Erin O's 75G Build

[sfin52]

@Erin O for you to get your build thread badge
Copy you build thread address
click on you icon
click on around details
scroll all the way to the bottom you'll see r2r build thread paste you build thread
Boom you have a shiny new badge. Also clicking on any build thread badge will take you to their build thread.

 

[Erin O]

@Erin O for you to get your build thread badge
Copy you build thread address
click on you icon
click on around details
scroll all the way to the bottom you'll see r2r build thread paste you build thread
Boom you have a shiny new badge. Also clicking on any build thread badge will take you to their build thread.

Check it out! I'm O-fficial! Thanks

 

[crusso1993]

Check it out! I'm O-fficial! Thanks

Woooohhooooo and congrats!

 

[sfin52]

 

[NY_Caveman]

Other good sources for live rock (I have not used)

Premium Aquacultured Live Rock - Overnight to your Door

Aquacultured live rock is one of our specialties. You will get one of the best live rock available in the industry. Forget about painted rock with no life.

www.kpaquatics.com

Gulf Live Rock.com

Gulf Live Rock Specializing in wholesale and retail sales of Aquacultured Live Rock and live sand at direct from the diver prices. Free Shipping! coral reeftank

gulfliverock.com

Live Rock n Reef | Wholesale Saltwater Aquarium Live Rock

We offer absolute best live rock available anywhere, Direct from the diver! for the same price the pet stores pay for live rock. Shipping included in many packages.

www.liverocknreef.com

I was lucky my LFS imports real Pacific Ocean live rock. As mentioned, there are several LFS that sell live rock that is mostly just dry rock soaking in a vat. This rock is cycled and will give you a cycled tank, but carries near zero of that wonderful ocean diversity. There is nothing that will give your tank the biodiversity of real ocean live rock. Since your rock is your main filter and the backbone of the system, I would recommend anyone get the highest quality live rock they could afford.

What is this diversity I speak of? Diversity of bacteria and microbiology is the strongest component. This determines the strength of your biological filter. The diversity of life in live rock will help you cover many niches in your system from tiny critters forming your clean up crew to macroalgae that absorb nutrients and feed your livestock.

While you may get some undesirable creatures, all are manageable and removable. I recommend curing any rock outside of the tank to let it mature and also, to look for and easily remove the unwanted hitchhikers. Good luck and remember all of us have been there and are here to help. Even those of us doing this forever forget not to panic sometimes.

 

[Erin O]

Other good sources for live rock (I have not used)

Premium Aquacultured Live Rock - Overnight to your Door

Aquacultured live rock is one of our specialties. You will get one of the best live rock available in the industry. Forget about painted rock with no life.

www.kpaquatics.com

Gulf Live Rock.com

Gulf Live Rock Specializing in wholesale and retail sales of Aquacultured Live Rock and live sand at direct from the diver prices. Free Shipping! coral reeftank

gulfliverock.com

Live Rock n Reef | Wholesale Saltwater Aquarium Live Rock

We offer absolute best live rock available anywhere, Direct from the diver! for the same price the pet stores pay for live rock. Shipping included in many packages.

www.liverocknreef.com

I was lucky my LFS imports real Pacific Ocean live rock. As mentioned, there are several LFS that sell live rock that is mostly just dry rock soaking in a vat. This rock is cycled and will give you a cycled tank, but carries near zero of that wonderful ocean diversity. There is nothing that will give your tank the biodiversity of real ocean live rock. Since your rock is your main filter and the backbone of the system, I would recommend anyone get the highest quality live rock they could afford.

What is this diversity I speak of? Diversity of bacteria and microbiology is the strongest component. This determines the strength of your biological filter. The diversity of life in live rock will help you cover many niches in your system from tiny critters forming your clean up crew to macroalgae that absorb nutrients and feed your livestock.

While you may get some undesirable creatures, all are manageable and removable. I recommend curing any rock outside of the tank to let it mature and also, to look for and easily remove the unwanted hitchhikers. Good luck and remember all of us have been there and are here to help. Even those of us doing this forever forget not to panic sometimes.

If I were to use, say, 50lbs of dry rock and 15lbs of live rock, would I get enough of that diversity (these numbers are just to make it easier for me to understand; I'll plan to have 100lb or more, total, of rock)?

Also, and I know that it all comes down to personal preference, should my rock be all along the tank, in the middle? Or should I have it all to one side so there's plenty of open area to swim? Maybe on either side, with the middle open? I kind of like the idea of the rock being on either side with the middle open, because that might help delineate territories. But I may be wrong about that lol

 

[sfin52]

If I were to use, say, 50lbs of dry rock and 15lbs of live rock, would I get enough of that diversity (these numbers are just to make it easier for me to understand; I'll plan to have 100lb or more, total, of rock)?

Also, and I know that it all comes down to personal preference, should my rock be all along the tank, in the middle? Or should I have it all to one side so there's plenty of open area to swim? Maybe on either side, with the middle open? I kind of like the idea of the rock being on either side with the middle open, because that might help delineate territories. But I may be wrong about that lol

I've got 80lb in my 75. That's a lot of rock. I would recommend starting @60 and see if you need more

 

[Erin O]

I've got 80lb in my 75. That's a lot of rock. I would recommend starting @60 and see if you need more

Sounds good to me! Less money that way lol. I was going off the idea that more rock means better biological filtration. What do you think about placing it on the ends of the tank and leaving the middle open?

 

[sfin52]

Sounds good to me! Less money that way lol. I was going off the idea that more rock means better biological filtration. What do you think about placing it on the ends of the tank and leaving the middle open?

There a two main type of scapes. A wall and islands. My reef is a wall and my fowlr is islands. I really like islands but I like a wall to.
I find Islands are easier to clean and work around.
You can see the difference. dont look to.hard at cyano and hair algae.

 

[sfin52]

Not the best scape but it gives you a visual

 

[Erin O]

Thanks for sharing I like the look of a little more open space. I think I'll plan on islands. At least until the next time I change my mind lol.

So, my daughter would like me to ask if a flame angel and a coral beauty could go in "our" rolleyes tank together. Interesting how the 6 year old suddenly wants to claim the tank when she sees fish that she thinks are"pretty" LOL

 

[sfin52]

I would not recommend it. It will end very badly

 

[sfin52]

Thanks for sharing I like the look of a little more open space. I think I'll plan on islands. At least until the next time I change my mind lol.

So, my daughter would like me to ask if a flame angel and a coral beauty could go in "our" rolleyes tank together. Interesting how the 6 year old suddenly wants to claim the tank when she sees fish that she thinks are"pretty" LOL

This will be a good project that will help you guys bond. @Katrina71 and her son reef together.

 

[Erin O]

I would not recommend it. It will end very badly

That's what I've been reading. I'm sure she'll get over it...eventually LOL

 

[Erin O]

This will be a good project that will help you guys bond. @Katrina71 and her son reef together.

That would be nice! We are CONSTANTLY butting heads. She doesn't believe that she's a 6 year old and not a 16 year old lol

 

[Erin O]

Its water change day, so it doesn't look the greatest, and it's a little low on water, but here's what my 75g looks like right now. All of the sand, decor and fish will be moving to the 125g. There are 2 angels, 4 cherry barbs (the last of a school of 20), 2 serpae tetras (the last of a school of 15), 15 kuhli loaches and 2 BN plecos. I have 2 angels, 1 red tail shark and 1 BN pleco in the 125g (think it's overstocked? ;Hilarious ), so once I get the fish from the 75 in there it's going to look almost crowded lol.

 

[sfin52]

Very nice looking tank. You will do well in the reef world

 

[Erin O]

Very nice looking tank. You will do well in the reef world

Thank you!!!

 

[Erin O]

Lights. Why do they have to be so difficult and so darn expensive? Would plant grow lights work? I was looking on Amazon and typed in "T5 lights" thinking that would get me to the right lights but they were mostly for growing house plants. Would LED lights work as well as fluorescents?

Also, are anemones harder to keep than softies? It's my understanding that they are not the same thing, correct?

 

[sfin52]

Lights. Why do they have to be so difficult and so darn expensive? Would plant grow lights work? I was looking on Amazon and typed in "T5 lights" thinking that would get me to the right lights but they were mostly for growing house plants. Would LED lights work as well as fluorescents?

Also, are anemones harder to keep than softies? It's my understanding that they are not the same thing, correct?

Correct yes lights are expensive. But there are alternatives.
you'll need two
2 168 watt for a 75