Howdy R2R Community!

[RodeoClownfish]

As prompted, I just wanted to say howdy. Everyone loves to talk about themselves, so I'll spare the details other than to say I farm for living, love everything aquatic, and I'm glad to be here. Like many new reefers I've spent hours upon hours reading and watching videos on starting and maintaining a reef tank. I'm happy to say I started mine this weekend after having the tank for over a year.

I really regret not taking more pictures because I think folks would have gotten a kick out of how I transferred the RO water to my tank. It involved a car wash that produces 0 TDS RO/DI water, a 65 gallon poly spray tank in the bed of my pickup (only ever used for the water, don't worry), 50 feet of vinyl tubing and an old Sicce pump, and the ever-present Brute trash bin (aka salt mixing bin). Eventually I'll start making my own water, but my well is terrible (I'm out in the boonies, no city water out here) so that will have to wait.

Here's a quick video of the new tank in all her glory. Looking forward to participating here!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Kennya]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Soren]

As prompted, I just wanted to say howdy. Everyone loves to talk about themselves, so I'll spare the details other than to say I farm for living, love everything aquatic, and I'm glad to be here. Like many new reefers I've spent hours upon hours reading and watching videos on starting and maintaining a reef tank. I'm happy to say I started mine this weekend after having the tank for over a year.

I really regret not taking more pictures because I think folks would have gotten a kick out of how I transferred the RO water to my tank. It involved a car wash that produces 0 TDS RO/DI water, a 65 gallon poly spray tank in the bed of my pickup (only ever used for the water, don't worry), 50 feet of vinyl tubing and an old Sicce pump, and the ever-present Brute trash bin (aka salt mixing bin). Eventually I'll start making my own water, but my well is terrible (I'm out in the boonies, no city water out here) so that will have to wait.

Here's a quick video of the new tank in all her glory. Looking forward to participating here!

Welcome to R2R, @RodeoClownfish !
What size is your tank? What are your stocking plans for fish and/or invertebrates?

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Well howdy back, I like you already!

 

[SaltyT]

Welcome to R2R! You've joined a great community with lots of friendly folks willing to help when needed!

Best of luck on your new reefing adventure!

 

[Zach B]

Welcome

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Welcome to the R2R community!!

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome!

 

[Mr Cypher]

Welcome pilgrim! not out in the desert are ya we have alot of farms and not alot of reefers but Welcome all the same!

 

[RodeoClownfish]

Welcome to R2R, @RodeoClownfish !
What size is your tank? What are your stocking plans for fish and/or invertebrates?

Hello @Soren , seen your name a time or two on this forum while I was still lurking

Display is 75 gallons, sump is 15 or so. I built a scape out of roughly 70 pounds of reefsaver rock (holy cow was that expensive) for it and added 40 or so pounds of CaribSea Arag Alive sand. I dosed Brightwell QuickCycl ammonia addititve and have been dosing MicroBacter7 daily since I started to get the tank cycled. Chose MB7 over the MB Start since MB start isn't compatible with live sand.

Stocking plan is up in the air currently. Right now, EVERYTHING looks cool. Puffers, triggers, boxfish, lionfish, all kinds of angels...I want it all. But I also want corals eventually and a 75 gallon predator tank just won't work given how big some of these get.

Realistically, I'm thinking about the following:

Pair of OC clowns out of obligation (niece says she wants Nemo and his dad)
Lawnmower blenny (algae control)
Filefish of some type (aiptasia control)
3-4 blue/green chromis or cardinals, some sort of schooling fish
Flame hawkfish
Yellow watchman goby
Some sort of tang, probably not yellow because of availability and the yellow goby
Maybe a six line wrasse? Heard they're aggressive but I like the pest control they offer
Maybe a lemonpeel angel because they're beautiful, but I know they tend to nip at soft and LPS corals

Any thoughts or suggestions? I feel like this is a decent stock list based on size, number of fish, and the space they occupy in the water column but I'm very open to suggestions. I'll probably keep the tank as a FOWLR tank for the first year before venturing into corals.

 

[Just John]

Glad you're here!

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[RodeoClownfish]

Welcome pilgrim! not out in the desert are ya we have alot of farms and not alot of reefers but Welcome all the same!

No I am fortunate to farm in the Midwest where we have (semi) reliable rainfall. I'm actually in the middle of harvesting my soybeans but I'm rained out at the moment. Good day to work on the reef tank and hang out on R2R!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

No I am fortunate to farm in the Midwest where we have (semi) reliable rainfall. I'm actually in the middle of harvesting my soybeans but I'm rained out at the moment. Good day to work on the reef tank and hang out on R2R!

I'm from the glorious Palouse area, endless rolling hills of wheat mostly, but there are soybeans and grass/alfalfa everywhere too. Most people around me are either farmers of food crops or cows, or loggers. Got a real mix of hard workers, and long hours.

Sounds like you've gotten quite the start! You should start a proper build thread!

 

[RodeoClownfish]

I'm from the glorious Palouse area, endless rolling hills of wheat mostly, but there are soybeans and grass/alfalfa everywhere too. Most people around me are either farmers of food crops or cows, or loggers. Got a real mix of hard workers, and long hours.

Sounds like you've gotten quite the start! You should start a proper build thread!

Thank you @Mhamilton0911 . I've never been to Palouse but I've heard Idaho is ruggedly beautiful. I wish we had more elevation. Everything here in northwest Indiana is flat as a pancake. The highest point in the county is our landfill if that gives you any indication!

Not a ton of reefers out here but even farmers need a hobby. I've kept freshwater tanks in the past, so I figured it was time for a challenge. I'll have to see about starting a build thread! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Welcome!

 

[Soren]

Hello @Soren , seen your name a time or two on this forum while I was still lurking

Display is 75 gallons, sump is 15 or so. I built a scape out of roughly 70 pounds of reefsaver rock (holy cow was that expensive) for it and added 40 or so pounds of CaribSea Arag Alive sand. I dosed Brightwell QuickCycl ammonia addititve and have been dosing MicroBacter7 daily since I started to get the tank cycled. Chose MB7 over the MB Start since MB start isn't compatible with live sand.

Stocking plan is up in the air currently. Right now, EVERYTHING looks cool. Puffers, triggers, boxfish, lionfish, all kinds of angels...I want it all. But I also want corals eventually and a 75 gallon predator tank just won't work given how big some of these get.

Realistically, I'm thinking about the following:

Pair of OC clowns out of obligation (niece says she wants Nemo and his dad)
Lawnmower blenny (algae control)
Filefish of some type (aiptasia control)
3-4 blue/green chromis or cardinals, some sort of schooling fish
Flame hawkfish
Yellow watchman goby
Some sort of tang, probably not yellow because of availability and the yellow goby
Maybe a six line wrasse? Heard they're aggressive but I like the pest control they offer
Maybe a lemonpeel angel because they're beautiful, but I know they tend to nip at soft and LPS corals

Any thoughts or suggestions? I feel like this is a decent stock list based on size, number of fish, and the space they occupy in the water column but I'm very open to suggestions. I'll probably keep the tank as a FOWLR tank for the first year before venturing into corals.

That will be a great setup with a lot of different possible plans!
When you can, I would recommend starting a build thread (even though already up and running) to document your progress and ask questions on the forum.

I am all too familiar with the unending dreams of possibilities! Just remember to start slowly and practice the much-needed patience in this hobby. Pick some of your top favorites, check compatibilities, research care requirements for those species, then build your plan around that.

I don't think it is possible to do too much research!

Your preliminary stocking plan looks pretty good for a 75-gallon tank.
The list seems to include good utilization of tank areas with some open-water fish, some less-active fish, some bottom-dwelling fish, etc.
A few comments from my research:

• Filefish sometimes end up eating corals, so you may want to wait on aiptasia control until you actually need it.
• Lawnmower blennies are great fish, but they do require algae to eat and are generally recommended as a later addition once the tank is established and actually growing algae.
• Chromis often get aggressive when mature and end up with one dominant one killing all others, especially in a "small" tank like a 75-gallon. I certainly recommend the cardinalfish route for a small shoal in a 75-gallon, and probably keep the numbers at 3-4.
• Tangs are somewhat difficult for a 75-gallon tank, but you could consider the bristletooth tangs, such as the Kole tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) or Tomini tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis). They tend to be more peaceful and smaller than most tangs (which usually get too large for a 75-gallon).
• Hawkfish may be an issue if you choose small cardinalfish above, as they will eat fish that are small enough to consume. Check relative sizes for compatibility.
• Sixline wrasses seem to be either no problem at all or an absolute terror to other fish. It is up to you whether you want to risk trying it or not. There are many other wrasses that are also a good option for a 75, such as different Cirrhilabrus or Halichoeres wrasses. I would recommend keeping the wrasse total length under 4" for adults in a 75. Also, keep only 1 wrasse, as they often get aggressive with conspecifics.
• Lemonpeel Angel would be a suitable consideration if you are willing to take the risk on it nipping/eating corals. Dwarf angels also do better in established tanks with algae growth, so waiting longer to add this fish will probably give better chances at success.

I am looking forward to seeing future progress!