New here, Just wanted to make my first post and say hi :)

[l2enagade007]

Hey guys, im new to the hobby. Had a 20 gallon Fresh water tank before I found a great deal on a 75 gallon Oceanic tank a buddy was storing in his garage. I spent alot of time researching how to maintain a reef tank and how to set it up, alot of time browsing around here and reading some good info before i registered, and with alot of help from the guy from my local small salt water fish store (who sold me an awsome light off his tank at home) and a good buddy of mine with a nice 90 gallon setup, I now have this

When I first took the tank home:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...7/IMG_2983.jpg

Bought A new light and 60lbs of rock, powerheads and set it up:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...7/IMG_3022.jpg

Broke up rock, added 2 clownfish, small green star polyp, and 2 watermelon shrooms on a nice purpled rock they were attached too:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...007/003-35.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...7/IMG_3057.jpg

And as it sits now, another 50/60 lbs of rock, blue tang, yellow tang, 2 clowns, and a bubble tip anenome. Oh and a handful of turbo snails.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...007/029-12.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...007/025-17.jpg

Im definitly hooked and obsessed with my tank. Its only a month old, I have all the basic testing equipment i need and so far everythings good and stable and right where I want it. My ultimate goal is to really fill it with coral. One week at a time ill slowly add hardy corals untill my tank is well established and can take more delicate ones. Well now that I introduced myself and registered I hope i can learn alot more and get some good advice and see everyones Reef setups

[Rockys_Pride]

Hi!

[sleepydoc]

Welcome to the addiction!

[l2enagade007]

lol thanks guys

[gone fishin]

Howdy, sounds like the right attitude to be successful good luck.

[Fish doctor]

Welcome to the forum. You made the right choice by joining, have fun.

[godsdoc]

Welcome to the forum and hobby(addiction). Once you get bit by the bug its hard to stop.

[l2enagade007]

well, little update, figured id just keep my tank under this thread. More livestock and a buddy gave me a piece of coral. Unfortunately my yellow tang died I was sad. Noticed it acting a bit funny before it buried itself in the corner of the tank and died. Tested water and tested again and everything seems fine and dandy. Figured it was just a weirdo tang. Been putting prime in the tank everyday too. what are ya gonna do.

Anyways, new livestock. Despite what I have read about clowns, the guy who runs the LFS swears that these clowns he have will be good together, they breed clowns at the college in town and he says they are all family and will be fine and he has 3 orange and 2 black clowns in his tank at home. I figured id try it out.



So far so good. All the clowns are active and are always swimming with eachother. They seem to sleep together in a big ball of clowns on the bottom corner of the tank lol. None of them will host my damn bubbletip yet even though the black clowns were hosting a mushroom when i bought them.

Got a branchy frogspawn frag out of a friends tank.



3 Shrimp.



2 of these guys and a red one with white spots that i was told ill never see unless I buy a friend for it. But im about to cook these damn things if they dont leave my BTA alone. I swear to got they friggen host the ting. I scare them away with a fish net, and there back. They keep rubbing there tentacles on the BTA and it keeps shriveling up when they touch it, then the shrimp will start walking on it. Im just leaving it for now but i feel like the clowns will never go to it like this. If it lasts more than a month or two i might attempt to move the BTA to a different spot I think itll like. Its got a nice hole for it to bury its body in.

Starry Blenny. Love this guy. Hes awsome


AND MY FAVORITE OF THEM ALL! Just picked her up today since my Yellow tang died I hear there a bit finnecky and not everyone has luck with them, but I swear I thought it was the nicest fish in the whole fish store. I had to have it. Its beautiful. Powder Brown Tang.




Only had her 6 hours now, but she seems to be adjusting well. Active. Getting along very well with my hippo, they were swimming around alot together. Both about the same size. Fed it some frozen brine shrimp and put purple seaweed on a veggie clip and it ate.

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

l2enegade,

To Reef Central

[SaltyWenStirred]

I like your black sand! Nice looking clowns too. Hope they play nice.

[Mcluett]

Do you plan on swapping out the tangs once they start to out grow your tank? or are you going to be upgrading?

[l2enagade007]

Honestly iv already been thinking of bigger tanks when i move out in 5 months a have to break everything down. You think ill have a big problem with these guys in my 4 foot tank?

[Mcluett]

The tangs should at least be in a 6' tank. Live aquaria suggests 125 gallons. So an upgrade would probably be best for the fish, and you as well. Not so good on your wallet though.

[Thetman36]

I have 4 clowns in my tank and they all get along. They even sleep together.

[l2enagade007]

Little update



new powerhead on the left. Much smoother gentle flow. Also got new locline on top with a Y fitting and a head agitating the surface and one on the rocks. Much happier now. Moved the mushrooms out of the heavy current I had them in before and there much happier and more open now too.

Got a Duncan today


Also got a plate coral


and a Bubble Coral


Also kind of tweaked my sump. I got rid of the entire top piece and filter chamber thats designed for wet/dry bioballs and just ran the hose underwater so its quiter. I hated the prefilter in my overflow on the PVC because when it filled with particles they would just fall back into the water when I removed the piece to wash it out and it lost suction. So it seemed pointless to me. I put it on the end of the hose and pushed it against the glass so any uneaten food will hopefully stay inside of it and i can remove it and wash it out untill i get a filter sock or whatever there called. I put some filters inbetween the chambers to block air bubbles and its working well. Also put a piece of tupperware under the pump to keep it from vibrating on the bottom. I just need to get some carbon and throw it in there




I guess its getting twords 2 months iv had the tank now. Did my first water change earlier this week. Im fairly happy for the most part with how it sits now Just want to keep adding corals to it and eventually a wrass and a goby

[Tuton]

What kind of lighting do you have???
Those are some nice anemones, I'm jealous

[l2enagade007]

Originally Posted by Tuton

What kind of lighting do you have???
Those are some nice anemones, I'm jealous

you can kinda see the lights good on this picture. I dont really have a good pic of them and i just got a canopy for the tank so this pic is gonna have to do

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y52...007/014-33.jpg

2 metal halides, 2 blue VHO's, 2 LED tubes

and i appreciate what you said about the anenome It always kind of deflates and looks like hair when the big lights are on, and when the LED's come on it always looks super bubbley and awsome lol