First saltwater tank - 75g, bought used from my LFS

[loneboat]

My LFS had a used setup from a customer who was moving. I had to put minimal work into getting everything running - mostly reinforcing the stand, because it was someone's DIY project and I didn't trust it to hold that much weight. Here's some pics of unpacking and doing first water-tests. Nothing leaked!!

 

[loneboat]

Filled it with a new RODI filter I bought. Took forever! Kept track of progress with dry-erase on the outside of the tank.

 

[loneboat]

Salt + Sand = Cloudy tank for a few days.

 

[loneboat]

Once things cleared up, added the dryrock and waited.

 

[loneboat]

Kids checking out the first fish - two clowns and one purple firefish! Plus some crabs and snails. Also got some zoa.

 

[loneboat]

I noticed something hiding in my zoa. After a post to Zoa Discussion forum (link), some folks helped me identify it as possibly either gonipora or avelepora. Bonus coral! Per their recommendation, I fragged it off onto its own piece.

I didn't have any empty frag plugs or anything, so I just superglued it to a tiny piece of PVC.

Thanks 45zoagarden, WV Reefer, and waynerock for the help ID'ing it!

 

[loneboat]

Found a little hitchhiker while I was doing my frag - posted to Hitchhiker & Critter ID and got it identified as a friendly Amphapod (link). Thanks Gernader and stanleo!

 

[loneboat]

Found several tiny "fans" - posted in my Zoa thread to see if anyone could help ID it.

 

[DQM5]

mini feather duster, from what i can see.

 

[loneboat]

mini feather duster, from what i can see.

Awesome, thanks! Friend or foe?

 

[DQM5]

Awesome, thanks! Friend or foe?

Friend. harmless hitchhiker, filter the water

 

[Bossman]

Nice set up! I wish I would have had a reef tank when my kids were growing up. I'm sure yours will appreciate it and learn!

 

[loneboat]

Nice set up! I wish I would have had a reef tank when my kids were growing up. I'm sure yours will appreciate it and learn!

This has been a bucketlist item for a long time - wife finally gave the green-light as a Christmas present.

 

[Anchor]

Don't get disappointed when you hit the "UGLY" phases. The first 6 months can be quite trying. Here is to hoping you get really lucky.

 

[loneboat]

Don't get disappointed when you hit the "UGLY" phases. The first 6 months can be quite trying. Here is to hoping you get really lucky.

Oh, I'm a scrawny middle-aged man. I've been in the ugly-phase for a while now.

 

[Anchor]

Oh, I'm a scrawny middle-aged man. I've been in the ugly-phase for a while now.

I just hit 60 and can attest, once it hits..., it never goes away.. OH and it is the same for Pudgy old men too.