Well, setting it up was no walk in the park, but my intent is to keep this one simple as far as equipment.
What I mean by that is, it seems like a lot of bigger tanks go for the whole "automated SPS heaven" thing, and that's just not what I'm looking to do.
A lot of that has to do with my passion for LPS and softies. I like some SPS, but don't want to make the sacrifices or go to the trouble of setting up a system for lots of acros, etc. I'm happy with a couple of caps, some digitata, and a nice pink seriatopora.
I'd like to keep this down to the basics as much as possible- lighting, skimming, water movement.
I do see a new sump in the future, when I can afford one (next time a FAMA check rolls in maybe ) because the rubbermaid tub just isn't cutting it long-term. I knew it wouldn't.
Anyway, here are the specs at start-up:
Tank:
180 RR 2" drain and 2x1" returns, all in one corner overflow box
Lighting:
2x250 MH (ARO e-ballasts) running 10,000K XM bulbs
2x110W VHO actinic off an icecap 660
Filtration:
ETSS 800 clone skimmer driven by Iwaki 40 RLT pump
Current
Mag 12 return pump
4 MJ-1200
1 Seio (the big one)
Substrate
I went for a shallow sand bed this time, it's about 3/4" on average. Only about 70lb. of dry Southdown (yardright). I tried going barebottom, hated it, so I'm going to try this. I got a sand-sifting star and will probably get one or two more. I don't care if it's dead, I just want it clean. Also some nassarius snails, maybe a dozen now but I'll increase that with the fish load. If it starts leaching PO4, I figure removing and replacing the sand will go much smoother without a DSB and noxious gasses lurking below the surface of the sand like I had last time.
Other
I did hook up a phosban reactor, which may conflict with the "simple" approach but I've been fighting PO4 and hair algae, I assume from my LR, since I had sand bed issues nearly a year ago. I have fed close to nothing and kept a light fish load for most of that time, and the hair algae is definitely in recession but waiting for an opportunity.
Pro-Heat 350W heater. I may add another for safety when it gets colder, but temp has been holding at 80-82 so far.
Livestock
Right now, 4 green chromis, 1 Clarkii clown are the only fish. I hope to take it slow.
For corals, lots of them- the contents of my 55 that was jam-packed with corals, and some of the zo's from the prop tank. You can see in the pic, most of that is on the pile of rock on the right-hand side. Two good-sized branching hammers, a frogspawn and a green torch are the highlights.
Suppose that's it for now. Here's a pic of the tank, I'll load the thread up with some pics of the setup process a little later. It's bed time.
What I mean by that is, it seems like a lot of bigger tanks go for the whole "automated SPS heaven" thing, and that's just not what I'm looking to do.
A lot of that has to do with my passion for LPS and softies. I like some SPS, but don't want to make the sacrifices or go to the trouble of setting up a system for lots of acros, etc. I'm happy with a couple of caps, some digitata, and a nice pink seriatopora.
I'd like to keep this down to the basics as much as possible- lighting, skimming, water movement.
I do see a new sump in the future, when I can afford one (next time a FAMA check rolls in maybe ) because the rubbermaid tub just isn't cutting it long-term. I knew it wouldn't.
Anyway, here are the specs at start-up:
Tank:
180 RR 2" drain and 2x1" returns, all in one corner overflow box
Lighting:
2x250 MH (ARO e-ballasts) running 10,000K XM bulbs
2x110W VHO actinic off an icecap 660
Filtration:
ETSS 800 clone skimmer driven by Iwaki 40 RLT pump
Current
Mag 12 return pump
4 MJ-1200
1 Seio (the big one)
Substrate
I went for a shallow sand bed this time, it's about 3/4" on average. Only about 70lb. of dry Southdown (yardright). I tried going barebottom, hated it, so I'm going to try this. I got a sand-sifting star and will probably get one or two more. I don't care if it's dead, I just want it clean. Also some nassarius snails, maybe a dozen now but I'll increase that with the fish load. If it starts leaching PO4, I figure removing and replacing the sand will go much smoother without a DSB and noxious gasses lurking below the surface of the sand like I had last time.
Other
I did hook up a phosban reactor, which may conflict with the "simple" approach but I've been fighting PO4 and hair algae, I assume from my LR, since I had sand bed issues nearly a year ago. I have fed close to nothing and kept a light fish load for most of that time, and the hair algae is definitely in recession but waiting for an opportunity.
Pro-Heat 350W heater. I may add another for safety when it gets colder, but temp has been holding at 80-82 so far.
Livestock
Right now, 4 green chromis, 1 Clarkii clown are the only fish. I hope to take it slow.
For corals, lots of them- the contents of my 55 that was jam-packed with corals, and some of the zo's from the prop tank. You can see in the pic, most of that is on the pile of rock on the right-hand side. Two good-sized branching hammers, a frogspawn and a green torch are the highlights.
Suppose that's it for now. Here's a pic of the tank, I'll load the thread up with some pics of the setup process a little later. It's bed time.
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