My first tank

AK707 · 10/15/2016, 12:56 PM

hello everyone, i just purchased my first tank and it will be delivered in a few days. I'm probably going to start a build thread once it arrives

i purchased the nuvo 40 starter kit, hydra 26 light and the osmolator universal 3155 ato. i will probably buy a reef keeper controllers well in a couple months..

i pretty much understand and have a good plan for the cycle process so I'm looking ahead now and researching adding fish and coral to the tank so I'm ready once it cycles...

can someone link me to some good threads regarding the issue of stocking fish and coral?

thank you

Denbf58 · 10/16/2016, 06:55 AM

To Reef Central post what fish and corals before you by to make sure tank size compatible

SFish · 10/16/2016, 10:56 AM

Welcome to the site and have fun. As far as the fish I would make a list and post it.

AK707 · 10/16/2016, 11:53 AM

a clown will be the first fish after the tank cycles...
as far as other fish go, i definitely want a tang i know it will out grow my tank but ill just give it away once it gets to big
6 line wrasse
3 or 4 little schooling fish like chromis
tail spot blenny
purple firefish

A sea K · 10/16/2016, 12:56 PM

As nice looking as six lined wrasses are I would pass on one, they have a reputation of being a tank bully even though they are small, this is especially a concern when housing in smaller tanks with docile tankmates. I would suggest as an alternate one of the Possum Wrasses, they stay small and are very peaceful but need to be kept only with other passive tank mates. It might take awhile for them to get comfortable and stay out in the open but it is worth the effort IMO.

3 or 4 Chromis will become just one over time so I would look for smaller gobies or blennies instead to fill that gap. Possibly even a pair of Royal Grammas , if you get them small they will pretty much sort things out on their own. Not really many options for schooling or groups of fish in your size tank. Blue Gudgeons or Zebra Dartfish will hang together and are active fish but honestly a bit too big for Nuvo 40.

Houdi · 10/16/2016, 02:06 PM

Some of the Decorator Hybred Clownfish can be quite beautiful and unusual, 2 small Royal Grammas , a Cardinal would keep the peace and a Yellow Watchman Goby.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Houdi · 10/16/2016, 02:16 PM

Even a small tang would get too stressed out in a 40 gal.tank. It may live for a few weeks but usually that's it. They need a distance to swim from one side of the tank to the other not offered in 40 gal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

marleesan · 10/16/2016, 07:13 PM

I also recommend against the tang, two feet is way too small for a tang, even temporarily

AK707 · 10/16/2016, 07:18 PM

awesome recommendations guys, i remember reading something about the 6 line wrasses being jerks now that you mention that but the possum wrasses look cool too....im super bummed about the tangs, blue tangs are easily one of my favorite looking fish.

SFish · 10/17/2016, 02:51 AM

If u want to get a Tang then your going to need a big tank.

turbo4603 · 10/17/2016, 11:56 AM

What corals are you planning on keeping? Circulation? Skimmer? Rocks?

I'm also about to begin my Nuvo 40 build. Not my first tank, but i did take a 10 year hiatus from the hobby.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AK707 · 10/17/2016, 11:58 AM

well i just went to both local fish stores, one had a pretty good selection but the corals were over priced and some of the fish didn't look very healthy at all, a couple tanks actually had dead fish in them...the other store had a super lousy selection.
so now it looks like I'm stuck with buying livestock online.
I've done a great deal of research on a couple online vendors and found a few with a very good reputation.
SHIPPING PRICES..uuuugh.
one store has free shipping over $200 and pretty reasonable prices.
so lets pretend my tank cycles in 3 weeks, then i wait another week and buy a clown fish, and a hermit or emerald crab, a shrimp, snails, somthin along those lines, say 1 fish and 2 emeralds, 2 hermits, a fire shrimp and 5 snails. and just eat the shipping price with that $40ish order and spend 20 or whatever to ship, watch the tank closely for a month make sure everything is stable then just load up on some corals and another fish or 2 to get that free shipping on orders over 200...my shopping basket has 6 corals, a purple fire fish and tail spot blemmy and is just over $200 to qualify for free shipping.
seems reasonable to me....thoughts?

AK707 · 10/17/2016, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo4603

What corals are you planning on keeping? Circulation? Skimmer? Rocks?

I'm also about to begin my Nuvo 40 build. Not my first tank, but i did take a 10 year hiatus from the hobby.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

im not 100% sure on corals, probably a little mix of everything and stuff thats easy to keep, i like the soft stuff that moves with the flow.

40lbs of dry reefsaver rock
Hydor Koralia Evolution 600
no skimmer, just frequent water changes. I've read the skimmers this size just don't work that great and a 20% weekly water change is only 8 gallons which don't seem too difficult to me

turbo4603 · 10/17/2016, 09:14 PM

Sweet! I'm going a slightly different approach but kudos mate!! Keep this thread updated with progress!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AK707 · 10/24/2016, 12:27 PM

quick question on my rock. i have about 30 lbs of new reef saver rock and about 7lbs of tonga shelf and fiji dry rock. the tonga and fiji have a little bit of old organic material on it, now im thinking i should wash i with acid and get it all cleaned up before i throw it in my tank with live sand and bio spira....what do you guys think? wash it first or just throw it in there and let the bacteria clean it off. tank would probably cycle faster and stay more steady if i cleaned it off first

ssick92 · 10/24/2016, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK707

quick question on my rock. i have about 30 lbs of new reef saver rock and about 7lbs of tonga shelf and fiji dry rock. the tonga and fiji have a little bit of old organic material on it, now im thinking i should wash i with acid and get it all cleaned up before i throw it in my tank with live sand and bio spira....what do you guys think? wash it first or just throw it in there and let the bacteria clean it off. tank would probably cycle faster and stay more steady if i cleaned it off first

I would just throw it in the tank. Any dead organic material on the rock will actually just help kickstart your cycle. Some people prefer to use completely clean dry rock (acid wash, etc.) but I don't really subscribe to that...

Same with the sand. Some prefer dry sand, but I prefer to go with live sand. Either one works, and both have their pros and cons.

reddtiger88 · 10/24/2016, 07:49 PM

It might prolong your cycle, but it will add life to your tank. On the other hand, that is how you introduce new pest. So, flip a coin.

10/15/2016, 12:56 PM	#1
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	My first tank hello everyone, i just purchased my first tank and it will be delivered in a few days. I'm probably going to start a build thread once it arrives i purchased the nuvo 40 starter kit, hydra 26 light and the osmolator universal 3155 ato. i will probably buy a reef keeper controllers well in a couple months.. i pretty much understand and have a good plan for the cycle process so I'm looking ahead now and researching adding fish and coral to the tank so I'm ready once it cycles... can someone link me to some good threads regarding the issue of stocking fish and coral? thank you

10/16/2016, 06:55 AM	#2
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	*To Reef Central* post what fish and corals before you by to make sure tank size compatible __________________ 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

10/16/2016, 12:56 PM	#5
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	As nice looking as six lined wrasses are I would pass on one, they have a reputation of being a tank bully even though they are small, this is especially a concern when housing in smaller tanks with docile tankmates. I would suggest as an alternate one of the Possum Wrasses, they stay small and are very peaceful but need to be kept only with other passive tank mates. It might take awhile for them to get comfortable and stay out in the open but it is worth the effort IMO. 3 or 4 Chromis will become just one over time so I would look for smaller gobies or blennies instead to fill that gap. Possibly even a pair of Royal Grammas , if you get them small they will pretty much sort things out on their own. Not really many options for schooling or groups of fish in your size tank. Blue Gudgeons or Zebra Dartfish will hang together and are active fish but honestly a bit too big for Nuvo 40. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/16/2016, 07:13 PM	#8
marleesan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 327	I also recommend against the tang, two feet is way too small for a tang, even temporarily __________________ 90 gallon FOWLR Valentini puffer, ocellaris clown, cherub angelfish, flametail blenny, falco hawkfish, green wrasse 180 gallon reef: starry blenny, yellowtail damsel

10/24/2016, 07:49 PM	#17
reddtiger88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 73	It might prolong your cycle, but it will add life to your tank. On the other hand, that is how you introduce new pest. So, flip a coin. __________________ In 100 years we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to teaching Remedial English in college. - Joseph Sobran. Current Tank Info: 14 Biocube mini reef, 75 reef

10/16/2016, 10:56 AM	#3
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	Welcome to the site and have fun. As far as the fish I would make a list and post it.

10/16/2016, 11:53 AM	#4
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	a clown will be the first fish after the tank cycles... as far as other fish go, i definitely want a tang i know it will out grow my tank but ill just give it away once it gets to big 6 line wrasse 3 or 4 little schooling fish like chromis tail spot blenny purple firefish

10/16/2016, 02:06 PM	#6
Houdi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 6	Some of the Decorator Hybred Clownfish can be quite beautiful and unusual, 2 small Royal Grammas , a Cardinal would keep the peace and a Yellow Watchman Goby. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/16/2016, 02:16 PM	#7
Houdi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 6	Even a small tang would get too stressed out in a 40 gal.tank. It may live for a few weeks but usually that's it. They need a distance to swim from one side of the tank to the other not offered in 40 gal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/16/2016, 07:18 PM	#9
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	awesome recommendations guys, i remember reading something about the 6 line wrasses being jerks now that you mention that but the possum wrasses look cool too....im super bummed about the tangs, blue tangs are easily one of my favorite looking fish.

10/17/2016, 02:51 AM	#10
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	If u want to get a Tang then your going to need a big tank.

10/17/2016, 11:56 AM	#11
turbo4603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 3	What corals are you planning on keeping? Circulation? Skimmer? Rocks? I'm also about to begin my Nuvo 40 build. Not my first tank, but i did take a 10 year hiatus from the hobby. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/17/2016, 11:58 AM	#12
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	well i just went to both local fish stores, one had a pretty good selection but the corals were over priced and some of the fish didn't look very healthy at all, a couple tanks actually had dead fish in them...the other store had a super lousy selection. so now it looks like I'm stuck with buying livestock online. I've done a great deal of research on a couple online vendors and found a few with a very good reputation. SHIPPING PRICES..uuuugh. one store has free shipping over $200 and pretty reasonable prices. so lets pretend my tank cycles in 3 weeks, then i wait another week and buy a clown fish, and a hermit or emerald crab, a shrimp, snails, somthin along those lines, say 1 fish and 2 emeralds, 2 hermits, a fire shrimp and 5 snails. and just eat the shipping price with that $40ish order and spend 20 or whatever to ship, watch the tank closely for a month make sure everything is stable then just load up on some corals and another fish or 2 to get that free shipping on orders over 200...my shopping basket has 6 corals, a purple fire fish and tail spot blemmy and is just over $200 to qualify for free shipping. seems reasonable to me....thoughts?

10/17/2016, 09:14 PM	#14
turbo4603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 3	Sweet! I'm going a slightly different approach but kudos mate!! Keep this thread updated with progress! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/24/2016, 12:27 PM	#15
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	quick question on my rock. i have about 30 lbs of new reef saver rock and about 7lbs of tonga shelf and fiji dry rock. the tonga and fiji have a little bit of old organic material on it, now im thinking i should wash i with acid and get it all cleaned up before i throw it in my tank with live sand and bio spira....what do you guys think? wash it first or just throw it in there and let the bacteria clean it off. tank would probably cycle faster and stay more steady if i cleaned it off first