70 gal starphire
 

Howdy folks! Been a couple years since ive kept a tank, and this is over double the largest tank I've ever had-It also will be my first tank with a sump! I am lookin forward to sharing this adventure with all of you! I'm definitely gonna have some questions and would love to be able to answer any questions anyone has. Thanks for your time, and good luck with all of your own personal endeavors!
Peace,
Ryan

Pics should be up soon!

Sump is now below the tank, compiling a list of PVC parts required hopefully tonight and getting the plumbing sorted by tomorrow or the day after! :bounce1:

I wish you well with your new tank, it looks like a nice project.

Plumbing, overflow box and baffles all siliconed in place! First time doing em all,and probably the most messy silicone job of all time but I'll clean it up a bit once she's dry!

Water test complete
 

Just finished the water test and then added the sand I currently possess. Next will be some more supplies then the live rock. This will be a mixed reef with mainly lps and polyps but some sps as well in the future.

Hypothetical stocking list:
Midas blenny
Randall's goby
Pacific red striped hogfish
Pair of black and white ocellaris clowns
Trio of Tracy's damsel OR trio of royal gramma

And Two of the following wrasse:
Christmas
Vroliks
Six line

Already rethinking that list, maybe a bit too heavy with both of those wrasse in addition to everything else so may just end up with one (probably Vroliks, although it will be very difficult to pass on a Christmas), as well as nixing the six line and the royal gramma trio idea (if I end up with any ill just get a single, but a trio of Tracy's damsels would be incredible) also with the view of a mandarin (or pair) way down the line...70 lbs of rock from TBSaltwater for the tank and sump here very soon and I will hopefully be well on my way

Following along

Sorry for the delay! Been quite hectic, after thinking I had passed the water test and adding sand, water began to seep into the overflow box and then into the sump so I had to drain er-and reseal the box. Will snap a pic tonight! Turned out better than my last silicone job I dare say-still hoping for the best! Hope all is well with all of you, folks.

As stated here's the pic! 72 hours into the cure, slight vinegar smell remains so I'll wait a few more days before pumpin her full

Current planned stock list which is subject to change!

Midas blenny
Bicolor blenny
Flame hawk
Two pearly jaw fish
Royal gramma
Pair of black ocellaris clowns
Male McCoskers wrasse (or similar)
H. Claudia AND/OR H. Chrysotaenia depending on opinions (would be open to include a second smaller wrasse and settle for a single of those larger species)

With Jawfish make sure your rocks sit on the glass and fill in substrate around them. Also order a mated pair of yellow heads from KP Aquatics. Much better looking than the pearlys and if you just add two and they turn out to be males they will fight to the death.

Honestly think I'll end up passing on the jaw fish to avoid the possible complications of a DSB over time. Definitely open to suggestions at this point; really Undecided (which is fine since I gotta while before fish are comin!)

I believe I Will nix the bicolor blenny and the jaw fish from that list.. In addition I believe I have room for both Halichoeres along with a flame hawk, Midas blenny, Royal gramma, pair of clowns, McCoskers (and maybe another fairy or flasher, or a flame angel!(always been a massive fan))

Definitely want a nice mix of colors, free swimmers and "rock hoppers"...
Thanks for the time folks and hope all is well!

Definitely the Midas, gramma, clowns, Vroliks, flame angel, and flame hawk, H. Claudia, and a trio of flashers (preferably McCoskers)

if I ended up not having enough room for them all it would come down to the trio and no Christmas or Christmas with a male McCoskers..feel like that definitely leaves me with plenty of action, maybe a little heavy as mentioned...but shoot!
does a single male super McCoskers keep its color without females around??

Found the answer to my own question, that flashers don't need females to flash
I won't have a trio then but three different male flashers. Along with Vroliks wrasse, flame hawk,Midas blenny, Royal gramma, pair of clowns and then I'm still debating on adding a flame angel last (as opposed to H Claudia) but that is for another day!

Live rock added! (From TBSaltwater; thanks Richard!) Scape is not permanent, just placed things as quickly as possible. Some cool hitchhikers; most notably a decorator crab and flame scallop (neither of whom I thought would make it through the night yet both are raging this morning! At least for the time being...) also some baby pistol shrimp or more than one mantis because the clicks I have been hearing sure sound like a snail she'll getting bonked by raptorial appendage! anyway thanks for checking in, hope all is well! I will post more pics once I complete the scape.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...923/mV5YlY.jpg

Closer up view of the scape

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...s29iwu72s.jpeg

FTS

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...sbauekoda.jpeg

Flame scallop (came on the rock)