MurphyTheClownfish
Community Member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2020
- Messages
- 77
- Reaction score
- 52
How's it going everyone! I have just today realized my tank is at a point where I am extremely satisfied with, and I know how quickly that will change so I'm jumping on the opportunity to post about this tank.
So first let's talk about equipment. I recently upgraded my light to a single red sea 50 from a modified t5 setup I had. And let me say, massive improvement seeing as the controllable aspect allows me to have soooo much more control over my corals par. I run it at 68% blue and 47% white, I've worked that up for the last 3 weeks and it's seemed to be a sweet spot. I added 2 poweheads, nothing special just 2 relatively cheap ones that I could afford, and even these add a whole new level to the tank. They don't have a particularly controllable aspect but they do have a intensity setting, and I've been running the right one at 85% and the left at 65%. Gives a bit of a wave in the tank even without the 'random' flow mp40s offer. I haven't changed out this filter since my original tank which was a jungle freshwater tank, so I don't really know the actual model lol. I just know it works and I have no complaints.
Now as far as parameters, I've begun to test less as the tank levels out more, as the results have been stable for about 2 months now which is a massive win for me, as in every one of my tanks nutrient swings have been a massive issue. It's been holding steady at 1.026 salinity, 8.7 dkh, 8.3 pH, 445ppm calcium, 1375 magnesium, undetectable nitrite, 0.03 po4 and 4 ppm nitrate. These are my average readings over the last 4 tests. (None of the readings were outside of the acceptable range of these). I don't have a ATo, so I've been doing that all manually, which has proved less troublesome than I expected.
Now lol, wbat everyone came to see, livestock and corals. I have currently only 5 fish in this tank, which is quite understocked considering it's a 45 gallon lol. Just like to keep it safe. At the moment we've got a black clown, lost his pair before I added the rest of the livestock, a yellow clown goby which is a more recent inhabitant, and 3 bangai cardinals added 4 days ago. As for corals I have 2 hammers, one of which is mid split, 4 or 5 kinds of zoas, a couple mushrooms, some GSP and some others that I really can't ID, just picked them up because they looked cool . Can't flame me though because we've all been there haha. I've also got a monster 10 inch anemone I got from petco for 40 bucks. Best purchase I've made in a while lol because it's super awesome. Hosted my clown immediately and looks amazing. And on the plus side it's healthy lol.
I do have a few questions, mainly about livestock.
First, how many more fish would you guys say is a safe limit? I say safe meaning not overloading the bio load and also to not cause fish unnecessary stress. Also, what would you guys recommend for fish and corals? I'd love suggestions. Also, would you upgrade the wavemakers? I've thought about it, but haven't really considered going through with it. And if so, what kind of pump would be good in a 45 gallon?
I'll attach the pics of the tank below! Thanks for reading!
So first let's talk about equipment. I recently upgraded my light to a single red sea 50 from a modified t5 setup I had. And let me say, massive improvement seeing as the controllable aspect allows me to have soooo much more control over my corals par. I run it at 68% blue and 47% white, I've worked that up for the last 3 weeks and it's seemed to be a sweet spot. I added 2 poweheads, nothing special just 2 relatively cheap ones that I could afford, and even these add a whole new level to the tank. They don't have a particularly controllable aspect but they do have a intensity setting, and I've been running the right one at 85% and the left at 65%. Gives a bit of a wave in the tank even without the 'random' flow mp40s offer. I haven't changed out this filter since my original tank which was a jungle freshwater tank, so I don't really know the actual model lol. I just know it works and I have no complaints.
Now as far as parameters, I've begun to test less as the tank levels out more, as the results have been stable for about 2 months now which is a massive win for me, as in every one of my tanks nutrient swings have been a massive issue. It's been holding steady at 1.026 salinity, 8.7 dkh, 8.3 pH, 445ppm calcium, 1375 magnesium, undetectable nitrite, 0.03 po4 and 4 ppm nitrate. These are my average readings over the last 4 tests. (None of the readings were outside of the acceptable range of these). I don't have a ATo, so I've been doing that all manually, which has proved less troublesome than I expected.
Now lol, wbat everyone came to see, livestock and corals. I have currently only 5 fish in this tank, which is quite understocked considering it's a 45 gallon lol. Just like to keep it safe. At the moment we've got a black clown, lost his pair before I added the rest of the livestock, a yellow clown goby which is a more recent inhabitant, and 3 bangai cardinals added 4 days ago. As for corals I have 2 hammers, one of which is mid split, 4 or 5 kinds of zoas, a couple mushrooms, some GSP and some others that I really can't ID, just picked them up because they looked cool . Can't flame me though because we've all been there haha. I've also got a monster 10 inch anemone I got from petco for 40 bucks. Best purchase I've made in a while lol because it's super awesome. Hosted my clown immediately and looks amazing. And on the plus side it's healthy lol.
I do have a few questions, mainly about livestock.
First, how many more fish would you guys say is a safe limit? I say safe meaning not overloading the bio load and also to not cause fish unnecessary stress. Also, what would you guys recommend for fish and corals? I'd love suggestions. Also, would you upgrade the wavemakers? I've thought about it, but haven't really considered going through with it. And if so, what kind of pump would be good in a 45 gallon?
I'll attach the pics of the tank below! Thanks for reading!
