VannReefer87 Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I always wanted to set up a big tank at my parents place while I was at school but never got the chance, my parents always wanted a tank but didn't think they could do it. So I told them I would def. help out and set-up/maintain and care for their tank. Well, they ended up buying a tank and had me look over all of the specs: -AGA 120 RR -AGA Oak stand/canopy -CL Aqualight Pro Retro -ALS 250 sump -Blue Line 70HD pump -Bermuda BPC-3 Skimmer -Aqua Medic 500w heater/controller So this weekend I came home to finish the tank up for them and help set-up the rocks (spent 5hrs at LFS on Saturday picking them out :roll: ) Here's the initial pics! Straight View Left Side View Right Side View Angeled FTS! Any comments/criticism welcome. Link to comment
Longinus Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Looking good! I especially like all of the arches. I am always waiting for the day my parents decide to do the same and ask me to set them up a nice reef Link to comment
msn711 Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Good start. Is that center arch stable? What kind of livestock are your parents interested in? Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 9, 2007 Author Share Posted October 9, 2007 All of the rock work is very stable at the moment ...this tank is going to be a mixed reef for sure...LPS, Softies and a few SPS frags here and there... Link to comment
shaggydoo541 Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Lookin good so far. I can't see a couple of your pics but that could be because of my work internet. Do you know there stocking plans? Is all the equipment already purchased because I would make a few changes but that is just me. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 All the equipment was already purchased and installed...I'm pretty happy with everything right now. The lighting wasn't my choice, but I made some changes and it all seems to be working well. Link to comment
shaggydoo541 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Sounds good. What are the stocking plans? Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 What would you have changed out of curiousity? Anyway...My baby hippo tang (not really a baby anymore) will be going in this tank for sure, a red sailfin tang, a couple fairy wrasses are my choices. A pair of clowns is what my mom wants for sure (I'm gettin her some onyx). Corals will be mixed, a little of everything. I'm gettin a calc reactor and AC Jr to help manage some things for them. Link to comment
shaggydoo541 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Sounds good. I like mixed reefs and you should be able to set up a nice one with the aquascape you did. It will look really good covered in corals. I would have made a few minor changes. I'm a t5 nut so of course I would have got t5 for lights and I wouldn't get a skimmer. But those are just my crazy ideas I would also do 2 250w heaters instead of one 500w. This is mostly a safety issue with me as I don't like the idea of a bad heater causing a lot of trouble... a little redundancy with heaters can give a little peace of mind and its not expensive to do this (only costs a couple extra bucks for 2 heaters versus one larger one). I think the calc reactor is a great idea too but I wouldn't worry about adding one until your coral stock gets heavy in the LPS, clam, or SPS region (mostly clam and SPS). Keep us updated. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 I agree my lighting isn't the "best" I too like t-5, I wanted to do Ice cap t-5 retros and 2 x250's but I'm not looking to generate that much heat yet. I agree about the heater, I too would have gone with 2x250's rather than 1x500w but my parents already bought it. Its a good quality heater so hopefully no issues will ensue. The Calc reactor won't be hooked up for a while, need to get a CO2 tank and all that fun stuff yet. Luckily for me I work at a pretty big Saltwater Reef Shop so supplies and livestock aren't hard getting a hold of, and yes I will be updating this thread often as this tank moves along. Thanks! Link to comment
Peterpan Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 really like all the rocks...and thats gonna be a great tank dude anyway wats under the hood..??? (i mean what lights your using ) Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 Right now there is a Coral Life Aqua Light Pro Retro fit...its 2x150w DE MH's and 2 96w PC's I think. Enough light to do higher light stuff on the shelves and just enough to keep shrooms and lower light stuff down towards the bottom on the sand. I'll be upgrading to 250w MH's soon enough though. Or adding in some t-5 HO's. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 16, 2007 Author Share Posted October 16, 2007 added my first livestock to the tank this weekend, this includes: -a mini school of 7 Blue/Green Chromis -25 pacific nassarius snails to be sure the sand doesn't get too compacted After 4 days everything has been looking good and eating well. Algae seems to be blooming so its time to get some Scarlet hermits and trochus/turbo snails in there! Link to comment
mattyice Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 i would give the chromis lots of cover, in groups/schools they will kill each other off when there is no SPS corals for them to hide in, i would of went with a school of cardinals instead (which i am lol) mostly for the fact that they can coexist in peace and not kill each other off i love the rock work but i would be worried about that shelf piece all the way to the right hand side, it looks to be barely hanging on there but besides that everything is looking good Link to comment
chew* Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Here's my 2 cents, although i like the rock work, I feel that if you don't glue, epoxy or run acrylic rods to hold it together its a recipe for disaster, burrowing fish will dig holes under them as well as starfish and it will come tumbling down, When i do aquascaping now I firmly push all rocks through the sand bed till they are resting on the glass. If propping acrylic rods are a must. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share Posted October 17, 2007 all the rock work is extremely stable, but I am most likely going to glue the the pieces together using epoxy... Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 well...quick update...tank if now cycled...so picked up a clean up crew last week and added some fish this weekend... Livestock now includes: 7-Blue Green Chromis -2 Squarespot Anthias -1 Venustus Angel (Freaking awesome fish) -30 nassarius snails -10 Turbo snails -25 Mexican Red Leg Hermits All seems to be doing well, the angel is the only thing that hasn't eaten yet, just added today though, and is picking at the rocks like crazy.....I'll get some pics next time I'm home to see my tank p.s.-arch on the right side, was repositioned a bit and is now very stable Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Ok, we'll this weekend I took down my college reef tank, and put the clowns and yasha goby in the 120. I also picked up a nice lokani table acro from my LFS (Something Fishy) and a show size Tri-Color Frogspawn from a friend of mine in the hobby. Also, a blonde Naso was added. Here are the updated pics!...My 37g WILL be coming down over Thankgiving Break!! Blonde Naso Female Clown upclose Some Corals Frogspawn Frogspawn under atinics only Frogspawn under moonlights :twisted: Angel Eye under atnics/hungry FTS as of now.... :roll: Would've taken more pics if my camera didn't die ...oh well...enjoy Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 just bought a AC jr. hoping to get this thing as automated as possible to help the rents out when I'm at school...Now I just need to find a nice Calc. Reator! I'm thinking a K2R should do the trick... Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Alright well, update time.....The Venustus Angel is finally eating!! Picked up an pipe organ coral and discarded the mushrooms in my tank.... Also picked up pair of Picasso Pairs!!!! Pics of them chilling in a QT tank.... Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Well, here are some updated shots, they were taken as I was walking out the door to drive back to school and the LPS isn't happy because I just got down moving them all Current Livestock: -7 Blue Green Chromis -Male Squarespot Anthias -Blonde Naso Tang -Hippo Tang -Pair of Osc. Clowns -Black Saddleback Clown -Coral Beauty Angel -Venustus Angel -Golden Angel -Yasha Hasha Goby Corals: -Various Micros -Various Acans...Australian/Bowerbanki...etc. -Lokani Deep Water Acro -Tyree Solee Table Acro -Neon Green "Embryo" Acro -ORA Roscoe Frag -Yellow Monti Capricornis -Tri-Color Val. Acro -Pipe Organ -Pink Blasto -Red Blasto -Various Zoas -Mushrooms (soon to be gone) Inverts: -RBTA and a GBTA -Colored Feather Dusters -Lettuce Slug -Various Hermits -Big Nass. Snails -Caribbean Turbo Snails -Coral Banded Shrimp -Purple Reef Lobster (soon to be gone) Thats it...for now Link to comment
LowBudget Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 like the aquascape. Link to comment
VannReefer87 Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 thanks man, took me some time to do..but I'm happy with it! Link to comment
rbrusletto Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 looks like an awesome setup! nice fish selection so far too! Link to comment
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