Finally decided to take the plunge.. all out NPS tank

[E.intheC]

For the past few months, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my humble forty gallon reef tank. Everything from complete SPS tank to freshwater fish only to a complete breakdown and time off from the hobby were considered.

After much deliberation and debate, I've decided to start up full blown NPS tank. Influencing my decision were few major factors... The first is my love for Minimalistic, Amano/Bonsai style rock work, and new found fondness for LED lighting. I feel these two themes go hand in had with NPS corals.

I really am drawn to the attention these corals need, as well as culturing live food sources for them.

Finally, the absolutely spectacular tanks of Aquabecs and Uhuru were the final straw :thumbsup:

After all this rambling... Time for the point :lol:

What parts of your tank and setup in general do you like, and what could you change?

 

[E.intheC]

Also... To add... I'm probably going to keep the 40 breeder as a clownfish/nem tank and setup a rimless cube in the 35-40 gallon range.

 

[Aquabacs]

Congrats on making the decision to join the dark side

Mike

 

[E.intheC]

Thanks Mike. I've been following your buildthread on MR as well.

 

[flying_dutchman]

From what I picked up in this forum and other forums:
- Biopellets are a must once the heavy feeding starts, and might provide coral food (think stotlemire's tank and carbon dosing)
-If you are using biopellets adding a self cleaning skimmer head like a swabbie and a skimmate locker can make you life a lot easier
-Most azoox love high flow, some higher than any SPS out there
-A RDSB can be very useful in providing a potential food source.
-Going the all natural "refugium etc will provide food, no skimmer to keep plankton" approach has a very low change of succeeding. Instead your trying to put in as much fresh food as possible and trying to remove and prevent as much nutrients as possible by heavy feeding and heavy skimming.
-An autofeeder is a must (unless your only plan on keeping LPS), feeding your tank 8 times or more a day gets old pretty soon for most.
-There is no need for strong lighting, only add enough light so you can see the tank. This will prevent algae and diatom growth
-Add a big variety of foods, as of now we don't know what exactly a lot of these animals eat. FM foods, rotifers, phytoplankton, cyclop-eeze and oyster feast is a good start

Although above are some good guidelines there is not one way of keeping azoox corals. None of us exactly know what the requirements of these corals are. Just keep experimenting, read a lot, and don't be afraid to ask questions!

 

[flying_dutchman]

forgot to add, keep up with your waterchanges! or install an auto waterchanger

 

[E.intheC]

Flying dutchman, thanks for all the help. Lots of good pointers for sure. I'm really considering adding a fuge. I have an overpowered skimmer that I really like (SRO1000int). As for flow, I'm looking at an MP10 and a Tunze 6025 to start.

I may add biopellets later. To me, they're just not proven enough yet. I'm not completely ruling them out.. But will rely on water changes and efficient skimming until then.

 

[Aquabacs]

Thanks Mike. I've been following your buildthread on MR as well.

Cool! Thank you. New azoox specific site is going to be open soon to the public so it is a good time to venture over to the darkside.

Mike