s550
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2017
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 3
- What state or country do you live in
- Tennessee
Everyone's been here at some point in there time while enjoying the reefing community. Your new, trying to figure out what size tank, what brand salt, how your going to get clean water, what RODI, what protein skimmer, do you want a sump, what's a sump, parameters blah blah blah! Yeah it can be overwhelming to say the least! So what do you do? Maybe you wing it? Do you have a friend that's be in the hobby for years that helped you? Maybe even your LFS lends a helping hand? Well if your me you plan and plan and plan and plan for months! So with that being said I am in the midst of setting up a 125 gallon fish tank. I want to run through everything I have planned out right now and leave no rock unturned. If you see anything that doesn't add up or would like to add your own 2cents I encourage you! Who knows maybe someone else could learn a thing or two as I hope to do.
GOAL- creating a natural diverse art piece replicating symbiotic relationships naturally found in reef ecosystems around the world.
----TANK-----
Reef starts with the tank!- I am looking at buying a 125 gallon tank from my lfs. 72x18x22 one is undrilled and the other is drilled with two overflows. Not sure which one I want for sure.
Water- for water I am going to use a RODI. As for which brand I am taking suggestions! something decent quality that wont break the bank.
Salt- Salt mix I am currently considering is red sea although there's another salt company that uses synthetic salt. They're highly recommended and cant think of the name to save my life. Used in the BRS 160 and more on the expensive side.
Rock/Live rock- For this im going to go with around 100is lbs of project reef rock 2.1, I like color, has no effect on the oceans as its man made and the color pops giving it the look of an already established tank. Its also dead so no crazy hitchhikers.
sand- no sand really stands out to me, but I do want a smaller grain size for the inhabitants of my tank which will be covered later.
---SUMP----
I definitely want to do a sump. Looking at a 40 gallon, cant find an accurate picture of a set up ill try my best to explain.
sump---> [ skimmer filter sockcarbon / refugium chatoXport-BIO Biological Filtration /bubble trap/return pump]
---EQUIPMENT---
here we go...!
Skimmer- Reefoctopus Regal 150INT should be heavymedium filtration for my setup. Great reviews
Heater- No specific brand in mind. Quality is big though as temp is important, would like a digital read out though.
Ato- Yes I want a ato, considering Aqua Medic or Tunze with a 20 gallon next to my sump.
Lighting- As of now Orbit Current Pro LED's. This is the hardest topic by far. Nothing is perfect for my needs. Reasonable cost, adequate light coverage, functionality, reliability. Orbit covers the most of those with cost being a big one. Ill get to corals later as I know that's also a big deal with lighting.
Powerheads- WAV Starter Kit WSK Neptune Systems- great kit for the cost, everything I need.
Pumps- Again no specific one, need two. one for ato another for return.
---FISH/INVERTS---
Fun part!!
This is so subject to change its not even funny so please take it with a grain of salt. Think of it as my Allstar wish list!
inverts:
Fire shrimp- color is beautiful and I find them so fascinating. Nuf said.
Blue banded coral shrimp- again really pretty and a step back from the usual looking shrimp
Pistol Shrimp- what can I say I love my shrimps sorry! symbiotic with sand sifting goby
cleanup crew-assortment of blue leg hermits, scarlet hermits emerald crabs, astrea snails, turbo snails, anemone crab
other inverts- would love a claim at some point down the road but lighting needs to be on point. feather dusters are also on the radar as is a sand sifting star and Lettuce sea slug.
Fish:
Green Mandarin-do I need to say why? Favorite fish ever. Once my cop numbers are good.
Sailfish tang- my favorite tang
emperor angle- if its possible but not high on the list
Blue Flasher Wrasse male- favorite wrasse, gorgeous
Blue hippo tang-
Clownfish- I want 2 for sure undecided on the type
Purple Firefish goby- color adder gorgeous want 1-2 but considering using them as a schooling fish maybe?
Yellow tang- this is a wife requirement, really trying to cut down on the tangs lol
Copperband butterfly- really just love this fish, temperament and coral safet are the big turn offs though
yellow watchman goby-symbiotic relationship with shrimp
Purple firefish- want 1-2 but considering using them as a schooling fish maybe?
Blue spotted jawfish- hard to care for but the prices of these guys are on the downcline!
Banner cardinals- go to schooling fish want around 3.
---CORAL---
Im simply shooting for a softy tank to start. Lame? Eh satisfies me! No particular ones on my radar.
Extras: Anemone for clowns and crab, chato for refugium, sea lettuce ulva as a natural food source and added diversity.
Well that's it guys! Again if you see anything you could improve let me know ie fish combos, bad experience with equipment brands, fish tips, anything let me know!
GOAL- creating a natural diverse art piece replicating symbiotic relationships naturally found in reef ecosystems around the world.
----TANK-----
Reef starts with the tank!- I am looking at buying a 125 gallon tank from my lfs. 72x18x22 one is undrilled and the other is drilled with two overflows. Not sure which one I want for sure.
Water- for water I am going to use a RODI. As for which brand I am taking suggestions! something decent quality that wont break the bank.
Salt- Salt mix I am currently considering is red sea although there's another salt company that uses synthetic salt. They're highly recommended and cant think of the name to save my life. Used in the BRS 160 and more on the expensive side.
Rock/Live rock- For this im going to go with around 100is lbs of project reef rock 2.1, I like color, has no effect on the oceans as its man made and the color pops giving it the look of an already established tank. Its also dead so no crazy hitchhikers.
sand- no sand really stands out to me, but I do want a smaller grain size for the inhabitants of my tank which will be covered later.
---SUMP----
I definitely want to do a sump. Looking at a 40 gallon, cant find an accurate picture of a set up ill try my best to explain.
sump---> [ skimmer filter sockcarbon / refugium chatoXport-BIO Biological Filtration /bubble trap/return pump]
---EQUIPMENT---
here we go...!
Skimmer- Reefoctopus Regal 150INT should be heavymedium filtration for my setup. Great reviews
Heater- No specific brand in mind. Quality is big though as temp is important, would like a digital read out though.
Ato- Yes I want a ato, considering Aqua Medic or Tunze with a 20 gallon next to my sump.
Lighting- As of now Orbit Current Pro LED's. This is the hardest topic by far. Nothing is perfect for my needs. Reasonable cost, adequate light coverage, functionality, reliability. Orbit covers the most of those with cost being a big one. Ill get to corals later as I know that's also a big deal with lighting.
Powerheads- WAV Starter Kit WSK Neptune Systems- great kit for the cost, everything I need.
Pumps- Again no specific one, need two. one for ato another for return.
---FISH/INVERTS---
Fun part!!
This is so subject to change its not even funny so please take it with a grain of salt. Think of it as my Allstar wish list!
inverts:
Fire shrimp- color is beautiful and I find them so fascinating. Nuf said.
Blue banded coral shrimp- again really pretty and a step back from the usual looking shrimp
Pistol Shrimp- what can I say I love my shrimps sorry! symbiotic with sand sifting goby
cleanup crew-assortment of blue leg hermits, scarlet hermits emerald crabs, astrea snails, turbo snails, anemone crab
other inverts- would love a claim at some point down the road but lighting needs to be on point. feather dusters are also on the radar as is a sand sifting star and Lettuce sea slug.
Fish:
Green Mandarin-do I need to say why? Favorite fish ever. Once my cop numbers are good.
Sailfish tang- my favorite tang
emperor angle- if its possible but not high on the list
Blue Flasher Wrasse male- favorite wrasse, gorgeous
Blue hippo tang-
Clownfish- I want 2 for sure undecided on the type
Purple Firefish goby- color adder gorgeous want 1-2 but considering using them as a schooling fish maybe?
Yellow tang- this is a wife requirement, really trying to cut down on the tangs lol
Copperband butterfly- really just love this fish, temperament and coral safet are the big turn offs though
yellow watchman goby-symbiotic relationship with shrimp
Purple firefish- want 1-2 but considering using them as a schooling fish maybe?
Blue spotted jawfish- hard to care for but the prices of these guys are on the downcline!
Banner cardinals- go to schooling fish want around 3.
---CORAL---
Im simply shooting for a softy tank to start. Lame? Eh satisfies me! No particular ones on my radar.
Extras: Anemone for clowns and crab, chato for refugium, sea lettuce ulva as a natural food source and added diversity.
Well that's it guys! Again if you see anything you could improve let me know ie fish combos, bad experience with equipment brands, fish tips, anything let me know!
