Just set up a Perfecto 60 gallon corner tank. The tank is a bowfront (about 4' across) and is squared off at the corner piece to allow room for HOB stuff (probably 18" wide or so). It came with a Marineland glass top and a regular 30" dual fluorescent fixture (60 watts I believe).
I have added 3" of CaribSea oolite sand, saltwater and a 10 lb live rock and a shrimp to cycle. Right now, I have a Penguin 350 biowheel circulating. I did throw in a couple of cups of sand from my 20 gallon and half a gallon or so of water from my 20 gallon tank.
I just received today 45 pounds of Fiji LR from aquaria.com and 2 maxijets 1200's, those hydor flow rotating nozzles, a Visi-Therm 250W heater, a new test kit and a digital thermometer.
My cycle has started, I'm registering ammonia at .5-1, nitrite of .25, very slight nitrate and ph about 8.4. Salinity is in the middle zone on my swing arm hydrometor.
Her's my plan:
1. currently washing the 45 lbs. of live rock, throw it in the tank. Kind of an amphitheater look, mounded high in the back and tapering down along the sides. I do hate it when the fish hide between the rock and the glass, but I guess they like the security?
2. Mount the 2 1200's and rotating heads toward the back of the tank about a 2/3 up from the bottom and kind of aim them in the middle (I'm trusting the rotating heads will create the random currents needed).
3. Keep running the penguin 350 and bio wheel till the cycle completes.
4. Place the heater on the back of the tank toward the bottom horizontally, would like to have the LR in front of it.
5. In a month or so, when the budget is available, I'll add a Aqua C Remora. I picked this skimmer because it has that collection box which cleans up the look a little and I can put in floss, charcoal, whatever. I then plan to retire the bio wheel filter.
6. I know I will need better lighting, it looks like I can fit a 24" PC fluorescent with a lunar light behind the standard light fixture. I harbor no intentions toward hard coral, but would like to have the potential for anenomes and such. Should I just junk the standard light fixture and add a solo PC fixture in the 135W range, or supplement the standard fixture with a 65 watt or so PC fixture? I should add that I do want a fixture with the lunar lights.
7. Stock list, right now we plan on 3 true clowns, a coral beauty angel, a yellow tang and one of the two yellow-tail damsels in the 20 gallon (they fight constantly). We also have a chocolate chip star in the 20 gallon, not sure if it should move or stay. We'll also add a bunch of snails and hermits after cycling.
Thoughts or suggestions? This tank is for my wife, she has wanted one forever, and I want to do it right for her. Thanks in advance.
I have added 3" of CaribSea oolite sand, saltwater and a 10 lb live rock and a shrimp to cycle. Right now, I have a Penguin 350 biowheel circulating. I did throw in a couple of cups of sand from my 20 gallon and half a gallon or so of water from my 20 gallon tank.
I just received today 45 pounds of Fiji LR from aquaria.com and 2 maxijets 1200's, those hydor flow rotating nozzles, a Visi-Therm 250W heater, a new test kit and a digital thermometer.
My cycle has started, I'm registering ammonia at .5-1, nitrite of .25, very slight nitrate and ph about 8.4. Salinity is in the middle zone on my swing arm hydrometor.
Her's my plan:
1. currently washing the 45 lbs. of live rock, throw it in the tank. Kind of an amphitheater look, mounded high in the back and tapering down along the sides. I do hate it when the fish hide between the rock and the glass, but I guess they like the security?
2. Mount the 2 1200's and rotating heads toward the back of the tank about a 2/3 up from the bottom and kind of aim them in the middle (I'm trusting the rotating heads will create the random currents needed).
3. Keep running the penguin 350 and bio wheel till the cycle completes.
4. Place the heater on the back of the tank toward the bottom horizontally, would like to have the LR in front of it.
5. In a month or so, when the budget is available, I'll add a Aqua C Remora. I picked this skimmer because it has that collection box which cleans up the look a little and I can put in floss, charcoal, whatever. I then plan to retire the bio wheel filter.
6. I know I will need better lighting, it looks like I can fit a 24" PC fluorescent with a lunar light behind the standard light fixture. I harbor no intentions toward hard coral, but would like to have the potential for anenomes and such. Should I just junk the standard light fixture and add a solo PC fixture in the 135W range, or supplement the standard fixture with a 65 watt or so PC fixture? I should add that I do want a fixture with the lunar lights.
7. Stock list, right now we plan on 3 true clowns, a coral beauty angel, a yellow tang and one of the two yellow-tail damsels in the 20 gallon (they fight constantly). We also have a chocolate chip star in the 20 gallon, not sure if it should move or stay. We'll also add a bunch of snails and hermits after cycling.
Thoughts or suggestions? This tank is for my wife, she has wanted one forever, and I want to do it right for her. Thanks in advance.
