My very first saltwater tank - 200 gallons

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Marsh980

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Just another quick update, just picked up some more CUC and corals. I've been told you can add corals quicker than fish (bar SPS as I want my tank to become mature and stable before adding them).

I picked up:

1x Acan
1x Blasto
1x Goni
1x Lobo
20x Nassarius
10x Turbo Snails
10x Mexican Turbo Snails
3x Conchs
1x Frozen Krill food
1x Coral RX Pro coral dip

Will get pics up when they're all acclimated
 
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Marsh980

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Amazing set up for a first tank


Very organized, unlike mine since I've been doing this for 5 years and still looks like crap :D

Thank you very much, I try to be organised but still have so much to learn about coral placement as in what can go with each other without starting a war.
 

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You definitely took your time and built the tank up with quality parts! Looks great! Can't wait to see you get some SPS in there as I'm sure they will do well with those nice radions and vortechs!
 
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Marsh980

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You definitely took your time and built the tank up with quality parts! Looks great! Can't wait to see you get some SPS in there as I'm sure they will do well with those nice radions and vortechs!

Cheers and it was many years in the making and saving. I can’t wait to get SPS but happy to be patient before buying them so to ensure my tank is stable. I’m already auto dosing alk and calcium which is a step closer.
 

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Cheers and it was many years in the making and saving. I can’t wait to get SPS but happy to be patient before buying them so to ensure my tank is stable. I’m already auto dosing alk and calcium which is a step closer.
I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned this but unless they're dying off you have way to many snails for a tank this new. These critters need algae to survive and I don't see enough in your pictures to support that many snails and other cleanup critters. I thought the ratio of snails to gallons was about one snail to ten gallons so no more than 20 in a 200g and this is for a tank with an algae problem. I could be wrong on the ratio and someone here will correct me I'm sure. Best of luck with your new hobby.
 
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I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned this but unless they're dying off you have way to many snails for a tank this new. These critters need algae to survive and I don't see enough in your pictures to support that many snails and other cleanup critters. I thought the ratio of snails to gallons was about one snail to ten gallons so no more than 20 in a 200g and this is for a tank with an algae problem. I could be wrong on the ratio and someone here will correct me I'm sure. Best of luck with your new hobby.

Hey, cheers but I’ve had barely any die off from my CUC (bar the ones who fall off and end up upside down).

I have 385lbs of live rock and 220lbs of live sand so there’s plenty for them to eat. Plus the fish and coral food leftovers.

IMO, the one snail per 10 gallons is miles off. 20 snails would barely touch the surface in my reef.

I’m just following the guidance of my LFS who haven’t let me down yet. It’s important to have a mixture of snails in the reef as many do differing jobs.

However, if I do start to lose them, I’ll update it on here.

Thank you for the concern though because I would hate it if they start to starve.
 
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I may have also bought another 4 corals this morning.... I saw them a few days back but wanted to wait to see what my usual fish store had in stock before pulling the trigger. These came from a fish store literally an 8 min drive away.

1x Light white/yellowish Alveopora (so that's 2 now as I really like them)
1x Neon Green Duncan (again i have 2 of these but right now they're arguably my favourite coral
1x Green Hammer
1x Short Tentacled Fungia

I dipped them in Coral RX Pro this time as it wasn't from my usual fish store who dip all their corals twice in differing treatments before selling.

I find the placement challenging as don't glue or putty them in until I know they're happy where they are. What do you guys do to prevent them falling over/off the rockwork or getting knocked off by fish and snails?

Pictures to follow.
 
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Updated pics of my tank. Still a long way to go but I’m pleased with it so far.

41EC0AA0-784E-4A54-B096-FD66C964FE27.jpeg C2F4025B-A362-413D-8D71-01785AF5C640.jpeg 223880E4-999E-47A5-86DB-087EF3314DBA.jpeg
 
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Just a quick update. Installed the chiller and moved the auto dosers to accommodate it. It’s a pretty big unit

I now have piece of mind no matter how hot it gets here.

Also grabbed another 8 bags of live Copepods

DD36730E-5260-439A-8E7B-F10634FD6247.jpeg
 
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Latest update, I couldn’t resist.

I’ve just bought a very large Platygyra, a Trachyphyllia and a bright red Acan frag from my LCS (local coral store). I’ve just dipped them and now acclimating them.

Once they’re in and happy I’ll send pics.

I also purchased online last week (now I’m more comfortable with dipping and checking the coral under torch light) a Sun Tube coral, love these as they’re bright yellow and I’ve got a few darker areas in my reef, an orange Acan and a metallic orange and blue Blasto.

They should arrive on Wednesday
 

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Hi all,

So after 30 years of dreaming I’ve finally got my first saltwater tank.

It’s a 200 gallon D-D glass tank and cabinet on metal frame. It was set up the first week of March.

Please see pics and let me know what you think
Went big for the first one!
Love the tank.
Happy reefing!
 
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Marsh980

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Cheers, I did indeed as I knew that the larger the tank the more wiggle room I (a novice) will have, especially with fluctuations to water chemistry etc.

I also really wanted to keep a few tangs
 
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Marsh980

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My latest additions (bought today)

5x Blue Eyed Lyretail Anthias
1x Yellow Tailed Tamarin Wrasse
1x Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasse
1x Red Fin Lawnmower Blenny
1x Watchman Goby (will be paired with a pistol shrimp when I can find one)
8x bags of live Copepods

The cleaner wrasse has already cleaned my trigger and Foxface

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A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 79 38.2%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 69 33.3%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 26 12.6%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 31 15.0%
  • Other.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
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