Tank Criticism & Suggestions

Robert_92 · 09/27/2012, 05:26 PM

So I had an idea while I was at work today. Pardon me if there is a thread like this elsewhere. Since a lot of people are getting into the hobby and just setting up their tanks. How about a thread where we all post pictures of our tanks and other members can criticize and give suggestions on how to improve our tanks!

My Tank As Of: 09-27-2012
Tank Size: 55 Gallons
Sump Size: 20 Gallons (Estimate)
Notes: Just got it on 09-25-2012 and it is my first tank. Wondering if anyone can identify some of the coral that's in there. I did buy 3 tiny hermit crabs and it came with 2 large snails. I just want to know what my coral is called.

Pictures (Click To Enlarge):

JPerkins2 · 09/27/2012, 07:23 PM

Looking good. You may need more live rock for filtration though, seems pretty thin there, just crushed coral in sump. Resist the urge to overstock this with fish, it may experience a mini cycle. Nothing happens fast that is good in this hobby.

Looks like a finger leather, xenia and kenya tree corals. Mushroom and palythoas or zoanthids in the other pic.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 09/27/2012, 07:26 PM

Looks really nice robert, do your self a favor and lose the canister filter, your sump is sufficient, hope this helps...

Robert_92 · 09/27/2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPerkins2

You may need more live rock for filtration though, seems pretty thin there, just crushed coral in sump.

Okay! Live rock is $8.99/lb at my LFS. Is that a decent deal? I mean I feel I'll easily find some 5-15lb rocks, that's going to tally up quite quickly in price. I'm not sure how much I have currently. Edit: Yes I've looked on Craigslist, there isn't anything in my area...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPerkins2

Resist the urge to overstock this with fish, it may experience a mini cycle.

I wasn't planning on it. I'm more of an invertebrate kind of guy. I really want a Black Spined Urchin, but I need to get the temperature down a bit, and let the ammonia and nitrate balance out first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPerkins2

Looks like a finger leather, xenia and kenya tree corals. Mushroom and palythoas or zoanthids in the other pic.

Great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaotic Reefer4u

Looks really nice robert, do your self a favor and lose the canister filter, your sump is sufficient, hope this helps...

I'll have nothing to do with it if I take it out. If you think so though, that'd be cool because I could lose those two ugly pipes entering my tank.

Thanks for replying guys!

fishbutt2 · 09/27/2012, 07:51 PM

I was posting a similar thing. I imagine you have the LR in there now or will when the time comes. Sometimes help to know where you are for LR prices but online seems much better http://www.liverockranch.com/buy.html (not a suggested place to buy, just an example of the cost). Not sure how shipped rock would do with coral in the tank

Robert_92 · 09/28/2012, 03:12 PM

Going to bump this so it isn't purged. Any other new folk care to post their tanks here?

All6Fish · 09/28/2012, 03:16 PM

I would add more LR IMO

Robert_92 · 09/28/2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All6Fish

I would add more LR IMO

I want to! Any suggestions on where to buy it? And how much more do you think I need?

Denbf58 · 09/29/2012, 07:14 AM

going on the pic you have you are going to need about 40 lbs more. since you already have some corals in the tank you are going to have to be careful on adding more live rock as you do not want to have a cycle and harm what you have in there already.

JPerkins2 · 09/30/2012, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_92

I want to! Any suggestions on where to buy it? And how much more do you think I need?

Get some dry rock from bulkreefsupply.com . Get about 40 pounds of the fiji, put it in a plastic trashcan (brute or something) with saltwater, put a powerhead in there for current, cover it for a few weeks, then shake it off in a bucket of new saltwater to dislodge crud.

Put in tank. The dry is cheap, about $2 a pound or so. You don't have to pay for water weight either so you get more rock. You could probably get by with 30 to 40 pounds. I would not put fish in there until you do this.

Robert_92 · 10/01/2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPerkins2

Get some dry rock from bulkreefsupply.com . Get about 40 pounds of the fiji, put it in a plastic trashcan (brute or something) with saltwater, put a powerhead in there for current, cover it for a few weeks, then

No heater or light? Just a power head?

JPerkins2 · 10/01/2012, 01:43 PM

Just a power head. I wouldn't heat it either unless you have extremes. You aren't using the water, just the rock.

schlosser_jr30 · 10/01/2012, 01:46 PM

Yes, more LR indeed, but dry. Otherwise you are very limited in what you can add for livestock.

onefishy · 10/01/2012, 02:05 PM

i appreciate the pictures of your sump. i haven't gotten that far in my build yet - but seeing pictures of other people's set ups always helps me.

09/27/2012, 05:26 PM	#1
Robert_92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 42	Tank Criticism & Suggestions So I had an idea while I was at work today. Pardon me if there is a thread like this elsewhere. Since a lot of people are getting into the hobby and just setting up their tanks. How about a thread where we all post pictures of our tanks and other members can criticize and give suggestions on how to improve our tanks! My Tank As Of: 09-27-2012 Tank Size: 55 Gallons Sump Size: 20 Gallons (Estimate) Notes: Just got it on 09-25-2012 and it is my first tank. Wondering if anyone can identify some of the coral that's in there. I did buy 3 tiny hermit crabs and it came with 2 large snails. I just want to know what my coral is called. Pictures (Click To Enlarge): Last edited by Robert_92; 09/27/2012 at 05:42 PM.

09/27/2012, 07:26 PM	#3
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	Looks really nice robert, do your self a favor and lose the canister filter, your sump is sufficient, hope this helps... __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

09/29/2012, 07:14 AM	#9
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	going on the pic you have you are going to need about 40 lbs more. since you already have some corals in the tank you are going to have to be careful on adding more live rock as you do not want to have a cycle and harm what you have in there already. __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

09/27/2012, 07:23 PM	#2
JPerkins2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 84	Looking good. You may need more live rock for filtration though, seems pretty thin there, just crushed coral in sump. Resist the urge to overstock this with fish, it may experience a mini cycle. Nothing happens fast that is good in this hobby. Looks like a finger leather, xenia and kenya tree corals. Mushroom and palythoas or zoanthids in the other pic.

09/27/2012, 07:51 PM	#5
fishbutt2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 64	I was posting a similar thing. I imagine you have the LR in there now or will when the time comes. Sometimes help to know where you are for LR prices but online seems much better http://www.liverockranch.com/buy.html (not a suggested place to buy, just an example of the cost). Not sure how shipped rock would do with coral in the tank

09/28/2012, 03:12 PM	#6
Robert_92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 42	Going to bump this so it isn't purged. Any other new folk care to post their tanks here?

09/28/2012, 03:16 PM	#7
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	I would add more LR IMO

10/01/2012, 01:43 PM	#12
JPerkins2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 84	Just a power head. I wouldn't heat it either unless you have extremes. You aren't using the water, just the rock.

10/01/2012, 01:46 PM	#13
schlosser_jr30 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 66	Yes, more LR indeed, but dry. Otherwise you are very limited in what you can add for livestock.

10/01/2012, 02:05 PM	#14
onefishy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: sterling Posts: 32	i appreciate the pictures of your sump. i haven't gotten that far in my build yet - but seeing pictures of other people's set ups always helps me.