Chinese Tanks

[BOBG]

I wanted to post about Chinese tank setups. Here is a tank that I just purchased for 5000 RMB about 600USD fully setup and running. I didn't have to do anything but pay the LFS. They did everything.

I've been in this hobby about 4 years in the states and then moved here. I needed a hobby and decided to give my go at Chinese methods. I will keep you up to date on the progress.

Here are my first photos with a cycle explosion of diatoms.

 

[DJ88©]

[moved]

 

[Chelsey]

What are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[BOBG]

Dimensions

Dimensions

1.5 meters long (57") X 0.8 meters high (32") x 0.5 meters wide (20") volume approx. 500 liters (132 gallons)

1" of coral rubble size is about 1/4" in diameter x 1/2" long, wet/ dry trickle filter in one corner of the tank.

 

[raskal311]

ttt

 

[angel125]

nice job :beer:

 

[GatorReefman]

That is rather cool. When will you be adding live rock and livestock?

 

[Zoalander]

Thats also a great price, $600 here will buy your lights and thats it.

 

[pnsnowboard]

yea will you be making that a reef

 

[143gadgets]

Very cool tank. What kind of lighting is oine the tank and what are your plans for livestock?

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

hmm, different...

 

[jacmyoung]

I bought my current 120g tank (half cylinder) and furniture from 4fishtank.com, who import their tanks directly from China. They however designd the tanks RR ready, imitating the US method, yet the tank and furniture constructions are quite different.

Unfortunately their shipping method had a lot to be desired. They ship large glass tanks all the way from China with just a layer of carboard box wrapped around. My tank has one chip at the corner and some scratches at the tank lower part I could not see until setup time. Luckily neither was critical or very visible. The plumbing kit also does not fit the US plumbing parts easily.

Other than that the combo looks great in the living room, the only combination I could find that matched our living room interior arrangment.

Your tank looks good and different. Are the artificial corals part of the deal? Are there many people into reef tanks in China?

 

[BOBG]

I will be setting up a reef once I find all of the right equipment. Although in the USA we see everything is "Made in China", finding everything is difficult.

I want to try the chinese methods but I am not convinced they truly work. Getting the proper translation is difficult to fully understand how they achieve such great looking tanks without all the "stuff" we use in the USA.

They use bare minimal equipment and intervention. I guess I'm just one that has to be doing something, LOL.

 

[BOBG]

The coral shelfs are real coral rocks, the substrate is also coral rubble. The rocks are drilled to accept, "of all things" a metal rod through the center.

I just can't get used to thier methods but i am going to try my best to mimic what they are doing. The LFS is a marine and reef only store and his tanks are beautiful and thriving with setups that remind me of a fancy freshwater setup. Go figure!

 

[BOBG]

The lighting is one daylight and the second 48" tube is a 500k blue. I plan to finish it out as a reef tank and not sure what is available in China. The selection that I have is very limited.
I have heard of a place in Beijing about 2 hours away that is supposed to be a large shopping area with many aquariums.

Shopping here is very different from the USA. One store will have as many as 20 to 60 different store and each one containing a VERY limited stock of anything.

 

[jacmyoung]

Did I hear metal? Bob is it possible to take a picture or two of that nice tank at your LFS? I am going to China (Shanghai to be exact) for vacation in June, if you know any good stores worth a visit please let me know.

 

[BOBG]

I'm not sure about stores in Shanghai for aquariums. If you are interested in just shopping, Shanghai has hundreds of places to go. One of the favorite tourists spots is near "The Peoples Square". It has many traditional shops and many pearl shops.

Always bargain by starting at half the asking price and going up. They will negotiate with you. It's part of the culture and expected.

Be sure to visit "The Bund" along the river. I suggest going at night to get a wonderful view of the Pearl Tower and all of the other massive marketing lights.

Take a river cruise on on of the dinner boats, you will enjoy it.

Welcome to China. Don't let the driving scare you, LOL.

 

[PupChow]

Really cool, I would love to track you progress and see what the reef scene is like in my motherland...

 

[BOBG]

Help with identification

Help with identification

My local chinese fish guy gave me this and I can't find anything one it. What is it? I placed it in the rock but in his tank it was just lying on the rubble bottom. Sorry for the poor photo but I don't have a good camera for close ups. Basic description is about 12" long purple in color with a feathery top end and a semi hard shaft about 4" long with a 1/2" diameter bulb at the bottom end.

Thanks in advance so that I can care for it properly.

 

[Flamehawk]

Maybe a gorgonian?