Amit from Noida - Queries!

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Hi

I am new in Aquarium hobby. I have two 100L and 130L fresh water aquariums and they are doing fine with power filters and twice a week water change.

I am now setting up my third tank (400L), which is a marine FOWLR tank. I have got the tank installed on 24th July'08 with two side in-tank sumps and LR. The NO2- level is still to reach the desired level. I have given the hoods to my LFS for fixing PL lights (as the electrician was on leave during setting up of my tank). The water recycle is going on for last 10 days.

I am yet to introduce any Livestock in this tank. yesterday, I have put a thermometer in my tank and checked the temperature at 32 deg C.

Reading this topic on menace of high temp, I have decided to first purchase one chiller and then introduce live-stock, although my LFS is insisting to introduce 1-2 damsels.

Can anybody suggest the suitable chillers for my 400 L (75"L x 17"W x 24"H) tank keeping in view my location at Noida (summer temp may go up to 45 deg C plus)?

Although, even after purchasing chillers, during power-cut how I will be able to maintain the tank temp? Whether I have to arrange for a small gen-set for that? In our flat, we have power back-up of about 500 VA. How the other marine aquariests at NCR are managing their tanks during summer? Please suggest.

Thanks

Hi Amit

Welcome to the salty side of this hobby.

Please elaborate more on your tank setup. i.e. Filteration, Skimmer, etc.

Well at this time i wouldnt suggest any live stock.... just wait for the tank to completely Cycle which may be anywhere around 4-6 weeks. I personally would wait for 6 weeks test my water for Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The first 2 should read Zero and nitrates should read high. At this time i would do a 50% water change and wait another 2 weeks then do a 25% water change and then add my live stock.

Before adding live stock you need to research what you want your tank to be. An Agressive or a Community tank. Accordingly pick your live stock.

Also i would suggest as far as possible try and get some local live stock as they handle temperature quiet well.

I would suggest to go for a chiller. Resun CL 650 should do good for your tank. You should get that at the shop at laxmi nagar.

I would say read and research a lot. Do not follow what the LFS has to say ...largely they have no knowledge.

Incase you need any assistance feel free to call me on 9891881821.

Cheers and good luck
Nirav

Hi Nirav,

Today I have surfed Internet and got the following three leagues of chillers available in Delhi.
1) Resun (approx. 1/3 price of Teco) - made in China
2) Hailea (approx. 1/2 price of Teco) - made in China
3) Teco (High priced) - made in Italy

Between Resun and Hailea, the reviews say that Hailea is quiter and more energy efficient (fitted with Japanese Mitsubishi compressor).

The model you are using i.e. Resun CL 650 draws how much amps current for start-up and normal running? Does it correspond to 1/4 hp chiller capacity or more?

Also, I have certain queries :

1) Whether you have put any insulation in the sides and back wall of the aquarium for minimising heat gain from the hot surrounding.
2) where you have kept the chiller? Is it indoor or outside?
3) Whether you find dificulties due to the sound and heat of the chiller?
4) During summer / rainy season, how you manage condensation of water on the expoglass surface?

Resun i know is available at the laxmi nagar store and may be hailea as well. Teco you will get with Aquazona at Darya ganj.

Teco offcourse is one of the best chillers in the market. I have a teco that i have recently purchased for the 8 foot reef i intend to setup. Gearing up for the equipment for now.

As far as my experience goes

1) No insulation on pipes or wall plain simple hose pipes
2) I have kept it outdoors purely due to space constraints.
3) Since its outdoors no sound or heat issues. But it is recommended you keep it indoors if u have space and good ventilation.
4) I did get some condenstation on the expoglass surface and all i did was a wipe off. That is the flips side. But to gain something you have to loose something.

The Resun is a 650W 1/4hp and requires a powerhead of 1800l/h. Can achieve 8deg below room temperature for 650L of volume and 15deg for 400L of volume. This is offcourse considering ideal conditions. But overall it should be able to maintain a temperature of 26deg. Lower than that might be difficult considering the peak heat we have in Delhi.

Final Verdic.

Teco is #1 in the three if u have the money.
Resun #2 cause i have used it for 2 years and have faced no issues till date.
Hailea #3 cause i havent used it and have only read of it. But check the running cost. If hailea draws less power then it well might be the win win bargain. considering you would run the chiller 24/7.

Also at this stage i would suggest u also put your money on the best skimmer you can afford. Tunze and Red sea are availalbe in delhi at Aquazona with tunze being more efficient but equally and highly expensive.

If i have the money to buy a teco i would not probably buy it rather go for the resun / hailea and buy a tunze skimmer instead.

But if you do have the money for both then go for it.

Now remember these are just my opinions and i usualy go for standardised products and not a lot into DIY. The reason being i dont have the time and patience to fine tune DIY and i have the money to afford market products.

So what ever your choice is. Remember you always have a way low budget / high budget. Both can give you great results. 1 you have to spend the time and on the other u have to spend the money. At the end of the day what matters is you like what you created.

If you need any help with the setup feel free to call me will be glad to give u a visit and help if need be. I usualy do my fishy shopping on Saturdays so if you wish you can join me on that day i can get you introduced with the shop owners that i know and you may get some discounted prices.

Cheers
nirav.

Thanks Nirav for your suggestion.

One more question which seems to be important to me:

How you manage running of the chiller during power cut. Do you have a gen-set for the chiller?

Amit,

Powercuts wont be a big problem, as water will take a long time to come back to normal temperature, once the chiller is switched off, and it will be very gradual.

Look at a genset ONLY if you have weekly full day power cuts.

If its 2 hours a day of thereabouts, dont bother.

Teco would be like Eheim, and the Chinese makes would be Chinese
makes only, in terms of build quality and reliability. Spending for Teco would be a worthwhile thing IMO.

hi Amit

As nytn suggested powercuts is not really a major issue. Considering we in NCR get powercuts for about a couple of hours here and there. The tank will take care of its self. Water cools gradually and when the tank is indoors it will not pose such a big issue. So nothing really to worry about.

I dont have a genset.

Cheers
nirav

Hi Nirav,

The recycling of my tank is continuing for 2 weeks. So far I have not put on the lights. Total 2x2 PLs @36W and 2x1 Blue tubes @20 W have been fitted in the hood (about 1.6 W/gal) and I will start using them from this Sunday. How many hours in a day the lights are to be put on during recycling?

In some LRs there are white layers in some areas. Are these white layers to be removed to expose the underneath rock?

The nirite level has reduced to <o.3 and pH is at 8.0.

Shall I add some pH buffer to raise the pH level to 8.3-8.4 at this stage?

Meanwhile, can you suggest few fishes, which I can start spoting for introducing after recycling and partial water change of the tank.

You may advise both peaceful and agrressive groups. Although, I may finally go for peaceful group. In future I have plan to add invertebrate (anemone). But if the light in my aquarium is not found adequate, I may not go for it. I have no plan to use MH light.

By the way, may I request you to give me the phone number of the LFS at LakhsmiNagar?

Thanks

Hi Amit,

You need to scrub the White and black layers if any from the LR.

Please give details of how much LR you have, Do you have any substrate in it like a reef base or coral sand / chips. Also your filteration and type of water you use. RO/DI or normal tap. Post which i can guide you on the Buffering.

You can run the lights for about 6hours to start with and gradually move it to 10hours. Offcourse after you do turn the lights on you will see diatoms and algae dont get bogged by it. Its part of the normal process.

I would boost the lighting a bit add a couple of more 36W PL. I like my tanks at around 2.5 / 3 W per gallon gives a good view and better coraline growth.

Try to see if you can get your hands on Seachem Purple up. Its a great Coraline booster for live rocks. Check with www.petsomania.com

Well the laxmi nagar guy doesnt entertain over the fone. Pay a visit there and build a relationship first and post that they would talk on the fone. Dinesh is your man for marine stuff.

As far as fish go. Incase you are not planning for a reef at a later stage in life ...i would say you can go for angels or butterfly;s if you can feed them.

I personally have adored the relationship between anemones and clowns and for your kind of setup i would go for like 6 to 10 clowns with 2/3 large carpet anemones. Watch them as a family is formed. Gradually they would pair up and stuff ..its an amazing experience.

Well if you want colors then butterfly, angels and wrasse are some of the other options you get in delhi.

Note: My live stock list is limited cause thats all you get in delhi. If you can get someone to get things for you from singapore or chennai you have a whole world of options.

For now let the tank complete cycling should be about 6-8weeks before you are ready for your live stock

Cheers
nirav.

Hi Nirav,

Thanks for your advice.

I have taken my Marine aquarium set from an LFS 'Apnapan' at Noida. The guy is Jayanta. He has applied for DGFT clearance for import of marine livestock. But his application is pending with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries department for N.O.C.

If he gets that, then he will be able to import directly and can offer much more varieties at competitive prices. He has requested me for 'push' in Ministry of Agriculture. But till date I could not do.

He has supplied LRs (approx. wt 15-20 kgs) and given Coral sand + dead coral pieces as substrate (approx. 2" layer). As per my tank size, another 20-25 kg LRs would be needed, which I may have to plan in future. Petsomania does supply LRs, but its transportation may be problematic from Mumbai. BTW where from you source LRs in Delhi?

I have registered my name with 'Petsomania'. Once, while browsing through their product lists, I have did notice 'purple up'. But, could not decide in absence of somebody's recommendation. In the market, you know, there are host of different additives and supplements - some of them may not be that effective. Also, in some of the postings in IAH, I have seen the delivery and response of Petsomania is not up to the mark. Anyway, I may try 'Purple up' from there.

Meanwhile, I am trying to manage finance for a 1/3 HP Teco chiller. Aquazona has the stock. Price is really hefty. I was just thinking, if the set could be imported for one's personal use, what will be its duty impact? The landed cost may be cheaper than purchasing from Aquazona.

Cheers

For the tank your size and incase you are not planning on a reef system. I dont really think u need to spend on the Teco. Just get the Haliea or Resun. Rather spend the money on more Live Rock.

As far as petsomania goes .. i am not sure the services have improved or not but call him before you buy it. Incase you have someone in mumbai ask him to ship it there and ask your aquaintance to get it here. Tracking becomes easy for someone in mumbai.

As far as LR is concerned. None of them sell it in delhi as its banned. Sources need to be sort outside. Cant give names though.

Cheers
nirav

Last edited by justshan21 on Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Amit from Noida - Queries!

This is your own thread, Amit!

Thumb Up

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Amit from Noida - Queries!

Thank you Nirav and Shankar.

I am in a fix. I have two bags of charcoal, about 1/2 kg each (this is my approximation), in both the side sumps of my 500 ltr Marine aquarium. The charcoal bags were put by the LFS (who supplied the tank and did its set-up) from day one (about 25 days ago), when the tank was installed and put under recycle.

Till then the recycle is going on and no live stock has been introduced till now. I have plan to introduce some more LR and then introduce the Live stock sometimes in mid Oct'08.

Yesterday, I have read in internet that charcoal is better to use intermittently and in very moderate qty. The article suggests 3 tablespoonful of charcoal per 50 gallons for use of only 12 hours in a week.

What is your suggestion? Shall I remove the charcoal bags and start following the above?

Cheers

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Amit from Noida - Queries!

in emergency, keep some water bottles frozen. If the temp gets too high throw some bottles in the sump it should help bring the temp down. I have 750 w of light for my tank and during the summer the tank temp goes as high as 82 f. You can also install small fans and have it blow across the water and put one in the sump. But makesure have topoff water ready.