65 Gallon in Japan

[Alvaro_PMN]

Hello fellow reefers!

Decided to start a thread to share my journey and track my tank here.

I’m a Brazilian living in Japan, Yokohama. I don’t speak Japanese and it’s been bit of a challenge to shop for the tank equipment here.

Eventually got some from Amazon, Saltwateraquarium.com, Aquacave, Aliexpress, eBay, LFSs, etc..

My tank is a 65 gallon (48”x18”x18”) and will be mostly SPS, maybe will add one or two LPS in the future.

I got a plain tank, drilled, and installed a Fiji external overflow and couple of random flow generator nozzles, one on each side of the tank. Stand is a generic one which matches the tank dimensions.

The sump is another basic small 20 gallon tank (24”x12”x18”) with Fuji sump baffle kit (ended up being very limited in space, but in Japan you kind of get used to that).

It was a nice challenge to put up all the plumbing from scratch, but I think it worked out fine.

The horror scene still around is the cable management ☹.

As for equipment:

• Return Pump: Sicce SDC 6.0 return pump
• Flow: 2 x MP40
• Light (used the Radion hanging kit and DIYed a support for the Orbit marine):
  • 3 x Radion XR15 Blue
  • 2 x Current USA Orbit Marine 48”
• Filtration:
  • Nyos Protein Skimmer 120
  • Red Sea ReefMat 500
• Dosing:
  • Kamoer continuous dosing pump for Kalkwasser (from an IceCap Kalk Steerer)
  • Jebao dosing pump for All for Reef
• Heating: generic local brand heater 300w
• Substrate:
  • Carib Sea bleached rock (40lbs)
  • Generic sand (40lbs) from the Philippines
• RODI - Aquatic Life RO Buddie
• Red Starfish PR-100 (from aliexpress) media reactor for GFO and activated carbon
• ATO: Duetto 2 Dual-Sensor ATO

Filled the tank March/24th with salt water and added Quick Start Aquarium Cycler from API.
Hopefully till next weekend I can add a pair of clownfish .

 

[kevgib67]

Great scape! Following along.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hello fellow reefers!

Decided to start a thread to share my journey and track my tank here.

I’m a Brazilian living in Japan, Yokohama. I don’t speak Japanese and it’s been bit of a challenge to shop for the tank equipment here.

Eventually got some from Amazon, Saltwateraquarium.com, Aquacave, Aliexpress, eBay, LFSs, etc..

My tank is a 65 gallon (48”x18”x18”) and will be mostly SPS, maybe will add one or two LPS in the future.

I got a plain tank, drilled, and installed a Fiji external overflow and couple of random flow generator nozzles, one on each side of the tank. Stand is a generic one which matches the tank dimensions.

The sump is another basic small 20 gallon tank (24”x12”x18”) with Fuji sump baffle kit (ended up being very limited in space, but in Japan you kind of get used to that).

It was a nice challenge to put up all the plumbing from scratch, but I think it worked out fine.

The horror scene still around is the cable management ☹.

As for equipment:

• Return Pump: Sicce SDC 6.0 return pump
• Flow: 2 x MP40
• Light (used the Radion hanging kit and DIYed a support for the Orbit marine):
  • 3 x Radion XR15 Blue
  • 2 x Current USA Orbit Marine 48”
• Filtration:
  • Nyos Protein Skimmer 120
  • Red Sea ReefMat 500
• Dosing:
  • Kamoer continuous dosing pump for Kalkwasser (from an IceCap Kalk Steerer)
  • Jebao dosing pump for All for Reef
• Heating: generic local brand heater 300w
• Substrate:
  • Carib Sea bleached rock (40lbs)
  • Generic sand (40lbs) from the Philippines
• RODI - Aquatic Life RO Buddie
• Red Starfish PR-100 (from aliexpress) media reactor for GFO and activated carbon
• ATO: Duetto 2 Dual-Sensor ATO

Filled the tank March/24th with salt water and added Quick Start Aquarium Cycler from API.
Hopefully till next weekend I can add a pair of clownfish .

Love the aquascape!

 

[rhitee93]

Looking good

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Great scape! Following along.

Thanks! Aimed for gentle "cliffs" and some hiding spots.

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Love the aquascape!

Thank you!

 

[Nano_Man]

Looking Good

 

[MrBrbsmoke]

You're lucky to be in a major city and not too far from Tokyo as well, a lot of the shops and yahoo sellers with good stock all will get you your shipments in under 24 hours (if you order online of course) good luck on the build!

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

You're lucky to be in a major city and not too far from Tokyo as well, a lot of the shops and yahoo sellers with good stock all will get you your shipments in under 24 hours (if you order online of course) good luck on the build!

Hi there! Thanks for the message.
Nice to know another reefer in Japan. I actually know only a couple of shops focused in salt water and they usually don't sell frags, only mid/large colonies. Basically shops I found focus in fresh water with small section of salt water. If you have any shop recommendation would appreciate if you could share.

 

[MrBrbsmoke]

Hi there! Thanks for the message.
Nice to know another reefer in Japan. I actually know only a couple of shops focused in salt water and they usually don't sell frags, only mid/large colonies. Basically shops I found focus in fresh water with small section of salt water. If you have any shop recommendation would appreciate if you could share.

Japan is in a unique situation where a lot of wholesalers in Indonesia and Australia get their products here pretty fast and effectively so in a lot of cases most stores don't feel the need to propagate.... and order the exact same things, over and over again...

Starting with Online if you're okay with that, there is;

https://coralaquatic.com/en/

Coral aquatic usually has what I consider a higher end collection, clean tanks but I've never personally gone into the store which is currently being relocated so I think its only online with a limited selection and possibly you can make an appointment to see them while they relocate? You can add them to LINE and ask for more information.

https://www.petballoon.net/

Based in Osaka, this appears to be a long term staple in Japan, its been open for 30 years now and probably the only place I would ever order from again in winter online (Snowy north for me) since from what I've heard its one of the early adopters of shipping fish and corals online and is pretty efficient at it (Can attest)

アクアテイラーズ　Aqua Tailors　東大阪のアクアリウムプロショップ　淡水魚・水草・シュリンプ・海水魚・無脊椎販売

æ±å¤§éªã®ãã¼ã¿ã«ã¢ã¯ã¢ãªã¦ã ã·ã§ãããã¢ã¯ã¢ãã¤ã©ã¼ãºãã§ããã客æ§ã«æ¥ã¦ããã£ãã¨åãã§é ãããããªãåºã¥ãããç®æãã¦ãã¾ããåºé å±ç¤ºååæ°ã¯5000以ä¸ãçä½ã³ã¼ãã¼ãã»ã¼æ¯æ¥å¥è·ãã¦ãã¾ããå°ç¨é§è»å ´ï¼ï¼å°å®åãçæ§ã®å¾¡æ¥åºãå¿ãããå¾ã¡ãã¦ããã¾ãã

aquatailors.co.jp

These guys have a few stores mostly based in and around Osaka. They have frags, import corals (for Zoas they may be the most likely go to) I've never ordered from them online because I would rather drive 5 hours like a madman but I've seen them packing online orders quite well, they also packed me a box last week since it was cold and I had a long drive ahead of me. I Assume its a safe bet.

I'll probably be checking out the stores in Tokyo this summer while I am around for work and I figure though I haven't personally gone, some might be of interest to you. Not sure about your Japanese ability and if you've had any luck searching around but here are some I see in Tokyo closer to Yokohama side (Yokohama seems a bit barren itself)

Semi-Locally for you, maybe;

FSC Kaizika (http://kazika.reef-k.com/)

Sea Glass (https://www.facebook.com/aquaseaglass/)

Natural (https://www.natyu.ne.jp/)

日海センターNikkai Center, I think. (https://www.nikkai-web.com/)

All of these are I think reasonably close to lines that go to/from Yokohama, with a little thermal bag you should be able to pick up pretty much anything from at least one of them hopefully. I hope you like Acros because Japan loves the hard corals and especially them.

If you're still hunting come summer I will probably have some frags for you depending on what you're looking for!

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Japan is in a unique situation where a lot of wholesalers in Indonesia and Australia get their products here pretty fast and effectively so in a lot of cases most stores don't feel the need to propagate.... and order the exact same things, over and over again...

Starting with Online if you're okay with that, there is;

https://coralaquatic.com/en/

Coral aquatic usually has what I consider a higher end collection, clean tanks but I've never personally gone into the store which is currently being relocated so I think its only online with a limited selection and possibly you can make an appointment to see them while they relocate? You can add them to LINE and ask for more information.

https://www.petballoon.net/

Based in Osaka, this appears to be a long term staple in Japan, its been open for 30 years now and probably the only place I would ever order from again in winter online (Snowy north for me) since from what I've heard its one of the early adopters of shipping fish and corals online and is pretty efficient at it (Can attest)

アクアテイラーズ　Aqua Tailors　東大阪のアクアリウムプロショップ　淡水魚・水草・シュリンプ・海水魚・無脊椎販売

æ±å¤§éªã®ãã¼ã¿ã«ã¢ã¯ã¢ãªã¦ã ã·ã§ãããã¢ã¯ã¢ãã¤ã©ã¼ãºãã§ããã客æ§ã«æ¥ã¦ããã£ãã¨åãã§é ãããããªãåºã¥ãããç®æãã¦ãã¾ããåºé å±ç¤ºååæ°ã¯5000以ä¸ãçä½ã³ã¼ãã¼ãã»ã¼æ¯æ¥å¥è·ãã¦ãã¾ããå°ç¨é§è»å ´ï¼ï¼å°å®åãçæ§ã®å¾¡æ¥åºãå¿ãããå¾ã¡ãã¦ããã¾ãã

aquatailors.co.jp

These guys have a few stores mostly based in and around Osaka. They have frags, import corals (for Zoas they may be the most likely go to) I've never ordered from them online because I would rather drive 5 hours like a madman but I've seen them packing online orders quite well, they also packed me a box last week since it was cold and I had a long drive ahead of me. I Assume its a safe bet.

I'll probably be checking out the stores in Tokyo this summer while I am around for work and I figure though I haven't personally gone, some might be of interest to you. Not sure about your Japanese ability and if you've had any luck searching around but here are some I see in Tokyo closer to Yokohama side (Yokohama seems a bit barren itself)

Semi-Locally for you, maybe;

FSC Kaizika (http://kazika.reef-k.com/)

Sea Glass (https://www.facebook.com/aquaseaglass/)

Natural (https://www.natyu.ne.jp/)

日海センターNikkai Center, I think. (https://www.nikkai-web.com/)

All of these are I think reasonably close to lines that go to/from Yokohama, with a little thermal bag you should be able to pick up pretty much anything from at least one of them hopefully. I hope you like Acros because Japan loves the hard corals and especially them.

If you're still hunting come summer I will probably have some frags for you depending on what you're looking for!

Wow, thanks a lot!
I'll plan to check up on them during weekends.

I already bought in 2 shops:
1) https://namamugi-kaisuigyo.com/ which has lots of corals and fish. I only bought in the shop, so don't know how the shipping really is, but I saw them packing stuff to send and looked quite OK, with thermal pads and large bags.

2) https://www.shopping-charm.jp/ on this one I bought online and shipping was very good. Everything arrived in good shape and quite quickly.

regards!

 

[MrBrbsmoke]

Wow, thanks a lot!
I'll plan to check up on them during weekends.

I already bought in 2 shops:
1) https://namamugi-kaisuigyo.com/ which has lots of corals and fish. I only bought in the shop, so don't know how the shipping really is, but I saw them packing stuff to send and looked quite OK, with thermal pads and large bags.

2) https://www.shopping-charm.jp/ on this one I bought online and shipping was very good. Everything arrived in good shape and quite quickly.

regards!

Please, let me know what you think or if you find any interesting places. I am not afraid to grab some coral and fly home with them lol

I've been dying to get my hands on any non-green/white bubble tip if you spot any, enough to just send a friend to grab it for me. I was offered a nice red one and sulking/angry glitter one two months ago for free and I stay awake at night thinking about how stupid I was to not just take them.

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Hello, I started adding some slightly more complex life to the tank after Ammonia and Nitrites showed zero.
Couple of clowns, one shy banggai cardinal and few easy corals.

Not the nicest color, hopefully it will improve with time But there is some polyp extension visible.

In parallel I started dosing Kalkwasser, my intention is to keep PH in a bit higher range with it (>8.1).
Probably in 1-2 weeks I'll add more fish and more corals.

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Hello!
water parameters have been in check but I have lately looked at dKH only, which is moving between 7 to 7.5.
I've been religiously doing 10% water changes every weekend and this weekend completed 2 months after filling the tank with salt water.
I'm dosing as much kalkwasser as the evaporation allows (my educated guess is around 2.5L or 0.67Gal). It is not enough to keep up with dKH, which I'm complementing with 12ml of all for reef.
My red sea test kits don't seem to detect any nitrate or phosphate, so I understand they are in the very low range.
Some of the frags I glued to the rock appear to have started to encrust, which is very encouraging news and motivated me to add few more inhabitants to the tank, both fishes (chromis, baby blue tang and banghai) and corals (few more frags and a torch).
I haven't been through the ugly stage yet, just keep fingers crossed it will continue like that .

The torch is not looking as good as it was in the LFS, I think its because my tank is a lot different than where it was before (more flow, light and less nutrients).
So I started dosing a bit of red sea AB+ (5ml 3x a week) and recently added fish to help with the nutrients.

Now the tanks looks like this:

The coral that looks the happiest is the duncan. Hope my torch will look like this soon.

Thanks a lot and wish you all a nice Sunday!

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Tank is really coming along nicely. Glad there is also another person, while still far, close enough to help with finding places.

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Tank is really coming along nicely. Glad there is also another person, while still far, close enough to help with finding places.

Thanks! I'm trying to take it slow and just add stuff after I see signs its going in a good direction.
I agree with you, I was very lucky to have MrBrbsmoke chip in here
The sites he shared have nice corals and fish, with better price than the places I knew.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hello!
water parameters have been in check but I have lately looked at dKH only, which is moving between 7 to 7.5.
I've been religiously doing 10% water changes every weekend and this weekend completed 2 months after filling the tank with salt water.
I'm dosing as much kalkwasser as the evaporation allows (my educated guess is around 2.5L or 0.67Gal). It is not enough to keep up with dKH, which I'm complementing with 12ml of all for reef.
My red sea test kits don't seem to detect any nitrate or phosphate, so I understand they are in the very low range.
Some of the frags I glued to the rock appear to have started to encrust, which is very encouraging news and motivated me to add few more inhabitants to the tank, both fishes (chromis, baby blue tang and banghai) and corals (few more frags and a torch).
I haven't been through the ugly stage yet, just keep fingers crossed it will continue like that .

The torch is not looking as good as it was in the LFS, I think its because my tank is a lot different than where it was before (more flow, light and less nutrients).
So I started dosing a bit of red sea AB+ (5ml 3x a week) and recently added fish to help with the nutrients.

Now the tanks looks like this:

The coral that looks the happiest is the duncan. Hope my torch will look like this soon.

Thanks a lot and wish you all a nice Sunday!

Duncan looks really good!

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Duncan looks really good!

Thanks! Yeah, its really fluffy

 

[Timbo13]

Hi, Australian living in Japan here. If you're looking for shops, Namamugi kaisuigyo near Yokohama has a lot of stuff (some of it has gotten expensive since the yen dropped). There's other places around too. If you need a hand with something I might be able to help out. Happy reefing!!

 

[Alvaro_PMN]

Hi, Australian living in Japan here. If you're looking for shops, Namamugi kaisuigyo near Yokohama has a lot of stuff (some of it has gotten expensive since the yen dropped). There's other places around too. If you need a hand with something I might be able to help out. Happy reefing!!

Hi mate! Thanks for the recommendation, I actually went to this Namamugi shop last week and got a couple of urchins to help me control a GHA outbreak.
Recently I found some better deals in corals in yahoo auctions, with more reasonable prices. Some good looking acropora mini colonies for 4,000 - 5,000 JPY. Even some yellow tangs there.
Best regards and happy reefing!