Reefs.org Forums

[elbori]

I setting up my new store and Im looking for some plans or directions how can I make a small fish and corals setup.
Thanks in advance,
Alberto

[elbori]

Anyone?

[Kalkbreath]

Is this a fish store only? And how many fish will be in the fish system? {Twenty or 500} salt and fresh fishes, one system might not be a good idea ? how many corals , hard corals and soft corals need a little different systems. Usually bio towers {trickle}and protein skimmers with U.V lights for fish , {both fresh and salt } and live rock filtration with Protein skimmers for corals. But then again how many fish and how many corals and how long will the fish and corals be in the systems before being sold is usually the first questions that need to be answered before laying out plans for the systems.And what type of system the caretaker is used to working with must play into the design as well...........
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BMW K1200R

[elbori]

It would be two small systems one for fish and the other for corals. I plan to keep about 30-50 fishes and hold them for one week (I plan to offer 5 day warranty)and then sell them to the public. The lfs around me has a bad rep. for lossing their fishes in a 2 days period. As for corals, here people usually are into soft corals and may be few lps. This is my plan to start the business and see how its work and then expand the operation on a big scale in a near future.

Thanks for your help,
Alberto

[Kalkbreath]

Set up the Coral system as two large tanks, with lve rock from your ocean. then make a huge sump out of any thing watertight. If you can get clean ocean water twice a week, you will still need a protein skimmer ,but not a huge one. Fish system needs to be smaller tanks or cubicals. The more individual systems the better. If one fails then you have others to transfer. If your sea water is free then use it. a huge sump means you can change the water without having to lower the water in the fish tanks or coral tanks. If you are importing fish , you will need to be able to match the phhe system that you will be tranfering the new fish into, then slowiy raise the ph back to 8
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Honda ZB50

[elbori]

First of all thanks for the information.

Im thinking in using about 15-20 2 1/2 gl. tanks for the fish system, a trickle filter and a protein skimmer I already have. What media and additives do I need for the system and what else do you think I need.
Thanks in advance,
Alberto

[Liem]

Don't forget to have some cover for the fish cubicals. The jump a lot for various reasons.
Liem.

[Kalkbreath]

Buffer and other PH additives,are the most important "stuff" to add to the system...also small tanks lose heat quickly ,{ the surface to volume is high} yet where you are maybe heat will be the problem? , even with AC sometimes the room temp will cool the small tanks down too much and the swings in room temp will also occure in the tank system .so use heater even in the Summer if the room gets cool to keep temps steady.
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Lebanese Forum

[elbori]

Thanks guys for all the information.
Appreciate your help.
Alberto