site map

contact

Federation of Small Business

Federation of Small Business for a better service for our customers.

All our complete systems are guaranteed for two years under our product insurance with Allianz Insurance PLC.

This covers the Aquarium/Cabinet and sump manufactured by the company.

All equipment supplied as part of the system including skimmers/heaters/pumps and lighting are covered under the terms and condition of the manufacturers warranty and guarantee.

At the final testing of the installation the customer will receive a certificate of completion and a hand over document that the system is operational. The cover will commence from that point.

How to order.

Send us the quotation form with your details. We will respond with a formal quotation. If you accept, confirm in writing. this will be our contract with you to supply the goods specified in the quotation.

How to Pay.

Credit card

Paypal

Bank transfer to our account.

Cash

We no longer accept cheques.

Talk to June our experience Technical operator. We can answer your questions. Confused about information you've been given,As committed hobbyist we are here to offer advise on any subject on fish keeping. If we are not on line leave a message and we will arrange to chat to you.

FIND A TANK

If you have a budget and looking for the best deal available either tropical or Marine. then let us know and we will suggest the best offer.

sales@oceanreefaquariums.co.uk

MINI REEF CUSTOM AQUARIUM CO Ltd

REGISTERED AQUARIUM AND CABINET MANUFACTURER

Master Aquarium Builders and cabinet makers.

Want some thing totally unique and built to your own specification then your at the right place.

Our cabinet finishes come in a range of woods.

White Beech, White Oak,Sapele, Cherry, Pine, White Ash, Or stained to your colour. Plain sprayed doors to your specification. Wide range of options. We also build solid wood front and side panels with matching hood and choice of doors and handles manufactured by our qualified cabinet maker.

We are manufacturers of custom built aquariums and cabinets. We are not a pet shop but a manufacturer specializing in Tropical amd Marine systems.Our cabinets are hand made with a choice of finishes. We offer the complete service from building to your specification.delivery and installation. Live rock/live sand. Fish and corals of your choice. Maintained and support.

Don't be fooled by cheap aquariums built in reclaimed glass. You get what you pay for.

Do you have two to three hours a week for 10% water changes. Buy expensive fish you cant keep.Install a set up designed for Tropical fish and useless for Marines.

If the Answer is no, for total satisfaction buy the best. All our systems are Guaranteed for two years.

We can provide site inspection for that special project. offer advice and support during the whole period of installation.includes Building,electrical and plumbing services from our expert team.

We supply both trade and retail from our licenced premises

By appointment only weekdays and weekends due to our work load and installations.

Mini Reef Custom Aquarium Company Ltd

Unit 6 Beechnut Rd Industrial Estate

Aldershot

Hampshire

GU124JG

Mobile number 0797470671

Fax Number 44125241966

Workshop number 08432892035

We do not give quotations by telephone please e mail your request to sales@oceanreefaquariums.co.uk

We have been building aquariums for ten years. Initially we used a syphon box and trickle filter.Totally unreliable and ineffective. Our customers want a low maintenance system with limited maintenance costs. If you have several hours per week available to carry out water changes and buy salt and water then this system is not for you.

Marine fish prefer mature water. water changes can not provide the identical temp/salinity and therefore creates an imbalance in the system killing off valuable bacteria. The water disposed off down the drain contains salt and waste from the tank. putting extra pressure on the water purification system.

To keep marines buy a system designed to do the job.

Our cabinets are constructed on 3x2 pine,with 18mm ply top and bottom.12mm back panel. choice of front and side panels.

Not flat packed. delivered assembled and ready to use.

We endeavour to carry out site inspections on every project to establish any difficulties in access and location of the system.

We are able to provide equipment for our systems at considerably less than the RRP by putting together a package to suit the system we are installing.

Live sand/live rock are an essential factor in the maturing process. by using RO water.Quality salt mix the maturing process is substantially reduced to approx for weeks from 12 weeks by reducing the initial pollution levels of the aquarium.

Uncured rock takes up to eight weeks to cure and prolongs the maturing process.

The calurpa has to be a specific species as certain sea weeds are sensitive to PH and salt levels. Use only our Calurpa tested over ten years of production.

The roots must grow in the substrate to be effective in the reduction of Nitrates.

Why are water changes not required.

The system produces natural evaporation of water. this is created by the movement of water in the aquarium.exchange of gasses at the surface,flow of water down to the sump. this evaporation is what takes place in the sea.

salt does not evaporate only pure water and therefore its pure water that needs to be replaced. Using an RO unit and float switch the salt levels in the system remain stable and constant.

In the summer temperatures rise due to fluctuations in the surrounding environment. If the temperature in the room rises so also will the aquarium.it is effected by the surrounding temperature.

Corals and fish can not survive in temperature of 28c and above. A chiller is necessary and evaporation increases.

The succes of keeping marine fish is to maintain a constant environment of salt/ph ammonia and temperature.

The biological cycle is ammonia/nitrite and Nitrate if nitrates levels are high its the end product of high ammonia. cut down on feeding and increase bacteria.

Wide range of styles.colours and sizes. The essential factor in cabinet construction is the ability to take the weight of the aquarium and to spread the load evenly across the floor. The frame is constructed of 3x2 pine with 18mm top and base and 12mm back.

the front and sides to customers specification. Most aquariums in aquatic shops and garden centres are specifically designed for tropical fish. adapted for marine with hang on skimmers. external filters which are totally unsuitable.

if you want Marine fish. The initial investment is essential in keeping marine fish in an appropriate environment. will ultimately save money iin replacing fish that die because they are not properly cared for.

Beware of false claims by inexperienced and unqualified operators. We are licenced by DEFRA

We accept all credit cards including American Express by telephone to our order hot line 0843 2892035

Paypal.,bank transfer and cash.

All goods remain the property of the company untill paid in full

NEW NEW NEW

Redesigned wier taking up a fraction of the space. increased efficiency and silent running.Drawing water from the bottom and the top. turn over rate x 4 tank volume. increased oxygen levels. easier to conceal and requires no maintenance. Keeps live rock in peak condition drawing water through the rock. No dead spots, excellent circulation.

Constant water flow through sump. Skimmer operates 24/7, recommend auto top up to ensure consist salt water level.

Dont waste money on systems designed for tropical. buy salt water filtration systems designed to do exactly that.

First Class Business Support
First class business support to any company. ask for a quotation based on your specific requirements. Contact Scott for detailed discussion for accounts/wages/VAT and Tax.

All our aquariums carry a two year guarentee and covered by our public liability insurance.

our installation team are experienced in all forms of construction work.including all ground work and building work. electrical and plumbing services.

we are able to under take assesments of floor loading for large aquariums. Hole in the wall.Shop fitting and commercial installations.Acrylic aquariums up to 500mm thick,and installation of commercial projects.

all construction enquiries telephone 0843 2892035

Site inspections, not sure what you want. need advice, 70 pounds up to 100 miles from Farnborough. price on application for any other distance.

What do I get. written report and recommendation.

CONSULTANCY

We offer a consultancy service for marine/tropical and cold water fish. We also provide a design service for filtration systems. We provide site inspections and written reports based on an hourly rate of 25 pounds per hour. You can provide us with photographic evidence and test results for a prompt response to your enquiry.

THE FISH DOCTOR

NEW SERVICE for beginners and experience aquarists. E mail us with your question and recieve a proffesional response. Due to pressure of work this may not be instant but we aim to reply in 24 hours

sales@oceanreefaquariums.co.uk

Marine Aqurium Breeder

We fully support the MOFIB in the efforts to captive breed Marine Aquarium fish. In order to protect species on the reefs we have to understand thier breeding patterns and create captive bred fish to reduce wild fish being removed from the reef.

MOFIB is for beginners as well as experience hobbist. Join today you can make a difference.

IFOCAS
Serious about Fish keeping.Join a recognised international organisation and support conservation world wide.

Shark research

Marble shark

Picture of a marble shark. grows to 24 inches in the wild. has been bred in captivity and produced over 30 pups.

Very little is known about the behavior of sharks on the reef. The black tip. White tip and nurse sharks are probably the sharks most known to the public. there are a great number of smaller sharks which play an equally important part in the eco system of the reef. eating dead or dying fish. Little is know of thier reproduction behavior or how long the gestation period of those sharks that reproduce using pouches.

We have a pair of adult Marble sharks. Atelomycterus Macleayi that started reproducing in January 2008 and have produced two pouches every week since then. We currently have six baby sharks.We believe the gestation period to be 12/16 weeks. These sharks grow to a maximum size of 62cm. the male is slightly lighter in colour than the female and has two claspers which he inserts into the females reproductive channel. Males bite the fins of the female and turn them over so that they can reproduce. The females have been observed moving the pouches and hiding them under rocks.

We also have a pair of White spotted sand sharks. Chiloscyllium plagiosum which started laying pouches in March 2008 and also produced 2 pouches a week. most of which are fertile. Males and females are similar in size and colour.males having two claspers and a similar behavior pattern to the marble sharks.

We have 5 pouches containing Bamboo shark pups Chilosyllium Punctatum and hope to develop a pair from the five pouches. Other species are being sort to develop similar research.The object is to develop the filtration system so that these species can be reproduced in numbers and returned to the sea.Most of these sharks are regarded as food in South East Asian countries and therefore the project is essential for thier long term survival.These sharks are currently in aquarium that have had no water changes in five years.proof that the system produces natural sea water.

We either import sharks,sting rays and large fish direct from our collectors.or we supply captive bred species from our own hatchery. we export to the EEC and USA. We only sell to genuine hobbyist who have the facility to care for the species. We do not sell black tip sharks for a 4ft aquarium. They can grow to 6/7ft quite quickly and large public aquaria don't want them.

There is no special equipment required to breed these species other than our deep bed sand filter and can be easily kept in a 6 x 2 x 2 aquarium.

Zebra shark

Long and sleek, zebra sharks can wriggle into reef crevices and caves to hunt for their favorite food. Barbels (fleshy feelers) on their snouts help them search for their prey. Zebra sharks hunt at night; in the daytime they usually rest quietly on the bottom, "standing" on their pectoral (side) fins.

Juveniles are dark brown with white zebralike stripes, but adults are tan with brown leopardlike spots, so this shark has at least three common names?zebra shark, leopard shark and zebra/leopard shark. Common names can be confusing, which is why we depend on scientific names for identifying animals and plants.

To reproduce, male sharks use claspers (modifications of the pelvic fins) to transfer sperm into the female's reproductive tract. The zebra female lays fertilized eggs in tough capsules covered with tufts of filaments, which attach the eggs to the seafloor.

Conservation

Zebra sharks are caught for their meat, which is eaten fresh, or dried and salted like jerky. Its fins are used for shark fin soup or in traditional Chinese medicines. In some countries, shark fin soup is an expensive delicacy that can cost $100 or more for one serving. After fisheries catch sharks, they often strip off the high-value fins and toss the rest of the shark overboard. The process is called "finning." Often, the shark is still alive and lies helpless on the seafloor until it dies. Worldwide trade in shark fins increased from 3,300 tons in 1980 to 12,900 tons in 2000.

To curtail this slaughter of sharks, the United States government passed a law in 2000 that forbids shark finning and possessing shark fins without shark bodies, and prohibits foreign fishing vessels from shark finning in the United States' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Canada, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand are also managing shark fisheries, but more countries need to regulate these fisheries.

Cool Facts

If sharks stop swimming, they sink, since they don't have gas-filled swim bladders like most other fishes. Their oil-rich livers help with buoyancy but not enough to keep the sharks afloat.
An albino zebra shark was discovered in 1973 in the Indian Ocean. She had a grayish tail, but was otherwise uniformly white without the usual dark spots seen on adults. Scientists were surprised she had survived, as her coloring would make her more vulnerable to predators.
To breathe, many sharks must swim to force oxygenated water over their gills. But, like all bottom-dwelling sharks, zebra sharks have the ability to pump water over their gills, either through their mouth or through the large spiracle behind each eye. To ease the task of pumping all that water over their gills, the sharks face into the ocean current.

Scientific Name:
Stegostoma varium
Habitat:
Coral Reefs
Animal Type:
Fishes
Diet:
invertebrates such as snails, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins and small fishes
Size:
to 11.5 feet (3.5 m)
Range:
tropical Western Pacific and Indian oceans, usually found near coral reefs
Relatives:
nurse sharks, whale sharks, epaulette sharks; Order: Orectolobiformes (carpet sharks); Family: Stegostomatidae

Leopard Shark
(Triakis semifasciata)

The leopard shark lives in bay environments, near the shore, and sometimes in the Leopard Shark. Copyright 1998 Mark Conlin. open ocean. It is long (up to seven feet), slender, and silver or brown with black saddles across its back and black blotches along its sides. It can be seen during the day, most of the year. During the summer months -- June, July and August -- leopard sharks gather together in the shallow water off the coast of San Diego.

This shark feeds on benthic (bottom-dwelling) prey such as worms, clams, crabs, shrimp, octopus, and small fish. It has small, pointed teeth which it uses to capture its prey.

The leopard shark is ovoviviparous. This means the female gives birth to live young that have developed from eggs hatched inside her body. The young are usually born in spring. This shark is not considered dangerous to people, though any animal will bite if bothered. The leopard shark is also called a cat shark.

Should we be taking sharks from the reef?
Most people do not recognise that in many south east asian countries and indeed around the world.sharks like many marine fish are just Cod and chips to local fishermen. Very little is know about the behaviour or reproduction of sharks.Before we can protect them,we need to understand them.
Can I keep a black tip shark in my Aquarium
Black tip/white tip and nurse sharks grow to six/seven feet long. Although long lived,they grow fairly quickly. In transporting these sharks they arrive between 18inches to three feet long in a bag of water,usualy in a crate. During transportation they shut down and lay in the bottom of the bag. Once released into the tank they dart off at speed killing them selves on the end of the aquarium.Thedesign of the aquarium is an essential factor in thier survival. circular tanks most suitable or retangular tanks with curved inner corners. Should be left for public aquariums.
What kind of tank do I need to keep small sharks
Marble sharks,bamboo sharks and white spotted sand sharks need a minimun of 6 x 2 x 2
What sharks can I keep.
White spotted sand sharks grow 3ft in the wild. Bamboo sharks grow to three foot Marble sharks grow to 2ft in the wild. Easy to keep. fed on dead lance fish or krill,need high levels of iodine in the water,which needs to be tested on a regular basis.
How do you sex a shark?
Males have two claspers under thier body which they insert into the female during breeding.The male will bite the females dorsal fin to hold her and turn her over. Females lay two pouched per week over entended period
Can they be bred.
Yes a mature male and female provided the conditions are right can be bred very easily. High levels of Iodine are essential in the aquarium.
How big are the sharks when they arrive.
Usualy 6/8 inches long but some are young adults.
What kind of aquarium do I need.
Our pair of Marble sharks are in a 6 x 2 x 2 aquarium.The volume of water is doubled by the filteration system which comprises. Deep bed sand filter.400gph skimmer.25 gallon Bin of live sand. 25 gallon bin of live rock and 25gallon of bio balls.There are 10 other fish including groupers.puffers,and tangs in the same aquarium.
Are they easy to keep.
Water quality is and esential factor. clean mature water. our system is idealy suited to sharks as a constant supply of fresh water is important
What size are the sharks.
some species are purchased in the pouch they were born in and hatch out in the aquarium.
Are threre any restrictions on the sale of sharks.
They are not on the endangered species list and therefore the restrictions are those imposed by the company. which include the size of the aquarium. the knowledge and experience of the purchaser and thier views on conservation.

White spotted sand shark.Indian ocean species are brown and pacific ocean more blue. Very active nice little shark. male very lazy hiding in caves. female active swimmer. very easy to keep. totally harmless and generally only eat dead lance fish. cockle etc. get a pair and easy to keep if the conditions are right. prone to Quoits if iodine levels are low.

HOLE IN THE WALL

There are various ways to achieve a picture wall aquarium. Picture frame on one side as shown below. Cabinet on the other.

False double wall as shown below that.

Its not practical to build an aquarium the thickness of the wall. the deeper the aquarium the greater the pressure of the water on the sides and base. as follows

600mm high = 10mm glass

750mm high = 12mm glass

900mm high = 15mm glass

1000m high = 19mm glass

1200mm high = 25mm glass

any thing deeper that 1200mm has to be in acrylic.

The thicker the glass the greater the cost. generally 15mm and above is built on site.

Room divider with picture frame view on one side and enclosed cabinet on the other. The thickness of most walls is 9 inches. The volume of water in a marine system is an essential factor. the larger the volume the easier to keep. Any variation in polution levels is slower and therefore easier to control. Small tanks its instant.

Our basic systems are manufactured in pine. this is resistant to salt. MDF,Chipboard etc absorb the moisture. We also build in Hardwood.Oak etc

Style,Colour and size are to customers specification.

These pictures are seen on other web sites but are manufactured by our company.

Our Service Manager John. installing our system in Wimbledon. this is a double false wall enclosing both sides of the aquarium. Access to filters and aquarium on one side.picture frame on the other.

Aquarium Maintance

Looking for first class maintenance service you cant beat Absolute fish for first class service.tailored to meet your specific needs.

Full service for Marine/Tropical and Cold water.

New New New. Hand made Aquarium inserts. designed and crafted to suit your aquarium.Built by craftsmen using non toxic epoxy resin. a totally new individual approach to aquarium design.graphic design supplied before construction begins ideal for corals. See more under custom Aquarium inserts. Just need the dimensions of your aquarium and any design you may have.

Site Mailing List

For Affordable fish keeping and Quality products

unit 6beechnut Rd Industrial estate

aldershot

Hampshire

GU124JG

Site Powered By
WebKeeper WebSite Builder
Online web site design