Getting back into saltwater after five years away!

[andy28115]

Hello, my name is Andrew. I currently have a large collection of turtles and tortoises (most already have new homes). I am transitioning back to saltwater with the exception of Mr. T the aldabra tortoise. I am starting with a JBJ rf45. I am not crazy about the tank but I paid sub 700 for it new through petco. It was too good a deal to pass up. It is an aio lagoon, 26x21x19. I will be running a tunze com 9012 skimmer and the return pumps included with the tank (they push roughly 500 gph combined). For additional flow I will be using a nero 5. Lighting is being provided by a Kessil 360xe. I will be using a tunze osmolator for ato. I have roughly 50 pounds of reef liverock and about 14 lbs of dry rock I threw in with the live. All rock is very porous and light, I can't stand the man made rock that is conisderably denser. Substrate will be caribsea hawaiin aragonite sand. I currently have four chromis, four spotcinctus clownfish, a canary blenny and a Mccoskers black fin wrasse in with the rock. Future plans include adding a cb mandarin goby and an assortment of Elacatinus gobies. Once the tank matures I will be getting several different color variations of bubbletip anemones and let them take over the rockwork. The sandbed I would like to either have a collection of plate corals or a nice maxima clam. I am leaning towards the plate corals, IME they are no where near as calcium hungry as the clams. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I will post pictures of the tank up tomorrow if it is halfway clear.

 

[tzabor10]

Can’t wait to see this

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I can't wait to see what it looks like once you get it in your house!

 

[strich]

Sounds exciting! One thing I've heard about the chromis is that they are quite likely to bully each other until 1 is left and apparently the bigger the group is the less likely any one will be picked on until it dies. So you may want to plan on buying more of them soon if you start to see that - I've heard some experienced reefers say 10 is a good number. Which IMO would look pretty cool anyway!

 

[Serpentman2024]

Nice! Welcome back!

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome back Andrew, glad you’ve decided to join us!

 

[andy28115]

The tank arrived today and I can’t be happier! One door is not centered but just needs to be adjusted. The hippo tang is a temporary inhabitant, should be gone is a couple of weeks. I have to say I’m loving the Nero 5 and the Kessil. Tanks still cloudy but I’m excited to see it once it clears. Anyone have suggestions on how to prevent light spill? It’s 8” which is what BRS

recommends.
Video

 

[sfin52]

Hello, my name is Andrew. I currently have a large collection of turtles and tortoises (most already have new homes). I am transitioning back to saltwater with the exception of Mr. T the aldabra tortoise. I am starting with a JBJ rf45. I am not crazy about the tank but I paid sub 700 for it new through petco. It was too good a deal to pass up. It is an aio lagoon, 26x21x19. I will be running a tunze com 9012 skimmer and the return pumps included with the tank (they push roughly 500 gph combined). For additional flow I will be using a nero 5. Lighting is being provided by a Kessil 360xe. I will be using a tunze osmolator for ato. I have roughly 50 pounds of reef liverock and about 14 lbs of dry rock I threw in with the live. All rock is very porous and light, I can't stand the man made rock that is conisderably denser. Substrate will be caribsea hawaiin aragonite sand. I currently have four chromis, four spotcinctus clownfish, a canary blenny and a Mccoskers black fin wrasse in with the rock. Future plans include adding a cb mandarin goby and an assortment of Elacatinus gobies. Once the tank matures I will be getting several different color variations of bubbletip anemones and let them take over the rockwork. The sandbed I would like to either have a collection of plate corals or a nice maxima clam. I am leaning towards the plate corals, IME they are no where near as calcium hungry as the clams. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I will post pictures of the tank up tomorrow if it is halfway clear.

Word of caution with that sand. It may contain heavy metals. Test with magnet before use. If it has metals it will stick to the magnet.
I've seen black sand have some very nasty heavy metals.

 

[andy28115]

Ok, I will definitely check that out. I had a batch years ago that was for sure magnetic. Had my ph drop in it one day and it took what seemed like ages to get it cleared out.