Harmys 75 gallon set up - build-diy projects- and much more
purchased a 75gallon today. will pick it up on the 3rd or 4th of may. possibly sooner but i work nights and my next "weekend" is split so not likely. i will prolly build the stand next week thou(pictures will of course be included) this is the first of my saltwater tanks. if all goes well i want to do a nano or 2 in the future and a large 500+gallon plywood system.
Tank- 75 gallon AGA tank 48x18x20
wont be drilled so hang on back overflow
back painted black or dark blue.
open hood
shrimp cycle( fishless ) i used bottle of ammonia last time. ill use shrimp this time
Stand - DIY
looking to make a design that incorporates a book shelf on one side and equipment storage on the other with doors.
thinking of making it tall so tank is more eye level. maybe 4-4 1/2 foot tall? or is that to big that would leave the tank at
4 1/2 - 6 foot viewing hight. would require step stool/ small ladder to get in.
Sump - refuge - yes - not sure on details of this yet
my thoughts. running some kind of 3 container system.
container 1 would be a basic sump. mostly just lots of small rocks. this is where the water would enter from the tank.
container 2 would be refuge. some rocks, sand, micro algee. lighting. 24 hours
container 3 would contain 2 heaters. some rock, temp prob and if i get one a skimmer. also the return pump. possible start a copepod population here
if 3 container system wont work ill go tradition sump/refuge set up
Lighting- way unknown.
im guessing a combo of mh and high output t5s? any thoughts or suggestions here would be greatly appritiated. i want to really be able to stock about anything. for example i know i want a clam so thats high light req. im guessing what ill need is 2 250w mhs and some t5 for support/color options?
Refractometer - ill get one off ebay or on line.
Power heads- not sure how many ill need here. i know ill need about 4 for the tank? 1 or 2 for the refuge to tumble micro algee? 1 for making saltwater and one to use as a pump of water changes? im not sure on exact needs here.
In tank power heads - koralia
in refuge/salt making/ water changes = maxi jet 1200?
Salt - IO
Will most likely order online when i can. Its cheaper then the 2 stores i visited today even with shipping. and those stores are 60 miles away. will most likely get 2 30 gallon totes on wheels one for making the water in and one for taking water out of the tank. also will need a heater for the salt water being mixed.
Sand- will get white sand from some where.
to bad you cant use pool filter sand or play sand like in fresh water tanks. 5 bux for 50 pounds of that lol. im looking at a 2-2 1/2 inch sea bed i think. unless i need to go little bigger. i know i want a goby / pistol shrimp pair so i will have tunnels.
Test kits
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
salifert to fill out the rest of the tests not included
Filtration - DIY rock
100 pounds inside DT. plus more in the sump system maybe 50 pounds more?
im not sure if im going to use a skimmer yet or not. i know most people are going to say its worth it but that may be a down the road thing if i do it. i want to go really heavy on rocks and micro algee and see how things go there first.
RO/DI -
ill find something on ebay and hook it up to the bathroom sink.
QT
im guessing a 10g on this one. my tank isnt long enough for a tang or any large fish so i dont think ill need any thing bigger then a 10. if there is an emergancy and i need to evacuate the tank i can use large tote containers.
Stocking list
pair of clowns
goby/pistol shrimp
Red Mandarin ( will prolly wait for ORO tank bred ones)
blenny of some kind
flashing wrasse
not sure if i can add any more or what the limit would be for a 75g.
cuc
unknown
coral
ricordea garden
clam
frog spawn
zoas
Glove Polyp
Pipe Organ Coral
unkown mix of everything
any suggestions or thoughts on what i have written so far would be good. id expecially like some opinions on lighting.
purchased a 75gallon today. will pick it up on the 3rd or 4th of may. possibly sooner but i work nights and my next "weekend" is split so not likely. i will prolly build the stand next week thou(pictures will of course be included) this is the first of my saltwater tanks. if all goes well i want to do a nano or 2 in the future and a large 500+gallon plywood system.
Tank- 75 gallon AGA tank 48x18x20
wont be drilled so hang on back overflow
back painted black or dark blue.
open hood
shrimp cycle( fishless ) i used bottle of ammonia last time. ill use shrimp this time
Stand - DIY
looking to make a design that incorporates a book shelf on one side and equipment storage on the other with doors.
thinking of making it tall so tank is more eye level. maybe 4-4 1/2 foot tall? or is that to big that would leave the tank at
4 1/2 - 6 foot viewing hight. would require step stool/ small ladder to get in.
Sump - refuge - yes - not sure on details of this yet
my thoughts. running some kind of 3 container system.
container 1 would be a basic sump. mostly just lots of small rocks. this is where the water would enter from the tank.
container 2 would be refuge. some rocks, sand, micro algee. lighting. 24 hours
container 3 would contain 2 heaters. some rock, temp prob and if i get one a skimmer. also the return pump. possible start a copepod population here
if 3 container system wont work ill go tradition sump/refuge set up
Lighting- way unknown.
im guessing a combo of mh and high output t5s? any thoughts or suggestions here would be greatly appritiated. i want to really be able to stock about anything. for example i know i want a clam so thats high light req. im guessing what ill need is 2 250w mhs and some t5 for support/color options?
Refractometer - ill get one off ebay or on line.
Power heads- not sure how many ill need here. i know ill need about 4 for the tank? 1 or 2 for the refuge to tumble micro algee? 1 for making saltwater and one to use as a pump of water changes? im not sure on exact needs here.
In tank power heads - koralia
in refuge/salt making/ water changes = maxi jet 1200?
Salt - IO
Will most likely order online when i can. Its cheaper then the 2 stores i visited today even with shipping. and those stores are 60 miles away. will most likely get 2 30 gallon totes on wheels one for making the water in and one for taking water out of the tank. also will need a heater for the salt water being mixed.
Sand- will get white sand from some where.
to bad you cant use pool filter sand or play sand like in fresh water tanks. 5 bux for 50 pounds of that lol. im looking at a 2-2 1/2 inch sea bed i think. unless i need to go little bigger. i know i want a goby / pistol shrimp pair so i will have tunnels.
Test kits
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
salifert to fill out the rest of the tests not included
Filtration - DIY rock
100 pounds inside DT. plus more in the sump system maybe 50 pounds more?
im not sure if im going to use a skimmer yet or not. i know most people are going to say its worth it but that may be a down the road thing if i do it. i want to go really heavy on rocks and micro algee and see how things go there first.
RO/DI -
ill find something on ebay and hook it up to the bathroom sink.
QT
im guessing a 10g on this one. my tank isnt long enough for a tang or any large fish so i dont think ill need any thing bigger then a 10. if there is an emergancy and i need to evacuate the tank i can use large tote containers.
Stocking list
pair of clowns
goby/pistol shrimp
Red Mandarin ( will prolly wait for ORO tank bred ones)
blenny of some kind
flashing wrasse
not sure if i can add any more or what the limit would be for a 75g.
cuc
unknown
coral
ricordea garden
clam
frog spawn
zoas
Glove Polyp
Pipe Organ Coral
unkown mix of everything
any suggestions or thoughts on what i have written so far would be good. id expecially like some opinions on lighting.