About me and my tank

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 04:25 PM

My name is Josh Vaughan and I have a 75gal. Reef that has become the pinnacle of my room. What makes me different from any other reefer I know is that I'm am a 14 year old guy. My faimly and I own the Indianapolis KOA campground and this is how I earn money in which some goes to my tank. I work x amount of hours a week and past that is $8 dollars an hours. For schooling three years ago i went to Mt. vernon and the last two years I have gone Northpoint where I go two days a week so technically it is homeschooling. The fantasy of having my own tank began when I was 11 years old when I went on a mission trip to belize and once the mission trip part was over we went on an island for the night and went snorkling and it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life. Well time went on and when I was about 12 I got a little 10 gallon tank which I later passed down to my 11 year old brother once I got my tank. The last thing that sparked my intrist in saltwater aquatiums is a cruise I went on in February of this year were I snorkled in roatan Honduras and Cozumel Mexico. I had it for around 2 years. After that I wanted to get somthing bigger and my dad said to talk to my uncle who now has a stunning 150 gal. Tank. He told me to get saltwater and after probably 6 months of looking for a good deal on one on CraigslistI bought one. For $650 in the very end of February of this year. Then it was covered in detritus, large black and white rock, probably $50 worth of fish and half dead corals. Today I have a beautiful olite white sand, more flow, working sump, refugium, and ats. I also own a ro/di system. I have gotten $140 of fish and ill be ordering another $140 ish of fish and a CUC. I'm soon changing my light from 2 150watt halide and 2 65watt t5 lights to 2 Tao tronics dim able light fixture which is suprisingly good for the price tag of $170 This whole thing had been an amazing experiance and I have learned more than I dreamed of. Well that about it. I did this because I thought this may be interesting for other reefers. If anyone else wants to add a comment or tell their reefer story go ahead.

Misled · 12/08/2012, 07:23 PM

How about some pics????

aquanooby · 12/08/2012, 07:46 PM

I wish I had started that young I only imagine where I would be now

Misled · 12/08/2012, 07:51 PM

Yea, but I'm 55. I don't think we had saltwater when I was 14.

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 09:36 PM

[IMG]

[/IMG] [IMG]

[/IMG] well I couldn't find pictures from when I just got my tank but this is probably two months ago.

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 09:39 PM

The top one in the first picture is before I changed the sand probably around a month ago[IMG]

[/IMG] here is maybe three or four months ago

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 09:43 PM

Here's my newest residence that I got a week ago from yesterday.[IMG]

[/IMG]

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misled

How about some pics????

Well there you go, before and after pics. I'll post some new ones tomarrow and again on Wednesday when I get the other fish.

EllieSuz · 12/08/2012, 10:50 PM

Good for you. I wish you continued success. Just one comment, you should be careful how many new fish you add at once. Sometimes people get overeager to stock their tanks and put too many in at once and cause an ammonia spike. I think you should read about quarantine tanks and see if you can develop the habit of QT'ing new fish.

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllieSuz

Good for you. I wish you continued success. Just one comment, you should be careful how many new fish you add at once. Sometimes people get overeager to stock their tanks and put too many in at once and cause an ammonia spike. I think you should read about quarantine tanks and see if you can develop the habit of QT'ing new fish.

Well to be honest I don't have all that much room in our house for a QT. I added 7 fish a week ago( one small Banggai died after being stuck to a power head) that are pretty small for the most part and the ones I'm going to order are flame angel, kole tang, royal gramma, and a Randall's goby. Do you thing this is to fast for adding fish?

Tickle · 12/08/2012, 11:31 PM

I'm my opinion it may be a little fast and just off hand I'm not sure a 75 is big enough for a kole tang. Don't quote me on that though.

Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk 2

fish clown · 12/08/2012, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tickle

I'm my opinion it may be a little fast and just off hand I'm not sure a 75 is big enough for a kole tang. Don't quote me on that though.

Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk 2

I have looked into that and live aquaria has the min tank size 70gal and blue zoo aquatics says 50 gals I believe.

EllieSuz · 12/08/2012, 11:59 PM

Whoa, you need to really slow down. I'm not kidding about this. Too many fish at once and too many fish for a tank that size. Your tank is still new. You're asking for a disaster. You cannot ever put eleven fish in a 75 gallon tank. Depending on size, maybe six to eight fish total and they should be added one, or at most, two at a time with a couple of weeks between additions. Every time you add fish, the biologic load has to adjust to the new amount of waste. That takes time. There's a saying about the reef hobby, "nothing good happens fast" and it's so true. Your tank is big enough for a Kole Tang, but you need to re-think your stock list and then decide what ones you absolutely have to have because the order you get them helps determine how well they will get along. Have you read all the stickies on the "New to the Hobby" forum? If not, you should.

fish clown · 12/09/2012, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllieSuz

Whoa, you need to really slow down. I'm not kidding about this. Too many fish at once and too many fish for a tank that size. Your tank is still new. You're asking for a disaster. You cannot ever put eleven fish in a 75 gallon tank. Depending on size, maybe six to eight fish total and they should be added one, or at most, two at a time with a couple of weeks between additions. Every time you add fish, the biologic load has to adjust to the new amount of waste. That takes time. There's a saying about the reef hobby, "nothing good happens fast" and it's so true. Your tank is big enough for a Kole Tang, but you need to re-think your stock list and then decide what ones you absolutely have to have because the order you get them helps determine how well they will get along. Have you read all the stickies on the "New to the Hobby" forum? If not, you should.

Im havin one of those I realy want o sleep bit cant nights. I've presented my plan on my own thread and no one objected to adding four fish at once. I just added 7 fish without my parameters going out of wack and I have read the bio filtration I guess you could call it adjusts to more bio load fairly quickly. I will be selling two of the cardinals I have once two have paired up so I will have eleven fish which includes 3 cromis that dont add to much bio load and they fire fish I have don't eat hardly anymore than the chromis. There is to much contradicting things in reefing and now I'm a bit confused.

aquanooby · 12/09/2012, 07:16 AM

I know patience is hard and these people only tell us these things so we have continued success. I am 40 and I still find it hard to be patient lol but I force myself to be. I work way to hard for my money to throw it away. I want a superb tank not an average tank so I will take it slow. I trust what these people say because they have the experience, they have made the mistakes so we do not have to.

fish clown · 12/09/2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquanooby

I know patience is hard and these people only tell us these things so we have continued success. I am 40 and I still find it hard to be patient lol but I force myself to be. I work way to hard for my money to throw it away. I want a superb tank not an average tank so I will take it slow. I trust what these people say because they have the experience, they have made the mistakes so we do not have to.

I would be fine waiting bit how do I wait for? I was going to go head and order the fish because I got the ok from two people I know personally and also people on here. Also what do you think about having thirteen fish? I want my tank to eventually have two clowns, two banggais, randells goby, 3 chromis, two fire fish, royal gramma, kole tang, and flame angel. I have skimmer rated to 150 gallons and an ats so that should help the bio load.

EllieSuz · 12/09/2012, 09:59 AM

Patience is key to success in this hobby. Whether you take advice from members on this forum is up to you. I have six fish in a 60 gallon tank and I know it wouldn't take one single more fish without causing all kinds of water quality problems. Tangs, especially, produce a lot of waste and have an enormous appetite. Eventually somebody will tell you thirteen fish is just fine and you'll grab onto that advice despite many responses to the contrary. I can only reiterate what I've already told you. A 75 gallon tank is a lovely size, but whatever size you have, there will always be some limitations on how much livestock it can hold.

fish clown · 12/09/2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllieSuz

Patience is key to success in this hobby. Whether you take advice from members on this forum is up to you. I have six fish in a 60 gallon tank and I know it wouldn't take one single more fish without causing all kinds of water quality problems. Tangs, especially, produce a lot of waste and have an enormous appetite. Eventually somebody will tell you thirteen fish is just fine and you'll grab onto that advice despite many responses to the contrary. I can only reiterate what I've already told you. A 75 gallon tank is a lovely size, but whatever size you have, there will always be some limitations on how much livestock it can hold.

One of the things I've learned is to not rush into things because it can cause problem but I don't want I take advise from just one person but it is definently worth looking into. Anyway here is my tank today.

fish clown · 12/09/2012, 10:18 PM

Ok so what I've come back with is thank it not nessisarily the number of fish but it is about water quality. I am still going to order the fish but I am waiting at least till I get rid of the two banggais. My skimmer and ats help reduce the bio load very well. Waiting and getting rid of the two banggais first I think will help the bio filtration to adapt easier to the tank once the new fish arrive.

Rembee · 12/09/2012, 10:44 PM

How many anemones do you have in there? It looks like you have about 6 to 8 of them. Are those all Bubble tips?

mhucasey · 12/09/2012, 11:07 PM

There is certainly no specific number of fish that a particular size tank is rated for - but what is needed is longer term experience watching the inhabitants and knowing which ones to choose, which are compatible, and what and how to feed them.

I started my first reef tank over 20 years ago and have a special kind of obsession for this hobby. I have 27 fish in my 96 gallon tank and have to dose Nitrate to keep the value at 1-2 ppm. My fish are healthy and active and very well fed(4-5 times a day in fact). All that being said, if someone new to the hobby tried to copy this, they probably would have a disaster on their hands.

Watch your tank closely, keep a daily log of whatever you do to the tank, whatever changes, and whatever you test. Some examples I write down are adding fish, changing an additive, test results, changing carbon, new food, etc.

What you will find with time and observation is that you will notice something is off way before any test result would tell you. You will be able to tell what your water quality is like from looking at your tank. Your test results will go from being the "indicators" to the "verification" of what is going right or wrong with the tank. This is what the other posters are referring to when they talk about "experience". Read as much as you can and research everything before you add something or make a change.

From the photos your reef is coming along very nicely -- and I don't blame you for wanting the Banggai Cardinals, they are one of my favorites as well. You have thought ahead by oversizing your skimmer and setting up the ATS. Just make sure to keep the skimmer clean and operating at peak efficiency! Keep a close eye on the anemones, If they die they are a big mess to be sure. If they live, they want to split or get too big

Good luck and keep us posted!

fish clown · 12/10/2012, 07:46 AM

Well thank to all for this advise and I will monitor my levels closely. I'll try to log things also that are different than things I usually do as we'll. I do have 6 rose bubble anemones and when I got my tank I had three. Two spilt on there own and I split two by hand actully a few months ago any I started a thread about it with lots of pictures. I sold one of them. I'm probably going to have to sell three or four of them because they Are reproducing and growing well and I want to make room for some corals that I want to add at some point too.

fish clown · 12/10/2012, 03:22 PM

Do anyone know if anemones take up any bioload?

fish clown · 12/12/2012, 05:06 PM

I just confirmed a trade with a guy today. I'm trading four rose bubble anemones for 5 heads of purple hammer coral, 2 frags of Monti, and the big one, 20 heads of blatos coral. I'll send pics when I get them on Friday.

Lionfish666 · 12/12/2012, 05:26 PM

Hey fish, your tank looks great! I think your getting the raw end of the deal on that swap though, not sure about in the US but here rose bubbles are just about the most expensive corals there are, going for about 150 on forums to $250-$300 in shops.
Here the prices (forum) would be Hammer $40, frags 15 each, blatos $40.
Can't you sell the anenomies then just buy exactly the corals you want?

12/08/2012, 04:25 PM	#1
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	About me and my tank My name is Josh Vaughan and I have a 75gal. Reef that has become the pinnacle of my room. What makes me different from any other reefer I know is that I'm am a 14 year old guy. My faimly and I own the Indianapolis KOA campground and this is how I earn money in which some goes to my tank. I work x amount of hours a week and past that is $8 dollars an hours. For schooling three years ago i went to Mt. vernon and the last two years I have gone Northpoint where I go two days a week so technically it is homeschooling. The fantasy of having my own tank began when I was 11 years old when I went on a mission trip to belize and once the mission trip part was over we went on an island for the night and went snorkling and it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life. Well time went on and when I was about 12 I got a little 10 gallon tank which I later passed down to my 11 year old brother once I got my tank. The last thing that sparked my intrist in saltwater aquatiums is a cruise I went on in February of this year were I snorkled in roatan Honduras and Cozumel Mexico. I had it for around 2 years. After that I wanted to get somthing bigger and my dad said to talk to my uncle who now has a stunning 150 gal. Tank. He told me to get saltwater and after probably 6 months of looking for a good deal on one on CraigslistI bought one. For $650 in the very end of February of this year. Then it was covered in detritus, large black and white rock, probably $50 worth of fish and half dead corals. Today I have a beautiful olite white sand, more flow, working sump, refugium, and ats. I also own a ro/di system. I have gotten $140 of fish and ill be ordering another $140 ish of fish and a CUC. I'm soon changing my light from 2 150watt halide and 2 65watt t5 lights to 2 Tao tronics dim able light fixture which is suprisingly good for the price tag of $170 This whole thing had been an amazing experiance and I have learned more than I dreamed of. Well that about it. I did this because I thought this may be interesting for other reefers. If anyone else wants to add a comment or tell their reefer story go ahead.

12/08/2012, 07:23 PM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	How about some pics???? __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

12/08/2012, 07:51 PM	#4
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Yea, but I'm 55. I don't think we had saltwater when I was 14. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

12/08/2012, 09:36 PM	#5
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] well I couldn't find pictures from when I just got my tank but this is probably two months ago.

12/08/2012, 09:39 PM	#6
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	The top one in the first picture is before I changed the sand probably around a month ago[IMG][/IMG] here is maybe three or four months ago

12/08/2012, 07:46 PM	#3
aquanooby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 144	I wish I had started that young I only imagine where I would be now

12/08/2012, 09:43 PM	#7
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	Here's my newest residence that I got a week ago from yesterday.[IMG][/IMG]

12/08/2012, 10:50 PM	#9
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Good for you. I wish you continued success. Just one comment, you should be careful how many new fish you add at once. Sometimes people get overeager to stock their tanks and put too many in at once and cause an ammonia spike. I think you should read about quarantine tanks and see if you can develop the habit of QT'ing new fish. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

12/08/2012, 11:31 PM	#11
Tickle Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pardeeville Wi Posts: 272	I'm my opinion it may be a little fast and just off hand I'm not sure a 75 is big enough for a kole tang. Don't quote me on that though. Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ 125 in wall with end overflow, 50&100 rubbermaid basement sump, 2x250 20k halides, 200+ of live rock, aqua C ev180 skimmer w/mag 9.5, Apex AquaController Current Tank Info: 20L custom AIO, Kessil A150, Budget build

12/08/2012, 11:59 PM	#13
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Whoa, you need to really slow down. I'm not kidding about this. Too many fish at once and too many fish for a tank that size. Your tank is still new. You're asking for a disaster. You cannot ever put eleven fish in a 75 gallon tank. Depending on size, maybe six to eight fish total and they should be added one, or at most, two at a time with a couple of weeks between additions. Every time you add fish, the biologic load has to adjust to the new amount of waste. That takes time. There's a saying about the reef hobby, "nothing good happens fast" and it's so true. Your tank is big enough for a Kole Tang, but you need to re-think your stock list and then decide what ones you absolutely have to have because the order you get them helps determine how well they will get along. Have you read all the stickies on the "New to the Hobby" forum? If not, you should. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

12/09/2012, 07:16 AM	#15
aquanooby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 144	I know patience is hard and these people only tell us these things so we have continued success. I am 40 and I still find it hard to be patient lol but I force myself to be. I work way to hard for my money to throw it away. I want a superb tank not an average tank so I will take it slow. I trust what these people say because they have the experience, they have made the mistakes so we do not have to.

12/09/2012, 09:59 AM	#17
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Patience is key to success in this hobby. Whether you take advice from members on this forum is up to you. I have six fish in a 60 gallon tank and I know it wouldn't take one single more fish without causing all kinds of water quality problems. Tangs, especially, produce a lot of waste and have an enormous appetite. Eventually somebody will tell you thirteen fish is just fine and you'll grab onto that advice despite many responses to the contrary. I can only reiterate what I've already told you. A 75 gallon tank is a lovely size, but whatever size you have, there will always be some limitations on how much livestock it can hold. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

12/09/2012, 10:18 PM	#19
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	Ok so what I've come back with is thank it not nessisarily the number of fish but it is about water quality. I am still going to order the fish but I am waiting at least till I get rid of the two banggais. My skimmer and ats help reduce the bio load very well. Waiting and getting rid of the two banggais first I think will help the bio filtration to adapt easier to the tank once the new fish arrive.

12/09/2012, 10:44 PM	#20
Rembee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 50 Phantoms Down Posts: 199	How many anemones do you have in there? It looks like you have about 6 to 8 of them. Are those all Bubble tips? __________________ A foolish man thinks he knows it all, a wise man never stops learning! Current Tank Info: 90G Aqueon DT, 4" DSB, 45G sump w/refugium and a ATS, ApexLite Controller, Eheim 1262 return, 2xKoralia 1400 evo's, 2xKoralia 750 evo's, 6xT-5 retro, Glass-Holes 1500 gph overflow, Ocean Pulse Wave Maker, Tunze Osmolator ATO, 2x150w Finnex Htrs.

12/09/2012, 11:07 PM	#21
mhucasey Acros & wieners, oh my! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Oceanside, California Posts: 3,706	There is certainly no specific number of fish that a particular size tank is rated for - but what is needed is longer term experience watching the inhabitants and knowing which ones to choose, which are compatible, and what and how to feed them. I started my first reef tank over 20 years ago and have a special kind of obsession for this hobby. I have 27 fish in my 96 gallon tank and have to dose Nitrate to keep the value at 1-2 ppm. My fish are healthy and active and very well fed(4-5 times a day in fact). All that being said, if someone new to the hobby tried to copy this, they probably would have a disaster on their hands. Watch your tank closely, keep a daily log of whatever you do to the tank, whatever changes, and whatever you test. Some examples I write down are adding fish, changing an additive, test results, changing carbon, new food, etc. What you will find with time and observation is that you will notice something is off way before any test result would tell you. You will be able to tell what your water quality is like from looking at your tank. Your test results will go from being the "indicators" to the "verification" of what is going right or wrong with the tank. This is what the other posters are referring to when they talk about "experience". Read as much as you can and research everything before you add something or make a change. From the photos your reef is coming along very nicely -- and I don't blame you for wanting the Banggai Cardinals, they are one of my favorites as well. You have thought ahead by oversizing your skimmer and setting up the ATS. Just make sure to keep the skimmer clean and operating at peak efficiency! Keep a close eye on the anemones, If they die they are a big mess to be sure. If they live, they want to split or get too big Good luck and keep us posted! __________________ - Matt I call the big one "Bitey" - Homer Simpson See my tank thread here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2468548 Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Rimless Starphire Shallow Reef. Reef Octopus Diablo EXT-200 skimmer, Chaeto Reactor, Lighting: ATI Sunpower 8X39W, 6X39W Sunpower

12/10/2012, 07:46 AM	#22
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	Well thank to all for this advise and I will monitor my levels closely. I'll try to log things also that are different than things I usually do as we'll. I do have 6 rose bubble anemones and when I got my tank I had three. Two spilt on there own and I split two by hand actully a few months ago any I started a thread about it with lots of pictures. I sold one of them. I'm probably going to have to sell three or four of them because they Are reproducing and growing well and I want to make room for some corals that I want to add at some point too.

12/10/2012, 03:22 PM	#23
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	Do anyone know if anemones take up any bioload?

12/12/2012, 05:06 PM	#24
fish clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 484	I just confirmed a trade with a guy today. I'm trading four rose bubble anemones for 5 heads of purple hammer coral, 2 frags of Monti, and the big one, 20 heads of blatos coral. I'll send pics when I get them on Friday.

12/12/2012, 05:26 PM	#25
Lionfish666 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 166	Hey fish, your tank looks great! I think your getting the raw end of the deal on that swap though, not sure about in the US but here rose bubbles are just about the most expensive corals there are, going for about 150 on forums to $250-$300 in shops. Here the prices (forum) would be Hammer $40, frags 15 each, blatos $40. Can't you sell the anenomies then just buy exactly the corals you want?