Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board

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- - My 72G Bowfront (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=58000)

-=James=-

11-17-2009 05:36 AM

My 72G Bowfront

I guess ill finally make a thread about my 1st saltwater tank. I was going to wait until it was done but I want to keep a journal for myself. There are nothing but rocks so nothing interesting....yet!

To date:

Equipment:
72G Bowfront
30G sump
Euro-reef RS135 protein skimmer
Sedra 700 return pump
4x54W T5
2xKoralia 3

Livestock:
100lbs LR
50lbs LS
Hitchhiker crabs, brittle stars, worms, feather dusters...
Astrea, nassarius, turbo snails.

-=James=-

11-17-2009 05:41 AM

I've had freshwater for a couple years but cichlids got boring after a while.

Here's was my 72G bowfront freshwater
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...c/IMG_6924.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...c/IMG_7271.jpg

-=James=-

11-17-2009 05:45 AM

In mid October, I found a used saltwater tank that came with everything I needed to start up. Guess what? I bought it.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7308.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7309.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7311.jpg

After I set it up:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7322.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7321.jpg

Took me about 2 weeks to fill the tank with water. I used RO water that is tapped into my sink for drinking. Shoulda got an RO/DI system...o well.

-=James=-

11-17-2009 05:51 AM

Next was the sand. I bought 50lbs of aragonite sand.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7334.jpg

and then some live rock:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7507.jpg

then some more live rock:

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7525.jpg

Just spent a couple hours trying to put the rocks together. It seems really cramped so I threw a couple pieces of rock in the sump along with the gorilla crab I found. Not exactly happy with this but it will do for now.
I am not using any rods or anything to keep the rocks together. I have aquarium epoxy...should I use that? Any creative thoughts on how to aqua scape this?

I left the liverock in the tank for about 3 weeks and, since the rocks were already cured, I dont think I got a cycle. All the organisms and inverts from the rock have been living ever since and my ammonia & nitrite = 0. My temperature is around 81-82 when the lights are on and drops to about 78-79 when lights are off. Is this okay? I am in the process of installing more fans.

-=James=-

11-17-2009 05:57 AM

Leah	11-17-2009 11:52 AM

Wow! Nice tank

As far as aquascaping you just have to play around with it till your happy.
You can look at what others have done to maybe get some ideas.

gobytron

11-17-2009 05:52 PM

Any reefers here actually happy with your aquascape?...lol
For those who answered yes, I'll ask again tomorrow.

Nice 72, I miss my old 72 bowfront reef....sigh

Van-rookie

11-17-2009 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobytron (Post 464868)

Any reefers here actually happy with your aquascape?...lol
For those who answered yes, I'll ask again tomorrow.

Nice 72, I miss my old 72 bowfront reef....sigh

I am satisfied with my aquascape.....I am just not satisfied with my coral estate...:lol:

gobytron

11-17-2009 06:00 PM

satisfied and happy with are two different things...lol
Thats like my virgin tennant telling me he's satisfied with his social life.
I'm not convinced, stop lying to yourself...:lol:

Van-rookie

11-17-2009 06:08 PM

ooohhh....ok. I won't lie.
I am happy and satisfied with my aquascape (after dozens of re-scaping :redface:)

BUT I am not happy and satisfied with my tank.

being as honest and truthful as I can...:mrgreen:

-=James=-

11-18-2009 12:03 AM

When do you think I can add fish? I was thinking of adding a couple clowns and chromis. Would some corals be okay to add too?

And what are your lighting schedules like? 8 hrs a day good enough? I was thinking 2PM - 10PM. My water temp is getting around 82-83 which is why I want to lower the lighting time. Is that too hot?

gobytron

11-18-2009 04:31 PM

clowns and chromis would probably be fine even if your system isn't done cycling yet.

just to be clear though, before you add anything, especially coral, you're nitrates and ammonia should test 0...
simple as that and not really any time frame attached to it as every system will be just a little different.

-=James=-

11-18-2009 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobytron (Post 465182)

Thanks. And yes, my nitrates and ammonia are at 0.

gobytron

11-18-2009 09:20 PM

well come on buddy...
what are ya waiting for?

get reefing...lol

-=James=-

12-01-2009 02:07 AM

Small update.....

-=James=-

12-01-2009 02:09 AM

Im also having a really bad diatom problem. It only exists where there is no flow (mostly under powerheads). I know its common for new tanks to have this but it still isnt normal to me....

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7655.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7661.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7662.jpg

gobytron

12-01-2009 02:42 AM

ensure you have adequate sand sifting action by your cuc, as long as thats the case you should see the diatoms clear up with some time.
Water changes won't hurt though.

Looks great so far though, 'nems are so cool when they are small.

Carmen

12-01-2009 02:52 AM

Very Cool aquascape James! Looks fantastic!

-=James=-

12-01-2009 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobytron (Post 469116)

I have blue leg hermits, astrea, turbo,and nassarius snails. None of them sift the sand and the nassarius just mix it a tiny bit.

What would you recommend?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmen (Post 469121)

Very Cool aquascape James! Looks fantastic!

Thanks! ALMOST as nice as your old one :D

kien	12-01-2009 12:46 PM

I've had a sand sifting starfish for years. He does a great job of sifting the sand. Gobies are great too. Although, they tend to kick up a lot of sand sometimes.

-=James=-

12-02-2009 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien (Post 469201)

I've had a sand sifting starfish for years. He does a great job of sifting the sand. Gobies are great too. Although, they tend to kick up a lot of sand sometimes.

I was about to pick up a sandsifting star for $5 but I didnt think my sand could sustain it cause its fairly new...and I heard mixed reviews of how it will eat everything in the sand. I really want a goby...but heard it wont eat the algae on the sand.

PS your gsp looks awesome in my tank :thumb:
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7709.jpg

-=James=-

12-09-2009 05:13 AM

Kurtonius

12-18-2009 06:22 AM

I'm about 8 weeks behind you

Nice 72 James. I just ordered a 72 Bow Front and I'm stolked to aquascape it!

I started setting up my first tank (50g) about a month ago. As I learned more about this hobby I realized that my 50g was too narrow for what I wanted to accomplish. When my new bofront comes in, I'll transfer my live rock and fish to it. I plan on keeping a photo diary too. Keep tuned!!

-=James=-

12-18-2009 05:31 PM

Thanks! I think I am putting up TOO many pictures though haha.

I am really surprised I can put all these things in and its been less than 2 months. Guess I got lucky? Never noticed a cycle and my diatoms went away really quick!

Another update: added more fish

Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Coral Beauty
2 Cleaner shrimps
Coral banded shrimp
Bicolor blenny
Mandarin dragonet
Purple firefish
Cleaner wrasse

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7833.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_7844.jpg

Patrick1

12-18-2009 05:44 PM

Looks Great James !!!

Where did you get such an awsome looking system???

Hope everything is working out good for you.

gobytron

12-18-2009 06:38 PM

There is a good chance a sandsifting star would perish in your new sandbed, although it might survive it's a gamble.

I use Nas snails and cerith snails to sift my sand.

They work awesome IME.

-=James=-

12-18-2009 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick1 (Post 473671)

Looks Great James !!!

Where did you get such an awsome looking system???

Hope everything is working out good for you.

Thanks Patrick!

It is a pretty awesome system. And it is a pain to access the tank. I wish I woulda bought that profilux off you too...

Patrick1

12-18-2009 11:58 PM

Told you, Hahaha. The good thing is when it is all set up. I didn't need into it a whole lot. When people see it they say how good it looks, not how do you get inside.

Keep up the good work. You can buy Profilux from progressive reef in victoria.

-=James=-

01-29-2010 04:30 AM

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