Author Topic: 75 gallon reef build (this is my first "real" reef tank) (Read 13365 times)

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 08, 2013, 19:57:38 »

Check PM

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 09, 2013, 01:26:48 »

I did the aquascape and I think it turned out pretty good. Let me know what you guys think. Should I change anything around?

Forgive the crappy phone camera. I need to get a better camera.

The daylights.

The actinics.

The moonlights.

It's been 3 days and still no sign of cycle. I think I may put a cube of frozen brine shrimp in tonight and let the bacteria do their thing. Should I? lol I had the dry rock curing and the sump cycling for a month. The live rock I got was also fully cured or that is what I was told. I'm still going to wait 2 weeks to put anything in. Well, If theres still no sign of cycle by the weekend I may pick up a couple BG Chromis to test the waters.

bbtm64 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 09, 2013, 05:30:52 »

I like your layout. That'll give'em all someplace to hide.

Sonnyred · « **Reply #28 on:** May 09, 2013, 11:43:38 »

I recently just went from a 90 to a 220 myself. Yes add a couple of chromis in as soon as you can to help with the cycle. If the chromis die leave them in there to rott to help develop that bacteria. From my experience I had 4 chromis in the tank for about 3 weeks. 2 died after the first week and two made it til today. I added everything from my 90. Lost I'd say 75% of my corals but all the fish made it. Some conclusion fish are a lot more hardy than corals and with that said the slower you can add the corals the better chance of success you will have. Hope this will help your transition

lvlikey · « **Reply #29 on:** May 09, 2013, 14:35:42 »

Just throw a piece of raw shrimp in to start your cycle, I just did the same thing. Do not put fish in your tank yet. They are living animals and not worth losing just to start your cycle even if it is just a chromis.

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Boonjob · « **Reply #30 on:** May 09, 2013, 16:29:58 »

You can feed the tank as you would with fish in there or just use pure ammonia.

Nice thing about feeding is , you mostly wont have a mini cycle when you do add fish as your tank is set up close to the bio load anyways.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 09, 2013, 20:26:23 »

Yea. I threw a cube of brine in there last night. I just figured I'd feed the tank. I don't want to put fish in with ammonia or nitrite in the tank.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #32 on:** May 10, 2013, 04:03:34 »

So.. I've been sitting here mauling over ideas for fish in this tank. There's so many options but I do have my favorites. The more I think about it I don't really want chromis in the tank but I wanted to put a fish or 2 in the tank before I start moving stuff in. I figured this way I could monitor them for a couple weeks and kinda "quarantine" them before starting to transfer stuff over. I'm going to list a bunch of fish that I really like in hopes you guys have ideas on what to put in first. Obviously I can't fit all of them and I will have to pick and choose. I'm not going to include tangs and mandarins in the list because these are obvious no nos for a first fish.

Orchid dottyback
Diamond goby
Yellow watchman goby
Royal gramma
Midas Benny
Catalina goby
Whip fin fairy wrasse
Redtail tamarin wrasse
Japanese swallowtail angelfish - female

The angel probably isn't the best choice for a first fish either but I thought I'd throw it in there. What do you guys think. Kinda wanted to get a plan going and I figured this would be a good place to start.

bbtm64 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 10, 2013, 07:56:08 »

The dottyback and grammar would my first choices. The watchman and diamond gobies would be next. A group of domino damsels would work too.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 10, 2013, 23:46:10 »

The only tank I would put dominos in is a predator tank lol. Those fish are a pain. I had one in a FOWLR tank about 5 years ago that chased everything. I finally tore the rock apart and took him out when he started harrasing my new asfur angel that was 3 times his size.

bbtm64 · « **Reply #35 on:** May 10, 2013, 23:48:38 »

A school of them may not be as bad but I'm guessing lol

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 11, 2013, 02:37:13 »

Lol I think I'll just stick with the dottyback or royal gramma. Anyone else have any input?

It's been almost a week since I set the tank up and I haven't seen any ammonia nitrite or nitrate. I've been feeding the tank once a day for 4 days now. I think it's a good thing but at the same time it scares me a little.

bbtm64 · « **Reply #37 on:** May 11, 2013, 04:02:56 »

It'll take a week to 10 days, sometimes, unless you really seeded the tank.

Bucknutz · « **Reply #38 on:** May 11, 2013, 06:50:29 »

Myself I would drop a couple chromis in it. I like chromis and think they give a good contrast to a tank of fish.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 13, 2013, 01:35:38 »

I'm good to go on livestock so I've added the first additions.

I moved in the leather and mushrooms. I have to say that they don't do much for the tank as far as color goes but they will help fill things out for the time being.

Here's the first of the 2 fish. I couldn't get a picture of him in the tank because he's still skiddish but I can't blame him. It's only been a day but he was sneaking out of the rocks to grab some food when I fed today. Here's the purple dottyback during acclimation. Ill try to get a picture of him in the tank.

I can't believe I found one of these so fast and so easily. She took the acclimation amazingly well and she was eating like a pig today! Here's the female Japanese swallowtail angelfish. I love this fish. She is one of my favorites!

bbtm64 · « **Reply #40 on:** May 13, 2013, 01:48:09 »

That's a nice looking angel. I want one now lol

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #41 on:** May 13, 2013, 02:00:32 »

I want one of everything lol. She is one of my favorites though. She's one of the handful of truly reef safe angels. Their diet doesn't consist of coral, clams, etc. and they're a hardy fish. They also grow to 6-7"

On another note my protein skimmer is pulling some skimate and looks to be working good. I cleaned the cup in the shower and the wife made me wipe the tub out with bleach. lol

bbtm64 · « **Reply #42 on:** May 13, 2013, 04:44:12 »

The trick to that is to do it when she's either asleep or gone lol. Where'd get it at and about how much? I may have to talk to my LFS about ordering one.

Twizted1 · « **Reply #43 on:** May 13, 2013, 07:49:45 »

That is one sweet loosing fish.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #44 on:** May 13, 2013, 23:45:48 »

I got it up at tropical reef in Toledo for $40. Hes got great livestock.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #45 on:** May 16, 2013, 04:11:28 »

Here's a picture of the dottyback. Everything is going very well. Both of the fish are pigs and they are pretty friendly now. They look healthier than ever.

bbtm64 · « **Reply #46 on:** May 16, 2013, 07:18:14 »

Nice looking fish.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #47 on:** May 17, 2013, 01:54:45 »

Another picture because I can't help myself. lol

bbtm64 · « **Reply #48 on:** May 17, 2013, 02:42:02 »

I really like that angel. I'm pretty well set on fish right now. I still want to get a mandarin tho.

Phoenix7506 · « **Reply #49 on:** May 17, 2013, 02:54:35 »

lol i'm trying to pick my fish carefully so I end up with what I want. It's definitely easier said than done.

I'd really like to get some more blue in my tank. I'm curious if I could order blue cree leds and solder them in place of some of the whites on this light. I'm pretty good at the whole DIY thing but I haven't been able to find anyone that's done this with this light. I'm just trying to find out if those leds would be compatible.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: 75 gallon reef build (this is my first "real" reef tank) (Read 13365 times)