60 Gal Reef - My first foray into salt

Some of you have been along for the ride on my 60 gal very first saltwater tank progress, but for those you that haven't, I thought I'd post a condensed version of what I've got, and I will update with progress as I continue putting this it together. Should see some additional things start to come together now.

Started my tank in September 2010 as a birthday present to myself. The tank is 48lx13sx24h. It currently has the two T8 fixtures that came with it perched on the top with 50/50 actinic bulbs. Acquired live rock from 3 places. First, I bot 1 medium size and 2 small ones from Petland in Tyler and paid WAY too much for that. Then I purchased a batch from a gal in Longview that was tearing down her tank (had been out of a tank under wet paper towels for a week). Then I purchased a five gallon bucket full from a guy in Dallas off Craigslist that was tearing down his tank. I finished out the rock from Gabe's relative in Hallsville. All in all, I think I have around 60 lbs of live rock. It wasn't until I bought the Dallas live rock that I think I got any that was TRULY live. Certainly those were the first rocks that had any sign of life on them. And the rock watching began.

Unfortunately the one thing that came on the Dallas rock was a bunch of Aiptasia....more on that later.

OK, so move forward several weeks. I watch, and water test as the tank cycles....but I can't get rid of the nitrates. 3 consecutive 15gal water changes with no change to nitrates. When I finally figured out to test the water I was getting from lfs, I figured out the issue. RO water I was getting had 40+ on the nitrates so I was basically making no progress with my water changes. New water source, nitrates came down.

Here's some pics of the progression of the addition of live rock.
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So I added CUC. My decision at this point is to do Fish Only with Live Rock....then I see Daniel's tank.


(to be continued)

Looks like you've caught the bug. Saltwater setup in september and a freshwater in january... yep... you're addicted. Just go ahead and get the second mortgage and get the setup you're dreaming of. You won't have a good nights rest until you do. ;-)

So I see Daniel's tank and spend some time talking to him and others and decide, you know what...I can keep a few corals...after all, I'd gotten some Ricordea mushies on the liverock from Hallsville and they were looking pretty good.

Purchase 2 Koralia Evolution 750s and put them in.

About this time I add the first 2 oscellaris clowns. One of them never looked good from the start and I couldn't get him to eat so I lost it. Replaced it a few days later. I purchased an Eshopps HOB skimmer as my stand doesn't have room for a sump. Took some tinkering but I got it working (it's currently not, but maybe I'll explain more on that some other time. I'm working with Eshopps on it.)

So I still have this Aiptasia problem as the rock from Dallas is absolutely loaded with it. I treat the biggest ones with Aiptasia X with limited success. I end up buying a couple of peppermint shrimp and within a few days...no more Aiptasia. Haven't seen any since.

So my current stocking is as follows:
An emerald crab (lost one of two)
A huge Turbo snail (lost one of two)
Handful of cerith and nassarius snails
Some astera snails and some margarita snails
2 peppermint shrimps
2 oscellaris clowns
1 good sized Kenya Tree, that has dropped a baby (thanks Daniel!)
Green Sinularia (Thanks Gabe!)
2 Toadstools (Thanks Gabe!)
What I think we have decided is a cespitularia
Couple of BIG Yuma Ricordia mushrooms and some smaller rics

Been waiting to add anything else until I had a quarantine tank. I have solved that problem now, so my current thoughts for future stocking are as follows:

McCosker's Wrasse
Goby/Shrimp pair
Firefish (haven't decided which yet)
Pajama Cardinals or some Chromis
Flame Angel (to be added last)
Mandarin (not for quite a while yet)

So, that's where I'm at today. I'll try to take a pic tomorrow of what the tank looks like currently.

Looking good. Keep us up to date with your progress. FYI.... You gotta stop looking at other peoples tanks. It just makes the addiction worse!

unless u plan on buying the mandy pods, u gonna have to wait a long time for that one...

Most people say 90 gallon plus (and really 125 if you want to be sure) for mandarins. Unless of course you're planning on buying pods every couple of weeks. lol

Well, you know....buy the time I think I'd be ready to put a mandy in there I will have probably ungraded my tank anyway, so I should be good.

Well.....I wish I could just get a do-over on today.

Got the RO/DI hooked up. Making good 000 water now....BUT...

My 3 year old decided the freshwater fish needed some toys to play with so had a 40g full of toys, puzzle pieces, battery operateds, etc. Needless to say i was none too happy. Wish I had taken a picture because in hindsight, the image in my mind is pretty darn funny.

So, immediately, I proceeded to go get some glass to put a top on it. Took quite a bit longer than expected, and forgot I left RO running in a 5 gal bucket...oops...ran it over.

Came home to get the top on the tank, and while putting the glass in the hinge, it busted, cut my hand pretty good, took a while to clean-up....ran over second 5 gallon bucket of RO.

We've made it through dinner ok though, so maybe the day will end up ok.

Took some more pics, so I'll get them up in a bit.

lol you sir need a float valve on that r/o line!

That's funny but not funny Yuma! Years ago my sister dumped iced tea in my tank and killed all my fish.

Win wrote:lol you sir need a float valve on that r/o line!

Float valves are no good for RO systems. You have to have auto shut off kit. Best $24 I ever spent!
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/auto-shut-off-kit-for-reverse-osmosis-systems.html

Any kind of switch on an RO system scares me to death. Those filters are hooked to an unlimited water source. If the switch fails you will be mopping water for days.

I want an ATO but am affraid of a switch failing as well. very scarey to me.

I've learned my lesson...was just filling 5 gallon buckets because .... well because I could. It will normally be running into my brute.

On that note though, anyone ordering from Bulkreef, let me know.

Here's the photos.

Left Side:


Right Side:


FTS:


Enjoy!

I like that right side pic. The overhang looks nice.

Cool! When are you going to get a tang! I would be testing my water every single day waiting for the end of my cycle to get a tang in there. I love those things!

Never seen a toadstool stretch that far out! Wht lights u running

One dead Turbo....maybe all that star polyp finally got him.

Yuma wrote:
FTS:

Looks amazing! I love your setup! Great choice of live rock selection.

Ordered one of these this weekend. Be here Tues, Wed, or Thurs.

Looking good A! Just don't put anything close that she can stand on, or you might end up with more fishies that need some toys to play with!

How's the tank in her room? Got anything in it?

That's a nice looking fish you ordered.

Daniel1381 wrote:Never seen a toadstool stretch that far out! Wht lights u running

Dan-totally missed this post.

I'm running two T8s (one on each side). You know, the ones that come with it? I did buy 50/50 actinic bulbs and put in them. I love that little toadstool, there's actually two of them there on that same plug. Interestingly enough, unless something bumps into it and upsets it, it stays out like that for at least a couple hours after the lights go out. I think it's pretty happy in my tank.

You'll notice that everything in my tank is very near the top though. That is not accidental. I knew that with the T8 lighting I was going to have to keep any corals near the top for them to get enough light.

I did speak with the carpenter friend of mine this weekend, and hopefully the canopy is going to be coming along very soon!!

Thought I'd throw in a few pics of the corals I picked up at the meeting. Everything doing well, the candy cane is in my biocube, but the others are in my 60.

The green hairy's Matt gave me has sadly, disappeared. I don't know if they worked their way out of the netting and will show up one day on the back or if they just withered away into nothing.

I apologize in advance for the crappy cell phone pics.

Here's the zoas:


The Candy Cane:


And the itty bitty tri-color ricordea:

My McCosker's finally came in. Special thanks to Jennifer at Petco for sticking with it.

Here's a pic...it's not a very good one as it's still being pretty shy.