My 1 month old reef tank (75g)

Alphadips · 05/01/2016, 09:40 AM

Hey everybody,
This is my first time posting. Been lurking for a while and have always loved the site so I joined up to get in on the action.
Anyway, I have a 75 gallon reef tank with a 50 gallon sump.
The inhabitants include 1 Kole Tang, 2 percula clownfish, 1 long tentacle anemone, 1 frogspawn, 1 goniopora, 10 turbo snails, 15 hermit crabs, 1 sand sifting star with roughly about 85lbs of live rock aquascaped to form the reef.

As stated above, the tank is only 1 month old. Water tests done weekly and numbers are steady. Was just hoping for some opinions on improvement possibilities or advice for the future.

Thanks in advance everyone!

P.S forgive any formatting mistakes, I get better at posting I promise lol

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jeff240gallon · 05/04/2016, 09:43 AM

Looks good! Has your tank fully cycled yet? If not there's ways to get around it.. Here's my future reef setup, it's only six months old, when I hit a year I have to upgrade my lighting and then soon after corals. Can't wait.

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ricks49reef · 05/04/2016, 10:40 AM

Tank looks good.But you may want to reconsider the anemone and sand sifting star.The anemone is very difficult for a tank that isn't at least 6 months to a year old.The sand sifting star will starve to death in a new tank.Also keep a close eye on the Goniopora,they are difficult to keep.
Wish you luck,I say all the above from past bad experiences of my own.image.jpg

jeff240gallon · 05/04/2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricks49reef

Tank looks good.But you may want to reconsider the anemone and sand sifting star.The anemone is very difficult for a tank that isn't at least 6 months to a year old.The sand sifting star will starve to death in a new tank.Also keep a close eye on the Goniopora,they are difficult to keep.

Wish you luck,I say all the above from past bad experiences of my own.Attachment 349583

I agree I forgot to mention that in my last post. There's a debate about anything that sand sifts in a reef tank... It ruins beneficial bacterial and can kill important micro fauna which is needed for long lasting reef tanks.

ricks49reef · 05/04/2016, 11:43 AM

I have a fighting conch in my 40.He does a great job cleaning up the sand and stirs it a little.In a 75 you could have more than one.

PAXpress · 05/04/2016, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff240gallon

I agree I forgot to mention that in my last post. There's a debate about anything that sand sifts in a reef tank... It ruins beneficial bacterial and can kill important micro fauna which is needed for long lasting reef tanks.

Interesting. Do you have a link to this discussion?

jeff240gallon · 05/04/2016, 01:02 PM

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-09/hcs3/index.php

http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html

Search the forums too and you'll find a ton of conversations on the matter.

There's a lot of conversations too which are pro sand sifters to help keep sand looking clean, but looking at everything I'd agree with the nay sayers, they do more harm than good.

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MikeyAl · 05/04/2016, 01:32 PM

I would be surprised if your anemone makes it. I hope it does, but they do best in established tanks. I would definitely do some research on what you should be putting in your tank. While goniopora are quite beautiful, they are also difficult to keep unless you are experienced.

Tank is only a month old- what are your water parameters?

By the very fact that your tank is only a month old, I can only surmise that you didn't quarantine your livestock. Please research qT procedures and set up.

Not trying to be harsh, just trying to help you avoid mistakes many of us have made.

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jeff240gallon · 05/04/2016, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAXpress

Interesting. Do you have a link to this discussion?

Again.. It's controversial. I'd love a reason to get my old diamond goby back, but not sure if I'm willing to risk it

crocogator106 · 05/04/2016, 05:24 PM

Is that a metal clamp on the return pump? If so I'd get rid of it.

Brieninsac · 05/04/2016, 05:38 PM

Make sure you feed your Goniopora regularly or it'll die before you know it.

heathlindner25 · 05/04/2016, 06:43 PM

With that rock pile you got, I would want a lot more flow...... also looks like both of your return nozzles will create a reverse siphon.

JammyBirch · 05/05/2016, 06:04 AM

First of all...you nailed it... i like the scape, lots of caves and room for coral. I don't disagree with what others have said, the clamp on the return must go. I think you have good taste in what you want in your tank with a 1 month old though you need to be careful about what you add.

The lights, are those Reefbreeder Values? I use that light on my tank also it's a good one. I ended up going to amazon and buying some 8020 extruded aluminum and some hardware to make a bracket to hold it i'll post a pic of it. The DT looks good the only cosmetic thing i see that could use some attention are the lights.

Welcome to the forums and the hobby.

JammyBirch · 05/05/2016, 06:09 AM

crocogator106 · 05/05/2016, 06:41 AM

I have to agree about the aquascape, very nice!

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Jerett83 · 05/05/2016, 05:01 PM

Do you have an overflow box or are you just relying on those 2 inverted elbows? Id cap them with mess if the aren't already. Wont take long for your clowns to go for a ride down to the sump.

Also you probably wont get very good surface skimming on just 2 little elbows.

05/01/2016, 09:40 AM	#1
Alphadips Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Margate, FL Posts: 4	My 1 month old reef tank (75g) Hey everybody, This is my first time posting. Been lurking for a while and have always loved the site so I joined up to get in on the action. Anyway, I have a 75 gallon reef tank with a 50 gallon sump. The inhabitants include 1 Kole Tang, 2 percula clownfish, 1 long tentacle anemone, 1 frogspawn, 1 goniopora, 10 turbo snails, 15 hermit crabs, 1 sand sifting star with roughly about 85lbs of live rock aquascaped to form the reef. As stated above, the tank is only 1 month old. Water tests done weekly and numbers are steady. Was just hoping for some opinions on improvement possibilities or advice for the future. Thanks in advance everyone! P.S forgive any formatting mistakes, I get better at posting I promise lol Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

05/04/2016, 09:43 AM	#2
jeff240gallon Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 181	My 1 month old reef tank (75g) Looks good! Has your tank fully cycled yet? If not there's ways to get around it.. Here's my future reef setup, it's only six months old, when I hit a year I have to upgrade my lighting and then soon after corals. Can't wait. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by jeff240gallon; 05/04/2016 at 09:49 AM.

05/04/2016, 01:02 PM	#7
jeff240gallon Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 181	My 1 month old reef tank (75g) http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-09/hcs3/index.php http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html Search the forums too and you'll find a ton of conversations on the matter. There's a lot of conversations too which are pro sand sifters to help keep sand looking clean, but looking at everything I'd agree with the nay sayers, they do more harm than good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by jeff240gallon; 05/04/2016 at 01:17 PM.

05/04/2016, 05:38 PM	#11
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	Make sure you feed your Goniopora regularly or it'll die before you know it. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

05/05/2016, 06:04 AM	#13
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	First of all...you nailed it... i like the scape, lots of caves and room for coral. I don't disagree with what others have said, the clamp on the return must go. I think you have good taste in what you want in your tank with a 1 month old though you need to be careful about what you add. The lights, are those Reefbreeder Values? I use that light on my tank also it's a good one. I ended up going to amazon and buying some 8020 extruded aluminum and some hardware to make a bracket to hold it i'll post a pic of it. The DT looks good the only cosmetic thing i see that could use some attention are the lights. Welcome to the forums and the hobby. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

05/04/2016, 10:40 AM	#3
ricks49reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Newport News,Va Posts: 72	Tank looks good.But you may want to reconsider the anemone and sand sifting star.The anemone is very difficult for a tank that isn't at least 6 months to a year old.The sand sifting star will starve to death in a new tank.Also keep a close eye on the Goniopora,they are difficult to keep. Wish you luck,I say all the above from past bad experiences of my own.image.jpg

05/04/2016, 11:43 AM	#5
ricks49reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Newport News,Va Posts: 72	I have a fighting conch in my 40.He does a great job cleaning up the sand and stirs it a little.In a 75 you could have more than one.

05/04/2016, 01:32 PM	#8
MikeyAl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 386	I would be surprised if your anemone makes it. I hope it does, but they do best in established tanks. I would definitely do some research on what you should be putting in your tank. While goniopora are quite beautiful, they are also difficult to keep unless you are experienced. Tank is only a month old- what are your water parameters? By the very fact that your tank is only a month old, I can only surmise that you didn't quarantine your livestock. Please research qT procedures and set up. Not trying to be harsh, just trying to help you avoid mistakes many of us have made. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/04/2016, 05:24 PM	#10
crocogator106 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Alabama Posts: 371	Is that a metal clamp on the return pump? If so I'd get rid of it.

05/04/2016, 06:43 PM	#12
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	With that rock pile you got, I would want a lot more flow...... also looks like both of your return nozzles will create a reverse siphon.

05/05/2016, 06:09 AM	#14
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	__________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

05/05/2016, 06:41 AM	#15
crocogator106 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Alabama Posts: 371	I have to agree about the aquascape, very nice! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/05/2016, 05:01 PM	#16
Jerett83 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Penetang Ontario Posts: 60	Do you have an overflow box or are you just relying on those 2 inverted elbows? Id cap them with mess if the aren't already. Wont take long for your clowns to go for a ride down to the sump. Also you probably wont get very good surface skimming on just 2 little elbows.