Random Luminosity's 75 gallon build

[Random Luminosity]

welp, here we go. A lot has happened since I decided to put together a tank. It started with a purchase off FB of a 40 breeder, stand, light and a bunch of various odds and ends. Over the next few weeks I did a ton of research, watched a ton of YT videos, and second/third/fourth guessed myself daily. Wifey was ok with the 40 gallon but I was thinking I could push her for a 60 breeder and be pretty happy with that. So off to Petco we go to look for one during their sale...none to be found. But they DID have a 75 gallon which I looked at longingly but knew she would never ok. So when she said "why not just get that one? Its only a little bit bigger and it will allow you to get more of what you want", I picked my jaw off the floor, wondered who this person was and what she had done with my wife, and ran to the checkout to buy that sucker before either of us could change our minds.

So here I am today, on the verge of filling the tank and ready to start this adventure. Excited to be a part of this community, I know Im gonna need help and its nice to have somewhere to go to get more knowledge. Id love to hear feedback/ideas on my stocking list below

Equipment List:

• 75 gallon tank
• Tidal 110 HOB
• 2 Ehiem Jager 150w heaters on an Inkbird
• Hygger Cross Flow 18w wavemaker
• Coralife 30in T5 Light (want to replace with Viparspectra 165w lights at some point)

Stocking list (under construction):

• 2 Ocellaris clowns
• YWG/Pistol combo
• 2 (3?) Springeri Damsels
• Royal Gramma
• Blue Green Chromis
• Coral Beauty or Flame Angel
• Longnose or Flame Hawkfish
• Six Line Wrasse
• Tang?
• Arinthas
• Red Fire Shrimp
• various CUC
• eventually down the line, corals

Where she stands today:

 

[Tahoe61]

Congratulations on your new tank!

The scape is great.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Looks good brother! Good luck! Oh and a yellow tang will do just fine in there!

 

[Random Luminosity]

All filled up, going to start doing testing for the cycle. LFS said with the one live rock I have and the live sand I should be ready for fish this week (and sold me some Microbacter7). That just doesn't sound right to me so I ordered some Ammonia Chloride and will probably get some fritz turbo

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the cycle!

 

[Featherweight]

Nice open aquascape

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Such beautiful rock work!

One small recommendation I have for ya is see if you can find some local live rock from an existing reef. Honestly, even just 5lbs will make a world of difference :) It will seed you tank.

 

[Random Luminosity]

Such beautiful rock work!

One small recommendation I have for ya is see if you can find some local live rock from an existing reef. Honestly, even just 5lbs will make a world of difference :) It will seed you tank.

Thanks! I did buy a 5lb live rock that's hiding behind the structure on the left

 

[naps]

Nice! Do you ever plan on adding a sump to this?

 

[Random Luminosity]

Nice! Do you ever plan on adding a sump to this?

not at this time. There isnt enough room in the stand for a sump. If I struggle with filtration I figure I can add a canister down to road

 

[Oldsman]

Looks like a great start ! We wanted a 75g, but didn't have space enough, so a 40g it is.
Looking forward to your progress, the scape looks good, as does the stocking list.

 

[Random Luminosity]

Made an equipment change today after coming across another reefer's tank that I absolutely love and want to emulate. Swapped out the Tidal 110 for a 75, with the intent of adding another 75 as stock increases. This should give me extra room to put two Smatfarm 95w on the tank and keep some symmetry (Im learning I apparently have OCD when it comes to this lol). Still no fish (grrr) as some things have come up to keep me from getting to an LFS I really want to go to in Virginia Beach. Soon....soon.

Forgot to mention something I think is cool. When I set the tank up, I included a handful of sand my wife and I collected in the Bahamas 3 years ago for our 25th anniversary. There are little patches of it here and there, and when I see it it reminds me of that special trip and our memories together. A small way of making this tank for both of us.

 

[Oldsman]

My wife laughed when I was measuring tank to center our Tidal 55, guess we all suffer from OCD. The noopsyche k7 v3 pro is another good light, but I struggled getting mount to fit rimmed tank. They lean back when tightening the mount screws...that drove me nuts

 

[Random Luminosity]

First inhabitants have moved in. 2 percula clowns, a royal gramma and 12 small hermit crabs. So cool to see them swimming around

 

[NautiTang]

You’re off to a good start!
As for tangs a Tomini or a bristletooth tang of some sort would do well in a 75, I plan on getting one of those for my 75g that I hope to have water in sometime in May.

 

[Anna K]

I just love the aquascape going on!

 

[Random Luminosity]

I just love the aquascape going on!

Thanks! Funny, but I decided last week it was just too open (and frankly only 40lbs wasn't enough for the future of the tank). So yesterday I created an addition and shifted the existing structures to the right. I think it's looking real good now, additional bio filtration and more hidey holes for the fish.

On another note, I do not understand why so many people suggest using polyfil in their HOB. I have had nothing but trouble with it. Every time I turn my filter off for something a bunch of fibers always end up floating around my tank, like so much I have to net it out.

 

[Anna K]

The royal looks like it has enough hidey spots now! The new aquascape looks very neat!

 

[Random Luminosity]

Added some new inhabitants today. 2 Springeri Damsels, a hammer, frogspawn and zoa (now I cant remember what specific variants they are though). I also added 4 corals from WWC's sale last week. And some trochus snails to help with what looks to be an uptick in my ugly stage.

 

[Random Luminosity]

man this is an exercise in patience! Im in my ugly stage and i just want to get in and fix it lol