Advice on first reef tank

[kyle78312]

Hello

I have had freshwater planted tanks for years. Currently have a heavily planted 125. I’m planning on getting a reef tank for the living room and putting the freshwater in my office

I’ve been researching for a few years but would like experienced reefers advice. Purchase in the future won’t be happening for a

I want to go big. I know it’s easier to manage water parameters and it’s going to be a statement piece.

Im looking at a 350 gallon acrylic from tsunami.
I have a recess in the wall that firsts a 72 in tank. Is a 72x36x36 a good use of space? They have taller options but I’m short and will already need a step stool to reach the bottom

still early in stocking list planning but so far thinking

fish:
Midas blenny
Purple tang
Yellow tang
Hippo tang
White tail kole tang
Reef safe wrasses- haven’t decided on species
Neon damsels
Foxface

Eventually anthias school. -Like Bartlets. I’d wait till there’s established copepods to help with their voracious appetites.

pair of Bandai cardinals
Coral beauty
Flame angel
Suggestions on utilitarian fish? I know aptasia will happen most likely

corals
Plan is for lps and assorted softies, Zoas, nepthya, isolated pulsing xenias, really like the purple candelabra gorgonian, ricordea, interesting discosomas

rock flower anemone, mini maxi carpet anemone.

sps- once I’m comfortable with the “easier corals”. just some bird nests at the top of the reef in time. I like the movement of the softies and lps but a few of the pointy bird eat at the top would look nice.

basically any suggestions are welcome, fish suggestions, how many, etc looking for active colorful fish and coral. Spouse is onboard but it need to be colorful haha.

thank you

 

[Gobi-Wan]

Welcome to R2R!!
I'm morally obligated to suggest a sleeper goby of some kind. Hardest working cleanup crew after tangs.

 

[kyle78312]

Thank you I will def research them!

 

[|Frank|]

Welcome to R2R!!
My suggestion, start a build thread. I’ll follow that build!

 

[PatW]

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

For your tank, I would caution you about acrylic tanks, They are wonderful for display BUT they have a major drawback. Acrylic scratches if you look at it hard. You can empty the tank and buff out the scratches and that process is not that hard but it is a major undertaking. You might consider a low iron glass tank which is almost as clear as acrylic and pretty scratch resistant.

Another caution on your tank, the depth of the tank (horizontal) is fine. It gives you room for aquascaping. But I think the 36 inch height of the tank is not that practical (it would look nice). I have a height of 27” on mine and now wish that it was 24”.

You seem to want tangs. A 6’ width dimension is sort of the minimum for tangs. Really tangs like the long dimension and the longer the better. I would suggest reducing the height to 24” or so and increasing the width to 96” or even 120”.

But it is YOUR tank and you can do what you want. Your fish list looks pretty reasonable to me.

On soft corals, I would suggest caution. Soft corals can be quite invasive and take over everything. I would suggest that you avoid the more aggressive ones. I have gone with all stoney corals, and even in my case, I found montipora to be relatively aggressive and I have to crop it back.

Soft corals sort of bother me. I have read that they release toxins into the water to compete. I understand that filtering through charcoal will deal with that.

I do approve of you notion of gorgonians. There are wonderful photosynthetic gorgonians in the Caribbean and a big variety of them That you might check out.

 

[kyle78312]

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

For your tank, I would caution you about acrylic tanks, They are wonderful for display BUT they have a major drawback. Acrylic scratches if you look at it hard. You can empty the tank and buff out the scratches and that process is not that hard but it is a major undertaking. You might consider a low iron glass tank which is almost as clear as acrylic and pretty scratch resistant.

Another caution on your tank, the depth of the tank (horizontal) is fine. It gives you room for aquascaping. But I think the 36 inch height of the tank is not that practical (it would look nice). I have a height of 27” on mine and now wish that it was 24”.

You seem to want tangs. A 6’ width dimension is sort of the minimum for tangs. Really tangs like the long dimension and the longer the better. I would suggest reducing the height to 24” or so and increasing the width to 96” or even 120”.

But it is YOUR tank and you can do what you want. Your fish list looks pretty reasonable to me.

On soft corals, I would suggest caution. Soft corals can be quite invasive and take over everything. I would suggest that you avoid the more aggressive ones. I have gone with all stoney corals, and even in my case, I found montipora to be relatively aggressive and I have to crop it back.

Soft corals sort of bother me. I have read that they release toxins into the water to compete. I understand that filtering through charcoal will deal with that.

I do approve of you notion of gorgonians. There are wonderful photosynthetic gorgonians in the Caribbean and a big variety of them That you might check out.

Thank you for your suggestions! Yeah I’d go longer and lower in the tank if I had more room. I understand glass is more scratch resistant but getting it in the house alone I might have to go acrylic and baby the tank. Do the specially for acrylic mag scrapers etc still scratch the acrylic? The aggressive softies I will isolate them on their own island. I just love the movement. Coming from freshwater I need some swaying in the tank and I’d like just a few accent easier sps. For the contrast in texture.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Welcome.

 

[Uncle99]

Welcome.
Seems huge to me.
72”x24x24 would be easier to manage and still “be big”.
Your going to need a million dollars to light that thing.
Go glass, Low iron glass.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello

I have had freshwater planted tanks for years. Currently have a heavily planted 125. I’m planning on getting a reef tank for the living room and putting the freshwater in my office

I’ve been researching for a few years but would like experienced reefers advice. Purchase in the future won’t be happening for a

I want to go big. I know it’s easier to manage water parameters and it’s going to be a statement piece.

Im looking at a 350 gallon acrylic from tsunami.
I have a recess in the wall that firsts a 72 in tank. Is a 72x36x36 a good use of space? They have taller options but I’m short and will already need a step stool to reach the bottom

still early in stocking list planning but so far thinking

fish:
Midas blenny
Purple tang
Yellow tang
Hippo tang
White tail kole tang
Reef safe wrasses- haven’t decided on species
Neon damsels
Foxface

Eventually anthias school. -Like Bartlets. I’d wait till there’s established copepods to help with their voracious appetites.

pair of Bandai cardinals
Coral beauty
Flame angel
Suggestions on utilitarian fish? I know aptasia will happen most likely

corals
Plan is for lps and assorted softies, Zoas, nepthya, isolated pulsing xenias, really like the purple candelabra gorgonian, ricordea, interesting discosomas

rock flower anemone, mini maxi carpet anemone.

sps- once I’m comfortable with the “easier corals”. just some bird nests at the top of the reef in time. I like the movement of the softies and lps but a few of the pointy bird eat at the top would look nice.

basically any suggestions are welcome, fish suggestions, how many, etc looking for active colorful fish and coral. Spouse is onboard but it need to be colorful haha.

thank you

Big tank guy here. I cant do without both of these. . . .

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Soft corals like the Palau are great statement corals and give u movement and color. Also nice sarcophyton and the gorgonians. I had to have them in my system. Great vendor for the soft stuff is Pablo from marine farmers or Penny from Aqua corals. Gorgonians definite Russ at gulf coast ecosystems. Don’t have large tank exp but just some quality vendors example of the gorgonians from GCE good luck w the build

 

[kyle78312]

Welcome.
Seems huge to me.
72”x24x24 would be easier to manage and still “be big”.
Your going to need a million dollars to light that thing.
Go glass, Low iron glass.

I’m thinking of dropping the height to 24 inches. rescaping my 125 freshwater i’m up on a stool to reach the bottom.

 

[kyle78312]

Big tank guy here. I cant do without both of these. . . .

I might lower the height I’m on a stool to reach the bottom of 24 inch high tank.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

That would be a great size, but 36 inches tall might make for difficult maintenance. It doesn't seem like much at first, but when you drop an acro in the rocks it will seem like thirty feet. I would cut the depth down to 24 inches. A trio of pyramid butterflyfish would look great in that tank, or maybe a lamarck's angelfish. I hope that this helps.

 

[kyle78312]

Yeah I’m thinking you’re probably right. I will def research those fish. Thanks!

 

[kyle78312]

Welcome.
Seems huge to me.
72”x24x24 would be easier to manage and still “be big”.
Your going to need a million dollars to light that thing.
Go glass, Low iron glass.

We plan on re doing all the floors in a year or two. Even emptying the tank how many people would I need to drag the empty glass tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I might lower the height I’m on a stool to reach the bottom of 24 inch high tank.

Me- 38" deep

 

[kyle78312]

Me- 38" deep

What do you use for lights on a tank that deep?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What do you use for lights on a tank that deep?

Orpheks

 

[Uncle99]

We plan on re doing all the floors in a year or two. Even emptying the tank how many people would I need to drag the empty glass tank?

It took me 4 men, one on each corner, just the glass, 468lbs.
The glass is 3/4” so likely much heavier than some.
It took 5 minutes from street to stand.
IMO, you can’t beat glass.
But that’s just me.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello

I have had freshwater planted tanks for years. Currently have a heavily planted 125. I’m planning on getting a reef tank for the living room and putting the freshwater in my office

I’ve been researching for a few years but would like experienced reefers advice. Purchase in the future won’t be happening for a

I want to go big. I know it’s easier to manage water parameters and it’s going to be a statement piece.

Im looking at a 350 gallon acrylic from tsunami.
I have a recess in the wall that firsts a 72 in tank. Is a 72x36x36 a good use of space? They have taller options but I’m short and will already need a step stool to reach the bottom

still early in stocking list planning but so far thinking

fish:
Midas blenny
Purple tang
Yellow tang
Hippo tang
White tail kole tang
Reef safe wrasses- haven’t decided on species
Neon damsels
Foxface

Eventually anthias school. -Like Bartlets. I’d wait till there’s established copepods to help with their voracious appetites.

pair of Bandai cardinals
Coral beauty
Flame angel
Suggestions on utilitarian fish? I know aptasia will happen most likely

corals
Plan is for lps and assorted softies, Zoas, nepthya, isolated pulsing xenias, really like the purple candelabra gorgonian, ricordea, interesting discosomas

rock flower anemone, mini maxi carpet anemone.

sps- once I’m comfortable with the “easier corals”. just some bird nests at the top of the reef in time. I like the movement of the softies and lps but a few of the pointy bird eat at the top would look nice.

basically any suggestions are welcome, fish suggestions, how many, etc looking for active colorful fish and coral. Spouse is onboard but it need to be colorful haha.

thank you

Welcome.

With all those tangs you'll do better with a longer tank. Tangs need room to swim and space to call their own.

The height of the tank will be an issue with lighting. Light falls off fast as you get further from the light, although soft coral don't need that much so maybe that will work.

Look forward to the build thread.