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aryiman
03/22/2011, 09:28 PM
Hey everyone! I have been lurking on this site for a little while and figured I would show what my plans are for my tank. I'm always doing something and would like to help out other people who had the same questions as I did.

Equipment:

75 gallon tank
29 gallon sump tank
70 lbs of BRS eco rock
CPR CS 100 overflow
Koralia 1050 powerheads (x2)
Mag 7 return pump
Vertex IN-100
Eheim Jager 150w heater
Eheim Jager 100w heater
6x54w canopy
ATI Lights (1 atcnics, blue plus, blue plus, aquablue plus, purple plus, blue plus)
RO/DI unit


On the way:
90 lbs of Tropic Eden Miniflake substrate
IO salt
filter for my overflow
Red Sea test kit to get me started

Pictures:

Day I got the tank home (came with sump, tank, stand, canopy, plumbing, return pump, overflow). Cleaned it really well and put my already purchased lights on:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/7442e05a.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/ba54bc5a.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/ce3568ad.jpg

Sump with 3 baffles:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1688.jpg

My dry rock from BRS:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8525.jpg

Aquascaping ideas:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/1eabf610.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/34101b4e.jpg

This is the one I have right now:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/b60f783a.jpg

aryiman
03/22/2011, 09:29 PM
Different angles of the tank:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9457.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3614.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1862.jpg

First round of RO/DI water in:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1419.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2855.jpg

RO/DI unit in garage:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile/5b644b86.jpg

I have replaced the bucket with a 32 gallon trash can with a float valve installed

Plans:

I am getting 15-20 lbs of live rock on Friday from a person local to seed my dry rock.

I want to do some corals and some fish but have not researched much into those sections to determine what I want. I am open for suggestions on what to get for both.


Thanks for looking! Will update when there is something new going on

Brwestern
03/22/2011, 10:11 PM
Looks awesome. I like that background. How'd you do it?

How'd u mount the rock to the wall too?

aryiman
03/22/2011, 10:33 PM
Looks awesome. I like that background. How'd you do it?

How'd u mount the rock to the wall too?

I purchased the tank as it. The previous owner painted the back of the glass with black paint.

The rock is just sitting on top of the other rock leaning against the tank walls.

Changed up the scape tonight so I didn't have that problem anymore:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1337.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7275.jpg

duncantse
03/22/2011, 11:00 PM
Good progress! I wished I bought a used tank with everything. Then I don't have to worry about plumbing.

aryiman
03/22/2011, 11:05 PM
Good progress! I wished I bought a used tank with everything. Then I don't have to worry about plumbing.

Thanks! I actually lucked out when I bought the tank with mostly everything.

I had a 55 gallon that I ended up selling after I saw this tank on craigslist

aryiman
03/23/2011, 06:42 PM
Got the rest of my supplies in the mail today. Waiting for enough RO/DI water to fill up the sump then in goes the sale. Preparing to do 1/2 cup of IO Salt per 1 gallon of water.

Questions on the cycling:

Should I run my protein skimmer from the start?

What should I do light wise during my cycle?

dzfish17
03/23/2011, 07:04 PM
Looks good so far. You can run the skimmer but with dry rock there really isn't anything for the skimmer to pull out. Most skimmers need a break-in period anyway so you can run it now or wait a couple of weeks. I usually run the lights a little bit just for my own viewing pleasure.

aryiman
03/23/2011, 07:06 PM
Looks good so far. You can run the skimmer but with dry rock there really isn't anything for the skimmer to pull out. Most skimmers need a break-in period anyway so you can run it now or wait a couple of weeks. I usually run the lights a little bit just for my own viewing pleasure.

I am picking up 15-20 lbs of live rock tomorrow so I'll just run the skimmer now

duncantse
03/23/2011, 08:56 PM
Run the skimmer. Break-in time can take from serveral hours to serveral weeks.

Angler7
03/23/2011, 09:03 PM
Tank looks great. Fish suggestions.

Harlequin Tusk if you are going FOWLR.

Harem of 3 Flasher Wrasses if you are going reef.

aryiman
03/23/2011, 09:13 PM
^ I plan on going corals and fish with the tank. I will research the fish a little more when I'm ready to make my purchase. First and foremost is to cycle the tank.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

jhs
03/23/2011, 09:13 PM
You got a great start....great job keep going......

aryiman
03/23/2011, 09:16 PM
My testing equipment that came today:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1506.jpg

Added the salt:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0183.jpg

almostazoo
03/23/2011, 09:31 PM
you have a nice setup, keep the pics going

aryiman
03/25/2011, 07:10 PM
Well after day three of adding salt I got my salinity down to 1.026. I was at 1.030, just took out some saltwater a couple times a day and replaced with fresh RO/DI water.

Will see that I added 15 lbs of live rock to help the tank cycle and to seed the dry rock.

Some pictures of everything

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8429.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_5676.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3843.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1360.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1831.jpg

Also you will notice I added 1/2 of my sand to the tank. The other half is rinsing over night

duncantse
03/25/2011, 09:35 PM
I like your new aquacape!

aryiman
03/28/2011, 10:09 PM
Some more updates. Saturday I put the rest of the sand in the tank.

Took some readings as well:

March 25, 2010 - Day 3

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0.25

March 28, 2011 - Day 5:

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 5
Ammonia 0.5

I also added the raw shrimp today as well.

Pictures from 3/28/11:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4038.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8616.jpg

duncantse
03/28/2011, 10:49 PM
Looking good so far!

aryiman
03/31/2011, 08:00 PM
Looks like I picked up some snails with my live rock. Also starting to get some green algae on the rocks, can see some purple coming through on the live rocks as well.

March 31, 2011 - Day 8

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 10
Ammonia between .25-.5

Pictures from tonight:
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0954.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_5092.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1302.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7307.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8578.jpg

Sisterlimonpot
03/31/2011, 09:33 PM
Looking good, something that I see with your rock work. Is the rock resting on the left side glass? if so I would move it away far enough to get a mag float through. once algae and coralline starts to grow, your going to have a hard time keeping that section clean.

aryiman
03/31/2011, 09:41 PM
Looking good, something that I see with your rock work. Is the rock resting on the left side glass? if so I would move it away far enough to get a mag float through. once algae and coralline starts to grow, your going to have a hard time keeping that section clean.

It is not....I should have enough room to get a float in between the rock and the glass. The only rock that I have up against the glass it one or two in the back.

Thanks for the advice!

Sisterlimonpot
03/31/2011, 09:46 PM
Your welcome,
That isn't going to be a problem, I have rock resting on the back glass as well. It just looked like the rock was too close on the sides. I'll be following along. keep the pictures coming.

dzfish17
03/31/2011, 10:03 PM
Looking good. Is your skimmer pulling anything out yet?

aryiman
03/31/2011, 10:17 PM
Looking good. Is your skimmer pulling anything out yet?

Not too much. Just took these pictures so this is about 8 days worth, haven't emptied it yet.

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0011.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0191.jpg

Just ordered the double float from autotopoff.com

aryiman
04/04/2011, 09:46 PM
April 4, 2011 - Day 12

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.2
Nitrate 10
Ammonia 0.25

Getting some growth on the live rock again. Can see some green spots and purple spots. I included pictures to show what the progress has been.

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_6886.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0395.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2050.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9398.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2877.jpg

cmac23
04/04/2011, 09:53 PM
How is your return attached? It looks like it was ziptied?

aryiman
04/04/2011, 10:01 PM
How is your return attached? It looks like it was ziptied?

There are two holes in the plastic on top of the tank. I wrapped two zipties around each side to make sure it stayed in place.

aryiman
04/13/2011, 08:21 PM
Well I've been slacking with updates but photobucket wasn't cooperating with me.

I see some great growth on the dry rock which is hard to see in the pictures. I am getting a whole bunch of little clear bugs (not sure how else to describe them) they are crawling everywhere and not sure what these are.

Test:

April 11, 2011 - Day 19

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.05
Nitrate 5
Ammonia 0


I put two more raw shrimp in to make sure there was an ammonia spike.

Pictures:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7309.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1465.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1079.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_6827.jpg

aryiman
05/24/2011, 06:38 PM
I just picked up 5 Turbos and 5 Ceriths tonight. Going to get some Nassarius and Astreas on Thursday. Now I'm looking for some advice for fish and other inverts.

I am going to be having soft corals in the tank so I'm going to need reef safe fish and inverts.

Fish:

Wrassle
Clown
Yellow Tang
Red hawk?

I want unique fish.

Inverts:

Shrimp?
Sea cucumber?

Not really sure what other inverts I could get. I don't want any crabs.

Any advice?

Where can I check a chart or a website that will tell me what fish are great with reef and other fish in the tank?

aryiman
05/24/2011, 08:12 PM
Pictures from tonight:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1980.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_5382.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0309.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_6570.jpg

Turbos:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7677.jpg

Testing for the night:

May 23, 2011 - Day 61

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0

aandfsoccr04
05/24/2011, 10:11 PM
Looks like you are on a really good path to a successful and long term tank that proides happiness.

sjwitt
05/25/2011, 05:23 AM
Tank looks REALLY good. So glad to see you're taking your time and it looks like your cycle is done. BTW, those 'little bugs' are copepods and/or arthropods... good things to have! Looks like your about ready for stocking. Do you have a QT set up? I ask because, even though you don't have any fish in the tank yet you want to QT to make sure you don't introduce Ich into that beautiful tank.

In looking at your fish list, I see you have a flame hawkfish listed. I've never had one and they are very cool looking, but I've read that they will 'sit' on corals and such which can irritate them (the corals I mean). Like I said, I've never had one but you may want to consider any 'quirks' before you commit. Yellow Tang will look really good in that tank! What kind of clown are you considering?

As far as coral, I love the euphyllia corals... Torch, Frog Spawn, Hammer. All relatively reasonable in price and pretty easy to care for. They can grow quickly and get large and full and are really beautiful. There are also a number of different colors for each. I've seen people who have like 3 different colors of Hammer Corals all together and it looks GREAT. The other thing is that they can colocate relatively close without chemical warfare (well, maybe except for the Torch) ... at least in my experience.

aryiman
05/25/2011, 08:17 AM
Tank looks REALLY good. So glad to see you're taking your time and it looks like your cycle is done. BTW, those 'little bugs' are copepods and/or arthropods... good things to have! Looks like your about ready for stocking. Do you have a QT set up? I ask because, even though you don't have any fish in the tank yet you want to QT to make sure you don't introduce Ich into that beautiful tank.

In looking at your fish list, I see you have a flame hawkfish listed. I've never had one and they are very cool looking, but I've read that they will 'sit' on corals and such which can irritate them (the corals I mean). Like I said, I've never had one but you may want to consider any 'quirks' before you commit. Yellow Tang will look really good in that tank! What kind of clown are you considering?

As far as coral, I love the euphyllia corals... Torch, Frog Spawn, Hammer. All relatively reasonable in price and pretty easy to care for. They can grow quickly and get large and full and are really beautiful. There are also a number of different colors for each. I've seen people who have like 3 different colors of Hammer Corals all together and it looks GREAT. The other thing is that they can colocate relatively close without chemical warfare (well, maybe except for the Torch) ... at least in my experience.

Thanks for the motivation to keep going! Ive taken my time with this and it's been slow moving. I do have a QT tank. It's 10 gallons and is filled with water from my DT. I plan on getting a goby, blenny, wrassle, or cardinalfish first as they are peaceful.

Corals, im doing all soft for now just to get started.

How many fish are sufficient for my tank? I also have moon lights I haven't even used. Any thoughts on how to use these?

RocketSurgeon
05/26/2011, 06:59 AM
Looks real nice.

shifty51008
05/26/2011, 07:22 AM
moon lights are just for your view so running them a couple hours after lights out will be fine.

how many fish depends on what type of fish, if you look at my list of fish for my tank I am pretty much done except I am waiting for a baby choclate tang to show up t fosters and smith then that will be the last addition. then just more corals:D

your tank is looking good so far keep up the good progress.

aryiman
05/26/2011, 06:26 PM
moon lights are just for your view so running them a couple hours after lights out will be fine.

how many fish depends on what type of fish, if you look at my list of fish for my tank I am pretty much done except I am waiting for a baby choclate tang to show up t fosters and smith then that will be the last addition. then just more corals:D

your tank is looking good so far keep up the good progress.

Thanks for the advice on the moon lighting.

Right now I can't seem to get my sand clean. I just picked up 4 nassarius snails, 2 more turbos, and 5 astrea.

What advice do you have to get my sand clean? Pick up a goby for the first fish?

I want a peaceful, reef safe colorful fish for my first one.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

streak
05/26/2011, 09:40 PM
Did you soak your BRS rocks for a week or 2 before you put them in or give them a good rinsing? Cooking them perhaps to relise Phospates? P04 on your test kits. If you didnt dot be suprized when you get some Dino/cyno blooms.. Im not trying to derail your thread. Its just somthing i had learned the hard way.. Also mine had some dead sponges and a few acient crabs left over in it when i rinsed them out.

aryiman
05/26/2011, 09:54 PM
^ I rinsed them before putting them in as people said this was good enough. I'm not too worried about the blooms, but thank you for the heads up

shifty51008
05/27/2011, 06:27 AM
the sand will become dirty for a little while as you will get the standard alage blooms of it being a new tank but will clear up over time.

good cleaners for sand that I like are: tiger tail cuke, goby, and nass. snails. between them they do a great job.

MA4446
05/27/2011, 09:30 PM
Nice. Like your set up

freetareef
05/28/2011, 04:05 AM
awesome!!! hi and welcome!!!!!

aryiman
05/28/2011, 08:07 PM
Well back for another update! Picked up a watchman goby today and put him in the QT tank. Lost a turbo snail but picked up another massive one at the store today.

aryiman
06/21/2011, 08:40 PM
So a lot has happened recently.

Any advice on the lighting or is it good? ATI Lights (1 atcnics, blue plus, blue plus, aquablue plus, purple plus, blue plus)

Below is my recent activity:

June 15th - Day 84
Added Corals:
Open Brain
Dragon Eye Zoa
Eagle Eye Zoa
Eagle Eye Yellow Skirt Morph
Rainbow Yuma - feed shrimp once a week
Blue Encrusting Montipora
Various Favias
Green Star Polyps

Added sand sifting star fish

June 19, 2011 - Day 88
Added Coral:
Candy cane coral
Added first fish
Yellowhead Watchman Goby

June 20, 2011 - Day 89

pH 8.4
Nitrite 0.05
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0

Added corals:
Torch coral
Green paly frag (green monsters / caribbean green


Pictures:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3339.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9727.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8855.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2875.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0762.jpg

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy72/etpedersen/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0537.jpg

theaquareef
06/22/2011, 02:28 AM
Im really likin your 75. Its simple and looks good. I think you should have gotten 2 koralia 1400's though thats what i did they seem about perfect!! Btw nice rock

chris3_16
06/22/2011, 04:51 AM
looking good. Hope u don't mind me tagging along.

aryiman
06/23/2011, 08:16 AM
^ that's the reason I created this thread is so people can follow and ask questions or give advice. I'm going to be putting a Carpenter Flasher Wrasse in QT this week for the next fish.

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 09:26 AM
So a lot has happened recently.

Any advice on the lighting or is it good? ATI Lights (1 atcnics, blue plus, blue plus, aquablue plus, purple plus, blue plus)


What brand of fixture are you using?

The bulb combo depends on the look you're going for. I like it to look 20k so I would go with 4x blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 1 ge daylight 6500k. If you want it to be more of a 14k look you can do 3 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 daylight, and 1 aquablue special.

I would probably ditch the actinic as this has lower PAR than a blue plus to accomplish the same thing.

However, a lot depends on your fixture as well. If you're using an ATI sunpower or powermodule 6x54w, you may be better off using some lower par bulbs like actinics. Because that fixture puts off so much light it will cook anything but SPS, clams, and nems. If it's a Tek, you should be fine.

Loving your build though. Great looking aquascape. Do you plan on having anything on the sandbed in front?

And if you're looking for fish recommendations I think a squamipinnis (lyretail anthia) would be a nice fit, I have one in my 75 and he's a lot of fun. You can get a tang as well, but limit yourself to the smaller ones. Consult this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079

Keep us posted on the progress.

wavemaker81
06/23/2011, 10:56 AM
Nice! I am setting up my 75 this weekend. This is my 2nd reef tank but first one in 2 years since I moved to a new state. I'll be sure to tag along to get some ideas. Keep it up.

aryiman
06/23/2011, 11:21 AM
What brand of fixture are you using?

The bulb combo depends on the look you're going for. I like it to look 20k so I would go with 4x blue plus, 1 purple plus, and 1 ge daylight 6500k. If you want it to be more of a 14k look you can do 3 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 daylight, and 1 aquablue special.

I would probably ditch the actinic as this has lower PAR than a blue plus to accomplish the same thing.

However, a lot depends on your fixture as well. If you're using an ATI sunpower or powermodule 6x54w, you may be better off using some lower par bulbs like actinics. Because that fixture puts off so much light it will cook anything but SPS, clams, and nems. If it's a Tek, you should be fine.

Loving your build though. Great looking aquascape. Do you plan on having anything on the sandbed in front?

And if you're looking for fish recommendations I think a squamipinnis (lyretail anthia) would be a nice fit, I have one in my 75 and he's a lot of fun. You can get a tang as well, but limit yourself to the smaller ones. Consult this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079

Keep us posted on the progress.

I'm using the coral life fixture because it had fans in it and I got a really good deal on it.

I have a blue plus and an aquablue special as a spare that I can substitute for the actinic light. I just want to be able to keep alive what I have in there right now. I dont' want to put anything extravagant in there right now as I start the coral process.

I plan on keeping the sand bed pretty much open unless someone has a suggestion on what to do in there.

Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate all the advice since I am new.

I am going to be getting a Carpenter Flasher Wrasse as my next fish then it'll be on to researching the next one.

I plan on putting a clown and a tang in, but not until last since those are both semi-aggressive

aryiman
06/23/2011, 11:23 AM
Nice! I am setting up my 75 this weekend. This is my 2nd reef tank but first one in 2 years since I moved to a new state. I'll be sure to tag along to get some ideas. Keep it up.

Good luck this weekend! This is my first fish tank ever, so I'm pretty happy with how it is going so far.

streak
06/23/2011, 11:59 AM
I was going to recomend the Monticap.. but i see you already picked one up.. I got mine about the size of a quarter and its growing like mad in my nano tank. One suggestion on it though put it up high it loves the light.. I have mine up high and im using leds leme put up a pic of mine.. dont mine the coralline alge bloom i have..

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/clstreak/DSC03607.jpg

You have a great looking tank. I cant wait to setup my 75..

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 12:06 PM
I'm using the coral life fixture because it had fans in it and I got a really good deal on it.

I have a blue plus and an aquablue special as a spare that I can substitute for the actinic light. I just want to be able to keep alive what I have in there right now. I dont' want to put anything extravagant in there right now as I start the coral process.

I plan on keeping the sand bed pretty much open unless someone has a suggestion on what to do in there.

Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate all the advice since I am new.

I am going to be getting a Carpenter Flasher Wrasse as my next fish then it'll be on to researching the next one.

I plan on putting a clown and a tang in, but not until last since those are both semi-aggressive

Coralife's fixture isn't my favorite due to the lack of individual reflectors for the bulb, but some bargains can't be beat. With a 6x54w Coralife you won't have to worry about burning any corals with too much light.

Keep in mind though, you'll be spending $125 a year on bulbs for that thing, and most of the bulbs are over the sand where it sounds like you're not going to have many corals. Eventually you may want to replace the Coralife with a Tek or a Sunpower 4 bulb fixture, it will use less electricity and fewer bulbs, yet put out the same (or more) light than your current fixture, and you can put it directly over the rocks and waste less light on sand.

But the benefit of the 6 bulb fixture is you have more bulbs to play with to get the colors just how you want.

I have a clown and 2 tangs in my 75 gallon, and they don't seem to both anyone except each other. The two tangs are always swordfighting, and the maroon goldstripe killed her mate soon after adding the two. I'm going to leave her as a widow, she seems happier alone. But they don't bother any of the other fish so I wouldn't worry about it.

68whiskey
06/23/2011, 01:24 PM
Nice set up. Makes me miss my 75 gallon =(

aryiman
06/23/2011, 01:48 PM
I was going to recomend the Monticap.. but i see you already picked one up.. I got mine about the size of a quarter and its growing like mad in my nano tank. One suggestion on it though put it up high it loves the light.. I have mine up high and im using leds leme put up a pic of mine.. dont mine the coralline alge bloom i have..

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad85/clstreak/DSC03607.jpg

You have a great looking tank. I cant wait to setup my 75..

That looks awesome! My snails keep knocking my monti around, any suggestions? I have it up high as well to get it lots of light

aryiman
06/23/2011, 01:51 PM
Coralife's fixture isn't my favorite due to the lack of individual reflectors for the bulb, but some bargains can't be beat. With a 6x54w Coralife you won't have to worry about burning any corals with too much light.

Keep in mind though, you'll be spending $125 a year on bulbs for that thing, and most of the bulbs are over the sand where it sounds like you're not going to have many corals. Eventually you may want to replace the Coralife with a Tek or a Sunpower 4 bulb fixture, it will use less electricity and fewer bulbs, yet put out the same (or more) light than your current fixture, and you can put it directly over the rocks and waste less light on sand.

But the benefit of the 6 bulb fixture is you have more bulbs to play with to get the colors just how you want.

I have a clown and 2 tangs in my 75 gallon, and they don't seem to both anyone except each other. The two tangs are always swordfighting, and the maroon goldstripe killed her mate soon after adding the two. I'm going to leave her as a widow, she seems happier alone. But they don't bother any of the other fish so I wouldn't worry about it.

I bought the coral life with brand new ATI bulbs and 2 extras with moon lights for $350 so I couldn't pass it up. I think I'm going to put another blue plus in just to mess with it a little bit.

I'm going to research on other light options for the future, but the T5s are a great starter light that I'm happy with.

Glad to know the clown and tang to mess with your other fish. Might put those in 3 and 4.

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 02:55 PM
I bought the coral life with brand new ATI bulbs and 2 extras with moon lights for $350 so I couldn't pass it up. I think I'm going to put another blue plus in just to mess with it a little bit.

I'm going to research on other light options for the future, but the T5s are a great starter light that I'm happy with.

Glad to know the clown and tang to mess with your other fish. Might put those in 3 and 4.

I love using T5's, going to continue with them for awhile until LED's become a little more affordable.

What kind of tang are you thinking?

aryiman
06/23/2011, 06:44 PM
I was thinking yellow because I heard they could hold their own in a 75

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 06:56 PM
I was thinking yellow because I heard they could hold their own in a 75

I'v heard conflicting reports. The thread I linked you to says a minimum of 5 foot long tank. Yet one of my books says a 4 foot long tank is the minimum. You also want to take into account, do you want the fish in just the bare minimum? A human can live in a prison cell, but how happy are they? But your tank has a lot of open swimming space, so it may be happy.

Kole's tang would be a good fit, and is a beautiful fish.

What kind of clown fish you have in mind?

aryiman
06/23/2011, 07:52 PM
^ that's true. The guy here said a yellow can survive in a 75 so we will see. I will get an ocellaris clownfish

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 08:31 PM
Nice, not a very aggressive one at all. It may even host in your torch coral if you don't want to get an anemone.

aryiman
06/23/2011, 08:41 PM
Nice, not a very aggressive one at all. It may even host in your torch coral if you don't want to get an anemone.

That's why I got the torch to host the clown. I didn't want an anemone going around stinging the whole tank

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 08:55 PM
That's why I got the torch to host the clown. I didn't want an anemone going around stinging the whole tank

I don't blame you. Although I have a GBTA in my tank, but I got him first so once he settled in I added corals. There's always the chance he'll decide to walk though, and I'll be ****ed.

streak
06/23/2011, 09:16 PM
aryiman (http://reefcentral.com/forums/member.php?u=251860)

I glued my frag on piece of live rock round kinda like a frag plug so i could move it around if i had to but I dont have the buldozer snails though..Those big ones you have??.. But ever since i removed my Compact Floros off the 10g and put the leds 6" 6w 6rb above the water the monticap almost doubled in size in 3 months. No special salt just regular water changes.. I think IMHO would glue it to a piece of small live rock for now so your able to move it around for now, so you can eventually finnaly decide its permanet place later as you plan out the rest of coral placements.

Saadatski
06/23/2011, 10:38 PM
before you put in any live stock drill that thing!!!

TimeConsumer
06/23/2011, 10:44 PM
before you put in any live stock drill that thing!!!

Looks a little late for that.

And drilling isn't necessary, just a little more accident-proof. I use a lifereef siphon overflow and it works fantastic. Just rig up a float switch alarm with a couple of relays, or buy one, and you'll be safe.

aryiman
06/24/2011, 07:29 AM
aryiman (http://reefcentral.com/forums/member.php?u=251860)

I glued my frag on piece of live rock round kinda like a frag plug so i could move it around if i had to but I dont have the buldozer snails though..Those big ones you have??.. But ever since i removed my Compact Floros off the 10g and put the leds 6" 6w 6rb above the water the monticap almost doubled in size in 3 months. No special salt just regular water changes.. I think IMHO would glue it to a piece of small live rock for now so your able to move it around for now, so you can eventually finnaly decide its permanet place later as you plan out the rest of coral placements.

Yeah the snails keep bulldozing my monti and just last night my eagle eyes were face down in the sand :(.

Any advice?

aryiman
06/24/2011, 07:30 AM
Looks a little late for that.

And drilling isn't necessary, just a little more accident-proof. I use a lifereef siphon overflow and it works fantastic. Just rig up a float switch alarm with a couple of relays, or buy one, and you'll be safe.

I have an automatic top of system that has a 5 gallon resevoir.

Sisterlimonpot
06/24/2011, 08:33 AM
Yeah the snails keep bulldozing my monti and just last night my eagle eyes were face down in the sand :(.

Any advice?
What are you using as adhesive? Do you have water grade 2 part epoxy? Mix that up and add some super glue to the outer portions where you glue it to the rock and coral, it will give you a strong bond that turbo snails will have a hard time breaking.

IMO, turbo snails are more of a nuisance than they are good, it’s not unheard of to have those guys topple over your aquascaping. In a 75 they are a bit overkill.

aryiman
06/24/2011, 09:08 AM
What are you using as adhesive? Do you have water grade 2 part epoxy? Mix that up and add some super glue to the outer portions where you glue it to the rock and coral, it will give you a strong bond that turbo snails will have a hard time breaking.

IMO, turbo snails are more of a nuisance than they are good, it’s not unheard of to have those guys topple over your aquascaping. In a 75 they are a bit overkill.

Yeah I have about 10-12 of them in there. I'll go to the fih store to get some adhesive to help from the snail rampage. Thanks for the advice. I just stuck them on the rock for now.

What would you suggest instead of turbo? Ceriths?

TimeConsumer
06/24/2011, 09:18 AM
Yeah I have about 10-12 of them in there. I'll go to the fih store to get some adhesive to help from the snail rampage. Thanks for the advice. I just stuck them on the rock for now.

What would you suggest instead of turbo? Ceriths?

Ceriths and Nerite are good. You can also get Astreas, but they're kind of annoying. If they fall on their back and you don't flip them over they will die. Check out http://reefcleaners.org/
they have really good prices on clean up crews. Just don't pick a premade crew for a 75, it's way overkill.