75gal build, Need advice

[D3monic_Urges]

Ok im getting off my butt and setting this bad boy up. I have decided that I do not want it to be a reef tank but more of a sandy flats type set up. I plan on having a DSB Little to no live rock. I dont want to have to do expensive lighting or anything because frankly I dont have the money. I need your expert advice on just about everything from lighting to substrate. I plan on doing maybe seagrass and some Macro's. I want to buy some actual LIVE sand. What kind of substrate would I need? I was thinking the bottom layer being playsand, then maybe the "live" sand in a bag then actual sand from the ocean with all the critters. Would I need some kind of mud for the grasses? Would like 20lbs of LR be enough if I had say a 6" deep sand bed? I would think all the algaes and plants would help with nutrient export. Also what kind of lighting would be adequate?

Thanks in advance,

Micheal.

 

[D3monic_Urges]

:rolleye1:

 

[Joe Pusdesris]

I like quickcrete commercial grade fine. I also like 6500k bulbs. Caulerpas are the only common macro that I know of to mount on sand.

 

[D3monic_Urges]

Here's a couple of updated pics. I should be getting a order of turtle and shoal grass in today.

Built the stand myself.

Sea grasses will go on the left. I used a mixture of eco-complete and sand. I will also place a tab of seachems flourish near each rhizome.

 

[Mentat]

Stand looks nice, good job building it. Reading back into first post, see an overflow in tank, are you running a sump or did you plugged it? What light did you decided on, T5's?

 

[D3monic_Urges]

Yea I am running a sump. I went with 4x65 watt T5's. I got my seagrass order today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcx46hJRAgQ

 

[lancer99]

Looking good!

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the wavy stuff on the rocks that looks orange in your pics and blue in the vid?

Please keep us apprised of your experience with your seagrasses. Turtle grass is the only one that has worked out for me in the long run.

Thx,
-R

 

[D3monic_Urges]

The wavy stuff is some dragons tongue that didn't like shipping. It has lost all its color. It was orange in the pics and white the following day when I took the vid. I am hoping it will come around. It looked really sweet.

 

[str1988]

Please post a picture of the seagrass once you get it in. I thought about trying this as well with a low profile coral grw out type tank.

 

[jaidexl]

Hey nice tank, someone needs to get you more of that Dragon's Tongue already! :rollface:

 

[Mentat]

Tanks looks great! IRT Dragon's Tongue, think going white is not a good thing. BTW, your videos are very nice. Did the Lone Ranger fry made it?

 

[D3monic_Urges]

No he didnt make it... I had a big die off yesterday for somereason. I lost about 30+ fry. Heres some updated shots of the 75gal.

 

[D3monic_Urges]

 

[D3monic_Urges]

These two are going in the 75 when they are done in the QT.

 

[Mentat]

Love the Pipefish, it's going to be a sweet tank. Who is the guy on picture?

 

[D3monic_Urges]

Tailspot blenny. Thats about all I have seen of him since I got him yesterday. Right in the top of the archway.

 

[small alien]

Hey there, Mr. Urges. Tank is looking awesome.

What are your multi-bands eating?

How often are your feeding the tank and what?

Are you feeding the tank anything special for the gorgonians? How lone have you had the gorgs? They look super. I tried the yellow one with red nodules but couldn't keep it going.

Are you seeing any new growth with your sea grass yet?

Cool tank!

 

[D3monic_Urges]

I am seeing new growth but lots of death as well. Shoal grass has all new shoots but shed's them regularly. Gorgs get feed phyto, phytochrom, zooplankton, chromaplex cyclopeeze.

 

[D3monic_Urges]

I feed the pipes cyclopeeze.

 

[D3monic_Urges]

I released the larger banded pipe into the DT over the weekend. The smaller one is still in QT pending a white blotch on his tail. I dipped the tail in meth blue for 10sec and returned him to QT where I dosed 5ml melafix and 2-3 drops methblue in a effort to keep it from turning into a infection. My LFS does not open until tomorrow. I plan on picking up some maracin 2 and giving that a try. I also picked up a nice pair of fire shrimp today.