Build my reef!!!

[Ashlique]

So, I'm still trying to decide exactly what I'm wanting to put in my reef. It is a 30 cube and almost 1 month old and only has 35lb live rock/30lb live sand and 2 scarlet hermits and 3 dwarf blues. I'm willing to wait months to add stock, but the tank perimeters are completely ideal and stable (other than calcium being a little high at 600).

Here is the set up on 4/16/08. It now has a black painted background, skimmer, and the new ballast.

**Click for larger image**
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/th_frontview4-16-08.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/frontview4-16-08.jpg)

Important equipment:
*Nano Remora Skimmer
*270gph rotating powerhead
*125w k2 viper mh ballast

So, I'm trying to decide on what corals and fish to start out with. I've been researching and researching and still can't seem to pick out anything to showcase in the tank. I was first thinking I didn't want clowns because of their stereotypical "want" for a sw tank...but I'm really thinking I'd like to see a bond between a clown and anemone someday down the line...probably a year or so when my tank can handle an anemone.

So, do I get clowns now, and get an anemone later, or wait and get them together?

What kind of corals do you think would showcase in this tank well?

Any other equipment or upgrades I should get?


I want to do this correct and am willing to be as patient as possible so the tank can be a healthy, happy, and beautiful reef.


So please, let me know your suggestions on how you think I should build my reef! I'll keep this post updated on if I use one of your suggestions to build my reef and pictures of the it's growth.


-Ash

[Michael]

looks nice so far, i know what you are saying about clowns, personally though i luv em, i think a pair of them and some button polyps plus some mushrooms would be nice and then you could add a couple of hard corals later, i also like scooter blennies, dont get any damsels, if you do you will not be able to put anything else in there, also if you like softies as i do then a centre piece could be a toadie, whatever you decide im sure itll look nice, good start anyhow:cool:

[dwd5813]

i definitely hear you about the clowns, but there are all sorts of variations on the "standard" clowns you might consider. here's a link to ora farms, an aquaculture facility that has some pics of various morphs and species that are out there.
http://www.orafarm.com/clownfish_species.html
also, if you haven't already, check out the clownfish forum here.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=36
you might be able to find something cool that would help with the stereotypical feel of percs or standard ocellaris. be sure to research everything, just as you have been, and you'll find the right fish for you.

[macreefster]

great start ashley! i think you'll need to decided on whether you're going to have a predominately anemone/clownfish tank or a mixed reef tank. i am setting up a 29gal nano cube connected to my system today to house my carpet anemone and clown. once the anemone has had time to find a spot it's happy with and settles down i'll add other corals. considering that the anemone is over a foot around..... the tank is pretty much his!!! since anemones are mobile and some species pack quite a sting, in a small tank it might difficult to house a lot of other corals with one, but it certainly can be done as i am sure there are many here that have done or are doing so now. good luck and keep taking pics to show us the progress.

[MyMonkey]

I'm glad to have found your thread. I just picked up a 33 gallon Oceanic last week. I believe it has the same dimensions as our 30 but is a few inches taller. Came with stand, canopy, 250 watt MH mogul setup.

I have been researching the future inhabitants as well. I love clowns, even Ocellaris Clowns. I'm not sure whether I will add a nem at this point. I have housed them in the past and they can be difficult due to the mobility. I plan on a mixed reef though with LPS, Softies, and SPS as well.

For fish I will likely add a Flame angel as the showcase fish with a Goby Shrimp pair for the sand and pair of clowns.

I will run a sump and refugium with skimmer. I have tried tanks in the past without a fuge and mine just seem to need one with Macro algae therein.

Question: What paint did you use on the back glass and do you like the color? I plan on Fusion paint in a flat black. :)

Good luck. You're off to a great start.

[Ashlique]

I had the back painted a green and blue kinda swipey...very artsy...when it was freshwater. That got scraped off and I started with a midnight blue and changed my mind to black, which I have gloss right now and it seems to be fine...we'll see if it scrapes off too easily. I made the back with plenty of room to work back there. The side however, I didn't leave room and I didn't paint, which I'm wishing I would have. I might be able to still paint it if I get one of those tiny paint rollers.


**click for larger image**
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/th_blackbackground4-20-08.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/blackbackground4-20-08.jpg)

This was taken right after I painted it and was playing with my powerhead placement (and before my sump was in)...but I love how everything is hidden with the black.

One note of wisdom...Dont use a stick on thermometer OVER paint...You can see were I have a green spot on the lower right corner where I was stupid and placed one of those stick on thermometer there on my freshwater set up...the stickiness made the paint nearly impossible to get off, even when I used a razorblade!

-Ash

[MyMonkey]

The black looks great. Oddly I just bought a can of Krylon Fusion black satin at Wal Mart for my tank. I hope the equipment will blend in as well as it does on yours.

[Ashlique]

I had to do quite a few coats to get it to be completely opaque. I just used regular acrylic with those sponge brushes. Acrylic is easy to scrape off if I ever change my mind. I'm thinking any black if painted on will hide anything black...


On another note...I think I may of decided on a couple cardinals (still not sure which type exactly though) and still definately going to go with a clown...not sure if I want 1 maroon, or a pair of tomatoes (would this tank be big enough for a pair of tomatoes?)

Still working up a list of corals I'll probably end up wanting though...

-Ash

[macreefster]

if you go with maroon or tomato clowns..... they will keep you from putting your hands in the tank too much! they can be quite fiesty and pack a pretty good bite. i know...but they're so pretty...lol. looking forward to seeing what you finally decide on... both fish and corals.

[Ashlique]

Update!

So, I finally got my first fish...a yellow watchman! He likes to frill out at himself in his reflection on the glass :P

**Click for larger image**
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/th_watchman5-8-08.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/watchman5-8-08.jpg)


I also got a better picture of what I'm guessing is a stomatella

**Click for larger image**
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/th_stomatella5-8-08.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/stomatella5-8-08.jpg)


And some of my Ctenophores, I could watch these guys all day long with their little hair thingies floating all over the tank :P

**Click for larger image**
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/th_ctenophores5-8-08.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/kanarina/Aquarium/ctenophores5-8-08.jpg)

[MyMonkey]

Nice fish! Love the watchmans. Not sure that is a Stomatella snail though. Looks to have a shell. May be the picture though.