75G FOWLR to Reef Tank

[RobBrash]

Hi all! I have a 75G FOWLR tank that I want to turn into a reef tank (eventually). It's been running for a few months. I have en Emerald 26 sump, an AquaMaxx 120 skimmer, and some Chaeto that I just started in a a refugium. All my water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG - look good. From a livestock standpoint, I have a Yellow Tang, a big Cardinal fish, a very small Clownfish, a Six-Line Wrasse, a Black and White Striped Damsel, and two Firestick Gobies, and a red-spotted Goby, plus a couple of shrimp, couple of emerald crabs, and snails and hermit crabs. The only concern is my green-tipped bubble anemone: it hides and doesn't spread out it's tentacles.

My first question: Anything I should do for the anemone? It's been in the tank for a few weeks.

My second question: What parameters do I need to start testing before I can add coral? I'm thinking of sticking with the soft corals, because I think they're easier (right?).

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[hijinks]

What lighting do you have right now?

 

[RobBrash]

Display tank is lit by an AquaMaxx Prism LED Light Fixture (48"). The fuge is lit by a Kessil H80 - Tuna Flora.

 

[hijinks]

Your issue is the light for the anemone. It isn't enough light to keep it happy. You need to get a more powerful light asap or sell/donate the anemone. It won't survive in your tank with that light. Same goes for most corals cept for the ones that don't demand a lot of light. Which is a lot of mushrooms

 

[RobBrash]

Thanks. Any recommendations on a light? And would it help if I could (somehow) move the anemone up higher?

 

[JUNBUG361]

How old is your tank? I think anemone should be added when the tank is fully established at least 6 months or more

 

[JUNBUG361]

Start testing for Ph, calcium, dkh etc.

 

[Cancun]

Thanks. Any recommendations on a light? And would it help if I could (somehow) move the anemone up higher?

Hi! How deep is your tank? I agree on the lights....it might help to move the nem up higher as a temp solution. I am not sure of your budget...but my tank is 16 inches deep and 4 ft long. I run 2 Echotech XR 15. They are pricey but totally worth it. I have a mixed reef...4 large rose BT nems...was one nem 3 yrs ago and split 3 times....and one large blue haddoni carpet nem...plus a mixture of LPS and a couple SPS....all are doing great. I will add though that I did wait until my tank was up and running for almost a year before I added my first nems...so check out Echotech...I am sure others can weigh in on less expensive alternatives too.

 

[RobBrash]

How old is your tank? I think anemone should be added when the tank is fully established at least 6 months or more

The tank has been up and running for over a year, but I ignored it for quite a while because of other things happening in my house. I cleaned it up and replaced the sump and skimmer in early Nov.

 

[RobBrash]

Hi! How deep is your tank? I agree on the lights....it might help to move the nem up higher as a temp solution. I am not sure of your budget...but my tank is 16 inches deep and 4 ft long. I run 2 Echotech XR 15. They are pricey but totally worth it. I have a mixed reef...4 large rose BT nems...was one nem 3 yrs ago and split 3 times....and one large blue haddoni carpet nem...plus a mixture of LPS and a couple SPS....all are doing great. I will add though that I did wait until my tank was up and running for almost a year before I added my first nems...so check out Echotech...I am sure others can weigh in on less expensive alternatives too.

The tank is 21" deep and the anemone is at the bottom in a crevice under a rock shelf - not much light. I'll try to post a pic later. I'll see if I can move it, but getting it out of the crevice may be a bit difficult.