Lactimar's small ocean

[Dian_Landman]

Hey international people. Thought I'd share my journey here as well. Well to give you some background i started my first marine tank back in 2011. All the way here in South Africa. That year I started with University so the budget was tight. Everyone knows what happens at university..... So started off stupid with a too small tank that kept over heating. Then got a nice size tank and got to meet some reefers that helped me onto the right path.
Well i am a dairy farmer so once university was done i moved back to the farm. After 4 years the tank was built up so much i didnt want to do the 800km move. I rather started a new tank at home and after the cycle moved over the livestock. Pictures attached at the bottom. Wish i could add them where they belong in the story. Some pics of previous setups and the farm.

 

[Dian_Landman]

So thats the first part of the journey. In 2015 i wanted to go work in America. Unfortunately i broke my ankle. Badly. So had to stay on the farm. Last part of 2015 i got to work in America for 4 months which i loved. Some photos attached.

So beginning of 2016 i started full time on the farm. Started taking over from my father. I soon realised that its not the easiest thing to run a dairy farm of 2800 cows and the hobby took a backseat. Started doing different hobbies that took less time from me.

So thats some background of where my salty side started and where i find myself at the moment

 

[Dian_Landman]

So all settled in and everything running i purchased myself a Red sea reefer 625xxl. So far im really happy with the tank and setup im running. The tank is running about 6 weeks now. I started it with natural sea water as i farm right next to the ocean.

So quick run down of the tank. I have about 60kg of live rock. Added a 2.5cm layer of sand to the tank. Im running bio cubes, filter socks, skimmer, refugium, phosgaurd and carbon in last chamber with the return pump. I cycled the tank with special blend and continued with seachem stability.

Equipment:
DIY reactor with airstone to run bio cubes
Bubble Magus curve7 skimmer
2 jager heaters running on a stc1000 controller
1 dc 8000l jebao return pump
2 bubble magus mini 80 reactors
2 glamorca gyre pumps
3 AI hydra 26 HDs
1 dual T5 80 watt unit running a coral plus and blue plus
1 vortech mp10 running in the back so no detritus can settle.

I also installed fans in the gap behind the plumbing coming down overflow. That runs on a timer to suck out any moisture so there is no build up. Also running the fuge light on a reverse cycle. Thats a zetlight macro algea unit.

Picture also attached of my collection spot for the NSW

 

[Dian_Landman]

So i added some livestock.

Few different zoas
Big green plate
Orange plate
Golden wall hammer
Pink wall hammer
Big frogspawn
Torch

Midas blenny
4 goldies
Longnose hawkfish
2 banghai cardinals

Fish in QT
Achilles tang
Yellow tang
Purple tang
Sohal tang

Wish list
Big fan of lps and softies so looking for rare pieces and ones that will stand out
Pair of leopard wrasse
Pair of melanarus wrasse

I also made my own food. Took different frozens, flakes, pellets, garlic guard, vitality, zoo plankton, nori and mixed it together and froze it again. Fish are loving it.

Any advice is welcome. Im new to the red sea tanks. My tank cover ill be collecting on Saturday. Happy reefing

 

[JCM]

I don't know what I'm most envious of. Your truck, or your beach access. Hmm, I'll have to think about it.

Good looking setup, best of luck

 

[Dian_Landman]

Ps. Lactimar is my company name here in South Africa. Lacti means milk and mari means sea so comes down to milk by the sea or sea of milk. So small ocean on a dairy farm. Yes i interpreted till it fitted in.

 

[Dian_Landman]

Upgraded the return to a locline to spread incoming water better. Custom made plug unit in the cabinet that suppose to house a chiller.

 

[Dian_Landman]

I don't know what I'm most envious of. Your truck, or your beach access. Hmm, I'll have to think about it.

Good looking setup, best of luck

Thanks. Here is a short video. Its a Toyota Hilux. Been tampered with a bithttp://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5aa1980d44e32/VID-20171229-WA0021.mp4

 

[JCM]

Thanks. Here is a short video. Its a Toyota Hilux. Been tampered with a bithttp://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5aa1980d44e32/VID-20171229-WA0021.mp4

Yes it is! I wish we could get them here in the US. Diesel?

 

[Dian_Landman]

Yes it is! I wish we could get them here in the US. Diesel?

Yes diesel 2.8 standard makes 130kw and 450nm. This one is making 190kw and 660nm torque. Wish we got Tundra here

 

[JCM]

Yes diesel 2.8 standard makes 130kw and 450nm. This one is making 190kw and 660nm torque. Wish we got Tundra here

Yep, I'm jealous! Haha

I got rid of my tundra last year, it was a dang good truck.

Tank looks great, love those euphyllia corals