I just couldn't resist it!

While some may have been enjoying the delights of a nice BBQ or such today (wish I could have been there ), I have been flying about like a total idiot setting up my new upgrade from this

to a Fluval Osaka 155

Well it's been a manic time and I can almost see the light at the end of the undersea trench

We went off bright and early to pick up the tank and I got a really good deal from Amwell Aquatics and came away with all sorts of goodies plus some great live rock pieces (from a tank breakdown), not forgetting 5 tubs of RO water and a very helpful Darren 

I got home and instantly started unpacking.  It was like all my best Christmasses come true!  Boxes everywhere and a growing pile of instruction leaflets to plough through.  Why is it tanks seem so small in the shop compared to when you get them home?

Then I realised I was missing something...the lighting unit!  I put a coat of paint on the back of the tank first and foremost.  Then, off I went back up to Amwells and came home with an Arcadia actinic bulb and some free green star polyp frags for my troubles

I decided (for now) to run sumpless til I'm settled, so it was out with the external Fluval 205 filter with Seachem Seagel and live rock rubble to start off and a nice long spray bar for surface agitation.  A Hydor ETH inline heater helps keep the tank relatively clean and I'll have a Koralia 1 and 4 in to get the flow nice.

Lighting is in the style of a lovely hang down luminaire with an Arcadia T5 actinic bulb and a Hagen Power Glo T5 bulb.  I will address the issue of further lighting later.

First off I started warming up the RO and mixing salt with it.  Luckily the warm weather was on my side today so little heat was needed.

Next up I started moving corals and live rock out of the D-D.  

The blue cube came in very handy

as did the Edge for a temporary home for more corals

the plates and other things are also in the 30L in the bedroom.  This means I don't have to panic if I don't get the tank just so tonight...everything will be fine til the morning where it is.



I removed more water into a poly box and then came the fun of trying to catch the fish.  Alfred S Blenny Esquire proved to be a stubborn little whatsit and I had to persuade him to leave 'his' rock several times...out the front hole and straight in the back :lol:

Catching everyone else deemed easy enough and they are now in their hostel for the time being.  Very unglamorous but safe enough with the lid on and airholes in situ


I should say that first thing, I set to making up the cabinet.  Once or twice I put things in the wrong way round but I got there eventually

So here we have the tank in situ, having played around with silicone sealant and different sizes of hose to get the inline heater to fit the fluval pipework.  


And in goes the water and salt


and while it mixes this diary has been created

I am very shattered, but still need to add more water and salt then the rock that hasn't got corals on it so the sand can then go in and I can then sit down.

I think the corals and fish will be ok overnight in their temporary accomodations and I will sleep better knowing I'm not poisoning them through rushing or such like

Having said that, and knowing me, I may be up for some time to come though

To be continued 

Edited by jennybugs - 28 June 2009 at 9:48pm