New tank

Ssmokay · Dec 23, 2020

So I purchased a 72g drilled (capped off for now) bow front complete system with over 100 lbs live rock, sand substrate, a halide light system (2white 2blue), broken canopy cover, and a FLUVAL FX5 (upgraded to the pimp my filter) with 2 16oz bags of chemipire blue in the 3rd basket, complete clean up crew, a carpet anemone, 1/2 a rock covered in green star polyps. Was assisted in moving. Tank was down for a total of 4 hrs doing the move. Completely set back and up allowed for the live rock to cycle again (not all was able to be submerged in the tank water. Did a 25g water change when set back up. Couldn’t save all the tank water. I do 10g water changes every Friday (easy math a little more than 10%). After testing water after a week and a half I have selected a perc clown and a 6 line wrasse as my 1st inhabitants (minus clean up crew). I have quadruplet 8yr olds. They love Finding Nemo/Dory. I recently up graded my lights from pics attached. Also included is a pic of my tank currently. Just wondering if my LEDs are powerful enough for most spa. I would like to put in a torch coral, hammer, Duncan, and a bubble tip anemone as well as a few zoas with a livestock list of clown (check), 6 line (check), coral beauty, yellow tang, blue hippo tang, and a mandarin goby. I also noticed today that I have a healthy population of copepods and plan to get a HOB fuge later. This is my 3rd saltwater build to date but by far my biggest. Started with a 32g biocube and then upgraded to a 40g breeder. Not really new to the saltwater aquarium hobby but fairly new to certain types of corals (ones I listed). I also have 2 hydro 1250 power heads for main circulation as the return outlet and 4 mini 200s to try and get rid of the “dead space” or negative space in the tank. My parameters have been in check as I try to test the water at least once daily with regular water changes every Friday. Just looking for some tips and any advice. Greatly welcome any and all. Thank you in advance

fishguy242 · Dec 23, 2020

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
hi ,congrats on new tank

regarding lighting if using both should be fine,the orbit is not enough alone,enjoy ,happy reefing

Ssmokay · Dec 24, 2020

fishguy242 said:
hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
hi ,congrats on new tank regarding lighting if using both should be fine,the orbit is not enough alone,enjoy ,happy reefing

Thank you for your input. After a little more research I realized it’s a 4x 48in T5 housing. If I were to replace the bulbs with 2x ATI True Blue+, 1x ATI Coral+, and 1x ATI Purple+ I should be able to have the lighting required for the corals I’m trying to keep. Meaning I can return the orbit. And pocket a little more than $100 for my livestock options

Spieg · Dec 24, 2020

Hi, and welcome. Four T5 should be good enough for softies and many LPS but probably not enough for some SPS. I'd probably invest in a sump sooner than later.