Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Saltwater
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
What do people think about saltwater nano or pico tanks?
I recently managed to get a small fluval tank (10 litres) and wondered if I could have a small coral tank, no fish.
I can do 50% water changes every week, and this would keep water conditions good.
I really fancy the idea of doing this, and think it would be a nice small project.
There are some sites dedicated to this type of saltwater tank, but what do people think who are not supporting such sites think about it?
Should I do it or not?
If I do, what are the dangers to look out for? What are the good points?
No turning back now, here goes the submit button.....
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- robert (robert carter)
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1689
- Thank you received: 113
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
And it's why I was looking at only doing a "easy coral" tank with no fish, so the bio load would be that high, and changing so much water per week would keep parameters stable-ish.
I would really love to give it a go, and post photos, but don't want to make enemies of the salties.
The tank has a heater and it would be in a room that stays at a very constant temperature.

Please Log in to join the conversation.
- robert (robert carter)
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1689
- Thank you received: 113
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- hammie (Neil Hammerton)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 1204
- Thank you received: 184
You might want to have a few inverts in there to take care of some of the cleaning for you! What I would say tho is be careful! The smaller the tank the more likely you are to have spikes of ammonia and so on! I would be of the opinion in such a small tank you'd want to be doing water changes every 2 or 3 days instead of weekly!
Another issue would be picking lighting that's not too intense but will be good enough to grow corals for you!
You will need good flow so I'd over spec your filter meaning your filter will probably hold equal or more water than your tank!
I've a 12 x 9 x 9inch tank here that that I'd love to try something similar with! But there's no rush till I am happy with my other marine and can frag my own corals to save money
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
I will just look out for a nice peice of Rock for it, with some button polyps, pulsing Xenia, anthelia, maybe a green star polyps.
But need to get the pump first, then maybe look for a few frags of the above.
Will let you know what happens when I start.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
-
- Offline
- Platinum Member
-
- Posts: 2030
- Thank you received: 102
Gavin
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- igmillichip (ian millichip)
-
- Offline
- Moderator
-
- Posts: 3366
- Thank you received: 536
With care and planning, it can be done (I know that for a fact and not just a guess) but don't expect an batfish to fit nicely !!

Maybe this could have been a topic in the marine section of the forum.
ian
Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
If JohnH thinks it ok to move it please do!
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- AquaticGardenDan (Daniel Madziag)
-
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 189
- Thank you received: 27
www.aquael.com.pl/en/products/akwarystyk...we-szafki/6-nanoreef
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Sukahn (Shane Doorley)
-
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 375
- Thank you received: 44
I have quite a good bit growing of the zenia in one tank and a large growth of green star in my other, well they both have overgrown lol.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
Without starting another post, can I use media out of my freshwater tank to start the cycle or are they different bacteria?
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Sukahn (Shane Doorley)
-
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 375
- Thank you received: 44
I personally wouldn't use the filter media you currently have in case you have ever used any medication.
I could give you a little bit of live rock from my tank if you needed something to seed, but ive got pests lol but i am sorting them out hehe, bobbit worm is not co-operating lol.
Im going to be running a softie tank anyways once i get my new tank up and running so i should ahve frags all the time of star polyps and zenia so just let me know, i currently have tons of the stuff lol and they are not even dedicated softie tanks yet hehe.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Sukahn (Shane Doorley)
-
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 375
- Thank you received: 44
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Jonlate (Jon Late)
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- Senior Member
-
- Posts: 439
- Thank you received: 38
I think I don't need bobbit in my small tank, so I hope they don't travel on frags, that I will definitely come down and beg some off you.
Hope to see you soon, thanks for the advice so far.
Please Log in to join the conversation.