Another Risk, reefer 350

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Risk1994

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decided on the Pappardelle Amantea. Turns out I enjoy eating sea creatures just as much as watching them in my tank.

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Im a little concerned it looks like two discrete art objects stuck in a tank.

The tank will most commonly be viewed from the right side, so I wanted that one to be smaller. I also want to really enjoy the fish and have a tank with good flow, no dead spots and easy access to sand to clean.

I prefer a minimalist approach and dont plan on this tank having wall to wall coral...

Still though, it does seem like there is enough room for coral...

Any feedback?
 

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I really like the branching rocks. They look great and will only be improved by some coral filling them up. Can’t wait to see what you choose for on them!

What sort of fish are you thinking of? It could be a bit low on hiding spots for some types.

Personally I find the rock placement a bit symmetrical.
I wonder if moving one of them closer to the other and adding a third smaller rock off to the side would look good? Might be able to create a low cave for someone to hide in.
Downside is it puts your main rocks closer together for sweeper warfare...
Also makes cleaning the sand a bit harder...

...but now that I think about it. That might look pretty sweet with a light above each rock.
 

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Thinking about it more I think it might be worth trying a low rock structure on the front left and a second centre back.

Left side is to make it less symmetrical.
Centre might add a cool depth effect when viewed from the right side (first photo angle).

Just throwing out ideas. It looks awesome as is. You’re really making me think I need to take another look at my aquascape.
 
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What sort of fish are you thinking of? It could be a bit low on hiding spots for some types.
juvenile purple and yellow tang (for as long as I can), sand sifting goby, 2 clowns, orchid dottyback, damsel. I have everything but the tangs and goby now in QT. I figure the tangs will be QT'd and added together after other fish have been in for 30 days to prevent aggression. I imagine I'd like a few more down the road (I always wanted a goby pistol shrimp pair). I want room for them to swim around but you may be right about hiding places...I've never had more than a couple of fish so Im really not experienced with them. I figured as 2 tangs are iffy in a 75 better to leave them more room to swim. Now Im concerned about hiding as well.

I was thinking about adding an arm to the left one, that projects to the middle top.

Man I dont know....I really want a minimalist tank with good flow, lots of exposed and easy to clean sand.

This is too difficult.

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I like the arm idea!

They may feel secure enough with the hiding spots in the branches. Maybe you can just ask them once they move in.

With the current setup it should be pretty easy to add a rock work if you see someone looking like they need a bit more cover.

Other thought is you could try adding to the current rocks to get a couple more caves or crevices.

Might also be worth taking a look into where those guys natural habitat is. I know some fish like to do things like hide in acro branches. They would probably feel almost at home in that rock work.
 
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Picked up a bottle of Bio-spira from Petco and dumped in like half a bottle the other night. Just checked a few mins ago and EUREKA!

Ammonia still 1.5 but nitrite is now detectable. So something is happening now that Im 10 days in.

Guess Dr. Tims was a dud.

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Onto Sand, got the dry special grade from BRS. Got This from amazon, made rinsing much much easier...

Also discovered another way to verify the rinsing is complete. After 10 mins of soaking in 30 degree water and you cant feel your fingers anymore..your done!


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Tough to dry, noticed you can never dry more than the top layer of sand, underneath just stays wet.
 
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Alright I'm done tweaking. I need to accept that Im not a creative person and get this horse out of the barn. I think I can live with this design. Im putting water in tomorrow.

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The design is a little 2 dimensional, but really wanted to allow for good flow and no deadspots...especially that dead zone in the back you can never clean or see. Also want lots of room for fish to swim, Im going to attempt 2 tangs in here.

Also I like the look of sand. So I want to see as much of it as possible, there is very little area where the rock comes in contact with it.

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Ok, water in, filters running. Everything working well...
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Really happy with the sump layout. Everything I want automated is but its simple simple simple. I can remove everything in there for maintenance easily. Rollermat felt can be swapped easily, in fact the whole filter comes out easily if I ever want.

Check out the skimmer, it pulled out the dust from the sand/rock. Pretty cool. I guess it works!

I just have to neaten up the wires. I want some kind of loom that allows removal of ONE of the cables easlily while leaving the rest in place. (the red/blue RO tubing is for old salt out/new salt in AWC and run to the basement)

Also need to add in the Pentair 25w UV. I keep going back and forth on it. I think Im going to put it on the right side in a bucket with a leak sensor on it rather than in the sump.



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Fish have been removed from old 10g nano tank and moved into the 20g long QT. I purchased a flame angel to QT with the first batch also. Man its beautiful, my first 'expensive' fish.

Plan is to add these in in 30 days, then start QT on my dream fish, a yellow and a purple tang. I figure by then there will be some algae in the reefer for them to eat. Also I want to add the other guys first and the tangs together after to minimize aggression.

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Been in QT for a while now. Turns out the angel had something, I thought it was velvet but not sure. Within a few days my dottyback got it and died about a week later. The Angel and all other fish are good now, no spots, great eating. Only the Angel and dottyback ever had symptoms. Whatever it was seems to be past me. To be safe I'll start the 30day clock from when everyone was healthy.

I dont think it was ich, spots look too small. I saw NO scratching/flashing/rubbing from anyone. Even the dottyback who got it the worst.

Flame ate every day except for one. Dottyback stopped eating and got lethargic until he just wound up sitting at the bottom.

I guess this is the reason for the QT. Copper is at 2.5 and started dosing Metroplex per Humblefish protocol.

Thread here...
Moving to new tank | Page 4 | Humble.Fish & Reef Community

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Looks like his lips are swollen and had 2 bumps next to his mouth.
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