I'm here too, but have no corals "yet" unless you count a rock that I've finally learned how not to kill off the remaining zoas and a on the run xenia...just reading about everyone elses interesting finds
Wow, both of our entire threads? Really? That is awesome
If you have any questions building your 75, which I'm sure you will.... please feel free to ask. What is your plan as far as fish and coral type?
I don't know if you are going to want that puffer in a reef tank.Yup! I'm like a sponge absorbing knowledge at this point, reading as much as I can, lol.
I'll be sure to! As far as fish & corals go, I am going to move the contents of my 10 into the 75 and go from there. What I have in the 10 now includes:
1x Green Spotted Puffer (2.5")
1x Purple Firefish (2.5")
6-9x Assorted Hermits
2x Bumblebee Snails
1x Mexican Turbo Snail
1x Astrea Snail (the GSP keeps eating them, so I don't worry about keeping them stocked)
I just got back from Chicago, and while i was gone, lost my Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and my Emerald Crab. Quite sad about those losses. Now I need to do some major PWCs to get the nitrates under control again. (All of the levels had been steadily good though for being a young tank - started it on May 19.) The tank is under incandescent lighting, so I'm having problems keeping the temp under control. It runs around 80-84 during the day (obviously hotter near the end of photo cycle), and down below 80 at night. When I tried keeping a fan on it 24/7, it wouldn't get above 82, but would go below 75 at night. Obviously not a good situation. So, my newest attempt to keep it under control is to have a fan over the top of the tank during the day, but turn it away at night. Hopefully this will remedy the problem.
I know the best way to fix it is to get proper SW lighting, but neither my wallet nor my girlfriend's (the tanks are ours) can take that kind of dent right now.
Anyways, back to the setup of the 75... I'll be running 2x 65W 50/50 and 2x 65W Actinic over it to get started, with an eventual upgrade to MH probably. I'll have two canister filters going also, a Fluval 203 and a Fluval 305. That is assuming all I have to do to get the 203 running is to replace the impeller. If that doesn't work, I'll probably get a Remora HOB skimmer. I may eventually turn my 30 gal tank into a sump for it and go that route, but I'll stick with what I have available at this point to save money.
Stock list aside from the contents of the 10 gal:
2x Semi-Picasso Clowns (girl fell in love with them)
1x Green Mandarin Dragonet (after a year of the tank running)
1x McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
1x Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
2x Banggai Cardinal
1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valencienna strigata)
1x Yellow Belly Blue Tang
Inverts:
1x RBTA
2x Emerald Crabs
1x Porcelain Crab
2x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
2x Sand-sifting Star
1x Blue Linkia Star
20x Hermits
6x Mexican Turbo Snail
10x Bumblebee Snail
Corals:
Green Star Polyps
Fuzzy Mushrooms
Kenya Trees
I want mostly SPS, but I know with PCs, I'm pretty limited. What would you guys suggest?
Of course, this is a pretty rough stock list at this point, suggestions are 100% welcome. This tank is not going to be the final resting place of this reef, it'll eventually be moved to a 180. So, hopefully that means I'll be able to get fish that normally wouldn't be able to fit with the intention of moving them up, maybe that isn't a good idea though. I'm obviously still new lol. Thanks!
I would definitely like to have some Green Star Polyps, I love the way they look. I can live without the Kenya Trees for sure.
Find the time to go to Pappy's... we had to wait in a long line, but it was worth it. The ribs and the sweet pototo fries are real good. The pulled pork and deep fried corn on the cob was average.Okay, I'll break your post up into smaller parts so I can address them more specifically!
I've been wondering about the puffer actually. I wish I had a controller, but my lights on both tanks are currently controlled by humans.
Alright, ya sold me. I'll just start off with the sump. The 30 is just sitting around anyways. Then I can do a fuge and have an Octopus!
Alright, good to know. As far as the net goes, would you suggest something like Greenmaster did with his tank, or do you have another, more simple option? I'm not the most crafty person, lol.
Look into this for the net, I need to catch up on what Greenmaster did...is it the same? Clear 1/4" Screen Netting 6.5' x 2.5' - English
Okay, this, coupled with the choice to go with the sump, has caused me to re-think what I'm buying from the LFS. For $300, I'm getting the 75 glass (NOT reef-ready), stand, Fluval 305, and the used Coralife PC 260W fixture. So, $150 is the tank and stand, $150 is the light and filter. So, I could probably change the $150 over to a hood for MH, bulbs, and reflectors. Hopefully. Who knows what I'll be able to get out of them, especially if it is used stuff.
Get the tank and stand for $150, put the other half towards other stuff so you don't make the same mistake I did and have to replace everything later. Do it right the first time... its cheaper in the long run.
Yup, born and raised! Ah, sounds like you had quite the fun trip! My girlfriend and I have been trying to find time to go to Pappy's since we heard about it on Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel. Crazy, we've both lived here all this time and had never heard of it! We'll have to go soon. I'm surprised you didn't get shot on the East Side, lol. Scary place, East St. Louis.
Thank you. Yes, my coral still has a lot more growing in to do. I still have lots of small frags that I am anxious to see as big colonies.
Whichever reflectors you used would have to be mounted pretty high for 2 to cover a 6' tank.
My tank lights are off so I will need to wait until tomorrow to see if my coral is not brown, before posting more pictures. I still see lots of PE on the coral and my Achilles is still swimming. Speaking of Achilles. I had the opportunity to swim with them in the wild. It was awesome. While snorkling I could always tell when I was going to start feeling waves crashing down on top of me becaue thats where I would start seeing the Achilles Tangs. These fish really do love to hang out in the turbulent high oxygen water. It was very cool to see reef fish doing their thing in the ocean and very fun to be able to identify most of them. Anyway, landing in LAX sucked tonight and took forever from the time our plane touched ground to the time we actually got off the plane, got luggage and got home..... so I am tired and will update more later.
