My 5ft tank set up

[poohpouri]

Hi thought I'd do a write up about setting up my tank.
I had a trigon 190 for approx 2yrs set up as a fo. I used berlin method on this tank as well, I tired to keep softies but didn't really have too much luck, I managed to keep two toadstools and had a flame angle, yellow tang, blue damsel,blood shrimp and a blenny.
We had to move home in 06 so transferred my tank over to my sister's house so we could decorate our lounge before moving tank (Approx 4mths) I lost all my fish and the toadstools looked very ill:( .
So I decided to set up a 3ft tank to put Lr And Toadstools in. One of the toadstools died but the other survived and is now fully recovered
http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c4fe525e410.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=221)This is the toadstool, it has produced a little baby to the right of it.
Anyway I was well gutted at the losses I had, So had my little 3ft running while deciding wheter i was going to carry on keeping Marines.
I decided on trying a bigger tank and set about ordering it , Had it made locally as it was a lot cheaper the LFS.
http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5d74303309.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=224)This is it!
I didn't want to stick the plastic backing on glass as I had it on my Trigon and found the water reflected off it causing a mirror effect. I decided on painting the back but was a bit scared as didn't want to ruin tank after some reading up etc I went for B&Q's chalkboard paint(waterbased) and painted the back (3 coats)http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5d8b0c2b92.jpg
I used argonite fine sand for the base and boy did I regret it see pic below!!
http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5db5935415.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=226)
It was like this for nearly a week!:eek: I tired a cannister filter packed with filter wool nothing cleared it, so I had no choice but to empty tank and start again:mad:
I emptied it gave it a clean and refilled using argonite live sand this time round(I used this in my old tank and found it cleared within a couple of hours.http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5dc72be119.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=227) I used reef crystal salt and added Lr from previous set up. Aquascaped for three days and still wasn't happy but kept it as it was as I was adding Lr as I had the funds to buy more.
http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5ddd1c2590.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=229)http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/imagehosting/thum_34045c5ddea932d4.jpg (http://www.reefcorals.co.uk/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=230)Well hope you guys an girls aint asleep:o I will stick some more up in awhile, the other half is calling me so I can do the roast potatoes!!:D
well ended up payin g around £500-£600 for all of my LR.
This is how I had my Lr aquascaped to start with.

[Tetley]

Thanks for sharing,

Its always nice to see how a tank progresses.

Also have I see you on that other well known BB?

ATB

[poohpouri]

Yep it's poss as a member of quite a few

[Gillybaby]

I'm really glad you decided to have another go, its very disheartening after you've lost a lot, I know.

You've made a great start with the new tank too, the murky muddy look seems to be in at the moment...I've just cleaned all the coralline off the glass of my tank and re-positioned the Tunze Streams, can't see the back now :eek:

lol, looking forward to seeing this one progress.

[Blue]

Thanks for sharing your progress with us. Keep up the good work, just let us know if you need any info.:) :) We are always glad to help.

[Tangman]

Hi Looking good now you have the sand sorted, just take it slow and you will get there. :) Eric

[stevieh]

nice looking tank m8, as tangman said take it slow. stevie

[callum_parsons]

lookin good so far keep up the good work