MarineFishGuys new 75g Reef Tank thread

[MarineFishGuy]

After a successful first tank several years ago and a 4 year siesta, I am in the process of creating a new 75g Reef tank setup. I am using a pre-drilled 75g display tank with a 110g black plastic sump (in the basement) to hold the equipment. The overflow is 1 1/4" and the return line is 3/4". The return pump is a Mag 18 working against a calculated head pressure of about 15'. In the tank are 2 1200 powerheads and a 250w Titanium heater. In the sump is a Berlin 250 driven by a Mag 7. RO/DI water is provided by a Barracuda 4 stage 50gpd system feeding a 35g salt water aging tank and a 35g RO holding tank. a 7 gallon RO gravity topoff bucket is in the works and I have a 20 galon hospital tank in case it is needed. The lighting is a Coral Life 4 x 65w Power compact setup with 2 Actinic and 2 10k. I have seeded the tank with 65lbs of Live Rock and 15lbs of Live Sand with a 3" aragonite Reef Sand bed.

So far I have added 3 red legged hermits, 2 Mexican Turbos and 3 green chromis. 2 of the chromis are out and swimming, but the third is MIA. I like the green chromis as they tend to be more docile and get along in schools well. All of my water parameters are good according to the LFS. So far I have not seen any spikes in Nitrites or Nitrates and my Ammonia has remained at 0. The Live Rock was all "cured" some of it being premium and having large amounts of coralline algae and sponges.

I will post Pics once I create my Photo Gallery.
Ken

[MarineFishGuy]

Photos:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=217075&papass=&sort=1&thecat=

[MarineFishGuy]

OK, so I tested the water again and things look good.
ph: 8.2
alk: 250
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
sg: 1.0240
temp: 75 +- 2

The Turbos and red legged hermits have been doing a good job cleaning the algae from the live rock.

The Chromis peck at each other a bit, but otherwise seem content in the tank. They have been feeding regularly.

Since I have a 3" sand bed, I picked up 3 Nasarius snails last night. These snails can move really fast, I was amazed how quick they are. I also found what appears to be a small Nasarius hitchhiker show up in the sand bed.

At the same time I also bought a Sally Light Foot crab and an Emerald Crab. They immediately began grazing on the algae after acclimation and seemed right at home.

I pulled the flashlight out after the tank lights went off and was surprised by the number of copepods running around, some were 5-8mm long. The Nasarius snails also decided to burrow down for the night.

Other observed hitchhikers include:
small brittle stars
small sponges

My next months planned purchases are a Yellow Tang and two Percula Clowns as well as a mushroom coral.

[MarineFishGuy]

http://www.kccweb.com/Tank/Images/ReefTank2/FullTank07082007.jpg

There are some more photos and information on my current setup at the following link.
http://www.kccweb.com/Tank/current_reef_tank.htm

[burton14e7]

Looks like a great start! Can't wait to see it filled.

[IndoorOcean]

Looking good! I am also setting up a 75 gallon, mine is not drilled though. I've just gotten started with it really. You can see my thread by clicking here. (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1066680)

What other plans do you have for it? I see you got your percs. Are you going to try any LPS coral? I think some LPS would do fine under your lighting. I have a hammer coral in my 20 now which has PCs for lighting and it has done very well.... grown quite a bit since I added it about 3 months ago.

Keep the updates coming.

[MarineFishGuy]

New FTS as of 7/22/2007
I have added a new piece of rock with a large green zooa colony and a good variety of Mushroom coral.
http://www.kccweb.com/tank/Images/ReefTank2/FullTank07222007.jpg

[IndoorOcean]

Nice zoas!

[kuramura]

Nice aquascaping

[MarineFishGuy]

Thanks Guys.
I like the Green Zooas a lot, they have a really great color to them.

I spent a long time Aquascaping, 2-3 hours the first time and another 1.5 when I got the new piece.

I plan to add a Yellow Tang next week (at least to the QT tank) so I left a lot fo caves and spaces for it to swim and hide.
The Fire Fish Goby likes the caves a lot too.