Frag Placement..

[GorillaSmack]

What up Reefers! Relatively new to the hobby. Absolutely appreciate everything about this.

I just placed some frags in my tank. Everyone looks happy.. no signs of stress.
But, i do want to make sure my frags are placed correctly so they can thrive and expand. (Please reference pic on my page) open to constructive criticism and advice.

Thanks in advance. (tired of only researching.. time to ask some of my own Qs

[AirForceAquariu]

Well let's start with what kind of light you have. That is the real determinant. Also how large/ deep is that tank. It is hard to tell from the photo. Also, what is the one at the bottom left?

Aesthetically I think the look nice. I might move the trumpet in the center on to the rock to picture right. Leave the cave as negative space.

As for safety they appear to be places well as to not injure each other.

[GorillaSmack]

Thanks for the reply. Ive got a 29g coralife biocube.. about 16" high. i have the stock lights now.. 10k white and i actinic blue. 1 lunar led. i do have a Current USA 12 inch Truelumen pro dual dimmable led kit coming now. 12k white&453nm blue led..a deep blue 453nm..and a rose led strip.

bottom left.. aqua blue/green toadstool leather. BAD A$$.

i plan on placing a bulb or rose anemone (should it stay) in that rock on the left of the image.. the cup space would be perfect. not sure where to place the trumpet yet..

[AirForceAquariu]

Well it sounds like you have done your research. That's good! I don't know much about those lights to be honest so I can't speak that well but the tank is shallow enough that almost any of those placements are good for the LPS and toadstool.

The nem might wander but that does look like a good place for it's foot to hang out in there so hopefully it likes that spot! Looks like the start to a great setup!

Have any fish in mind?

[anthonys51]

how old is your tank. its looks pretty new, i dont see much stuff on those rock, where they live rock or dry rock

[GorillaSmack]

@Airforce-- Thanks ! id love 2 galaxy clownfish and a mandarin.

@Anthony-- Tank is 2 weeks new. placed 28lbs live rock 20lbs live sand.
took 4 days to cycle. with refugium set up, skimmer, heater no lights ran during process.

[anthonys51]

ok tank is still kind of new, but i added soft corals after 5 days and lps after 2 weeks too in my 29 gallon tank and they are all doing fine, so you should be fine. My advice in feed very little at first, then gradually go up. i also didn't add fish until 5 weeks. Remember your tank isn't fully cycled yet . beneficial bacteria takes 24 hour to grow and it doesn't require light to grow. so adding too many fish at once might overload the system as far as dosing like brs 2 part, its simple and easy imo.

[AirForceAquariu]

So I would advise against a mandarin in a tank that small even with a refugium. There are some helpful resources here on the site and the and the bare bones lowest level that is recommended is a 55 w/ 20 refuge.

cool alternatives are all over the place though!

[GorillaSmack]

@Airforce-- hmmm.. no mandarin huh.. all these other fish look soft.. and cute.. not what im looking for.. haaaaa! my lady has me with the purples in the tank already.. hahah
recommendations..? these guys state otherwise friend.. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...551&pcatid=551


@Anthony- No fish yet.. although i was planning on visiting my LFS today. i did find a bunch of cyclops snail babies hangin on the glass yesterday.. always a good thing .. in moderation. I am fully stocked and on a weekly regime for dossing. calcium, magnesium, iodine, fuel etc. i have target fed my coral once already .. ima feed them on wed. once a week brine

[Red Eyed Reefer]

I would agree with moving the trumpet, I like the idea of the cave entrance being open and exposed. Maybe move it where I suggested in the attached picture?

I support the galaxy clowns. If I didn't already have a pair of OC's I would have a pair of those guys.

The mandarin I would advise against, as did others. I would be searching to try and find something that would make that cave its home.

But overall I like the frag placement.

Good start!

[GorillaSmack]

@Red Eye-- thanks ! that was recommended.. but.. i plan on placing the anemone in that rock space. its a perfect cup. hope it likes it too.
any recommendations for cave dwellers..?

[anthonys51]

Originally Posted by GorillaSmack

@Red Eye-- thanks ! that was recommended.. but.. i plan on placing the anemone in that rock space. its a perfect cup. hope it likes it too.
any recommendations for cave dwellers..?

i know when i had an anemone in my 265 gallon reef tank years ago, it choose only spot i didnt like or want it to be. hopefully yours will be nicer

[GorillaSmack]

@Anthony-- 265 gallons?! thats what happens when you give women to many options !! haaaaaa

[Red Eyed Reefer]

Originally Posted by GorillaSmack

@Red Eye-- thanks ! that was recommended.. but.. i plan on placing the anemone in that rock space. its a perfect cup. hope it likes it too.
any recommendations for cave dwellers..?

Ahhhh I missed that but see it mentioned above now


What about directly above it? (new pic attached)

No real suggestions for a cave dweller in a tank that size that I can think of right now ATM, I'm sure someone else with more knowledge will hopefully chime in on that!

[JammyBirch]

Looks ok, I'm more of a porous rock guy instead of big smooth rocks but, I like the height I like the cave and the breadth of the scape. Is that a branching hammer on the far left? If so it looks too close to the glass, may just be the angle of the pic. Those thing get huge in the right conditions, you need to make sure it's far enough away from the glass so you can clean the glass without smacking the coral.

[GorillaSmack]

@RedEye-- im witcha bro. That would be my plan B for the trumpet. however i do want to get something with nice blue or yellow hue there.
im just going to need to let the tank take its course and let nature dictate placement

[anthonys51]

lol that's too funny smack

[Shaummy]

I think it looks pretty good..and the comments made are good ones too. The only thing I wanted to add is to keep in mind that many of the corals you have in your tank now..will grow a lot more than you think they will.

29gal isn't a ton of space to manage all that..but I guess if you are planning to frag things out as needed to prune things back you'll do fine.

[AirForceAquariu]

Yes I know that LA suggests 30 gallons... but they are also trying to make a profit. They are a good guideline for a lot of fish, but experience will teach you that there are sometimes to push it and others to not (I am still learning myself). I am hesitant in my 65 to put a mandarin in there. Here is a thread from the "New to the Hobby" stickies on it. Snorvich and Sk8r are very experienced and seasoned hobbyists. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2495138

A chalk bass would be a pretty awesome addition. They like to cruise around and have a cave to call home. Some striking indigo under the blue lights as well. (my favorite of the 3)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...00&pcatid=1700

Firefish are quite cool and live in a cave. They dart around but can be shy. They flick their dorsal fin up and down like a horses tail. Only keep 1 though.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...173&pcatid=173


Final suggestion, PJ cardinals. Cool red eyes and open water swimmers. Fun and active fish.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...6+85&pcatid=85

[GorillaSmack]

@shaummy-- i here you. good thing ive got a nice green thumb. I need to be patient i know.. Buuuuuuuut.. i did add a few more specimens last night.. pics coming soon.

@AirForce--!!!Duuude!! you saved the day.. thank you for the effort and going out of your way to find those fish for your boy ! Sold on the Pajama and Chalk. and they get along with most Clownfish .. not girlie looking and sick color patterns. very much appreciated sir. At ease.

[GorillaSmack]

My new beezy!

[anthonys51]

what is that

[chefbill]

It looks like a Duncan. Possibly an elegance.

[chefbill]

I have a chalk bass in my 29 gallon biocube very interesting active fish. I am not a big fan of the PJ Cardinals, too Dr Seuss-y for me

[GorillaSmack]

@anthony- elegance coral.

@chefbill - Chalk bass is look nice. might be joinin my team soon.