First Timer and Jumping In - 55 hexagon build

[RWS6605]

Almost time to get more livestock so we added a new tank. A 10 gallon all in one and found an old typewriter stand to put it on.

Questions though. Do you leave the QT tank bare bottom and empty or do you some sand and a rock to hide in??

 

[rkpetersen]

If it's going to be a QT tank, most people leave it bare bottom, with some PVC pipe sections for fish to shelter in if they feel the need. When you QT a wrasse species that needs sand, you put a small shallow bowl of clean sand in there for it. What brand is that tank?

 

[RWS6605]

If it's going to be a QT tank, most people leave it bare bottom, with some PVC pipe sections for fish to shelter in if they feel the need. When you QT a wrasse species that needs sand, you put a small shallow bowl of clean sand in there for it. What brand is that tank?

It is an innovative marine NUVO 10gallon

 

[RWS6605]

Well it has been a little while.

Update- I just cleared out an outbreak of red cyanobacteria and have a clean tank. Stock has remained the same for several months: 2 clowns, a royal gramma and yellow watchman goby.

Just wish I could get better pictures.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I never showed you my two refugiums out of two 55 gallon hex, located outside in 2017

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Well it has been a little while.

Update- I just cleared out an outbreak of red cyanobacteria and have a clean tank. Stock has remained the same for several months: 2 clowns, a royal gramma and yellow watchman goby.

Just wish I could get better pictures.

Thanks for updates, comrade

 

[RWS6605]

I could not help myself. I picked up a small Zoa and Blasto frag today. I was never planning on doing corals but I just love their colors. I just wish you could get better photos on an iPhone. They are so pretty in the blue light but the photos turn out so bad.

I put the Zoa is about halfway up the rockwork on the left and the blasto about 5 inches from the bottom on right.

Let’s just hope this experiment doesn’t go the same way my anemone did.

 

[RWS6605]

Current wavepumps are getting loud. They are old. Thought I’d give these a try.

Hoping they aren’t junk and actually perform well...time will tell.

 

[RWS6605]

New Light!!

Got a Kessil A360WE. Had to make a diy stand for now. The stand was just made with plexiglass and some 2x4 scraps I had laying around. Cut a circle just big enough for the light. Gave it a shot of flex seal to keep the wood from swelling. The frame is blocking part of the spread but it’s only temporary.

What do you think?

 

[NY_Caveman]

New Light!!

Got a Kessil A360WE. Had to make a diy stand for now. The stand was just made with plexiglass and some 2x4 scraps I had laying around. Cut a circle just big enough for the light. Gave it a shot of flex seal to keep the wood from swelling. The frame is blocking part of the spread but it’s only temporary.

What do you think?

I think it looks pretty darn good!

 

[rkpetersen]

I just wish you could get better photos on an iPhone. They are so pretty in the blue light but the photos turn out so bad.

You could pick up a clip-on orange phone photo lens filter from BRS or elsewhere. Pictures will look much better.

 

[RWS6605]

You could pick up a clip-on orange phone photo lens filter from BRS or elsewhere. Pictures will look much better.

So I took your advice and picked up some lenses.

 

[RWS6605]

Alrighty, I couldn’t wait any longer to stock out my tank. Just placed my largest livestock order. In bound are my flame angle, bicolor blenny, black axil chromis x3, cardinal x2 and ruby longfin fairy wrasse. Clowns will be moving to the quarantine tank after new stock is moved to DT. Photos to come in a few days.

 

[MnFish1]

Hello all. New to this forum and SW. Have found a lot of great info here! I have kept freshwater tanks for 15yrs and finally jumping into salt water. I have an old 55-60 gallon hex that I am in the process of turning into a FOWLR. Tank is 24” tall. Is 25 inches from flat to flat side and 28” corner to corner. Each panel is 14.5” long. Geometry is not my friend but I think it works out to 56-57 gallons... hard to measure the side as the tank is one piece and rounded corners. Not a clear mid point to measure from.

Anyway- Here is a shot of the tank (full of junk and in need of cleaning) and the old stand.

I am planning to put a sump in so I had to build a bigger stand. I’m not that great at building things but here is how it looks under my first stress test. Will test it under tank load before moving inside. It has held around 450 lbs so far without any cracking or moving.....

It has three removable panels up front (magnets), two fixed panels and an open back.

Should fit a 10 gallon sump. I have put the first coat of black enamel paint on it today so more photos to come.

I have placed orders for the overflow kit (aqueon mega flow) and a Lifeguard Quiet One 4000 pro pump. Should be here in a few days.

I will be drilling the tank (bottom) probably here in the next few weeks and building the overflow box.

Planned substrate will be a white sand....I think

Currently have around 60 lbs of dry live rock.

Light is a black box LED and plan to get a 18” moon light too.

200 watt fluval heater.

Stocking list is up in the air. But my wife wants a Foxface and a Flame Hawk for sure. A yellow prawn goby has also been mentioned. I would like a copperband but have heard mixed things about them. All sorts of wants just not sure on a real good stocking list.....ideas welcome!

I’m not too keen on clowns but the idea of a pair with a nice anemone has been floated [emoji57] around.

And ideas and words of wisdom are appreciated!

Nice job on the stand - and the kids lol. Welcome to the site

 

[MnFish1]

Nice job on the stand - and the kids lol. Welcome to the site

PS - I guess you decided not to keep it a FOWLR

 

[RWS6605]

PS - I guess you decided not to keep it a FOWLR

Yeah. I just couldn’t keep from getting the coral. Seen too many nice set ups and figured I might as well go all in. I mean if I can get this figured out in my small system, the 300 gallon I want would be a piece of cake...right?!?

 

[RWS6605]

OMG this is a frustrating hobby. I was trying to do some rock cleaning to remove GHA and I knocked my zoa off the plug. No big deal just get some super glue right? Keep cleaning and I hit my other little frag. Didn’t come off but am sure it is just barely hanging on.

So got the glue only to realize it wasn’t the gel type. So no big deal, just be quick. Then it happens. One of my freaking cleaner shrimp goes straight for the glue. Now his front feet/arms are glued together!! What the heck do I do now?? Just wait/try to catch?? Will he just molt and fix himself????

 

[RWS6605]

Wow. Haven’t posted since September! Have made some small changes and finally got rid of the GHA. Added a Jebao SLW20 just today when my koralia went on the fritz. So here is today’s tank shot.

my blasto hasn’t done much but my zoas are growing nicely. About to run off the plug. I also added a little piece of rock with some mushrooms. You can see it just below the Gramma.

 

[JumboShrimp]

That size tank, now that you’re past the GHA, I bet just a 1-2 mil. dose of Vibrant once a week will keep it looking good. It’s not really that expensive on a smaller than like that. Just my tip. Thanks for the latest photo!

 

[Brad ward]

I’d say stay away from an acrylic hexagon.
Unless this is a retro 1980 freshwater with some driftwood and mollies ;-)