Family Room Reef

[Bear]

Ok, well now after many problems, this is the journal for my second SW tank. It is a 112 gallon with rounded front and a centered overflow. A canopy, stand, chiller, heater, sump, skimmer, and some crazy bright lighting (2 250 watt MH's and 2 96 watt blue pc's).

As of now it is cycling with 92 lbs of rock in it and 120 lbs of live sand. After the cycle the 85 lbs of LR from the small tank, along with the fish, sand, and corals, will be put in the new tank where it will stay for a while before any new additions. I had some older pics, but things have changed so I will try to take some pictures tonight so you all can see its progress.

ok, here's a few pics:

[fishfingers]

Looking good mate, hope you don't encounter to many more problems !

[Bear]

well, here's an update. It seems that the MH's will have to be traded out for 6 PCs. Mom was getting really mad about the heat coming from the lights and the chiller kicking on so often. This is a real bummer, it will come out to 5.1 watts per gallon so I will still be able to keep all of my corals...This stinks.

[fishfingers]

That sucks, but why don't you set up some T5's instead? I think they'd be much better for your corals than PC's

[Damon]

Why not go with VHOs? More efficient than PC bulbs, URI have built in reflectors, and Corals love them.

[Reefneck]

That's just silly! My 120G has the same lighting and NO chiller. Can't notice the heat at all. And no noise when there is no chiller. Buy that woman a bottle of Bailey's and ask her to chill.

[Bear]

haha, I would if I could ^^^

would VHO's or T5s run cooler though?
and what is URI?

[Damon]

VHO are cooler than PC. T5HO are cooler than VHO. You will need more T5HO to equal VHO but more efficient. URI is a company that makes VHO bulbs with built in reflectors.
http://www.uvlco.com/aqualamps.htm

[Bear]

and these are all cooler than mh right?

Im also a little worried about fitting enough of these bulbs inside of the canopy, whats the diameter like on the vho's and do they need to be spaced far apart?

[Bear]

After much research and BS where the lights are concerned the new fixture has been ordered. The new fixture will be made up of 8x65 watt pc's, all with individual reflectors. It doesn't look like I will be keeping the clams or arcos, but It will be filled with many LPS and softies

Another issue. If you look at the pics of the tank above you can see the line that was left behind after the LS was added to the tank. I tried to wipe it off with my hands, as you can tell by the fingerprints on the front of the tank, but that didn't get the job done. Any suggestions?

Also, I planned on waiting a month before taking everything out of my small tank and putting it into the large one. Do I really need to do this? If I take everything from the small one and put it in the large one soon after cycle wont that help it more within that same month?

What do you guys think? And how should I get the corals used to the new lighting? it should be around the same wpg.

[Reefneck]

Damn dude! T5HO's or VHO would have been a MUCH better choice!

I have one of these 8X65W Power Compact fixtures on my wife's 75G tank at the moment and OMG am I not looking forward to replacing all the bulbs at the same time every 6 months.

Yes, It is recommended you replace PC bulbs every 6 months. 8 of them at 20-30$ each is a hard hit on anyones wallet.

[Bear]

everywhere on the net said what you did, but everyone in person said that pcs would last much longer and were generally a better light...so from where i am it is more of who you talk to, plus my friend at the LFS, who we are really screwing by returning the first custom unit, supports these 100% and refused to sell me VHOs cuz they were too old of a technology and same with T5s cuz they are too new. So I don't know, we'll see.

Oh, and remember I do not pay normal price for stuff

[Reefneck]

I used to manage a LFS. At my cost (What the store pays) PC bulbs are $20-$22 each for either daylight or actinic! You won't get any less than that. And the bulbs WILL have to be replaced every 6 months or you will lose color and growth badly. Old bulbs also cause excessive algae growth. I've been in this hobby since before PC's were made for aquariums. Your "friend" sounds like he is afraid of new technology like the T5HO's. I have local reefer friends than run SPS dominated tanks on nothing but T5HO's for over a year and they are incredible. Bulb life is up to 18 months. VHO is old, But proven and not going anywhere. If I found a store that won't sell me what I want I'm looking for another store.

[Bear]

In this case I have no where else to turn and he is doing more than a huge favor in letting us return the original setup for a complete refund. When it comes time, the bulbs will be replaced, I am sure that it will be taken care of either by me or my parents will help b/c they don't want to see the tank crash either.

This tank will be moved in a small number of years when it comes time for my butt to move out and when it comes time many things will change and I am sure that if it hasn't already the lighting will be changed by then.

I'm really just not that worried about it, only b/c the only reason the stupid things were changed out was b/c of a decision of my mothers, so the blame is off of me and laid onto someone who will fix the problem before there is anyone to blame (if that made sense)

[Bear]

so what were the thoughts on moving stuff in after the cycle?

[Bear]

Ok, here's the first attempt at a fish list. Please remember that this tank will hopefully be full of corals in probobly a couple years and that it is a 112g (60"longx24"tallx18"wide...im not convinced that this is right, I will have to measure later).

2 Clarkiis (currently in small tank)
2 Firefish (currently in small tank)
1 Foxface
1 Six-Line Wrasse
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Dispar Anthias
1 Canary Blenny
1Yellow Tang
1 Neon Goby

I also have a BTA in my current 40 gallon, but with the amount of corals i want to put in this new tank I am a little afraid of moving it, but then it has also become the home for 1 anemone crab and 2 clarii clowns. What would you suggest?

[Reefneck]

Add 1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp for the yellow watchman goby to pair up with.

Anthias do better in a school of at least 4. If you add 3 more you will be ver near if not at the tanks limits for fish.

Drop the Canary Blenny and look at a Yellow Coris Wrasse. The Coris is so much fun to watch do sand dives at bedtime. They sleep in the sand. They are also a much brighter yellow. I have one in my tank and one in my wife's tank. Great fish.

Everything else looks fine. I assume you have other plans for a cleanup crew that just wasn't listed here with fish.

Take the Anemone with you.....I have 4 BTA's in my reef.

[Bear]

will the 2 wrasses get along fine? And for the clean up crew I was just thinking a ton of snails, i dont think any hermits, and like 2 skunk shrimp to go with my one peppermint. I have an orange linka star and was actually looking into gettin a blue one to help in the new tank. Would u suggest any more or any less?

[Reefneck]

A Coris and a 6 line are fine together.

100 Snails Mixed: Nassarius Obsoleta, Turbos & Margarits.
25 Scarlet Leg Hermits (Not Red Leg).
2 Skunk cleaners are fine.
Linkia Stars are optional. They often just die too easily.
1 Sand Sifting Stafish
1 Sea Cucumber.

Now you're done.

[Bear]

what kinda cucumber? and why do the legs matter with the hermits?

New List:

2 Clarkiis (currently in small tank)

2 Firefish (currently in small tank)

1 Foxface

1 Six-Line Wrasse

1 Yellow Watchman Goby

1Yellow Tang

2 Neon Goby

1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp

100 Mixed Snails
25 Scarlet Leg Hermits (Not Red Leg)
2 Skunk cleaners

1 Blood Red Shrimp (Currently in small tank)

1 Orange Linkia Star (Currently in small tank)
1 Sand Sifting Stafish

1 Sea Cucumber (not sure what kind)

Should the # of fish drop with all of these inverts?