Just thought I'd check in with an update on the tank progress here. It's coming along nicely.
I guess I've gone a different route with this tank than most. The biggest difference is probably my decision to go with a 6" DSB in the display tank. It's funny, but my biggest concern with this was cosmetic... how would it look? Now that it's in place, I actually like it a lot. It changes the visual impact of the tank... more 'widescreen-like'. FYI, if anybody's estimating sand requirements, I needed a good 20lbs per inch of bed. The LS is mostly Caribsea Ocean Direct with a top layer of the slightly courser AragAlive. To help it along, I added a detritivore kit from Inland Aquatics.
Another difference would be the addition of an HOB display refugium. I think that'll work out well, also. I've got a bed of mud covered with a layer of sand, some small LR pieces, and a refugium flora kit, also from Inland Aquatics. It's a really nice assortment of macroalgae.
I've got a custom cleanup crew in the works from reefcleaners, but there's really not much for them to clean yet. I'll need to add food for the little buggers.
Still too soon for much in the way of fish or corals. Long term, I'll be adding a pair of clowns and host anemone for sure. A goby and/or firefish would be really nice, too, but I've not gotten around to constucting any kind of tank cover yet. Until I do, jumpers are out.
I really wanted to get some sort of real critters in the tank after all these months, though, so I ordered a pair of blood red fire shrimp from Divers Den, which should be delivered in a few hours. I guess today qualifies as Day 1 as a functioning aquarium.
Itsdarro, do you run the MP40 full blast? I've got the MP20, and after experimenting for a while, I've found that lagoon mode actually seems to work better for me than reef crest. I'd wondered about getting the 40 upgrade kit down the road, but right now it seems like overkill.
