New To Marine Aquarium with curious questions

[joachimsim]

Guys. been wanting to start and will probably start in a few mths time.

But besides familiarisation with species to keep, I would like to clear certain doubts.

I have been hearing stories of difficulty of keeping marine fishes from day 1 years ago. For one thing....I am not sure...how long is the cycling process and whether its possible not to change water at all.

1) Some pple claim they don;t change water until a year. I have a LFS at Bukit Timah. tell me she never as in NEVER changes the water in the tanks including 2Ft tanks there....THIS CONTRADICTS my understanding that the No3 tolerance as well the NO2 levels are deadly to Corals and Fishes.

But then again she has been in business for years since I was in my teens and has no reason to lie.

2) For CYCLING, I heard from Pet Shop Boys Owner that a minimum of 1 mth is recommended to prevent casualities. Just this afternoon, I came across another LFS who tells me a different story. HE tells me 3 DAYS is enough provided u use SEA WATER instead of Synthetic salts. Cos the bacterial colonies colonise faster.? and u must put a few fishes in first?

I thought U cycle without an fishes...just live rock and sand maybe?? And he tells me using Synthetic salts cause a lot or problems??? He also TELLS me heve NEVER changes water...( well almost never ) cos the fishes will die?? This defies logic??

3) He also tells me...Chillers are used in Conjuction with Metal Halides lights as well cos of HEAT...yes...but I am understand from him that as long u use a CHILLER u have to use a Metal Halide??? Can't u use FLs with a CHiller?? And what does the Chiller do..if most species of CORal can live at room temperature anyway?

Regards
Joachim

[jovian]

PLEASE DUN EVER GO BACK TO THAT !@$&^##@!@!SHOP AGAIN~! that shop just into marine for just 1+. they used to be freshwater~!. pls check around. they are 1 of the "TOP lfs" in sg.
if u stay in west area. u can visit MARINE LIFE at hongleong garden. the owner Henry is very helpful.

[kelstorm]

But besides familiarisation with species to keep, I would like to clear certain doubts.
it is good that u have doubts and seek to clarify things first before u embark into something.. with it, u help to cut down on your losses and help to preserve the environment

I have been hearing stories of difficulty of keeping marine fishes from day 1 years ago. For one thing....I am not sure...how long is the cycling process and whether its possible not to change water at all.
difficulty of keeping marine fishes is there... just like keeping a rabbit or other FW fishes.. it is more of a dedication... and knowing the know how to go abt keeping the hobby.... not to change water is not possible.. unless u have very low bio-load and have a very good filtration system.. even that, u need to change the water..... the cycling process is abt 4-6weeks...

1) Some pple claim they don;t change water until a year. I have a LFS at Bukit Timah. tell me she never as in NEVER changes the water in the tanks including 2Ft tanks there....THIS CONTRADICTS my understanding that the No3 tolerance as well the NO2 levels are deadly to Corals and Fishes.
in that case, i dun advice going to that shop for advice.. water changes are essential especially for 2ft as they are more sensitive.. however, with larger tanks, the tolerance level is more and can withstand a longer period without change.. but that dun mean that u dun have to change... yes, u are right that the NO3 levels are deadly to corals.. NO2 comes before NO3..and NO2 should be zero before u consider getting any livestock...too high a NO3 will cause your corals and livestock to be stressed and die.. and the best way to reduce NO3 is change water or reduce the bio-load or get a denitrator.. a hint..u can take a pic of the tank at bukit timah LFS and visit the shop again 1 month later with the same photo.. u should see that the contents inside are different.. coz they are replaced..

But then again she has been in business for years since I was in my teens and has no reason to lie.
no good lfs will tell u that no need to change water...even with me so lazy and low bio-load (i only have 6 fishes in a 4ft tank, no corals) and i changed my water once a year.. but i monitor the water quality weekly..and will conduct changes should the water parameters deviate from 10ppm for NO3

2) For CYCLING, I heard from Pet Shop Boys Owner that a minimum of 1 mth is recommended to prevent casualities. Just this afternoon, I came across another LFS who tells me a different story. HE tells me 3 DAYS is enough provided u use SEA WATER instead of Synthetic salts. Cos the bacterial colonies colonise faster.? and u must put a few fishes in first?
which lfs tells u that 3 days is enuff, dun visit them.. they are trying to con u... i cycled my tank for 4-8 weeks.. (can't recalled)and while i believe that using natural seawater might help in bacterial build up, i would still go for synthetic salts coz u dun know what is inside the natural seawater.. u dun have to put in fishes to help start up the cycling process
I thought U cycle without an fishes...just live rock and sand maybe?? And he tells me using Synthetic salts cause a lot or problems??? He also TELLS me heve NEVER changes water...( well almost never ) cos the fishes will die?? This defies logic??
u see.. he dun make sense.. glad that u see it..i have yet to hear that using synthetic salts will give problems.. u can start cycling with a piece of sotong dump into the tank.. to let the bacteria buildup...
3) He also tells me...Chillers are used in Conjuction with Metal Halides lights as well cos of HEAT...yes...but I am understand from him that as long u use a CHILLER u have to use a Metal Halide??? Can't u use FLs with a CHiller?? And what does the Chiller do..if most species of CORal can live at room temperature anyway?
[b]chiller to be used with MH.. yes..and nope.. u dun have to use use MH if u have chiller.. FL also can.. chiller helps to lower the temp of the tank... corals usually strive on temp ard 2

[joachimsim]

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On 4/20/2003 2:35:48 AM

PLEASE DUN EVER GO BACK TO THAT !@$&^##@!@!SHOP AGAIN~! that shop just into marine for just 1+. they used to be freshwater~!. pls check around. they are 1 of the "TOP lfs" in sg.
if u stay in west area. u can visit MARINE LIFE at hongleong garden. the owner Henry is very helpful.

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Guys...thanks for the help....

What is the Sotong Dump ur talking abt?? I piece of dead sotong??? Wouldn't that give problems to the NO3 problem in the tank?

I don;t know how to go to Hong Leong Garden from my place in Pandan Gardens, Jurong... And btw...the ^$^$&#&#& Shop ur talking abt...is it the one at West Coast Town Area near Tanglin Secondary School?? He was th one who told me no need to change water and Using Sea water is better...I Can't imagine
carrying 60 liters of water back for my 2 feet tank!

HOw abt an intro from ur reefers . I am 25/m Engineer currently looking for a job.

[joachimsim]

Also have another Question,

As I play with planted tanks..I know for small tanks..if u don;t use a surface skimmer..u are left with a layer of oil/bio load there..and its very unsightly.

I donno if the same applies for a marine tank.?
How do I get rid of the problem??

Btw...what exactly is a refugium ? and do I need a calcium reactor? IF i am not wrong a cheap Protein skimmer will do....and these helps reduce Nitrates//as the proteins are collected in the cup??

Thanks!

[kelstorm]

What is the Sotong Dump ur talking abt?? I piece of dead sotong??? Wouldn't that give problems to the NO3 problem in the tank?
using a dead sotong to cycle the tank.. meaning, from empty tank.. but once your tank is up, dun use it..after your tank had matured, u can change abt 50% of the water to reduce the NO3 levels..

He was th one who told me no need to change water and Using Sea water is better...I Can't imagine
carrying 60 liters of water back for my 2 feet tank!
to each of his own, some swear by NSW (natural seawater) but i would go for synthetic salts anytime.. safer and u can control the water parameters by using reverse osmosis to filter out the inpurities from the tap..

HOw abt an intro from ur reefers . I am 25/m Engineer currently looking for a job.
me 28/m graduating in may from SIM..currently looking for job too..


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[/quote]

[kelstorm]

As I play with planted tanks..I know for small tanks..if u don;t use a surface skimmer..u are left with a layer of oil/bio load there..and its very unsightly.
I donno if the same applies for a marine tank.?
How do I get rid of the problem??
u wun have that problem with marine.. but u do need a protein skimmer.. to help to break down the waste or organics that the normal filter cannot break down

Btw...what exactly is a refugium ? and do I need a calcium reactor? IF i am not wrong a cheap Protein skimmer will do....and these helps reduce Nitrates//as the proteins are collected in the cup??
refugium is actually a system that uses macroalgae to remove the nitrates in the system... if u are going to have a 2ft tank, u can get a ORCA protein skimmer.. it is one of the cheapest skimmers ard... yes, a cheap skimmer will do, but u also have to consider the size of your tank.. if tank is too big, u might want to consider getting bigger skimmer.. nope, protein skimmer will not help to reduce NO3 but help to break down the waste b4 the filter does and do not ever use a skimmer during cycling of tank!!!!...the waste collected in the cup, is dissolved organics

[joachimsim]

Thanks Kelstorm...

Will go into the hobby once I have the time.

I notice u are a moderator. As I am recent member, I am would like to know how u guys came abt doing this Forum and Why? How do u handle the maintanance costs? I think some one set up their own server or something

Also, how long do the forums get archived in the server before deletion?

Of course understandably one reason is for us hobbylists to interact and learn more than listen to misleading LFS.

Yeah happy graduating but Market is now damn bad I hear...my classmates have been out of job for more than a year.

REgards

[kelstorm]

Thanks Kelstorm...
Will go into the hobby once I have the time.
no prob.. glad to be of help.. and lessen the heartache and loss of money.. and learn from others experience..

I notice u are a moderator. As I am recent member, I am would like to know how u guys came abt doing this Forum and Why? How do u handle the maintanance costs? I think some one set up their own server or something
if u looked carefully, there are 2 levels of moderators, the senior mods are the ones who came up with the idea and i was invited to join the mod team abt 1 yr ago i think.. hahah.. can't recalled.. and they are the ones who have the costs and handle all the maintenance stuff.. me know nuts abt server and such stuff..

Also, how long do the forums get archived in the server before deletion?
from what i know, the first posts that i had is still in the server..

Of course understandably one reason is for us hobbylists to interact and learn more than listen to misleading LFS.
that is true.. during the time when i started out in marine abt 8-10 yrs back, there isn't much of such stuff and even if there are, it is mostly overseas sites.. no local content.. and books on marine keeping are relatively hard to find compared to now.. and i had to learn thru heartache and was the executioner for many fishes and corals.. but with more experience and knowledge, i now selectively get my stuff and continue to pour over the books for guidance from time to time..[] besides, there are new methods being used and published in the magazines.. but for me, what works, i dun intend to rock the boat.. [] also, no $$$..[] to try out new stuff..