40 gallon build questions

[Scott Ulrich]

Since this has become my build thread, was thinking I would give an update. Unfortunately, my orchid dottyback and dragonette passed away [emoji20] not sure if I let my salinity creep to high or of they didn't like the algae outbreak.

One of my corals came with a pineapple sponge, which has now turned into hundreds of pineapple sponges in my sump. I've read this is normal and one nutrients are consumed they kind of just disappear...

Here's a list of current coral ( all doing great) and fish/inverts:
1. Two clowns
2. Two cleaner shrimp
3. Couple of snails and hermits

1. Rhodactis mushroom
2. Ricordea mushroom
3. Euphyllia hammer
4. Montipora
5. Caulastrea candy cane
6. Lobophytum Devils hand
7. Purple brush Gorgonian
8. Corkys fingers Gorgonian

Including pics of the tank and the sponges. I did move the softy devil's hand to the sand since this pic.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Sorry about your fish.. tank is looking good

 

[Scott Ulrich]

Thanks you. The ruby red dragonette was an impulse buy (mistake), then I read later how fragile they are and need established pods. I had him for about 4 months. Sad as they were beautiful fish, but I should have stuck to the hardy beginner fish list.

I had someone say that leathers can take over rock so I moved it over to a small glass breaker in the corner.

I have been fighting this green brown hair algae for a month it sticks to the sand so I feel like I'm throwing a lot of sand away.

Including a newer picture since that last one was from December.

 

[Scott Ulrich]

Last post was almost a year ago, so I wanted to give an update. The tank now about 1.5 years old. Made a few beginner mistakes and algae/cyano outbreaks (currently dealing with bubble algae).

I did lose one head of my hammer from being too aggressive at trying to get hair algae off Things are much better now, one of the heads on my candy cane is splitting

I also added a bicolor blenny, a yellow watchman goby - pistol shrimp pair (always hiding under a rock) and 2 cardinal fish to go with existing clown and cleaner shrimp.

I started testing for and dosing calcium (seachem compete) and alkalinity (kalkwasser). And added a tunze ato (I wish I would have done that from the beginning!)

I also just added to my refugium last week: 1. Full spectrum grow light 2. 11 red mangroves 3. Grape caulerpa 4. Chaeto 5. Red dragon breath 6. Powerhead

Looking to add some coral so I'd love any placement suggestions. Thinking of adding a Duncan, frog spawn, and or brain of some sort.

Thinking of making the left rock a mix of soft corals (mushrooms and ricordia). Middle and right rocks to be various lps.

Current coral list:
1. Hammer
2. Candy cane
3. Mushroom
4. Ricordia
5. Devil's hand
6. Corny finger
7. Gorgonian

Thanks!
Scott

 

[Scott Ulrich]

It's been a while, just updating my new additions. Just moved my fairy wrasse over from qt to display. And including pictures of my cardinals and my yellow watchman (aka Mr Grumpfish) that I added a could of months ago.

Stocking is complete:
1 x Clown
1 x Fairy wrasse
2 x bangai cardinals
1 x bicolor blenny
1x yellow watchman goby
1 x pistol shrimp
1 x skunk cleaner shrimp
2 x emerald crabs
2 x turbo snails
4 x hermit creams

Also have a lobo brain and red candy cane in qt ready to move over (pictures to follow).

 

[Scott Ulrich]

Updating my build thread, as I moved over to a 125 gallon a couple of months ago. I kept the 20 gallon display refugium with 6 mangroves (didn't have room for a bigger sump to the side) and upgraded to an aquamaxx fc-280 skimmer. 2 koralia 1400s and 3 black boxes (wills).

Added an angel and a couple of tangs ago my current stocking is :
1 x clown
1 x bicolor blenny
2 x bangai cardinals
1 x coral beauty
1 x sailfin tang
1 x tomini tang

I am trying to decide between adding either 1. a school of chromis or 2. a couple anthias, a fairy wrasse, and a midas blenny.

 

[Reef-junky]

Very nice!