Ruester's Reef Piece - New FTS

[Ruester007]

It's all her fault....my wife wanted a larger tank. So I have been working on an upgrade. I broke down my previous 10 gallon and transferred everything but the sand to the new drill 29 gallon. Time for a new thread!

Set Up

29 gallon Deep Blue tank - I love the dimensions

10 gallon sump

DIY cabinet

slime drain screen with DIY overflow

Locline return with flare nozzle

dual AccuTherm 75w

MP10 w - I can finally turn it up! It would blast water out of the 10 gallon

ReefBreeder Value LED with 120 degree optics - this light is great, I only wish I had bought the controllable version

DIY PVC filter floss and media rack

Eheim 1048 return pump

The Goods

35 lbs of live rock

60 lbs of live sand - who loves deep sand beds?

Blue damsel

Black and White Clown

Orange Spot Goby

2 Bangii Cardinals

Peppermint shrimp

blue, scarlet and other hermits

snails galore - might still need more

tiger conch

coral, coral and soon more coral.

Future Plans

Organize the cabinet interior better

add skimmer - thoughts?

add a shade for the light - this thing is blinding when we are laying around on the couch, I could always tan under it!

Future Stocking - I need to let it all settle in for a while longer but I would like to add a few things. I'm sure I will have to reduce the final list down to keep the bio-load down

Clown to befriend my Black and White

an active fish of some sort maybe red in color, I'm thinking a wrasse of some sort - thoughts?

Royal gramma

Bangii Cardinal

Coral - this I am wide open to suggestions. SPS and LPS seem to be doing really well. Zoas on the other hand were decimated by Zoa pox. I'm hesitant to spend more money on these only to have them all melt. What's everyone's thoughts on your favorite and fast growing SPS?

This is the beginning sketch:

In progress:


After Staining:

[Ruester007]

Open cabinet:

 

 

Full view of Cabinet:

 

FTS:

[Ruester007]

I am thinking about adding the CAD Lights PLS-50 Skimmer and putting it on a timer so that I don't completely strip the water. What's the thought on these?

 

http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=259

[Dylan.N]

Tank looks great!

[bonsaidarrell]

I am thinking about adding the CAD Lights PLS-50 Skimmer and putting it on a timer so that I don't completely strip the water. What's the thought on these?

 

http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=259

 

I installed that skimmer on my 20 gallon cube in January, and I'm very happy with it. It replaced a Tunze Nana DOC. I feel I'm getting better and more consistent skimmate from it. I don't think you would need to keep it on a timer.

[Ruester007]

Tank looks great!

Thanks, as always it's a work in progress.

 

I installed that skimmer on my 20 gallon cube in January, and I'm very happy with it. It replaced a Tunze Nana DOC. I feel I'm getting better and more consistent skimmate from it. I don't think you would need to keep it on a timer.

Good to hear, the timer may be over kill. I'll have to see how the corals respond.

[Ruester007]

I'm looking for suggestions on a good red colored sps. Thoughts?

[Acielot]

Red dragon is the first that comes to mind. You're looking for strictly SPS?

[Ruester007]

Red dragon is the first that comes to mind. You're looking for strictly SPS?

That was my first thought, LPS do well in my tank as well. I am a little hesitant to spend the money on Zoas, I had pox hit and lost all but 3 polyps out of a hundred or so.

[Paandemonium]

Setosa! Love that coral

[Acielot]

Setosa are super sexy but grow slowly. Slower than acros ime

[Ruester007]

Setosa! Love that coral

beautiful coral, How has your experience been with growth rate?

 

Setosa are super sexy but grow slowly. Slower than acros ime

that slow.....I might could deal with it only because it's gorgeous.

[Paandemonium]

beautiful coral, How has your experience been with growth rate?

IMO its really not that slow a grower but its not birdsnest either

[thirdchild]

There's red fungia, red acans, red chalices if you want LPS. These can all be reasonable or crazypants pricey depending on what you like.

 

As for sps, red planet, red robin, tierra del fuego come to mind. Setosa is kind of a orange red. I like red things :-)

 

Probably the reddest thing I've got is my BTA though.

[Ruester007]

IMO its really not that slow a grower but its not birdsnest either

Nothing is bird's nest but bird's nest though right.

 

There's red fungia, red acans, red chalices if you want LPS. These can all be reasonable or crazypants pricey depending on what you like.

 

As for sps, red planet, red robin, tierra del fuego come to mind. Setosa is kind of a orange red. I like red things :-)

 

Probably the reddest thing I've got is my BTA though.

red chalice is a good option and the red planets a great. So many choices. Have you had good experience with Red Planets?

[thirdchild]

Sadly no real experience.

 

I added the red sps I mentioned pretty early to my 40b from a trade. They all died of course because it wasn't stable enough for sps yet.

[Acielot]

Red digi are good. Mine isnt growing as fast as it could be but it has survived wih me for a couple of months.

[dmasterx1x]

that's a great tank location. very good use of space.

[Ruester007]

that's a great tank location. very good use of space.

Thanks.....my wife is happy to have the smaller tank off of the chest of drawers.....

[Ruester007]

I picked up two Bangii Cardinals at the LFS. I'll take a few pictures when the lights cycle back on.

[Ruester007]

I have always loved Bangii Cardinals

 

 

 

 

 

[Ruester007]

Under Heavy Blue's..

[Ruester007]

I am in need of a protein skimmer and ATO. Which should I add next?

[dmasterx1x]

wow.. those are fantastic photos. What camera is taking them?

 

I'd go with a skimmer before an ato.

[Ruester007]

My Orange Spot Goby made a rare appearance in front of the camera. I think I am going to leave it on a tripod in front of the tank to get them all used to seeing it. He/she is still on of my favorite fish.