Nocturnal Tank Build Planning

[Michael's Marine Park]

Hey everyone, I’m starting to plan a reef tank centered around squirrelfish and would love to hear if anyone has any thoughts building a nocturnal themed tank.

I’m thinking of going with a 100-200 gallon peninsula tank with a black backdrop and ledges halfway up for the squirrelfish to hide under. Then I’d put corals on top of the ledges.

I also plan on keeping nocturnal creatures like eels, crabs, sea urchins, etc.

Id love anyone’s thoughts on this type of a tank as well as the lighting schedule (I.e keep low lighting and non-photosynthetic corals).

 

[blaxsun]

Shadowed caves and ledges are a must (at least they're popular in my tank with the handful of predominantly nocturnal fish I have). Urchins could care less one way or the other (the same for anything that scours the rock for food).

 

[Michael's Marine Park]

Thank you. Your tank looks gorgeous! That’s the look I’m going for although with fewer subledges on half the tank.