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Post by Amanda on Dec 29, 2006 17:06:50 GMT 7
I really enjoyed it when we had some but the heat up here killed them so quickly! Some day (when I move south) I'll keep more but until then I'm saving for that water chiller for them....just incase Good luck Bel and I can't wait for pics, which species are you getting...what will your setup be?? How big etc etc etc LOL
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Post by Matt on Dec 30, 2006 13:42:48 GMT 7
I cant believe it! Gobsmacked
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Post by Sparkles on Dec 31, 2006 12:32:46 GMT 7
Not sure yet which species I will get. I want to get the tank set up and running for a week or so before I get the occupants - but there is a fish shop where I live that has everything. My parents neighbour is gonna help me out with getting it all started.
Matt - why are you gobsmacked? Can't believe what I'm getting or can't believe what I'm doing? lol
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Post by Amanda on Dec 31, 2006 12:53:35 GMT 7
I'd have it set up for longer Bel, salt water takes a lot longer to mature and cycle than fresh or are you using ocean water and live rock? Not only that Sea horses are more sensitive to ammonia and nitrate levels than most other fish
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Post by Alasse on Dec 31, 2006 14:10:55 GMT 7
I want to get the tank set up and running for a week or so before I get the occupants I think salt water tank require a much longer time to cycle....i know the shop down the road is just setting up to sell marine fish....and their tanks have been cylcing for months now I'd look into it a bit more....i'd hate you too lose your precious (and expensive) occupents
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Post by Sparkles on Dec 31, 2006 15:11:30 GMT 7
Yeh ocean water and live rock .... you can buy buckets from the place down the road ... or alternatively the neighbour will quite often just take a bucket down to the beach. And she puts the live coral in there - which used to grow well until she got a star fish and he eats it - lol. Plus she has a snail in there who keeps the algae down.
Her's breed really well - and she is releasing hundreds of babies into the ocean which is great (better than dad eating them) - but she said that it was honestly not hard to keep and maintain them and just to set up the aquarium a week or so prior to putting anyone in.
Maybe its a little different when "real" ocean water is used as opposed to the other? Maybe its the species she has? I really don't know. All I know is she assures me its not as complicated as you would think.
Manda you would like this lady - she keeps reptiles (mainly lizards) and green tree frogs as well!! She used to keep snakes - but between you and me I think it freaked the husband out. When they came over for xmas drinks he said "she can have anything she likes except snakes and rats" lol!!
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Post by Amanda on Dec 31, 2006 17:22:50 GMT 7
The only difference between ocean water and made salt water is the age of the salt (ocean won't burn the fish) and it has the bacteria and other cultures alive in it. If they are babies (under 5cm) and the tank is over 60L you may be able to get away with some small horses in there after one week setup and maintaining the tank water and checking the levels of ammonia, nitrate and PH regularly. If the tank is smaller or the animals bigger and more in numbers then I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone. At work if someone comes in buying fish for their tank and ask our advice and we find out the age of the aquarium is under a month old, we can and will refuse to sell them anything until it's at least one month old. P.S Anyone reading this and thinking they can go to the beach or jetty and collect salt water for aquariums, DON'T DO IT JUST ANYWHERE! Built up areas, no matter the population size will have polluted water. If you want to collect water do it as far away from suburbia and buildings and where boats and people are. If you have the option get in a tinny and go a ways out where it will be cleaner. Do it on a tide comming in too, the water is cleaner...but it is dirtier in built up areas.
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Post by Matt on Jan 1, 2007 16:08:33 GMT 7
You heard me....gobsmacked that you are getting them before me. Haha.
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Post by Silvercloud on Jan 3, 2007 9:54:54 GMT 7
OMG how exciting Bel.
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