My new Red Sea 170

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Some pictures of the new live stock

 

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Here’s my current lighting schedule. Update: fish are healthy! The clown and gramma are getting along well, the clowns actually to needy and follows the gramma to much so he tries to go in his burrow and the gramma does not like it one bit.

Still trying to figure out stocking. Pretty sure my for sure fish is a pistol shrimp and goby pair, really would love a yasha goby and candy cane pistol shrimp. It would be nice if anyone had any reputable sources to order fish and inverts from as I’ve never done that and very weary.

For sure want a captive breed ring spotted dragonet.

third fish not sure ideally an open swimmer excluding cardinals, kinda boring. I wanted a purple fire fish, still do but concerned I’ll add another fish that sticks to the rock work. Also would a pistol shrimp and cleaner shrimp get along or be all out war? I don’t see a big issue personally but never kept two in the same tank.

Also if anyone has advice on copepods that would be nice. Thinking of ordering a jar of algea beans galaxy pods, but do I HAVE to stay feeding phytoplankton to keep a stable population or just until the tank gets mature?

 

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Light schedule

 

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Well Igor the skunk cleaner shrimp didn’t make it. Passed away last afternoon. Not sure totally why, ammonia and all harmful levels are 0. Performed a water change the day before but everything was warmed up and matched well. Maybe he wasn’t getting fed a good diet not sure. Will be waiting a while before adding more inverts to the tank. Hermit crabs seem to be doing well though!

 

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Put together my first DIY Red Sea net cover. Well any DIY net cover really. Wasn’t too bad cutting, used my band saw and got the frame together pretty quickly. Installing the netting. Little challenging. Definetly needed a second hand and took a bit to find the perfect balance of tension. Over all, came out well. Do have some imperfections surrounding the over flow but no big deal for me. It’s in the back and well simply put the nets not the focal point. Lol I’d recommend it to any one handy and has a spare hand.

 

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Also today forgot to post pics but dumped 4 bottles of algae barns eco pods along with their coraline algae pink and purple bottles. First time using that company and more than pleased. Package came wrapped in insulation and seems like everything made it just fine. All pods were kicking and swimming. Dumped two bottles into display and two into the fuge with ruble rock and bio bricks. Also picked up a bottle of phytoplankton. Definetly recommend ordering from them, had a good experience here. They also give you a Swedish fish, the wife took mine unfortunately. Lol

 

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Realized I have not updated this thread in a while, will do a proper update but today was a new light day. Updated from a AI prime 7 years old to a new kessil A360x. Looks sleek and managed an average par of 100 around most of the tank with some higher and lower spots. Only complaint is when I’m sitting in my office chair I am blinded by the light beams hitting my eyes. Ordered a little 3d printed shade lamp for it, we’ll see if that does the trick.