My 75 Gallon Tank

[adham88]

I finally got everything running and just wanted to show everyone my tank. A big thanks for all the step by step help from dave2184 and everyone here at Reef Central. I just got the live rock in and it's at least 125lbs of Marshall Island live rock that I got a great deal on. The person I bought the rock from had it in the tank for a year and it has a lot of coralline algae. I was wondering if I would see any ammonia spike or a cycle going in my tank since the rock is cured? If not, then when can I start adding livestock?
Here are some pictures I took, please tell me what you think and if there are any suggestions regarding the aquascaping.

 

[Aquarist007]

awesome looking reef build
How long was the reef rock out of water or the other tank
If you went from tank to tank then you probably wont see an ammonia spike
I would wait one week carefully monitoring for ammonia then proceed slowly
cuc first
coral next
and finally fish

 

[adham88]

Thanks!
The rock was out of the water for about 5-10 minutes max and then I put it all in a rubbermaid tub full of water on the 30 minute trip back home.

 

[Magga Pie]

Nice looking 75. I have a 75 also but with a little less rock I like more open room for the fish to swim but thats just me..Eithere way your tank looks like its off to a good start!!

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12839708#post12839708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adham88
Thanks!
The rock was out of the water for about 5-10 minutes max and then I put it all in a rubbermaid tub full of water on the 30 minute trip back home.

You should be fine--but wait the week to err on the side of caution

If you are still doubtfull at the end of the week put a raw shrimp in your tank over night--If there is no ammonia spike then you are good to go

Remember to take out the shrimp after 12 hours:eek2:

 

[Davidd2324]

Man thats beautiful. Like capn_hylinur said I would deff wait at least a week to make sure.

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12839733#post12839733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
You should be fine--but wait the week to err on the side of caution

If you are still doubtfull at the end of the week put a raw shrimp in your tank over night--If there is no ammonia spike then you are good to go

Remember to take out the shrimp after 12 hours:eek2:

Sounds good, thanks!

 

[Nano Chris]

Great looking aquascaping.

 

[adham88]

thanks for the compliments!!

 

[crsswift70]

Looks great.. but... that one rock on the right side up high. Looks kind of precariously perched! You have tons of room for corals though. Very nice. When i moved from my 29 to my 75, i had no cycle at all. Hopefully you will have no issues.

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12842147#post12842147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crsswift70
Looks great.. but... that one rock on the right side up high. Looks kind of precariously perched! You have tons of room for corals though. Very nice. When i moved from my 29 to my 75, i had no cycle at all. Hopefully you will have no issues.

you're right, I just lowered it to the point where it sits on the groove of the rock next to it.

 

[chatyak]

Very nice setup with aquascaping... are those rocks stuck to each other with epoxy or just balancing?

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12842355#post12842355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
Very nice setup with aquascaping... are those rocks stuck to each other with epoxy or just balancing?

thanks, the rocks are just balanced but they're sturdy.

 

[chatyak]

Hope all is well! Those big rocks on the top make me nervous lol. What kind of sand did you use?

 

[adham88]

yeah I know what you're talking about, I adjusted many of the rocks after those pictures...
As for the sand, I used dry Aragamax Select Oolitic Sand by CaribSea.

 

[adham88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12839697#post12839697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
awesome looking reef build
How long was the reef rock out of water or the other tank
If you went from tank to tank then you probably wont see an ammonia spike
I would wait one week carefully monitoring for ammonia then proceed slowly
cuc first
coral next
and finally fish

had a quick question for you,
what is the reason behind getting the coral before the fish?

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12842547#post12842547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adham88
yeah I know what you're talking about, I adjusted many of the rocks after those pictures...
As for the sand, I used dry Aragamax Select Oolitic Sand by CaribSea.

Very nice. I have some live bahamas oolitic on the way.... few more days until it arrives. Will be posted in my build thread.

 

[Deb91]

Hi adham,
Love your aquascaping! How long did it take you to get it that way? As far as adding the corals before the fish, I think the Captn. typed it out of order,I think you should wait about 6 months before adding corals.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12842771#post12842771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Deb91
Hi adham,
Love your aquascaping! How long did it take you to get it that way? As far as adding the corals before the fish, I think the Captn. typed it out of order,I think you should wait about 6 months before adding corals.

No he didn't type it out of order.

 

[chatyak]

"Adding corals will cause your water parameters to change. Check your water parameters frequently with a test kit. Once water parameters have stabilized, you can start adding fish.

Adding fish last reduces the possibility of disease resulting from fluctuating water parameters that occur when other livestock is added to the aquarium."

Taken from an online article, although most sources will state to add coral first, at least some anyway.