is best suited for acrylic glass. There is a company in Kharkiv. I haven't bought it yet, but I think it will work for you as well. Here is the link to this glue from that company. However, why order from Kharkiv if you can find it in advertising companies in Kyiv?

Andrew9581

It is possible, of course, but it is important to calculate the proportions correctly.

Amy

Thank you for the information. I work in procurement, so I think I will find the glue.