Small Alien's 75 gallon tank build

[small alien]

Well, here goes...

I'm setting up a 75 gallon reef. Here's my equipment list.

75 gallon All Glass Reef Ready tank, black
Custom Stand, all wood
Eshopps ADV-200 Sump/Refugium w/ light
Vertex IN-80 Protein Skimmer
Eheim 1260 Return Pump
ATI Sunpower 6 bulb 48" T5HO Fixture, wall mounted
Redundant 200 W Heaters
2 Koralia 4, for now
100+ lbs. TampaBaySaltwater Live Rock

Here's my stocking list.

Harem of Ocellated Dragonets (1 M/ 2 F)
Pair of Bangaii Cardinals
Tailspot Blenny
Trimma sp. Gobies
Green Banded Goby
Rainford's Goby
Pair of DragonFace Pipefish
Pair of Jans's Pipefish
1 Sunburst Anthias
Pair of Jawfish
Pair of Purple FireFish

This is a general and evolving list. About half of the fish I already have.

Here is my neighbor Steve who's building my stand along with the 4 legs.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/standlegsnsteve.jpg

And here's the mahogany top being laminated. We're using up some scrap wood here in a lovely way.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/laminatingthetop.jpg

Cheers!

[fox2589]

you better be putting pods in that tank and have a refugium with all those dragonettes in there..the rainsfords goby also needs pods..one dragonette would be ok in there..but pods wise your gonna need ALOT..JMO..good luck-drew(and if occelated means reared to frozen foods then my bad lol)

[Acan Lord]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15587763#post15587763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fox2589
you better be putting pods in that tank and have a refugium with all those dragonettes in there..the rainsfords goby also needs pods..one dragonette would be ok in there..but pods wise your gonna need ALOT..JMO..good luck-drew(and if occelated means reared to frozen foods then my bad lol)
Those are scotor blennies there scientific name has occcelated at the end

[coral_lagoon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15587763#post15587763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fox2589
you better be putting pods in that tank and have a refugium with all those dragonettes in there..the rainsfords goby also needs pods..one dragonette would be ok in there..but pods wise your gonna need ALOT..JMO..good luck-drew(and if occelated means reared to frozen foods then my bad lol)


The TB rock is full of pods. So I think he's off to a good start..

[small alien]

I've kept the male Ocellated in a small tank with no pods for nearly two years. I have the Dragon Pipes now in a 10 and they're eating prawn roe and cyclopeeze with vigor. I plan to feed the tank very heavily.

[small alien]

Here are the Dragon Pipes
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/pairofpipes.jpg

[small alien]

Here's the Rainford's in QT with the pipes.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/Rainfords.jpg

[small alien]

I can't believe how well the Rainford's is eating. I was lucky enough to get one with good body weight. And it's eating really well. Much better than I thought it would. It sifts some sand, eats a little hair algae and also takes prawn roe and cyclopeeze from the water column. I'm very happy about that. It's a gorgeous fish.

[small alien]

I'm wondering if I should go with the next size up skimmer or stick with the 80. I want to feed a lot, but I also want to have a system with sponges and other filter feeders along with LPS and softies so I don't want the water totally stripped clean. I want balance. Thoughts on that are appreciated, especially if you've had a Vertex skimmer on a 75. Thanks.

[small alien]

Well, we're back at it. The stand from the mighty Steve did not materialize and I ended up having one built locally. I really like how it came out.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/thestand.jpg

Unfortunately, AGA has moved the location of their over-flow at some point relative to the measurements the stand builder used. It's closer to the corner now so I had to hack out a bigger hole. I use the word hack for a reason. All is well.

[small alien]

Here's the tank on Steve's bones for a leak test. No leaks!

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/thetank.jpg

[small alien]

Eshopps ADV-200 sump/refugium
Vertex IN-80 Skimmer
Eheim 1260 return pump
CPR fuge light
Via Aqua 350W heater

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/sumpassembled.jpg

[small alien]

The tank on the stand.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/tankonstand.jpg

The obligatory "daughter in the tank" shot.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/neoinstand.jpg

[small alien]

Sand and water.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/moreandmorewater.jpg

[small alien]

Future inhabitants.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/dragonet.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/pipe.jpg

[Lyfey]

awesome start! Is the refugium behind the skimmer?

I also have a 75 and I think its a great medium sized tank for saltwater.

-Chris

[small alien]

Schweeeeet avatar Lyfey. Fuge is in the back of the sump.

Here's the tank in action now.

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Cheers.

[Lamball1]

really nice. although now i know why u painted your background black lol. I mean who would want a PINK background lol.

[razataz5]

Your 75 looks really nice I hope mine will look like that in the future

[iwishtofish]

It looks very nice. I wish I could have followed along with cycling, stocking, etc. Are those dragon pipes in there? Steve's stand looked great - how come it didn't work out? I'm sure you found another use for it...

[small alien]

really nice. although now i know why u painted your background black lol. I mean who would want a PINK background lol.

HA! In my defense, that paint was from the previous owners. It's now a delightful green.

[small alien]

FTS. The tank is about 1 year old now.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/smallalien/2010-11-15_17-45-42_785.jpg

[TenKreefer]

great looking tank! Can't wait to upgrade my 40 breeder to a 75

[small alien]

Thanks. 75 gallons is a great size. Big enough for some fish but stillife pretty easy to maintain.