My 65 Gallon build

[leviburns89]

What do you have as far as a clean up crew?

Could potentially save some hassle with algae.

Granted, the algae would just be converted into snail/hermit poo, but that can be vacuumed without disturbing the tank inhabitants

 

[sde1500]

Ordered a package from reefcleaners and bought some extra astrinea as well. Tank is very well stocked with algae eaters. Next round of fish will have a starry or lawnmower blenny as well.

 

[leviburns89]

Very nice.

How did you like shopping from reefcleaners? I've been wanting to try them out.

Starry blenny's are so pretty, but I hear lawnmower blenny can eat some serious algae.

 

[sde1500]

It was pretty easy. I ordered a slightly downsized cleaner package, I believe it was the 40 gallon size. I think ordering the one sized for your tank just has too many snails. Can't complain about it really, they came when they were supposed to, and though it was a little cold when I got the package, it looks like just about all of them survived. GFO reactor will be coming in soon, that will really be my means of controlling the algae, the snails do ok, but they won't be able to keep it down completely.

 

[leviburns89]

I've been on the fence about gfo. Yes it works, but my lord does it get expensive. I think it's best used to maintain good phos levels vs bring high levels down.

From what I've read, carbon dosing with vodka or vinegar is a much cheaper and easier way to bring phos down over the long run.

 

[sde1500]

I have very little nitrate right now, so trying to reduce phosphates by dosing will be limited by that factor. I'd rather use something that specifically targets phosphates. And with only 2 fish right now, feeding heavy to increase nitrates isn't really a great option, and I'd rather not have to dose nitrates, just to dose something else.

Longer term I am thinking to run the reactor for bio-pellets, so getting it now for GFO, then later for pellets I think makes sense.

 

[sde1500]

My 65 Gallon build

TLF 150 phosban reactor is here and installed. Ready to start my war on algae. It's not horrible but there is more of it than I'd like to have. So time to start reducing it. Just in time too, with more corals coming this weekend after NEFFM!

 

[sde1500]

Well the Connecticut FFM was awesome. Amazing to see so many people, and table after table of coral. Had a great time. Wife had to keep my spending in check though, so many tempting corals haha. Came away with some great stuff. A couple heads of frogspawn, pink/purple tip hammer, and 4 polyp Wowser zoas that I just can't get a good iPhone picture of. Also got some Rastas and utter chaos, a nice blasto that has two small babies budding, and a ricordea Yuma. All seem very happy in the tank so far. A few are already in their permanent locations and the rest will be soon as well. Played around with a camera app for these pictures. Really need a good camera, this phone can't handle the blue lighting.

 

[leviburns89]

Gorgeous frags!

Just made my order from vivid, can't wait to see them.

It's like Christmas isn't it!

Can you take a pic of your tank? I want to see how your algae issue is going. I too have quite a bit of long algae, but I have 10 scarlet hermits on the way to help eat away at that

Those utter chaos zoas are so amazing

 

[sde1500]

Thanks! Yea I was happy to get these in the tank. I'll be ordering some fish and corals from vivid soon too. Tank is t algae free yet, but I've scrubbed down some of the rocks so there isn't much long growth. A couple patchy areas left and some on the sand but looking much better. Can't get a good pic now with just the blues.

Sunset over the reef:

 

[sde1500]

Finally managed a good picture of the Wowsers.

 

[sde1500]

Frog spawn and pink/purple tip hammer. Both seem pretty happy where they are so now I've got just about all corals I have in their permanent spots.

 

[leviburns89]

Did you get your euphylias online? Or locals?

I just lost a torch because it was injured in shipping, and I guess that's pretty common

 

[sde1500]

Torch I got from a local shop. Hammer and frogspawn I got from the swap.

 

[solidcore]

looks great, I have a 65 gallon and I think its a good size tank, wish I would have gone 75 though

 

[sde1500]

Thanks! I'm very happy with the size. Should keep me busy for a few years before upgrading. Though the wife saw some seahorses at the swap we went to so may be building a seahorse tank soon. Haha who knows.

 

[ChitownBrickie]

Light is up and running. Got the return in better shape and the skimmer is running. Tank isn't too loud. Sometimes the overflow can be a bit noisy, but far from terrible. Next on the list is to get that back covered. Almost cycled too. Should be able to add some CUC and move my clown over next weekend.

Nice set up!

 

[sde1500]

Thanks! Hair algae continues to recede. Barely any in the tank right now. Few areas on the rocks still. But not bad at all. Coral overall doing pretty well. My Yuma isn't but everything else is. Utter chaos showing at least 3 new polyps coming in and the blasto babies are growing nicely. Torch is at least 6, maybe 7 heads and both hammer heads are currently splitting.

 

[sde1500]

Any ideas what's up with this Yuma? It certainly doesn't look happy

 

[sde1500]

Well it looked pretty bleached. Found a hole in my rocks it fits into and tucked it down in there. Hopefully that works. It certainly isn't as colorful as when I got it.