Andy's second tank build project.

[Anonymous]

There is not much on the 'net on the specific subspecies, but this link will give you an idea what is endemic around these parts.....

http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/lobsters.php ... ten&id=154

 

[trido]

You are lucky that you can catch the ones you want to eat. They are highly over priced IMO as are crabs. Then again, You couldnt pay me enough to fish crab in Alaska. Trust me, I was offered the job many times. :lol: Sound like a fun species tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Yup, Trido, they are overpriced over here too, although the species that is commercially harvested is different, I think its called Janus Lilandi (sp). They are predominately from the Western Cape and Atlantic seaboard- colsd water with big Great Whites in it! There is no commercial exploitation of the natal crayfish allowed.

I will have to wait anyway to stock it, as the season opens in March, not much of a problem, I am having issues with my reef tank and have managed little to no progress on the new system for a while, other than getting the stand back and most of the plumbing fittings in hand. Some pics will follow when I remember to take them.

 

[Anonymous]

As promised, some pics of the lack of progress. At vleast the stand is done, the marine ply and polystyrine that the tank and sump will rest on is bought and most of the plumbing fittings are awaiting my attention....

 

[Anonymous]

more....

 

[shavo]

thanks for the kind words andy! hope you had a nice christmas and new years! how is the build going? not up and running yet?

 

[Anonymous]

Finally! Some progress!

It would be accurate to state that I have become a world class procrastinator. Anyhow- I finally decided to try and get some water into the new tank. Some pics of yesterday's activity....

 

[Anonymous]

More....

 

[Anonymous]

Well, overnight I managed about 1/3 filled, I have left it filling whilst I am at work and hope that the display should be overflowing into the sump by the time I get home. Its off to the LFS just now for some salt and some eggcrate and aragonite so I can get the sump kicked off tonight and some water mixed. I also need to swing past the supplier of my solenoid as the 1/4 inch sealing system leaves a lot to be desired and is leaking badly.

I intend to fill the entire system with RODI, Add salt and then do a big water change on my existing system with the results. Then to start again, this time for real.

 

[bleedingthought]

That's exciting!

Is this still going to be a FOWLR (of sorts)?

 

[Anonymous]

That's exciting!

Is this still going to be a FOWLR (of sorts)?

Yes, it is still my intention to use it to keep Rock Lobster and Lion Fish exclusivesly, with some brown mussels added periodically to feed the rock lobsters.

FWIW, I picked up 40 Kg (88lbs) of instant ocean salt this morning and will try to mix my first ever batch of salt water tonight. I usually get NSW but the water off here is a bit strange, effluent-filled and unsettled at the moment, so I am not going to chance it.

 

[Anonymous]

Looking good

 

[Anonymous]

A long tale of woe this morning. Got home last night to find the periostatic pump had given up, locking the water flow- so no progress in filling all day yesterday. Despite new fittings on the solenoid (I cant find anyone with the 'push-in' 1/4 inch fitting and am being forced to use the ferrul type) the link is leaking like a seive. I got the flow restarted, sans pump. Fortunately I woke up around midnight and went to check- the pipe had burst and the floor was under 8 inches of water.... 8O . I hate this hobby some days.

 

[Anonymous]

8O cripes Andy, it was a good thing you woke up!

 

[Anonymous]

that sucks Andy. Well at least you have a tiled floor.

 

[bleedingthought]

Man, 8 inches of water is crazy! Sorry to hear.

 

[Anonymous]

Do they not use the metric system in SA?

It is odd to hear inches from someone not in the ole US of A.

20 cm of water on the floor sound worse than 8 inches IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

Heaps of progress now....

Leaks fixed, plumbing done, sump completed, water mixed, lights added- been a busy weekend.

I have added the crayfish I caught yesterday to seed the bio cycle, they wont be in there much past Wednesday as I plan to eat them.

Also, live sand and rock from my other tank added, along with some brown mussels and their accompanying copepods.

 

[Anonymous]

Closeup of the species in question.

 

[mr_X]

looks delicious