So I've decided to go back to school because I want a career change, which means I'll be in one place at least a few years. I've decided to take this opportunity to tear down a couple freshwater tanks to free up the space for a reef tank. The biocube's going to stay up, but it's more or less "finished" at this point, aside from regular water tests/maintenance, and I wanted a new project. Plus I want to make use of my biology degree, so here we go.
I figured I'd make this thread now while I'm waiting for Saturday to arrive, which is when I'll be picking up my (used) tank, so here we go.
120gal (4x2x2) tank + stand + 30gal sump. Dual internal overflow boxes and returns. Will have to figure out the return pump but I'm thinking a Sicce 2.0? Maybe 3.0; I'll calculate the weir flow rates once I get the tank.
120 GALLON FELL THROUGH. NEW PLAN IS FOR A 90 GALLON.
90 gallon with 30 gallon sump. Eshopps HOB overflow since I'm not sure if the tank is tempered or not, and I don't really want to risk it.
Lighting: Photon 48 v2 - This should be enough to grow all corals from what I've seen. The LEDs seem pretty spread out too so hopefully shading is not an issue, but if it is I can always supplement with more LEDs or t5s. Plus, I love that the light comes with mounting legs that I don't have to spend extra money on.
for flow I'm thinking 2 IceCap gyres, 1 on each side wall pointing at each other and alternating ramp up/down to create a back&forth wave action.
I'll be running some kind of algae in the fuge, along with some rocks for extra filtration. Currently thinking ulva + red ogo, but maybe also pom pom gracilaria too. I wonder if the ulva found off the coast is the same stuff sold for reef tanks?
Going to be mostly dry rock, but I'll move over some rubble from my biocube to jump start the cycle. I also have leftover microbacter7 which will be going into that tank too.
DIY lid from red sea, because a $100 lid hurts a lot less than even a $20 fish on the floor.
Caribsea special grade and marco rock. Aiming for about 2 inches of sand because I plan on having a couple halichoeres wrasses.
Invert stocking plan:
2 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 zanzibar banded shrimp
1 golden banded shrimp
1 blue banded shrimp
2 fighting conches
bunch of nassarius, banded trochus, and cerith snails as needed. NO NERITES THIS TIME. So many eggs.... Oh God why...?
Now for the fish. This is a work in progress. UPDATED LIST FOR 90 GALLON - STRIKE THROUGH = TAKEN OFF THE LIST; QUESTION MARK = MAYBE IF THERE'S ROOM TOWARDS THE END OR I CANT GET OTHER FISH:
5 lyretail anthias? - probably not unless I can't get the wrasses I want
blackcap basslet
royal gramma?
diamond goby
golden head sleeper goby
purple firefish goby
starry blenny
lawnmower blenny?
bi-colour blenny
midas blenny? Is this too many blennies? I like blennies. lol.
melanurus wrasse
yellow canary wrasse
radiant wrasse
red-lined wrasse
white tail bristletooth tang - if not possible, then two spot bristletooth tang
yellow tang? two tangs too many for this tank probably?
bellus angelfish pair/trio
copperband butterflyfish - maybe? I'd like to at least try - maybe not... we'll see
Flame hawkfish? - probably add much later if I do since this guy might bug the shrimp
Dusky Fairy wrasse
lubbock's fairy wrasse
filamented flasher wrasse
McCosker's flasher wrasse
Boy this is a lot of fish huh? What do you guys think? I'm open to suggestions. List isn't set in stone for the most part, but I would like it to be moderately heavy stocked in the end.
12 fish total, plus room for I'd say 4-5 more if small to medium size, or 1-2 large.
Coral:
bunch of zoas, bunch of SPS, and a few LPS that I don't have in my 32g, namely torches, blastos, elegance, gonis.
I figured I'd make this thread now while I'm waiting for Saturday to arrive, which is when I'll be picking up my (used) tank, so here we go.
120 GALLON FELL THROUGH. NEW PLAN IS FOR A 90 GALLON.
90 gallon with 30 gallon sump. Eshopps HOB overflow since I'm not sure if the tank is tempered or not, and I don't really want to risk it.
Lighting: Photon 48 v2 - This should be enough to grow all corals from what I've seen. The LEDs seem pretty spread out too so hopefully shading is not an issue, but if it is I can always supplement with more LEDs or t5s. Plus, I love that the light comes with mounting legs that I don't have to spend extra money on.
for flow I'm thinking 2 IceCap gyres, 1 on each side wall pointing at each other and alternating ramp up/down to create a back&forth wave action.
I'll be running some kind of algae in the fuge, along with some rocks for extra filtration. Currently thinking ulva + red ogo, but maybe also pom pom gracilaria too. I wonder if the ulva found off the coast is the same stuff sold for reef tanks?
Going to be mostly dry rock, but I'll move over some rubble from my biocube to jump start the cycle. I also have leftover microbacter7 which will be going into that tank too.
DIY lid from red sea, because a $100 lid hurts a lot less than even a $20 fish on the floor.
Caribsea special grade and marco rock. Aiming for about 2 inches of sand because I plan on having a couple halichoeres wrasses.
Invert stocking plan:
2 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 zanzibar banded shrimp
1 golden banded shrimp
1 blue banded shrimp
2 fighting conches
bunch of nassarius, banded trochus, and cerith snails as needed. NO NERITES THIS TIME. So many eggs.... Oh God why...?
Now for the fish. This is a work in progress. UPDATED LIST FOR 90 GALLON - STRIKE THROUGH = TAKEN OFF THE LIST; QUESTION MARK = MAYBE IF THERE'S ROOM TOWARDS THE END OR I CANT GET OTHER FISH:
5 lyretail anthias? - probably not unless I can't get the wrasses I want
blackcap basslet
royal gramma?
diamond goby
purple firefish goby
starry blenny
lawnmower blenny?
bi-colour blenny
melanurus wrasse
yellow canary wrasse
radiant wrasse
white tail bristletooth tang - if not possible, then two spot bristletooth tang
yellow tang? two tangs too many for this tank probably?
copperband butterflyfish - maybe? I'd like to at least try - maybe not... we'll see
Flame hawkfish? - probably add much later if I do since this guy might bug the shrimp
Dusky Fairy wrasse
lubbock's fairy wrasse
filamented flasher wrasse
McCosker's flasher wrasse
12 fish total, plus room for I'd say 4-5 more if small to medium size, or 1-2 large.
Coral:
bunch of zoas, bunch of SPS, and a few LPS that I don't have in my 32g, namely torches, blastos, elegance, gonis.
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