Thanks for the information folks. How do you control the population growth of the snails? are there any specific types I should stay away from. I read for example that the turbo snails grow pretty large and can knock over corals, and that some of the crabs can end up eating more than the waste and algae. Billy Z thank you for the welcome to the forum. I have found a lot of valuable information here. Big help learning all this stuff from you "pros" before I step into the
LFS. What I have planned is:
I have a 135 G flat back Hex Tenecor tank on order. This comes with a wet/dry filter, retrofitted with a Red Sea Venturi Protein skimmer, and I have ordered a 220W
VHO light hood with fan for the tank. I also have two 1 1/2" holes for powerheads pre-drilled in left and right sides of tank. I already have 2-250 W Ebo submersible heaters which I plan to locate in the sump, a digital in/out thermometer and Seatest hygrometer (for
SG and salinity). I already purchased 100 lbs. of live sand and just won an auction bid for 120 LBS. of base rock from Hirocks in Hawaii. I have still to acquire a QT ( I have seen a nice kit at Petco for $80), test kit and the other chemistry. I am building a chart of compatibility as I want to build a community tank with peaceful/slightly aggressive fish, paying attention to where in the tank the various denizens swim. I plan to cap my base rock set-up with some live rock from the
LFS as all my research said that they will eventually populate the rest of the rock. I figure I will be able to aquascape the tank dry with the base rock, first laying down a
DSB seeded with my
LS. I have also ordered a
RO unit for both home and the tank as the advice seems to lean towards a happier tank without municipal traces elements. I already have a 200G bucket of Instant Ocean ready to go.
At this point, I do not plan on putting any coral in the tank so this will be just a
FOWLR tank. Is there anything I am overlooking or should further consider?
Thanks again for all of your advise