Hello - I'm a keen new member !

Hi there, ;D
I am new to keeping an aquarium, but have kept very successful Koi ponds back in the UK. I have built 3 ponds of various sizes but all a lot bigger then a fish tank !!! It has become known to me that a salt water aquarium tank needs as much attention as a koi pond (water PH, good filtration, water movement, etc).
For many years now I have been a padi diver, I love the sea and epically what’s under it. I have dived in many countries and seen a lot of underwater wildlife. 8)
I now live in Dubai, in an apartment, so I cannot have a pond any more !!! My balcony would not be big enough !!:-/ So when visiting a nice pet shop yesterday I saw that they have 3 large fish tanks with saltwater fish and coral in them !!! WHEY HEY I thought, as the light bulb switched on in my head !!!;D;D I WANT ONE.;D;D
So I rushed out and brought a tank – the only problem I had was the instructions for the BASE are in Chinese and worse than Ikea to erect !!! PROBLEM NO 1 !!:-/:-/
I got the tank, cabinet, external filter with UV (8 balast trays)& Lighting. The tank came with a "Crappy" filter which I am going to use to help the skimmer, the inlet will be placed 1 inch below the water level. Having two filter system running should help with water clarity. Even if one is good and the other not so good, cant make thing worse anyway.
On order I have a skimmer(one which hooks on the tank), hydro meter, heater. I have read on other posts about water jets ? when i post in the forum with pictures of the tank I will ask for more help there !.
The tank i have is 22inches deep, 4 ft long and it is a semi circle, it is 2ft width at longest point. so a nice big tank. Again i'll post some pictures of it so all can see.
The aim is to keep fish and live coral, already in the shop waiting for the tank to be ready is some live coral (I want quality not quanity) a Lion fish and some clown fish. I will add fish slowly, making sure my water quality does not go haywire !!
Well thanks for reading my new post and i hope to get some pictures and advice from you guys soon !! :

 

Wow, what an exciting background. I have always wanted a Koi pond, though I have some really large Pine trees I need to cut down first. Pines are very dirty shedding needles everywhere, which are acidic so it might hurt the water quality not to mention I would always be cleaning it.

In the future!!!

Dove once with my wifes cousin; She lives in Key Largo, Fl and she used to be a PADI instructor. Still has all of her equip, but has moved on to another business project. My wife and I went out and explored the John Pennekamp State Park Reef and went out to the Dry Tortugas for a day. Absolutely loved it. I had been keeping a Reef Aquarium since 2002 and knew many species of Coral and Fish during our adventure. Can't wait to do it again.

Well onto the Aquarium your setting up.

Water circulation Check out the Hydor Koralia's I love mine. They are just introducing some that are compatible with Hydor's Wavemaker2 Gotta check it out...

I don't think the Lion and the Clown will get along so great...

Check out this link:
Marine Compatability Chart

 

Thanks for the heads up on the fish !!!
I am trying to add pictures of the equipment i have so far !!! re-sized the pictures but can seam to add them when writing a post, it keeps asking for a web adress ?? they are in a folder on my computer ???
Anyone can help ?

Gerome

 

are you clicking the paperclip button for adding attachments?

You can also use PHOTOBUCKET.COM

Upload pics and paste the url link.

 

Cheers i'll give it a go !!

 

HaHa, from Dubai uh...first investment needs to be the most powerful chiller money can buy. --- Just kidding, your room AC will work just fine which I am assuming you have, or you would be dead. (spent good deal of time there during Desert Storm - lots of in-laws in Abu Dhabi)....

Sounds like a great project you are taking on.

When tank needs stocking, head up to Jeddah...


Good Luck!


Keep us posted.


Assallam 'allaykum...


Scott (OmarD)

 

Just posted pictures and comments on my new thread: http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/new-member-new-project-47089.html - i will be making a few more diving trips than normal once all is set up and running !!! Yes we have AC, yes your right we would be dead without it !!! 39 degrees now and going up !!!
Thanks for you warm welcome everyone.

 

Oh yeah!!! This is going to be nice.

I love that tank style...

 

Welcome aboard mate. Sounds like your headed to a great start. Keep the pics coming;D Cheerio

 

Hello! First, your going to have to wait a while before any fish/coral get stocked, or they arent gonna last :-/ You have to cycle the tank so the bacteria that perform the nitrogen cycle have time to establish Lionfish, will eat fish smaller than itself, and poos like a beast. IMO, it would be best to skip on that one :-/ For reef, the water has to be near perfect, so smaller cleaner fish are usually the norm, BTW, what lights do you have?