62 gal SeaClear - First saltwater & first reef (Softies and LPS)

[fruitbythefoote]

Hi all,

Excited to be here and starting a tank! Picked up a set up yesterday for $250. He was running it and said it would be a good starter tank (which from what I’ve read I would agree?) Below are the equipment and stocking plan.

Included in setup:

• 62 SeaClear 48”x15”x20”
• Stand & DIY hood
• 15 gal Amiracle sump
• Berlin Red Sea Protein Skimmer w/ Venturi upgrade (may need a pump, not sure what would work)
• 250w metal halide fixtures, reflectors, & ballasts (no bulbs)
• SCWD Wavemaker & 2 mixing eductors
• 4” aragonite sand

Additional Equipment

• Eheim 1048 return pump
• Tunes Osmolator
• RO/DI Unit
• Heater (not selected)
• 40lbs Pukani Dry rock
• 250w metal halide bulbs

Stocking (in order of addition):

• Orange stripe prawn/Randall’s Goby
• Tailspot blenny
• Banggai Cardinal x2 (maybe)
• Ocellaris Clownfish x2
• Six Line Wrasse
• Flame Angel
• Kole Tang
• Mandarin Dragonet (maybe and definitely not for a good while)

Inverts:

• Randall’s Shrimp (goby pair)
• Cleaner Shrimp x2
• Trochus Snail x3(to start)
• Nasserius Snail x3(to start)
• Cerith Snail x3(to start)
• Blue Tuxedo Urchin
• Tiger Tail Cucumber

Starter Coral:

• Hammer coral x2
• Frogspawn (maybe)
• Various Zoanthids
• Kenya Tree
• Leather finger or devil’s hand
• Candy Cane
• Cabbage Leather
• Mushrooms
• Trumpet coral (maybe)

The tank and stand need some work. I plan to sand and stain the stand + hood, and sand and buff the acrylic. Definitely decreasing the sand bed to 1/2”-1” rather than 4”. Still waiting on the live rock to get started on curing and cycling. Plan to bleach and then leave to cure for 3-4 weeks. Should give some time to work on the stand. The guy was running a fuge in the sump and I plan to do the same using a light from an old planted tank.

I’d appreciate feedback on the stocking (particularly the Kole tang) I read many opinions that it’d be fine with the tank length but I’d like more thoughts. I also will have a long hold before adding the dragonet.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Lasse]

Welcome and I look forward to see pictures from your build

Sincerely Lasse

 

[fruitbythefoote]

Got the pukani and got it cookin (curing)! May have had a change of plans somewhat for the bleaching. Might just wait it out instead if it’s only going to be 4-6 weeks since I haven’t finished the stand or started the tank yet.

 

[fruitbythefoote]

Other stuff:

• Using standard instant ocean for curing the live rock since that didn’t seem to matter
• My tunze osmolator ATO came in the mail
• Ordered 2 Hamilton 250w 14000k single ended metal halide bulbs
• Leaning towards Coral Pro reef salt as the long term choice
• Using a Home Depot bucket as an ATO res for now
• Landed on a stand stain!
• When you replace a filter sock do you wash and reuse it or is it only brand new ones?

Original listing photos for the tank!

 

[fruitbythefoote]

The rock work is in! 7 weeks of curing and which provided ample time to work on the stand and acrylic

 

[fruitbythefoote]

Water and a fish is in! A new light is on order. The first days were a little traumatic when we found a leak [emoji33]. Thanks to some other helpers we’re back on track!

 

[Miles Williams]

Got the pukani and got it cookin (curing)! May have had a change of plans somewhat for the bleaching. Might just wait it out instead if it’s only going to be 4-6 weeks since I haven’t finished the stand or started the tank yet.

I see that delicious sweet nector Pliney in the background!!!!!!
One of the best beers ever made.