need help to start reef aquarium

[kyawgyi1968]

Hi!!
I am just a newbie to salt water aquarium.
I am from Myanmar(beside Thailand). I use to keep and breed discus fish. Now i really want to turn into marine reef. But there is no shop selling and nobody keep marine fish in my country. So i am going to be the first one.
Now I alreday got the 150Gallon Tank from China. Filter system, protein skimmer, halide lighting and water chilling machine for sea water. I haven't set up yet because, i don't know how and nobody can'r help here.
No sea salt here. So ihave to bring from sea by fishing boat( my friend help me to bring sea water).
For life stock, I am going to a beach next week, and i have to pay somebody to dive. In my country , there are alot of beautiful reef.
Ineed help how to set up the tank. somebody please redirect me some article to do that. thank you in advance!!! I'll send some pics of my equipment later.

Kyaw

[kyawgyi1968]

Ok!!
Here are the pics of my tank and equipments.
Please advice!!!
Kyaw

[zhenya]

Hi Kyaw,

<br /><img src="http://www.reefland.com/images/welcome.gif" border="0" />

What exactly are your plans for the tank? Are you going to keep fish only or you also intend on keeping corals and other inverts?

Don't dispare about the lack of synthetic sea salt, using natural sea water is really fine. Preferred, actually. We are on opposite side of this problem, we are stuck with using synthetic salts and they are not always consistent in the make up of it.
Anyway, back to your tank... it is a very pretty aquarium and I think you got your equipment all squared away. I am not familiar with the particular tyoes that you have there, but I suppose it will do the job. ;)

All you need now is some substrate( live rock, live sand perhaps, and all the sea water you can get to fill the tank up), and plumb your return pump and skimmer and so on so you don't have any leaks.

Here's a link to a wealth of information about reef aquaria
Online Articles

And you can also use this link to look up more information, or should I say information that applies to your situation.
WetWebMedia-Marine Aquarium Articles and FAQ's

Good luck!

[kyawgyi1968]

Thanks,
I am installing it now. When i get the water and sand, i'll post the pics. I am planning to put in fish + coral. But i don't know which type i am going to get. I have to ask somebody who can dive into the sea. So i have no choice. I'll put in what ever i get. Thanks again
kyaw

[scubadude]

Ill dive in the sea for ya, if you just pay for my airfare What are the collecting laws there do you know?

[kyawgyi1968]

Dear Scuba,
Thre is now law of collecting for corals here.We can do it free. But we can't export to other countries. Nobody allowed. Some of the area reef are very beautiful and wild.
If you want to know laws about my country???? Watch Rambo(latest movie) , That's my country and 50% is true.
Kyaw

[kyawgyi1968]

Hi again,
I already got water from sea. already set up with it. Problem is , origeonal sea water SG is only 1.016. What should i do. I can't buy sea salt. I can buy some salt. what should i do ??? please help.

[art_of_war]

My friend,

THAT IS A GREAT START! I admire your driven passion thus far. I don't know if I'm seeing that correct but that looks like an "overflow" box in the corner of your tank. If it is, you should use it! If you can, go and get another small tank, preferably 30 gallons <---recommended but 20 maybe alright also. Then do a little creative plumbing with PVC pipes to draw water down through the overflow where you can place your protein skimmer and pump it back.

As for your saltwater SG...hmm, that is strange. What you "could" try doing is collecting a few bucket-fulls of seawater and drying it out in the sun. Take the remaining salt and dose the tank. It's kind of odd to be doing that but may be the most practical method.

It's nice to meet a fellow SE Asian.

[kyawgyi1968]

Dear Art of war,
You r correct, corner is overflow box. And there is a 30 gl plastic tank with filters and live rock, some plastic things(i don't know how to call it) and a pump. That pump put the water into the chiller and water goes back to left side of the tank. My proteain skimmer is beside the overflow box and it 's driven by a 30Watt pump in the tank.
I really want to put some creatures in the tank now. I am going to get a small lobster tomorrow. For the fish and corals, i need time to go to nearest beach.
For SG, i still have another 50GL of sea water put it in the sun. but i don't know how many days to dry out
Kyaw

[Ratpack]

If I read this right, you are getting the water for your tank out of the sea as well, correct? If the water is coming from the same area as the corals are in, then I don't think I would worry about the SG, that is what they are in now. If you are collecting water from a different area, then try to get some from the area where the corals are and test that before just adding salt to raise SG. At least that is what I would do if I could collect naturally.

[art_of_war]

Dear Art of war,
You r correct, corner is overflow box. And there is a 30 gl plastic tank with filters and live rock, some plastic things(i don't know how to call it) and a pump. That pump put the water into the chiller and water goes back to left side of the tank. My proteain skimmer is beside the overflow box and it 's driven by a 30Watt pump in the tank.
I really want to put some creatures in the tank now. I am going to get a small lobster tomorrow. For the fish and corals, i need time to go to nearest beach.
For SG, i still have another 50GL of sea water put it in the sun. but i don't know how many days to dry out
Kyaw

Wait! Don't be in such a hurry to stock your tank! Seriously! First thing is first! Establish the environment! You may not have to cycle it if everything is coming directly from the ocean to your tank with little time in between but you should probably still make sure your environment is stable before hand. Put the substrate (sand) and rocks in and let the system run first; give it a week or a couple of days. Whatever you do...test it! Make sure it will sustain life first.

As for your livestock...Ratpack is right. IF the fish, coral, inverts are ACTUALLY living in seawater @ 1.016, then don't change that. Leave it as it is. First set up your plumbing. I see A LOT of potential with what you're working with.

Use the overflow box. That is a must! Try and be creative with some bit of plumbing. I'm a little crazy when it comes to articulating any plumbing (so I'm not one to give advice in that area) but there are guys in here that can help you out. Your tank will look awesome!

As for the number of days to dry it out? 'Til, all you have is salt; no water! No water whatsoever. BUT, it may not be necessary. If everything is coming directly out of the ocean and the water there is in fact 1.016...you've got it made! Just have to keep some freshwater around for topping off.

The only time you're really going to have to worry about the SG is if you're bring in something from the LFS (local fish store). Keep us updated.

[kyawgyi1968]

Thanks for advice and interest in my impossible tank project.
Everybody here said "impossible" That's my most interesting part. I like to do difficult things. And that why i am successful with Discus breeding.
Anyway, i keep in mind that what all of you have told me.
For the plumbing job, it's ok for me. Cause i am running a technical services company. The over flow box and everything is already set up. You can check it on my first post attachment.
For the water SG, I got the water from different part of the sea. As you said, that might be a problem.
for the fish, No LFS selling marine fish or corals or any related equipments for marine.
It will take time for me to get and fish and corals.
I'll go to beach end of this month and i'll post all the photos how i collect fish and corals.
I just check water para,
PH 8.1
Sg 1.017
Nitrate 20 ppm
Nitrite 0
NH3 0
I'll post the updates,
Kyaw

[kyawgyi1968]

Dear All,
Finally, i got some live stock. I went to a beach on april 13"th and try to find someonw who can get thing for me. I didn't get corals but i got some fishes. They said they will get it for me and send it to me. i teach them how to send it to me. It's about 5 hours drive from my city.
Water is running since i put in. Now all fish seems ok. And they like to eat alot. I took them very difficultly to my tank. Cost alot of money.
When i get the corals , i'll update.
Thanks,

[kyawgyi1968]

Bad news!!
Cyclone storm named "Nagis" hit my city on the 2'nd of May with the wind speed of 120mils/hr. Start from that day, i have no electricity, water, fuel, nothing. Half of my fish are dead. I think all will . Unluckly!!!
More than 60,000 people died!!!!
Kyaw

[Ratpack]

I am so sorry to hear that. Our prayers go out to you and all the people in your city.

[lodoc]

Kyaw,
Of course we heard about the terrible tragedy in your country. I'm so sorry about your tank and for other losses I'm sure you have encountered. Good luck to you and all. I hope you are able to rebuild your tank, have faith. I am praying for you and others in your country. Lodoc