Hello Johan - a VERY WARM WELCOME to MASA! I am extremely glad that you found us, and joined MASA.
a Few days are FAR FAR too quick to judge whether the water "is good", unfortunately.
AS you should now from your tropical fish experience, the nutrient cycle can take QUITE a while - and this is even MORE so in the marine reefkeeping world.
The average time ANY marine tank cycles for, is 6 to 8 weeks.... Which means that the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle takes this long before all parameters are 0 (zero).
Did you get any testing kits with your nano tank?
The bade minimum testing kits you would require, are:
1) ammonia
2) nitrite
3) nitrate
4) pH
5) salinity/SG (hydrometer)
6) thermometer
I can understand the reasoning behind going for a nano. You should also please just be aware of the negative reasoning behind owning a nano tank:
Because of the relatively small volume of water, if there is any dying or rotting organic material in the tank (from either dying/dead life-stock, plant material, excess food, etc) the negative impact in the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels, will be HUGELY exagerated. Meaning that the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels can spike, which in turn has a HUGE impact on the current life-stock in the tank.
Due to the sensitivity of the nutrient levels in a nano tank, regular water changes are also a HUGE importance, and cannot be skipped.
It is our (MASA) mission to ensure that people who either start out, or who are even experienced, are the absolute BEST reefkeepers that they can ever be.
Please do not be afraid to ask ANY questions, as we are here to assist in any which way.
Please take note tahat there are MANY really experienced reefkeepers on MASA, who have been in the hobby for MANY MANY years.
Also - please have a look around our other "Member's Tanks and systems" forum, just to see what people have, and can accomplish!
Good luck with your venture! Together we will ENSURE that you have a successful journey into marines!
BTW: the MOST important part of being a reefkeeper, is to have PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE!
Good luck mate!
Just to quickly answer your questions:
1) the sponsors we have in the Cape, is: Sam's Aquarium - Bergvliet (see their banner on MASA) (good prices - but still come to us for advice)
2) AQuality - Montague Gardens (see his banner on MASA) (very good advice - extremely knowledgeable - "but you pay for quality")
3) LFS in Somerset West - I cannot remember the name right now... sorry - have a look at the banners - you will see their name there
Non-sponsors:
1) Aqua Concepts - next to M5/N1 (new business park)
2) Northern Aquatics (don't sell marine life stock that often anymore)
3) LFS in Blaauwberg Road - in same mall as Fruit & Veg
3) Exotic Reef (Ottery)
4) NAAC in Somerset West
i would know. if i knew what i know now i would have started off bigger. Just my thoughts welcome