neoh's 77g lps/softie reef

[neoh]

Hello everyone!

I've been in the hobby for quite some time, and this forum for quite some time, and I've always been a planted tank enthusiast. Once I was finally able to master the planted tank (which took years) I converted to cichlids (Tanganyikans) - though I've always had a soft spot for marine. I've always been way too afraid (and financially not able to) keep saltwater. I've always been a lurker on Canreef, and have had small but unsuccessful nano tanks in the past.

But now, It's finally happened.

I've been keeping my marine tank for awhile now, and haven't posted pics - through consult, I was told to put a journal together, as I would love to pick brains and get more involved with fellow marine hobbyists.

Current setup is:

77g custom acrylic (60x14x17)

2x powerheads (tunze/koralia)
9W UV
Three baffle sump w/refugium
Phosban 150 reactor using GFO
Marineland Pro 300 Skimmer
Digital Aquatics L3 Controller

RO/DI water

Lighting: Vertex Illumina 260 48" set to 70% B/RB 12% White

Levels:
Ca: 400
Salinity: 0.25
PH: 8.2
Mg: ?
Phos: 0
NO3: 5

Dosing:
Aquavitro Calcification
Aquavitro Ions
Kalkwasser
Phyto-Plus A

Currently housing 90lbs of liverock (soon to be much less than that)

Fauna is:

1x Bicolor Angelfish
1x Scooter Blenny
1x Clarkii Clownfish
1x Tomato Clownfish
1x Fairy Wrasse
2x (pair) Banana Wrasse
1x Blackcap Damsel

Coral:

Purple-Tip Frogspawn
Pink-Tip Frogspawn
Hammer
GTBA
Galaxia
Purple Pocci
Super-red Poly
X-Men Poly
Blue Mushrooms
Candy Cane
Atomic green-orange Ricordia
Yuma Ricordia
Florida Ricordia
Dragon-Eye Zoa
Watermelon Zoa
Campfire Zoa
Rainbow Monti
Pink/Purple Favia
Green Carpet Anemone

Inverts:

Snails
Fire Shrimp
Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
Gorgon Brittle Star

[neoh]

Here is a shot I took last night.





Thanks for looking!

[pinkreef]

Nice assortment of goodies, i love wrasses too

[neoh]

Update: 5/18/13

Moved some things around, and found that a 2" frag of yuma ricordia was attached to the underside of a piece of rock - along with an entire colony of green basic zoanthids! Fancy that. However; when I turn the rock around I cover up a 4" ricordia that is attached to the other side of the rock. I gave him a little tug to see if he would dislodge, but he's on there good - and I really don't want to cut him off, so he will forever be facing the backside of the tank.

No justice with this picture, of course:



Added a very nice duncan to the mix, which I'll take a picture of of once he opens up.

Spent a few hours hooking up the RODI system to the bottom of the sink. Not as difficult as I had figured it would be, just one stop to Home Depot! Currently filling up the buckets for a water change and backup water.

[Cubeman]

Originally Posted by neoh

Update: 5/18/13

Spent a few hours hooking up the RODI system to the bottom of the sink. Not as difficult as I had figured it would be, just one stop to Home Depot!

I need to do something like this - any chance you can show how it is attached to your sink plumbing so I would know what parts to buy. And where does the waste water go; is it just looped up into the sink?

Most of all congrats on your new success with the salties.

[neoh]

Thank you very much!



Here's where it connects to the sink. I bought the part at Home Depot for $6 I believe. I glued the hose into it to make sure it doesn't pop out. It's actually making me pretty nervous about popping off.

Then it goes to this:



And yes, the waste water goes down the drain.

[Wheelman76]

How's the duncan doing?

[neoh]

really well. It's already starting to sprout a new head! I had him mid/top before for good flow, but once I stuck 'em in the sand with good flow - he's happier than a pig in ****.



Taken about an hour ago.

[Wheelman76]

Glad to hear it , it will grow really fast if you feed it.

[neoh]

I feed it twice a week, it's pretty amusing to watch!