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Introduction
In 1988 we were given a small 3ft tank by a friend
who said that keeping a marine tank
was too difficult. We managed to get the tank
working well, but always worried about the equipment,
howthe pumps was insufficient and weekly water changes
were necessary to keep the tank looking good.
We started looking around and decided Tunze was
the best and bought our first consignment from
Germany. We also started breeding seven species of clown
fish, and even managed to get seahorses to breed
and grow. In 1991 we started Aqua Africa and became
the distributors for Tunze in South Africa.
We built the aquarium at the Durban airport, did all
the Quicksilver tanks, some of the John Dory tanks
and have built tanks in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. We like to believe
that we set up eco-systems to sustain livestock
for many years to come. |
Display
Tank Size in cm
1900 x 650 x 800
Sump Size in cm
800 x 500 x 500
Total system volume
980 litres
Natural Sea Water or synthetic mix
I have never used a synthetic brand in 18 years
Tank Construction (Glass, thickness, bracing
etc)
12mm with extra bracing because of wave box unit
Location
Entrance hall |
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Full
Tunze System:
1 x 3167 double filter with 2 x 3179 bio reactors
(mechanical and biological all in one), 1 x DOC Tunze skimmer 9010, +- 80-100 kg live
rock,
Tunze Zeolith attached to 3167 outlet |
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Main
system lighting
2 x 400 w HIT 10K MH/4 x 3ft T5's about to be
changed to
3 x 250w 20k BLV MH with 4 x 5ft, T5's
Photoperiod
7:00 am - 6:30 pm
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 |
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| Left
hand side top down |
Right
hand side top down |
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In-Tank
1 x Tunze 6212 wave box running 6.5 hrs and alternating
with 1 x Turbelle Stream 6100 6.5 hrs. Attached
to a 7094 multicontroller
Return pump
1 x Tunze 1073.30 master recirculating pump 3000l/h
controllable |
 |
| Return
pump |
 |
| Coraline
encrusted overflow |
|
Weekly
addition of Calcium Hydroxide AR grade through
a
Tunze calcium dispenser as top up water.
Calcium reactors / Kalkstirrers / Drips
etc
1 x 7074/2 Tunze pH/Co2 controller with 1 x Tunze
calcium automaat 3170
Other additives
Hardly ever, now and again some Sodium Hydrogen
Carbonate AR grade to adjust kh
Auto-top off
Infra red technology 1 x 3155 universal osmoregulator |
 |
 |
| CA
reactor |
Kalk
dispenser |
Livestock
FISH
|
|
1
x Valenceana strigata,1 x Paracanthurus
hepatus, 1 x Zebrasoma dejardini,1 x Zebrasoma
flavescens, 1 x Nemateleoris magnifica,1 x Salarias
fasciatus, 1 x ecsenius midas, 6 x Pseeudanthias
squamipinnis, 1 x Amphiprion polymnus |
| SOFT
CORALS
|
|
Cladelia,
Metalcyonium, Sinularia, Gorgonia, Sarcophyton,
Dicosoma, Zooanthids |
| LPS
CORALS |
|
Scolymia,
Favia, Euphyllia ancora, Gonipora lobata,
Fungia fungites, Caulastrea furcata, Trachyphyllia
geoffroyi, Galaxia facicularis, Cynarina
lacrymalis, Lobophyllia hemprichii, Catphyllia
Jrdinei, Nemenzophyllia tubida. |
| SPS
CORALS |
| Acropora,
Porites, Montipora tuberculosa, Leptoseris
cucullata |
|
OTHER
INVERTEBRATES |
| Algae
snails, Stenopus hispdus |
|
2
x per week change mechanical filters, clean glass,
remove skimmate from skimmer, stir aragonite sand,
to create a feeding frenzy for the corals.1 x
week top up R/P reservoir and add calcium hydroxide
to dispenser. Every six months service pumps.
Water change regime
In 16 months the tank has had a 200lt water change
of which
150 litres was forced after a power failure .
How often lamps replaced
one year but from now, 9 months onwards
How often major equipment is stripped
and cleaned.
Only pumps serviced every six months, and bio-reactor
feeds, cleaned monthly to ensure correct flow.
Every month calcium dispenser is cleaned out completely.
General system parameters tested (How
often)
3 months
Levels
SG.
50.4 mS/cm
Temp (High/low)
24 - 24 centigrade (Haeliea chiller)
PH
7.78 am - 8.07 pm
CA
390 -400 ppm
KH
8-9 dkh
Feeding
Every day
Type of foods fed
Frozen kriill, Artemia, marine mix, discus food.and
ox heart now and again.
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| Feeding
time |
Things
I like most about my system:
Ease of use .......no time to service 15 min /week
Things I would change if I could do it over:
Nothing
Favourite on line resource besides SA Reefkeeping.com:
All information is useful
Best Advice received:
I will listen to every one.
Favourite fish:
Valenciennea strigata and Gomphosa, Green bird wrasse
(Anita)
Favourite coral:
Gorgonia have had that one for fifteen years and
have grown many from it.
My all time wish list for a fish I don't
have but would love
Love them all
My all time wish list for a coral I don't
have but would love
Love them all |
| Conclusion
All
life is sacred and the miracle mother nature gives
us daily should be a lesson to us and pondered
upon daily.
- George |
All
photo's & video by Cerven Cotter
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