My New Aqua-medic Chromis

[Elliott89]

:)

So here is my new my brand new Aqua-medic Chromis i have put pics up so you
can see how it develops right from the start

It will be an SPS/LPS only tank so i have decided to use my Arcadia 250 Watt Halide so i get the best growth possible

I will also be including a TUNZE 6100 Stream so can get maximum flow in the tank
around (50x turnover)

I Will use my Kalk Stirrer which Lenny on here made me and my Aquamedic SP3000 top-up system

I will be getting some new pieces of liverock Monday aswell as a new cleanup crew

So this should be an exciting project

Also thanks to Paul (CKY) who sorted me out with the tank

Elliott

[chronic2005]

Looking good, so far.

Love the silver finish :thumbsup:

[InS@nE]

i love my little chromis they rock :D

good luck mate and get loads of pics

[Elliott89]

Any advise you can give me about the tank?

Thanks

Elliott

[jobr]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 24 2005, 17:36
Any advise you can give me about the tank?

Thanks

Elliott
Good luck Elliott, glad you didn't have to give up the hobby.

[Elliott89]

Thanks

I need all the luck i can get ;)

Elliott

[Supermoto]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 24 2005, 17:36
Any advise you can give me about the tank?

Thanks

Elliott

Hi mate ,
Good luck setting up the new tank. :thumbsup:

Have you checked this out????

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=30182

Matt

[Elliott89]

cheers matt

Thanks

Elliott

[InS@nE]

any advice in what way chap? as i have had mine drilled and set up for sump etc, about the only thing left i'm using is the tank and the stand :lol: prob not the best tank for me to buy really, lol

what i will say is thou you might think you have a lot of rock and movement etc but this tank will eat up both!

i had a rio240 tank and then hed to downsize to this and it swallod up a lot of rock out the other tank. and i have an ocean runner 3500 return and 2 1000lph power heads and i still think there aint enough flow in there still. but with ya tunze you should be fine :D

if you look in the members tank section for my name you will see how i set mine up from the start with the returns in and the overflow box etc

[slappy]

Nice tank Elliot, glad you didn't give up the hobby. :thumbsup:

[mariusz621]

I have one of those B)
I'm sure you'll have lots of fun setting it up. :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

lets see a pic of yours mariusz621

Thanks

Elliott

[mariusz621]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 24 2005, 22:08
lets see a pic of yours mariusz621

Thanks

Elliott
Follow the link in my signature.... :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

Very nice tank mate

I hope my one turns out just as nice

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

How have you lot found the skimmer on the Chromis

Good/bad/noisy?

Thanks

Elliott

[InS@nE]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 24 2005, 23:17
How have you lot found the skimmer on the Chromis

Good/bad/noisy?

Thanks

Elliott
never used it, was told there ok for what you get kinda thing but dont expect miracles.

i'm using an ap600 on my sump and works well but think alot of folks sell the standard skimmer and upgrade to a deltec hang on.

in sayin that the guy that i bought the chromis said he had it on his and was happy with it.

i've also read some where (think it was on here) that when folks use the floater the get the eheim surface skimmer as this then allows them to keep the surface water clean from the usual build up.

hth

[mark-c-]

when i had my chromis i never found a problem with the skimmer,did the job
ive heard a few people had taken the wheel out and didnt bother with that part.

Mark

[Elliott89]

Was the skimmer noisy Mark?

Thanks

Elliott

[dirk053]

Hi Elliott I use the Biostar Skimmer & it does a good job in my 40 (ish) g tank, IMO it aint that nisey (as skimmers go) and does remove a good amount of crap

There are a few mods that I & others have made to this skimmer, they are detailed in the links

1 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=47434&hl=)
2 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=45889&hl=)
3 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=43047&hl=biostar)
4 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=41320&hl=)
5 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=41170&hl=)

Del

:thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

26th september

half full with RO water

[Elliott89]

My Birthday present

Brand new Liverock

[Elliott89]

;)

[Elliott89]

;)

[Sean the Prawn]

Elliott, does your mum know you put live rock on her sheets? :o :o :D

Sean

[Elliott89]

Lol not yet

But im sure she will :lol: :lol:

Elliott

[hairyduck]

looking good, my skimmer was pretty noisy even with it's custom built weir to sit the pump in, I've now ditched it in favour of the AP600 which takes out a lot more gunk, bit overkill but I have bigger plans :-)

http://www.nuts-bolts.net/images/sump2.jpg

:D

[mariusz621]

Are you going to have sump in your chromis?

[Elliott89]

No i don't think so

Im trying to keep everything simple :lol:

Thanks

Elliott

[Deanobeano]

eillot is yer tank full yet of ro water and salted? and heated up?

just thinking of your live rock your not just gonna throw in it are you ? or do u have a holding tank for it?

i wanted a chromis tank for me bedroom to have me seahorse horses :( in. somehow ened up with a 4 foot tank instead and got a spare and half tank and hexgon tank inme back exention fully kitted out with no ide what to do with.

so whats yer bigger plans then matey ! simple is the way forward eilliot less can go wrong

dean

[Elliott89]

The pic with Deltec skimmer isn't mine its hairyducks tank

Im using the standard biostar skimmer on my tank

Don't worry about the rock im not gonna just throw it in the tank ;)

Tank plans

Simple SPS tank (im including a kalk stirrer for calcium demands)
Automatic top-up (for stability)
Arcadia 250 watt light (for better growth)
Tunze Stream 6100 for flow

And i will add a small shoal of Anthias to finish it off

Thanks

Elliott

[Deanobeano]

yeah i edited the skimmer bit lol

Anthias lovely fish, i mite go down that road for me big reef with a shoal.

well looking gud eillot like the shapers of the live rock aswell


gud luck


dean

[Elliott89]

Yeah im really pleased with the shapes of the Liverock

well im gonna glue them all together tomorrow with milliput to form a nice structure

more pics tomorrow

Thanks

Elliott

[mariusz621]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 26 2005, 22:21
more pics tomorrow
Keep them coming... :thumbsup:

[dirk053]

HI Elliott

Chromis is looking good

1 Question thought:

What type of Anthias can you add to a Chromis, I have seen a few in my LFS but always steered clear as I thought they needed massive tanks

Del

:thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

One of the smaller species of Anthias

Pseudanthias Ventralis (Ventralis Anthias)

Bartletts Anthias (Pseudanthias Bartletorum

or one of the other smaller species

As far as i know these don't need loads of space

HTH

Elliott

[dirk053]

Really

Excellant

I will be looking those up then

Cheers for that

:thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

;)

Bartletts Anthias

[Elliott89]

Ventralis Anthias

[Elliott89]

Rock Structures stuck together with Milliput ;)

[Reef runt]

when are you going to add the rock to the tank ?

[Elliott89]

After the Milliput has set

So in around 2 hours time

Thanks

Elliott

[jobr]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Sep 27 2005, 15:39
After the Milliput has set

So in around 2 hours time

Thanks

Elliott
Is it going in now :o

[~Tony~]

Got a picture with the LR in yet?

[Elliott89]

Yep rock is now in

Pics with rock in the tank will be on here tomorrow

Thanks

Elliott

[chronic2005]

Pics? :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

As requested

I just come back from the LFS now

I spent a fortune on this new Indonesian Liverock

What do you think

Elliott

[Elliott89]

;)

[Sarah]

Looks great Elloitt :)

Sarah xxxx

[Elliott89]

The effect you get with a 6100 stream in a chromis

[mariusz621]

that is :thumbsup:
Which lfs is it from???

[Elliott89]

Rock is from a number of places

Watford Aquarium (Madagascan rock some nice plating pieces)
Maidenhead Aquatics @ St Albans (Indonesian rock)
Home Marine (Indonesian Coral Skeleton rock)

HTH

Elliott

[Elliott89]

One more :D

[Elliott89]

close up of Indonesian coral skeleton :)

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Sorry for all the pics ;)

Im trying to improve my photography skills

Thanks

Elliott

Pic from today

[chronic2005]

Looking good mate :thumbsup:

[clarky72]

looks great Im sure it will be even better than your last set-up :thumbsup: that live rock looks good :thumbsup:

:thumbsup: all the best
jordan

[Elliott89]

Thanks Guys

One day it will look great B)

but that won't be for a while yet :lol:

Thanks

Elliott

[lukmek]

cant wait to see some life form in it :thumbsup:
great neat job
:cheers:

[Elliott89]

Thanks Lukmek :thumbsup:

Elliott

[~Tony~]

That 's good looking rock, Elliott :thumbsup:
Lots of interesting shapes.

Tony

[Elliott89]

Cheers Guys :)

Im gonna put my Compact T5s in tonight so the lighting will become even brighter!

So maybe nows the time i reveal what im going to do with the system ;)

Its going to be SPS only (These are my favourite corals) first SPS will go in the tank in a months time depending on water quality

Theres gonna be no fish in the tank

Simple reason is to keep the bioload low and so i could achieve the best SPS
growth possible

so really this will be an Invert only tank

So i will include shrimps,stars,Urchins,Crabs and snails

So hopefully this tank should turn out rather different than most :)

Thanks for your interest so far

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Update 8/10/2005

Twin Compact T5 added Half Blue Half White

[Elliott89]

Tank show under T5s

[Elliott89]

Tank Shown with 250 watt Arcadia Halides with 10K BLV lamp and T5s

[dougn7110]

lookin good :D

[Elliott89]

New Hermits added today

I now have 14 in the tank

Note the extra large one :)

[Elliott89]

Tuxedo Urchin

[Elliott89]

So my clean-up crew now consists of

14 Hermits
1 Mithrax Crab
1 Tuxedo Urchin
1 Serpent Star
1 Cleaner Shrimp

Next step is to put a blue background on the tank and to set-up the kalk Stirrer
and Automatic Top-up

First SPS corals will go in the tank in a months time

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Close up of my enormous Hermit

Can anyone ID the species he has brown and white legs

[5061litres]

i would add maybe the bellus angel u had elliot.
sps do need some nitrates in the water to gain food.


tony.

[Elliott89]

Unfortunatly the Bellus Angel i did have had to be sold on :(

oh well im back to thinking about fish again :)

More pics of the tank to follow tomorrow

Thanks

Elliott

[martinsreef2]

Can anyone ID the species he has brown and white legs...

Ive got a hermit, just like that one!
It come in with my Blue & Bi-coloured hermits, and if its anything like mine the Turbo's are on the main course! :P
Ill give a home if you send it to me. :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

I will keep the Hermit for now :)

But

If he's trouble i will send him to you :lol:


More Tank pics to follow later

I will be adding a Blue Background and setting up the kalk stirrer and Auto-top-up
later

Hope you are enjoying my thread :D

Thanks

Elliott

[lukmek]

the hermit look like a CALCINUS one
no trouble but they get quite big
have you got ant spare shell?
:thanx:

[Elliott89]

:)
Tank now has a nice blue background

Thanks

Elliott

[Tim Hunt]

Coming on well Elliot.

Just a suggestion, but someone on here has mounted the reflector, using silicone to the underside of the small Chromis cover glass. That way, both light and wires are nicely hidden.

Tim

[Elliott89]

Good idea Tim

Im planning to add another Compact T5 so there is one at the front of the tank and one at the back of the tank so i get even amounts of light

Thanks

Elliott

[Smart82]

Hi there Elliot

I'm a big fan of the chromis tanks, and i like the sound of your plans, you'll have a tank which you just can't help getting closer to and staring at :thumbsup: :)
:thumbsup: Hope it all works out how you want it to :thumbsup:

How do you find the stream, Thats well over 100x your tank turnover! do you have it on a controller? is it running at full pelt? do you get any trouble with the water surface as the chromis tanks have a cutout at the back don't they? (for the skimmer).

I'm setting up a tank of similar size to the chromis (just a few inches taller) and i would like a stream but i wonder what it would do when it hits the side glass, shoots up and breaks the surface of the water, might be to strong, how are you finding it?

Thanks, Martin

[Elliott89]

I Have the Stream 6100 and a Maxijet 1200 in there :o

You can never have enough flow for SPS remember ;)

The Stream is on a 7091 Single controller on its medium setting and it pulses as well at around the same speed

There is tons of flow in the tank but i have never found a problem with it

I will get pics showing the flow later

Thanks for your interest

Elliott

[Elliott89]

I have spent the afternoon changing my aquascape,im really pleased with the new look ;)

pics to follow

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

New rock layout

before

[Elliott89]

After

What do you think

[coling]

looks like the green hairy stuff appearing in the second piccie.

[5061litres]

second pics aquascape is excellent.
think u may have to turn off ur lights for a few days elliot.
get some rowaphos in there and do a water change. oh.. and an algae eating fish.. a small one.. a kole/yellow eyed tang maybe.

good work. keep it up.

tony.
:thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

Made this Mini Fuge today for the tank

[chronic2005]

Did you silicon it together or did you melt the corners as is stupidly tryed to do <_<

Thanks

[Elliott89]

I just stuck it together with solvent weld glue :)

I done this with the other fuge i made and it worked a treat

Thanks

Elliott

I assume the green algae im getting now is just part of the maturation process?

[5061litres]

hopefully... yes.:thumbsup:

tony

[Elliott89]

Shall i turn all lighting off for a few days?

Thanks

Elliott

[5061litres]

i would.. just to help get rid of the algae.. or just put them on for a couple of hrs.

tony.

[chronic2005]

Elliot, did you manage to sell the old percula?

[Elliott89]

yeah i sold it in the end

Thanks

Elliott

[coling]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 15 2005, 16:03
I assume the green algae im getting now is just part of the maturation process?
I dunno if green hair algae is part of maturation process, I doubt it.

What's phosphate level like?

[chronic2005]

Great :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

Well please consider my tank is only 3 weeks old so is far from mature and i would still consider an Algae Bloom natural at this point

It seems from looking at other new tanks in members tank specs that quite a few
others get a small algae bloom to begin with and then it just starves its self of nutrients and disappears

I have done a water change the skimmer is going 24/7 and remoing thick brown
skimmate and i have added some ultiphos today and theres loads of flow too with a 6100 Tunze Stream and a Maxijet 1200!!!!

Well anyway i will keep you all updated :)


Thanks for your interest

Elliott

[coling]

Phosphate level?

[Elliott89]

Haven't tested for phosphate yet to be honest

I need a new test kit

Thanks

Elliott

[coling]

Phosphates are just about the first thing to test for when having algae problems.

I'd get a test kit, you'll need one in the long run.

[The Escaped Ape]

I wouldn't call an algae bloom in the first three weeks a serious problem, but you might want to take steps to nip it in the bud.

Have you considered "cooking" the rock? (search on RC under the suername "Bomber" and the word "starboard" and you'll see what I'm talking about). If you turned off all the lighting for about a month (and sheiled it from natural light), siphoning all the crud to come out of the liverock and doing regular water changes, you'd end up with a tank perfect for SPS. You've got the circulation for this type of tank, though you might need to upgrade on the skimmer.

Course, then you'd have to find a temporary home for your inverts... :huh:

[Elliott89]

Update

Im gonna go completly skimmerless now

There shouldn't really be much for a skimmer to do in my tank as it will be fishless
so i know this is kinda experimental but i have been doing some reading and if you take the right precautions skimmerless can work

So im gonna increase the amount of liverock in the tank(this is essential for a skimmerless system) as this is where all filteration takes place

No food will be added to this tank

It won't be necessary the Inverts will find food off the liverock to eat

All SPS in this tank will be started as frags mainly for the fact that they are hardier
and it will be interesting to watch there growth in this sort of system

Weekly 30% water Changes also essential as this helps remove any excess nutrients

And there will be loads of flow in the tank Stream 6100 and Maxijet 1200

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Changed the background :)

And as you can see i have removed the unsightly skimmer pump

Thanks

Elliott

[coling]

No food will be added to this tank


What are the shrimps going to eat?

[instantsquid]

Looking good Elliott. :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

[QUOTE]What are the shrimps going to eat?

They feed off stuff in the tank don't they?

Thanks

Elliott

[instantsquid]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 22 2005, 11:38
They feed off stuff in the tank don't they?
Well, they usually pick up left-over food and of course, pick bits and pieces off any fish that fancy a clean. I think you may need to drop a few flakes in from time to time. Not sure if they'll eat pods (assuming your tank has them).

What "stuff" were you thinking of?

- Ian.

[Elliott89]

I was thinking of Algae off the liverock,pods(I have just added a Mini Refugium)
and im sure there are plenty of other little critters in there to

Thanks

Elliott

I wouldn't want to starve them so i guess i will just put a small amount of food in say once a week?

[Reef runt]

see tht peice of LR at the back of the tank is it turning into a coral? or am i just daft?

[mariusz621]

Originally posted by Reef runt@Oct 22 2005, 17:55
see tht peice of LR at the back of the tank is it turning into a coral? or am i just daft?
I thought the same :D
I have a few lr piecies like those which are covered in some sort of coral. I think it's porities.

[Elliott89]

Added this little guy Today

Blue Reef Lobster

[The Escaped Ape]

I don't think the shrimp we see in the marine hobby actually feed on algae (unlike in the freshwater hobby). They're more or less all carnivores I think. If there are bristleworms in there, they might just feed on those (I had a peppermint that did), but you'll need to add some food I'd think, at least after the initial period when they've finished off what's living in the rock now.

I'm assuming you'll be feeding the lobster anyway, though, so they should get some of the stuff he drops....

[Elliott89]

The Completed DIY mini-hang-on fuge

Thanks for the chaeto kneival :thumbsup:

This should act as a good supply of natural food for my inverts

[Elliott89]

Bloodshrimp 1 of the pair

[Elliott89]

;)

Lobster

[Elliott89]

My Purple Tonga Mushies returning to their former glory :wub:

[fish boy]

lookin good

[~Tony~]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 21 2005, 11:53
Im gonna go completly skimmerless now
So, are you going for an ecosystem in the sump instead, Elliott?
In which case why the extra refugium?

Tony

[clippo]

I think you are going to need to feed that lobster quite a lot Elliot - I am not sure its the ideal kind of inhabitant for a sps tank really... I'd really recommend keeping a skimmer.

[Elliott89]

The Lobster is only tiny at the moment at about an inch long and when he gets to
big i will give him to someone with a bigger tank :)

But for now i really like him so he's staying


I haven't got a sump on my Chromis Tony hence the reason for adding the mini fuge

Thanks

Elliott

[~Tony~]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 27 2005, 14:38
I haven't got a sump on my Chromis Tony hence the reason for adding the mini fuge
Sorry Elliott, I thought that the Chromis came with a sump. It must be that many people on UR have added one.

Have you not thought of adding one? I think that your SPS system will be far more successful if you do - probably even better than with a skimmer as you will maintain plenty of zooplankton. I am not convinced that the mini-fuge will be enough. I am sure that with care it can still be a quiet system :) .

hth
Tony

[Elliott89]

A sump was something i considered but i decided against it as i wanted a simple
system that didn't need much maintenance and attention :)

The main reason i got rid of my Percula 90 was due to the constant maintenance
reigime it required and i just haven't got the time this year as im studying for my
GCSEs at school

So i will keep the tank as it is for now and i will see how things go

Thanks

Elliott

[~Tony~]

Understood. Hope it all works ok.
and Good Luck with your GCSEs :thumbsup:

[Elliott89]

Thanks Tony

I will keep you all updated on how this kind of ''experimental'' aquarium works

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Some pics i took by holding a magnifying glass in front of the camera lens

[Elliott89]

Urchin covered in various algae

[Elliott89]

B)

[dirk053]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 29 2005, 16:12
Some pics i took by holding a magnifying glass in front of the camera lens
Clever Idea Elliott

Tank is looking good

How's the Lobster doing BTW

[Elliott89]

Fromia Monolis Star :wub:

[Elliott89]

Lobster,He's certainly growing fast! :o

[The Escaped Ape]

He may outgrow your tank faster than anticipated. I'd be most worried about him knocking over frags etc. :unsure:

[Elliott89]

He hasn't knocked anything over yet :)

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Hi

Update Time :)

I now have a nice Ecosystem Sump now (Many Thanks to Tony (5061 Litres) who
fitted it for me

Pics

[Elliott89]

:)

[5061litres]

looks nice elliott..
can't wait for it to start growing huh?!!

tony.

[Elliott89]

Time for some SPS pics

Orange Polyped Montipora Digitata

[Elliott89]

Silver Polyped Purple Acropora Miliiepora :wub:

[Elliott89]

Don't know what sorta Acro this is

[Elliott89]

Purple Monster Acro :wub:

[Elliott89]

:wub:

[Elliott89]

Monti

[Elliott89]

one more

[kitenski]

Are you going to keep mushies and the Acros? I'm sure I've read it ain't such a good idea??

[Elliott89]

I only have the one mushie

so he shouldnt cause to much harm

Thanks

Elliott

[Reef runt]

FTS? ( full tank shot)

[Elliott89]

there will be one after i have cleaned the glass :lol:

Thanks

Elliott

[kitenski]

Originally posted by Elliott89@Oct 27 2005, 13:01
My Purple Tonga Mushies returning to their former glory :wub:
Maybe I can't count, but that looks like 2 already, and they are going to spread pretty quick.......

I heard they will kill/sting SPS???

[Elliott89]

Since then one died mysteriously

So now i have only 1 :)

Thanks

Elliott

[Elliott89]

Update time!

Tank is now becoming dominated by my favourite SPS :wub:

Here are some piccies!

[Elliott89]

:wub:

[5061litres]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Picture%20580%20(Large).jpg

elliots full tank shot. taken yesterday. :thumbsup:

tony.

[SuperBlades]

Lookin good m8.

Make sure that hair algea stays under control tho ;)

[saz_75]

your tank is lookin good.
i would watch hair algae prob iv got it real bad the now. n wished i stopped it wen i 1st spotted it grows very quickly ill tell you. am havin to take out all lr 2moro to try scrub it all off! :angry:

cheers sarah

[Elliott89]

After a good clean up and another re-aquascape :D

What do you think now?

Thanks

Elliott