55gallon with marco rock...

[Embowe]

I finally got my rock in from MarcoRocks and I am very impressed...This is what I am figuring is going to be my final aquascape......the water is starting to clear up and my cycle has started (ammonia is 8.0+) so I am hoping that by christmas I can add my cleanup crew...(55 gallon reef..any suggestions)....

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2223.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2225.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2227.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[scowiii]

I like the shelf reef look very nice.

[95accord]

looks good. cant wait to see the finished product

[tarax]

Very cool setup - you should be able to do some amazing things with corals etc in that tank.

However to answer your question I have found that tailoring your clean up crew to what is happening to your tank is the optimal way of doing things. I really have a problem with the "clean up crew packs" that I see around on the sites as they aren't tailored to the problems your having. If you have a problem with diatoms (which you will) get some diatoms eating cleaners.. etc etc etc.. You'll definitely need a variety but I think its smarter to slowly add only what you need so you aren't over burdening your tank with unnecessary livestock.

[Embowe]

Oh I agree about the "cleaner packs" are not really efficent...I was planning on 2 skunk cleaners (more for the fact that they are just fun to watch)...and I dont know how many mexican turbo's.....and being that I have a deeper sand bed then my previous tank I want to do some cierth or a conch...Im not sure which one yet....

[Embowe]

My cycle is progressing along as planned...my ammonia is starting to drop and my nitrites are climbing.....everything is looking good...I am starting to get a brown algae outbreak (diatoms I assume) but not really worried at all....can anyone suggest what type/amount of snails I should be looking to get...I am running a 2" sandbed..mabey a bit deeper....

[chatyak]

Cool stuff.... taking forever to finish my stand in parts every few weeks... good luck!

[uscharalph]

Very good. Patience in the beginning is essencial.

[Embowe]

For my stand..I just bought a 48x21 base vanity for a bathroom from my work (discount was great...$20)....and just reinforced it on the inside and put a top on it ...looks great and like I said..only cost 20 bucks....
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2233.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2232.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g312/embowe/IMG_2230.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[sparkiesford]

How much marco rock is that? I am trying to figure out how much to buy. Because it is dry rock I have know idea.

[Embowe]

it is 25lbs of his regular rock and 15lbs of his shelf rock..I still have two or three pieces of the shelf rock that I didnt put in (dont know if I want to) and some rubble that was in the bottom of the 25lb box that I am going to be using for my fuge....I dont know the total weight of it "wet" but dry I would say there is about 38lbs of "dry" rock in the tank....and as you can see..it filles it out real nice....

[sparkiesford]

are you going to add any live rock on top?

[Embowe]

I have some LR in there now...its just tucked away out of site...its seeding very well...just wanted to keep it hidden...the LR that I got isnt the prettiest IMO...it wouldnt match the "structure/patterns" of the marco rock

[blaze98]

the tank looks great